Footy supporters of Australia, we need to talk.
It’s time to confront the uncomfortable truth: we have a problem when it comes to talking about footy.
I’m not talking about sledging officials who are doing a thankless job, or unthinkingly passing judgement on another individual’s worth as a player or a person in public forums.
I’m talking about the insidious, pervasive and increasingly bitter trolling that fans of Australia’s two largest football codes are doing to each other.
Even at this most difficult of times, when football codes are facing an unprecedented struggle to survive, it can be seen in the headlines of our major media mastheads. It can be seen in print and video being expressed by prominent club and code officials. It can be seen in the comment threads of many stories on The Roar itself.
What makes these attacks so unjustified is not just the nature of the abuse that misguided true believers heap on the rival code; it is that the codes, despite both having the tag of “football” to their supporters, are so different they defy objective comparison.
In fact, each code has its strengths and weaknesses, with surprisingly little overlap. The net result? Two incredible football codes that complement each other.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
There was a time, long ago, that I would have scoffed at such a notion. Full disclaimer: I was born and raised in regional Victoria, and the AFL was my object of worship. It is the code I am more familiar with, and if some of my observations on the NRL in this article are simplistic or incomplete, I can only humbly apologise and stand ready for correction.
However, I am not quite the typical southern state AFL apologist. While I am as Victorian as poncy coffee in some laneway café, both my parents were originally from NSW. My mother did not really follow footy of any description (she does now – hi mum!) but my father had played league at school, going on to represent NSW in at a junior level.
This meant that I was not indoctrinated into my code quite as fully as I could have been. I can still vividly remember one day when I had been kicking a footy in the yard, and he came out to teach me and some of my mates how to take a place kick, much to my prepubescent embarrassment and their confusion.
Today, long after his passing, I realise the connection he was making at that moment – kicking a footy with his kid – and it is a treasured memory. But I digress.
Despite appearing to be a single code follower, a part of me remained league-curious. This part was given licence to expand when work took me to rural Queensland and a true NRL heartland, where I have remained these last seven years.
At first, I found the game difficult to follow. What the hell was a five-eighth? How did a family game have a starting position for a hooker? Terms that had once been familiar, like forwards and backs, now seemed to have completely different meanings.
But one night, from confusion came an epiphany. The NRL and AFL complemented each other! It was like something that had been hidden in plain sight, or one of those weird magic eye pictures that I can’t do – once it was spotted, it was obvious.
Every concept that made the game I loved work was stood on its head in league, but this meant that areas of AFL weakness became areas of NRL strength, and vice versa. Two sides of a coin, yin and yang; each code had something incredible to offer.
(Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
As I watched the Storm squash Brisbane that night, the revelation was about the entire concept of how the game should be played; something so basic that we often take it for granted.
AFL is predicated on chaos; the game play is designed to ensure that the ball is in dispute or can be won by either team as often as possible. At its best, this leads to fast, exciting ball movement by both hand and foot in a full 360-degree range, where players must expect a physical encounter from any direction.
At its worst, it leads to the congestion and rolling mauls that can blight the modern game. Seeing the ball pinging around like this, particularly when sides are under pressure and cannot take clean possession, must seem at best confusing and at worst laughable to a new viewer with a background in NRL, because in league the opposite is true.
In league, sides take turns having control of the ball. Almost every option to take control from the opposition is nullified by the rules. A simple example is the rule governing stripping. Not related to the hooker position (sorry), this term describes a tackler taking or knocking the ball away from the ball carrier. A tackler making a conscious effort not to attempt to take the ball from the opponent – even if a simple opportunity presented itself – is the best example of how control is key to NRL.
While it can make the play predictable, it also provides an orderly framework for the game – no repeat stoppages with players scrabbling on the ground for the ball. In all occasions, after a stoppage one team is given the ball to re-start the play. Once I learned to appreciate the benefits this provided, the negatives seemed insignificant.
While that was the most obvious flip the codes had, it was just one of many. Both games are a contact sport, but the way contact occurs could not be more different. This is because of the chaos versus structure philosophy each game is built on.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
In league, contact is regular and heavy. However, players aren’t injured at a noticeably different rate for the two codes (stats gurus out there, feel free to help me out on this one). This is because in league, players almost always know when and where contact will occur, and often they are the ones initiating it. This means that players hunch up to let their ribs cover as much of their internal organs as possible, tense their muscles for protection, and then use their arms, shoulders and even the ball to take most of the impact. This technique is how NRL players can plow into each other again and again for 80 minutes.
While AFL is a contact sport, that type of full speed collision happens far more rarely during game play. However, two things combine to ensure that players are not safe from devastating impact: the 360-degree nature of game play, and the inherent chaos of the game.
Look at a highlights passage of big AFL bumps (fair and unfair), and you will see that in most cases, the victim has no idea they are about to be bumped. Sometimes it is from behind as they run backwards, sometimes it is when they are picking up the ball from the ground, eyes lowered.
In almost every event, the victim does not intend for contact and is neither braced nor prepared, with muscles loose. If they were trying to mark the ball, they may have had their hands above their head, lifting their ribs and exposing more of their vitals as a target.
So, while league has far more high impact contact, AFL contact of the type described is likely to be highly damaging (and entertaining) when it does occur. Again, when combined, the games have something for everyone – league’s regular heavy but moderately damaging impact complemented by AFL’s regular light/medium contact, with occasional instances of incredibly heavy contact at unpredictable intervals.
One of the most confusing areas can be when both codes use the same word but have a completely different interpretation regarding the purpose of the thing the word describes. There are a few examples of this, but the most glaring example is tackling.
(Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
A successful NRL tackle normally stops an opposition run, and uses up one of their five tackles in a set, eroding the tackled team’s time in control of the ball. While the ball can be turned over in a tackle, this is often down to error by the tackled player losing their grip on the ball. Occasionally a tackled player is forced over the sideline holding the ball; in this case the error lies in the choice to run too close to the touch line.
When tackled, an NRL player’s first instinct is to hold onto the ball at all costs. Offloads (disposing of the ball when tackled) are a high risk/high reward play. While you will see them every week in the NRL, the numbers of offloads per game are meagre compared to the incredible number of completed tackles.
In the AFL, the correct behaviour of the tackled player is completely opposite; they are required to dispose of the ball correctly once they have been tackled in a timely manner (normally a second or two). The only exception to this is a player who is tackled as soon as they take possession of the ball and who have no prior opportunity to dispose of it. This ‘no prior’ is designed to make sure that in a contest a player is not penalised for attempting to take the ball. But it is the rest of the interpretation that is so different.
One code emphasises holding onto the footy when tackled, except in rare circumstances; the other emphasises disposing of the ball as soon as a tackle is applied. This links back to the idea behind each game – AFL says just get rid of it somehow, and if that means to open space then first in best dressed, while NRL says keep control of the ball, reset your lines, and then restart; effectively a free, no-pressure possession for being tackled! Is it any wonder we don’t understand each other?
I could go on. I could talk about the confusion on the face of a school-aged acquaintance in Queensland when I told him I used to play on a flank (a position that doesn’t translate into a square field very well) – an acquaintance who is now carving out a very successful NRL career.
I could talk about the confusion four posts versus two cause, or how blocking an opponent from reaching the ball or your teammate is great play in one code and a penalty in the other.
But I will leave you in my maiden article with the simple appeal: don’t hate on the other footy code. They both have something awesome to offer, and you are unlikely to change any minds by rubbishing their sport.
Instead, let’s celebrate that we have not one but two amazing, highly skilled, physical footy games that are both brilliant, but so different to each other that between them, there’s something for everyone.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
I am a fan of both rule changes! My AFL background probably explains why. Thanks for your encouragement, and more articles will no doubt come when work slows down, or when I need to rant one evening and have to bang out 1000 words :laughing: PS I am a Storm supporter, please don't hate me
sven
Roar Rookie
tbh honest not quite sure what u mean there in brief (u gotta allow for the fact im a relative newbie to league), i thought proper scrumming only occurred in union (the league one seems to me to only be good for bunching up the big blokes momentarily & leaving some space for the speed merchants). what i meant that going back a while now i thought league wasnt quite as dynamic (bit stop/start to me), the skill & athletic ability of a lot of the players now is fantastic, while the hardness is still there.
Micky
Roar Rookie
To be fair most RL followers rarely think of or talk about the rest of Australia outside of NSW and Qld. There seems to be an obsessive concern in Melbourne in particular about Sydney. Its largely not reciprocated. The focus up here, and this is very true for the NRL as well as for most of us, is outward towards NZ and the Pacific Islands, as well as the US. That makes perfect historical sense, because Sydney in particular, has been the main entry point for most of Australia's history. The focus of the rest of Australia appears to be much more parochial and inward-looking: eg, Australian Rules is the 'Australian game', as if Australians who don't support it (like the rest of us- NRL, Association Football, Rugby Union) are somehow un-Australian for not supporting it. Maybe this nationalistic narrowness explains why the NRL (a game originating in fierce social equality agitations in the English working class in the 1890s) is so far ahead of the AFL on social issues like racism and why any suggestion of sexism or sexual abuse is openly pilloried by the NRL and the Press (and God knows there are far too many of them, but with the Press so well tamed in Melbourne, how would we know the real picture in AFL anyway?). And as a sidenote, when I was coaching Aussie Rules at my school in Ireland, my students and fellow teachers all remarked on how similiar it was to Gaelic Football. Funny that! Surely they must have been mistaken!!
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
The fact that there is a "mine's better than yours" debate shows the existential threat level some supporters feel. A kiwi friend of mine is always waxing lyrical about RU being more popular around the world than AFL as if that somehow makes it better fueled by his obvious frustration that his former country can consistently best Australia in a sport which the majority of its' population has little interest in. RL too some degree is in the same position, slanting statistics in an attempt to prove who is best. The reality is AFL is the National competition and will slowly grow in the two states where it is not so strong. RL has to grow in effectively 5 states and is making little headway so far. AFL supporters have to some degree a smugness born of never doubting their sport is the Premier competition in the land, while all others of lesser competitions try to prove it is not, even though in their heart of hearts they know it to be true, a Canute like reaction in an attempt to stop the AFL tide. Somewhat akin to Geelong supporters who knowingly smile at the experts annual pre season predictions of Geelongs decent down the ladder, safe in the knowledge that while all clubs eventually succumb to the nether regions of said ladder, as surely as the sun shines, Geelong will be in the finals at seasons' end.
Micky
Roar Rookie
I reckon you've encapsulated the essential differences very accurately and eloquently Andy. It brings to mind a conversation I had at my local (The Rose in Chippendale) with two visitors from Victoria, up to see the 'Bloods'. As is the case every game night, NRL is on one screen and the AFL on the other. After watching the NRL for a while, something they obviously rarely did, one commented that the players just seemed to throw the ball anywhere and that there was no rhyme or reason to it. At this point I observed that NRL is extremely precise in its passing and positioning, and noted that, to most NRL followers (though quite unfairly), AFL looks like two seagulls fighting over a chip! They were stunned, and therein lies part of the explanation as to why most people this side of the 'Barassi Line' haven't been automatically converted to 'the true (football) faith', like the missionaries expected the Bible to do to the 'natives'. I think you've nailed the essence of the mutual miscomprehension. And I absolutely agree with you: mutual respect in recognising the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of each game is the way to go. Trolling, and you're right, it is getting much worse on both sides, just leads us down deep, dark rabbit holes. (Though I'm not totally adverse to that, because, after all, I am a Rabbitoh! But I digress). Keep writing articles mate, because this an excellent first piece (I was an English teacher for 40 years, so I hope I know something about writing by now!) By the way, I taught Aussie Rules to my students in Ireland, and helped out teaching both it and Gaelic Football at schools here, so I know a bit about AFL. PS and just a clarifing rule observation: the opportunities for both more frequent changeovers and longer retention of possession have been greatly boosted by new(ish) one-on-one stripping rules as well as the brand new six again rather than penalty rule. That's why the game has speeded up to almost Origin speed since return from lockdown.
In brief
Guest
Sounds like the stuff you love about league is the recent changes which I hate - no stripping, no rucking at the play the ball, no scrumming.
Effing Villandick
Guest
There is too much bad blood and antagonism that has come from the rugby states to ever live in harmony with them. Bring on the final battle for supremacy and it is time for the native brand of football to turn the screws on this English monstrosity of a sport.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
And today Vlandy calling the AFL GF a “second rate event”... what a tool...massive chip on his shoulder.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
You're right I wasn't fully across that, what a disaster for the game! While their rights deals were pretty good (I've heard), surely a fully independent competition that could have defected to a rival network like the AFL briefly did (remember free-to-air games on Nine and 10 networks anyone?) would have been able to command a larger sum. However I'd still like to see a public accounting of the ins and outs of the period to see if there were any red flags that could be avoided in future. But thanks for the informative comment :)
AJ73
Roar Rookie
Chris I live on the North Shore near Macquarie. Have done so for nearly 6 years. Only now 3 other ex-Victorians. Everyone else is either Sydney born and bred, with some from country NSW and a couple of Queenslanders. Most follow both, but AFL near where I live is very popular. Even the kids I teach follow the AFL closely. Why can’t you except that it is popular in NSW? 26K difference is not much between League and AFL.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
It was 42 years ago that I lived in Adelaide and I had to phone home to get the Sydney RL results. I'm not making it up a journalist concocted a story about a game of RL that had to be abandoned due to bad crowd behaviour. I haven't heard the RL media making fun of AF but I'm not looking for it and I usually turn off after the game unless there's some controversy like the two referees ruling six again and then changing their mind so the Raiders didn't kick the match winning field goal.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I have a few friends that played Soccer and they do have an English team but they also like AF, RU and RL. Here in Canberra AF was big in the 60's and 70's as the capital was full of public servants that moved from the previous capital but it changed when the Raiders formed in 1982. In 1980 an AF fan burst into tears when I tried to sell her a RL raffle ticket. She was a Victorian who wanted only one type of football to be discussed.
chris
Guest
And the layers I was referring to was in response to clipper saying "why didnt I factor in attendance" for NSW. In Sydney at least, no one attends any other AFL match except the Swans. So, say around 35k. If you total up all of the attendance figures for any of the other codes its way more than 35k. Football followers go to support Sydney FC and WSW. Plus there are a number of NPL clubs who get 2k-3k at matches. Total up all of the NRL and state based comps and its way more than 35k. Same with union. Does that answer your question?
chris
Guest
AJ not sure where you live but doesn't sound like its Sydney. AFL is a distant 4th to football, league and union. It's not in our dna and will never be. If you think anyone up here is interested in talking about WC Eagles, St. Kilda, Footscray etc you are seriously deluded. They might mention the Swans every now and then but even that is highly unlikely unless they make a gf. Why is it so hard for Vics to grasp that AFL is nothing up here? And I suspect Qld is the same.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Here, I'll say it again. Union took toffs, League took workers. AF was played by all-comers. Pretty intercoursey easy to understand. Far out. ----- Now everybidy knows its a given that there class even in communist countries. Stop foisting class into football. But coming from the Rugby class demarcational way of thinking you prob have trouble understanding it!
AJ73
Roar Rookie
What layers are you talking about? If participation numbers 2019 Ausplay results have National figures NRL - 298.6K (U15: 124.4K, 15+ 174.2K) AFL - 926.3K (U15: 399.8K, 15+ 526.5K) Union - 207.8K (U15 74.5K, 15+ 133.3K) Soccer - 1,787.7K (U15 694.6K, 15+ 1,093.1K) Codes in traditional non-code territory (i.e. NRL outside QLD, NSW & ACT). NRL - 15+ 25K AFL - 124K Union - 32K Soccer really has no non-code territory. This means that 15+ figures for AFL, Union & League in NSW, QLD & ACT are NRL 150K AFL 124K Union 101K Soccer is more than NRL. AFL is 3rd at worst on participation and is not far off League in NSW, QLD, and ACT. There were more juniors (U15) playing AFL last year that NRL, so in the long term we will see what happens, maybe nothing like what happens with soccer, maybe not.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
"Clearly I’ve touched a nerve here… it seems like you don’t like to admit there might be a socio economic aspect to your football code,..." ----- The only nerve you've touched is how can you be so stupid!
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
Clearly I've touched a nerve here... it seems like you don't like to admit there might be a socio economic aspect to your football code, but it definitely has one whatever blind ideals you may be projecting onto it. We've already covered how the AFL is a thoroughly private school game in Sydney, but even in Melbourne you'll find that fans of soccer consider their game one more of immigrants and public schools vs the AFL which they see as more Anglo/wealthy. It's there for all to see, and you choosing to ignore it doesn't make it less real.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Rich come from Eastern Suburbs and North Shore. You know, Silvertails v Fibro Flanno Wearers. Heck Tommy Radonoukis based his whole coaching career on it.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The abstract problem is that you ask me a question, make up my mind about the answer, then give it for me, then offer me reasons why I am wrong. ------ In the AF states you went down to your club and signed to play Status Free Football. In RU &RL states you played for your club along the lines of "Plumbers over there!" And "Doctor? This way please"