The AFL have fooled us all, again.
Last year, when launching AFLX, it was all about creating a game that could be exported and played on soccer fields. The product created showed a desire to at least achieve this goal (ignoring the fact that they already had a perfectly serviceable product, nines, to fill this niche).
But with the new and updated rules for AFLX this year, we are so far from traditional Australian football that it is in no way an attempt to appeal to international audiences. It is simply a corporate sell out.
Last year’s ‘Zooper goals’, sponsored by Zooper Doopers, were tacky, but at least they were based on a pun. This year, the corporates have invented the ‘Gatorade game changer’, whereby a player can score double points in the last five minutes of matches.
With this concept, any idea that this is a legitimate competition has disappeared. No other sport would even consider a rule as stupid as this, making one player twice as important as all others.
When the league announced that there would be a ‘draft’ of sorts to select players for the four competing teams, it was seen as a fun idea that would at least be interesting to watch.
But with these rule releases, that goodwill appears to have gone out the door.
AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking has said, “If people are going to show up to see who the game changer is that’s all part of the fun, particularly kids because that’s who the game is targeted at.”
Firstly, that is a big ‘if’.
Secondly, why do we need a game targeted at kids? We already have one, it’s called Australian football, and it’s appealed to kids for 150 years. But it has also appealed to adults. From lawyers to farmers this game has appeal – it crosses classes and cultures.
This also shows the AFL’s change of direction: it’s now not for international audiences, it’s for children who the AFL thinks are easily bored.
So why do we need a sport that appeals only to children? Children haven’t changed as much as people think, yet are treated as if they have the attention span of a fly. Engage children in the sport, but the real sport, not some boardroom’s version of what they think a child is interested in.
One of the most annoying aspects is the waste of time, money and resources developing AFLX, instead of pressing matters at the game’s heartland. Many country clubs are dying due to lack of players and funding, so maybe a strategy to keep these clubs going, or indeed maybe even a version of the game with fewer players might be warranted.
Maybe some better marketing and exposure of the women’s game might be in order.
Even working out a way to reintroduce State of Origin would be more valuable than the farce of AFLX.
AFLX is not a gamechanger, it is a distraction. Last year it was an understandable experiment, this year it is much more sinister.
Martin
Roar Rookie
Here is my conspiracy theory: I suspect that land developers and local councils are in cahoots to provide less land for ovals. Australian football ovals require more land than does a rectangular soccer field. Larger ovals mean that local councils would have fewer rates with the more land needed for such ovals. And for the land developer, it means more lots for sale and hence more profit. So really, since that AFLX is going to help make more money for both, surely this competition could be sponsored by either a national land developer or some local council association.
Baggio
Guest
In terms of athletes, how come afl can get , NRL players, reject US basketballers, Irish gaelic footballers and Canadian rugby players, who have never touched a football and turn them into half decent players. While the best athlete in history, who played the game his whole life couldn't even get picked in the squad for the central coast mariners in the A-league (let alone the top leagues in the world).
Baggio
Guest
You have no idea, get out of your Victorian bubble son. Soccer has more registered players than nrl and afl combined, how is that the dregs of athletes, surely the good players stay on from junior level?? Another urban myth. Afl and Nrl get a certain type of athlete and afl for instance only get good athletes from the southern states and vice versa in nsw and qld. Thats a big chunk of dregs for each code from half the population. Your ignorance of a game played around the world astounds me. Australia has done very well, we have qualified for thast 4 world cups(a rareity) and won an asian cup. Nrl we lose to the kiwis, while afl we lose to a bunch of irish amateurs regularly. Pathetic!
Gordon P Smith
Roar Guru
mds1970 has it right. If you want to export footy to countries like mine (the US) where cricket ovals are almost non-existent, it makes sense to create a version that fits on a soccer field. ("Football", I know. Like I said, I'm American.) But having said that, every stupid, ir-reproducible gimmick they add detracts from that goal. The format this year is great for an "All-Star" game, and if that's what the AFL admin wants out of the AFLX, then say so and let's celebrate it that way. IF they seriously want a rectangular version that's exportable? That's not what you're doing. PS - I couldn't tell you where a cricket oval exists in this country. But I CAN point to over a dozen cities with vibrant footy cultures and teams that travel to other cities to compete in both men's and women's footy. I don't think they need to change a thing to export the game - every person I've ever shown footy to here has been intrigued and excited by what they see.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Lighten up boys. It is a fun novelty over one night for charity...and not during the season.
Maximus Insight
Guest
Australia doesn't dominate soccer because Australian soccer gets the low end of the athletic talent pool and then does f-all with it. It's quite simple really We just lost to the UAE whose soccer federation formed in 1974. Meanwhile Australian football has been played for 160 years Adam Goodes started playing Australian football at 6. Matthew Leckie started playing soccer at 11. Please never use Australian soccer to benchmark our national game again. Thank you
anon
Roar Pro
I'm a footy fan and in recent years I'm burned out with it by the time the finals roll around. Less is sometimes more. Quality over quantity. The NFL is a raging success with 16 game schedules. You don't see the NFL creating women's leagues, lightning carnivals, etc to cash in on their brand's success.
Baggio
Guest
Yes its so easy. Australia dominates soccer, with all the world cups we have won. Not one afl player could come close to make it in the a-league. Yet people like adam goodes easily made the switch to afl.
EJ
Roar Pro
yeah i do agree with you, but I’m saying i think it could make it more entertaining/watchable some recently retired legends did play,
Maximus Insight
Guest
I suspect there's a good chance we'll find out later this year
Raj
Guest
Haters gonna hate! I’m excited for it! The concept is evolving closer each year to the right format I’m interested how women would play AFLX
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Might be a good idea for the annual EJ game.
Aligee
Roar Rookie
Those guys would not now have the running capacity to play AFLX, it’s a real endurance game, it’s a game for 400 metre runners who can kick a ball well and have footy smarts.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
They'd have to be getting into a sprint for that to be a risk. Expect this to be about as intense as a Harlem Globetrotters game. There'd be a greater risk of doing a hammy at training.
EJ
Roar Pro
also last night on the draft I heard something about Nick Riewoldt wanting to be picked by cousin Jack but couldn't, whether that was true or was a joke I think it could be better and possibly a bit entertaining and watchable if it did have some past legends of the game, such as Riewoldt and others like Stevie J, Sam Mitchell, Dane Swan, Pavlich,
EJ
Roar Pro
while I didn't mind AFL X last year, didn't love it or hate it, I do think it will be good to watch some of the best talent play together on the same teams. Though for me and I am sure for many others I'd rather watch a state of origin match, either a small series or Victoria v Dream Team like in 2008. Though on a good note for the 'series' apparently depending on what place the teams come, they win a prize money which goes to their chosen charity.
IAP
Guest
What about when Easton Wood inevitably tears his hamstring?
Maximus Insight
Guest
Well said, Mr Football People are whinging about it being a "corporate sell out" and "a waste of resources" in the same breath. What they need to do is take slow breaths with no whinging at all. I would say a post-season state-based AFLX would work better. The beauty of this format is it will be played at a lower intensity than competitive training sessions are a this point of the year. You'd want the state of origin to tap into parochialism I still think SOO (say 16-a-side AFLW game length) can be done on a periodic basis at the end of the season (i.e. once every 3 or 4 years hold a tournament). It certainly isn't a possible substitute for a one-night AFL X tournament
IAP
Guest
It IS a bastardisation of a great game. There's no two ways about it.
IAP
Guest
My mum hated me playing footy because of that, but I did anyway. Little kids play soccer because it's easy - anyone can boot a soccer ball.