The AFL’s move to play an experimental version of its sport on A-League grounds is nothing more than a blatant land-grab by a strangely insecure code.
You can tell the Socceroos have just qualified for the World Cup, because the wild and wacky outbursts from AFL aficionados have reached fever pitch over the past week.
First we had veteran AFL journalist Mike Sheahan struggling to understand the mechanics of the two-legged inter-confederation playoff, complaining that the first leg in Honduras was “rubbish” because neither team supposedly played to win it, before stating that the AFL wouldn’t have made anyone fly in economy class.
Then former AFL player and coach Kevin Bartlett used his Hungry For Sport Twitter account to ask the hardest-hitting question of all just a day after the Socceroos reached the World Cup finals: “What should we (Australia) call the round ball game? Soccer or football?”
And now we hear that the AFL is planning to debut its experimental ‘AFLX’ version at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide, just two days before Adelaide United hosts Central Coast Mariners at the same venue in the A-League.
No one bothered to inform Adelaide United, of course, and a South Australian government which has received its fair share of exposure from the Reds’ various runs in the AFC Champions League presumably sees nothing wrong in cosying up to Aussie rules at football’s expense.
‘Twas ever thus – and even if having to invent a different form of AFL doesn’t say much for the excitement levels of the original version, the truth is that football has bigger problems to worry about than what Australia’s most Machiavellian code is planning to do.
The first is trying to convince government officials that football is worth paying attention to.
A recent Football Federation Australia press release screamed “FOOTBALL CONTINUES TO DOMINATE AUSTRALIAN CLUB SPORT” – yes, it was all in caps – and highlighted the fact that there are at least half a million more football players in this country than those who play Aussie rules.
The subtext of the release was that football deserves more government support, and if you look at what’s happening in a city like Brisbane – where a Socceroos game in the near future is now apparently out of the question – it’s not hard to argue the point.
No doubt Tourism and Events Queensland don’t enjoy seeing their name pop up every time the question of whether the Socceroos might ever return to Brisbane is raised, but the news that Perth, Melbourne and Sydney are all likely to do battle for a pre-World Cup friendly will go down like a lead balloon in Queensland.
But even if a Socceroos game would invariably sell out at Suncorp Stadium – and bring in plenty of tourists at the same time – the fact is the same fans clamouring for the return of the national team are not exactly turning up at A-League games in any great numbers.
As passionate as football fans in Australia are, it’s difficult to convince those with only a passing interest in the game of that fact when there are so many empty seats at A-League games.
And we’re running out of time to salvage something from this season.
Yes, there’s a lack of marketing, and at some point clubs and the FFA will need to re-think some sky-high ticket prices.
And as frustrating as it is to hear, we’re going to be stuck with Thursday night encounters and late Sunday kick-offs for the foreseeable future. Other codes seem to make it work.
Right now, the A-League could do with fewer excuses and more fans paying their way at the gate.
Let the AFL have its fabricated summer fling.
There’s nothing wrong with the product on display on our pitches – we just need to find a way to rekindle some interest at the turnstiles.
BD
Guest
The trouble is that BBL and things like the AFLW are working so can you blame them for trying something like AFLX (whatever that is!!) The A-league moved to summer to avoid the competition from the ingrained codes and compete with the "soft" target, cricket, and now BBL comes along and the A-league is in trouble. It's disingenuous to disparage the other codes and it reads as sulky: if the crowds don't come and the ratings are down no vote hungry politician will care for your arguments. Fix the A-league! I'm not a hater but this article is more of the same defeatist attitude and excuse-laden polemic we've all become too accustomed to.
Martin
Guest
I wouldn't be concerned about AFLX because it's most likely going to be a huge flop. It's one huge desperate attempt by the AFL to be innovative, merely for the sake of being innovative.
chris
Guest
2009 actually
chris
Guest
Thanks for the link SN. Pretty amazing figures from basically a brand new team. One of the things it talks about are the young people that it attracts. The gentrification of certain areas brings in the younger generation and its obvious which sport they want to follow. I believe the same will happen here with the southern expansion and also WSW. Growing areas, with young families and people with roots with countries with football as their staple sport. Its why serious money from overseas investors is making its way to the A-League.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
15th is pretty good, considering there are at least 210 national leagues out there. That puts us in the top 7% in the world.
chris
Guest
No better for them to start up their own franchise. More teams to annoy you.
chris
Guest
Mr AFL has spoken
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
It has been reported that Southern Expansion are in the market to purchase either the Mariners or the Nix with a bid of around $7 mill. They would then re-establish themselves in Southern Sydney where they are looking to invest $300 million in a brand new stadium. This is precisely the sort of investment we need in our game.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
I'm hoping if there are any real football fans on this site, they might be able to remember the Soper non-goal I'm referring to.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Congratulation Mike, 428 comments. I’m looking forward to seeing how FFA deal with irate stakeholders and the looming deadline with FIFA. Right now I’m on a train home and there’s a guy with a PSG shirt on. I’m wondering if he follows the A-league or for that matter how many of my fellow travellers do.
Square Nostrils
Guest
Get more fans to the A-League, perhaps a leaf out of Atlanta Uniteds book wouldn't go astray. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/09/21/freedman-atlantas-expansion-success-proving-naysayers-were-all-wrong Lets look at a team from a similar background ,if you take Atlantas Metro population (around 5 million) and compare it with a similar team here drawing an average 11,000~(without derbies) which is a quarter of Atlantas 48,000 average. From the article:- Theory One-Its an exciting team the city can get behind, Atlanta maybe ,Sydney FC been the main gripe unexciting team since day one ,despite a few trophies and why tonight the FFA cup final will not get a crowd it deserves. Similarities rich owner, but exciting in demand young talent on the park like Atlanta. Theory Two-Blank effect, generating local pride ,can Sydney FC say the same for its rich owner. Theory Three- Has Sydney FC tapped into the transplanted other team fans regardless of sport ,be they from other Australian cities/towns or indeed the massive migrant population and offspring in the city who brought football with them in their heart? Theory Four-Timing the planets aligned. Well Sydney FC never qualified for theory 1,2 and 3 so no chance. Also it mentioned elsewhere(loads of articles on it ,just type Atlanta MLS success) that the coach from Argentina Gerardo Martino was able to put an attacking style of football on the park, a style in line with the wishes of the owner Arthur Blank. Arnie wins, but exciting football? Sydney FC were an Atlanta in the making in 2005, unfortunately they seem to have missed the boat, or have they?
ThompsonsDT
Roar Rookie
Agree with your first point
punter
Guest
No he was fatter then Marshall, the one I remember. Definitely less nimble then Soper.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
That was Marshall Soper in the old NSL. The net wasn't properly attached to the goal, and Soper's shot from an angle hit the back of the net but actually entered the net from the gap in the net behind the post. He knew he had missed, but when the ref gave the goal, he did the traditional Soper roundarm windmill celebration, but in truth, it was half-hearted.
punter
Guest
Rick, IGNORE!!!!
punter
Guest
1+
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Only 309 of 422 comments mention the AFL? That seems on the low side, I would expect it to be higher (make it 310 of 423).
punter
Guest
I was once saw a player totally miss the goal but jumped for joy because he just won the game. Work that out.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
punter let us welcome those AFL fans with open arms, they have lifted the readership of a football article well into the stratosphere. Those AFL fans are Mike Tuckerman's best customers!
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
I didn't realise the A-League was top 10, I had it around 15th.