Time for the fans to reclaim the A-League

#Post_Hoc I spoke of Australian Football - not the AFL specifically. You need to separate the two a little more. There is a distinction. Although - the author seems unable to distinguish between soccer in Australia and the HAL. Ah well - does that get part of my point across?? The author seemed to be yearning for a fan owned unique to Australia football experience. Well - as I indicated - that already exists - there is a template for it. However - there are many fans of soccer in Australia who want a potentially unique blend of cultures wrapped up in a non-ethnic club based HAL - and be fan owned/controlled - and......me thinks the author really doesn't know what he wants and is perhaps asking for something that can't be delivered within the global constructs of soccer. Or - perhaps just not under the Lowy family control?

AFLX = rubbish. The Victorians, SA's and WA's can continue to delude themselves into thinking that it will be played extensively across NSW/Qld and then around the world, but it never will. Keep flushing money down the toilet AFL.

#Redondo The irony of the AFL running now with AFL-X is that they are NOT actually leading, but are lagging. In Europe and the US a lot of the local footy played is limited by space and numbers to smaller fields (rugby/soccer) and so 7s, 9s, 12s etc - it's all been done. The AFL Euro 9s tournament is played in mens and womens. It's not a new thing. Here in Aust I've played over 40s (Masters) pre-season 9's tournaments (about 5-6 years ago) - really good fun and a good way to get a bunch of clubs together early in the season before the serious stuff kicks off. I've got many friends who have headed over to the Bali 9s pretty well each year. So - seeing the AFL get on board now is interesting. What it does allow them to do is to take a lightning premiership tournament to somewhere like LA, or Shanghai or London. What's wrong with the old format? Well - for the above reason - the size of the cricket oval is very limiting. But while T20 for example has become a serious competition in it's own right - I wouldn't envisage AFL-X doing so. It will evolve though. For now - it's just a bit of fun. But - the Hindmarsh pitch - looked awful. Surely you can't play soccer on such a patchy field??

At AFL games Haveñt you seen it at the AFL games they through banana skins at the dark players

#Post Hoc - firstly I have NO alter egos, this is my one and only nomme de guerre. You still haven't illustrated that you understand the context of the survey data. For me - I'm more concerned with the annual report data from around the codes - who will report these to the ASC and these numbers are based on minimum 6 week participation. And these are ACTUALS. Not a random survey of 0.1%. What you're suggesting is akin to saying that we wasted a whole lot of effort on the Marriage Equality plebiscite - we ought have only surveyed 0.1% of the population and that would have done it. Clearly not. That would just be a survey, a poll. We don't decide our federal election on the basis of pre election opinion polling. Independence is one thing - but a small snapshot of data vs actuals is another. Even were the Ausplay figures a survey of everyone - the notion of 'once per year' participation as a base makes much of the data pretty meaningless. The FFA and AFL refer to things like this as people having an 'experience'. It doesn't even qualify as a 'program'. Most of respondents with 0-4, 5-8 times participation wouldn't show up in the annual reports. So - again - tell me what are you drawing exactly from the Ausplay data. Have you drilled into the clearinghouse excel tables?

I have to take Nemisis's side on this one. In fact I used the Ausplay figures to show AFL had a far higher number of players in ACT than league did, although nowhere near the numbers Football has. Of course the league people would never had that and scoffed at the idea you could use Ausplay figures, so I guess whatever source puts your sport in the best light is the one you will quote. I would always place an independent govt. source over any code's figures - any sport knows that the key for govt. support and monies lies in the numbers and will do everything they can to plump up the figures. Of course you have to preface that by saying the Ausplay figures are indicative only.

For the love of all things Holy, you are impossible. You said and mind you I have quoted this twice before I believe, you said "yes Australian Football is unique – but that’s not the football you’re talking about. And it IS fan owned – well, clubs are member run. What you seek is before your eyes." You mentioned Australian Football in the very first post, I never said you SAID "afl" but you are talking about the AFL. The fact that you won't admit that is what you said is just sad. If this is not evidence that you are nothing but a tr 0ll . You are here to cause trouble and nothing more, what a sad existence you must have

Bazza, Why? I have explained it to you and your alter egos and you don't seem to care, you just keep asking the same inane questions. You believe your precious AFL has the biggest numbers across Australia, and nothing is going to deter you from that belief. Independent surveys show that is not correct, but still you wont accept that, only taking what AFL HQ tells you to believe, I am sorry that you have drunk the kool aide of your cult, so I really am not going to bother trying to change your mind, you have shown time and time again that you will not accept independent data.

How about you ask Ausplay why their survey numbers are not to be believed? You can liaise with Ausplay via Twitter: @Ausport email: nsic_and_clearinghouse@ausport.gov.au But, I get the feeling you're more a user of Snail Mail technology. Australian Institute of Sport PO Box 176 BELCONNEN ACT 2616

#PH I did not use "AFL" at all.

#PH How about you explain to me exactly what the Ausplay survey numbers show and mean and illustrate why it is more significant than the actual registration and participation numbers presented by the FFA, FFV, AFL etc to the Australian Sports Commission. I'm patient. I'll check back in on Monday if you need the weekend.

If it was that you couldn't sign up to Man U as you claim you would have said CLUB, but you said Sport. You couldn't sign up to that sport (to paraphrase) so admit you don't like the sport, why do you keep coming here to derail topics on a sport you don't like? Are you that scared that the AFL will be found out in Australia what the rest of the world already know?

Perry, nice try, BUT it is in YOUR FIRST POST ON THIS TOPIC, You mention the AFL. Jesus Christ how many ways do you need to be shown.

Hello Bazza, sorry I mean Perry You still upset that AusPlay have Football as the biggest participation sport. It is the realty my friend, I would learn to to live with it. AFL just isn't popular outside the southern states, you can cut it anyway you want, divide the numbers by Buddy Franklins goals per game, doesn't really matter. The simple fact is Football is the most played sport.

I looked again on this morning's ride through Newcastle parks and sport grounds. For a second I thought I saw a set, with some kids having a kick. As I got closer I realised it was a couple of flag poles with a flock of seagulls fighting over a discarded sandwich.

#Post Hoc Exactly - I couldn't sign up as a 'subscriber' to a club like Man Utd. Thankfully one of my sons who a few years back ended up with what looked like an Man Utd allegiance saw the light independently - - well, he's more a 'Ciddy kid now and to me, the Sheikhs can pay their own way. Likewise the Russian oligarchs etc. That's what I hate. I never like private ownership in VFL/AFL circles either. For me - sport is about community - and for me, some of the greatest contests and rivalries are between small towns 20km apart rather than teams with imported players on massive payrolls (and in saying that I also think of US basketball 'franchises').

#Post Hoc Correct - you and your mates have been rabbiting on, off topic about AFL. re your assumptions of me: "You have no interest in football," - wrong. However, my interest in it will be different to yours. It's not as though I am death riding the game. I Do have interest in the nation of my parents - Denmark - and will be supporting them even against the Socceroos (apologies - but I know it means much more to them!!). "you even admit you don’t like the sport" - I've admitted there are elements of the sport that I don't like. I'll also admit that there are elements of cricket, Aust Footy and other sports that I don't like. What I am not - is heavily emotionally invested in the game. But I've tried to lessen that for any sport as I grow older but now and then the inner 8 yr old needs the lid taken off. Having a broader interest in the football landscape of Australia (the worlds most competitive domestic football market) means I do take at least a passing interest in RL and RU as well (and via family will occasionally attend.

#Post_Hoc re Participation numbers - don't forget - it's the FFA, Football NSW, FFV, Football Canberra etc who report 'Total Outdoor' which includes the MiniRoos. The AFL 'total competition' figure does NOT count Auskick. The 'Grand Total' for BOTH codes WILL count MiniRoos and Auskick respectively. See Page 77 of Football NSW Annual Report - (note - see separately for the North NSW figures): The FootballNSW total registered (outdoor) players tally for 2016 of 222,612 is made up of 68% jnrs (age 5-17, inclusive of MiniRoos). The FFA 2016 Annual report has nationally the 214,414 MiniRoos making up 43% of total outdoor participation. If the AFL were to report their Auskick and Club registrations together, the Auskick would make up 35% of the total. Work out from that what you will. I'm just reporting what is freely available in the Annual Reports of these organisations. In this case without bias.

PH I think what will happen is all the AFL players in NSW waiting to play (but lack of goalposts currently prohibits this) will just jump on the AFLX fields and then watch it really take off up here.

Chris, never for a minute would I even contemplate AFL HQ would lie or make up participation numbers, who would be so pessimistic about the real place that AFL holds in the All Australian psyche, to suggest something would be akin to saying AFL is really only relevant in Victoria, SA and WA. Have you stopped to think the reason Fadida has not seen them darn posts, is the game in that area is like Brigadoon?