Roar Rookie
Joined May 2012
2.4k
Views
1
Published
6
Comments
Published
Comments
With the NRL State of Origin fast approaching, it's timely to re-open the age-old debate about the equivalent contest in the AFL. However, with…
Again I am not peoposing a reinstatement of SOO, my proposal is completely different. As for injuries, this is why I suggested October (the end of the H&A season) to dispell club concerns about players being unable to back up for club games
All Stars game should be AFL's answer to State of Origin
“The game has confidence because of our strong indigernous links to the game. I can see the AFL indigernous getting bullied off the park , they just dont have enough players really. I am not 100 % on that, someone might correct me, i am sure you will.”
Yes I will.
Australian Rules has very strong Indigenous links, in fact it is theorised that Tom Wills was inspired by a similar game called Marngrook when he developed Australian rules football. The All-Stars match would have alot of significance just because this, not to mention the long history of Indigenous players being involved in the sport. It would be a fitting celebration to recognise the contribution to the spor of Indigenous people.
And do you seriously think the players I have listed would get bullied off the park? These have to be some of the toughest, skillful, most hard working players going around.
All Stars game should be AFL's answer to State of Origin
Maninblack.
I acknowledged that this Indigenous side has been playing for quite a while already, but hardly anyone knows they exist. My argument is that if it was billed against a team of non indigenous AFL stars from all AFL clubs, not just one club in a practice match, it has the ability to inspire the players to want to play in it and the fans to want to watch it. Seriously, who would not want to see a match packed with stars on both teams? What players would not want to play in teams of such quality? It would provide something unique, something that is just not seen in the AFL on a week to week basis.
All Stars game should be AFL's answer to State of Origin
The best players do play week in and ouy, but not in the one match. AFL All-Stars Indigenous All-Stars concept allows this to happen. As I stated in my article, I cansee no serious reason why this would not mean serious interest.
All Stars game should be AFL's answer to State of Origin
Pot stirrer
“What other sport in the world would you be able to convert a bloke to be able to play at the highest leval whos played less game than a 10 yr old? Just name me one where you can give an example, apart from AFL ofcourse”
How about former Geelong AFL player Ben Graham going over to play NFL? Amongst numerous other AFL players doing the same thing
AFL is leaving NRL for dead with its TV coverage
beaussie
“It would look like blatantly copying the NRL (it doesn’t matter which came first, it will just look that way)”
Maybe, but we dont nere much critique that the NRL “copied” the AFL’s SOO. And I dont think this matters anyway.
“It would be Blacks vs Whites – the NRL gets away with this because theirs isn’t blacks vs whites (Islanders & Maoris play on the NRL side)”
Why does it need to be framed like this? Can it not be seen as more of a celebration of the game, a recognition of Indigenous contribution to the game and above all just a tough hard contest at the highest level Which it would be. What other game would offer the amount of players of such high quality/)
“It would die off just like SOO as soon as clubs start pulling players out due to injury fears”
I addressed this in the article, having it played in Oct would allieviate club fears of player injury impacting club games.
“We can’t keep ridiculing the NRL & Rugby for having rep games and claiming they don’t matter because the club game is the only thing that matters, yet keep trying to promote things like this”
Well I am not ridiculing NRL rep games, how could you given its interest level? Try telling the average RL fan that SOO does not matter. Are the AFL and its fans not interested in a game that would generate heightened interest, given the best players in the AFL would all be playing in the one match?
All Stars game should be AFL's answer to State of Origin