If Collingwood trained today at the MCG, there may have been around 30,000 fans competing. A FIFA World Cup Semi Final at the MCG between Portugal and Uruguay may get 70,000 (provided ticket prices are reasonably low and a blockbuster AFL match is not across town), the equivalent of a typical Carlton-Collingwood crowd.

Agreed. For the moment, I view Papua New Guinea as the premier nation for the sport of Australian Rules Football. Rugby League must be getting nervous…

ps: how do you do smiley faces?!?!

International players offer a new dimension for the game. That is a fact.

I am not suggesting that. Not at all. Kevin Sheedy has a vision that one day Aussie Rules will better other sporting codes. I believe him. But i also believe it wont happen for quite some time. Will it “rule the world” literally? No of course it will not! Is there potential for it to become a globally appreciated and/or recognized sport? Yes i think there is. That, and the fact that there is an already surprisingly large amount of International participation for the game, is what this article is all about.

I suggest you watch the 60 Minutes story and look at the South African teenagers already competing. Then come and tell me there is no gigantic potential for ‘our’ great game.

We have not shown Aussie Rules to the Irish for the last 30 years. We have shown them International Rules with occasional thuggery thrown in there.

Ironically, of all the countries that Aussie Rules could not make significant advancments in; it would be Ireland.

If you are seriously delusioned enough to think that Soccer “unites the world” with a once every 4 years FIFA World Cup, then I do feel sorry for you. Global appreciation of the FIFA World Cup Final is not global appreciation of Soccer. You say one ninth of the global population watched the World Cup Final (those statistics could very easily be exaggerated). What if four fifths of the global population watched the Man walk on the moon? Would you then assume that four fifths of the planet think walking on the moon is the most popular sport/activity one can participate in and follow?

Granted the majority of Australians may have watched the WC Final, but they did not jump out at its conclusion and say: “Wow, this is the best sport ever! Its my number 1 now!” My point is: Global appreciation of the FIFA World Cup is not global appreciation of Association Football. Perhaps there is a sport on the planet that can acheive this “global appreciation…” aussie rules may be that; but granted, that will not happen for a long, long time, if at all.

look beyond the title Redb. As the 60 minutes story suggests; the game may soon have a much greater influx of international recruits. If that comes, then wouldnt the most logical step be to actually showcase our game to the world, highlighting an already growing international footprint in the major comp, AFL?

Midfielder: on the whole i agree with you. I suppose in hindsight this article focus a little too much on the potential for Aussie Rules overseas. That was not really my intention; rather it was to highlight the games footprint overseas. I found one of your comments particularly interesting. That being that the game’s international potential lies in countries without a dominant football code. Apart from India though, most major countries already have a dominant football code!

But kudos to your realistic optimism, with I share. I was surprised to hear that this years AFL Grand Final would be broadcast to 170 nations on the planet. When it comes to growing the game, that seems a fair start!

I agree on the Port Adelaide topic. They seem to really lack an identity as a club, either they should be connected in all forms to Port Magpies or else they should establish themselves as a new club. Poor crowds are all too common for Port Adelaide and North Melbourne. It really does let the league down…

“”””In Football .. it’s 90 emotions every 90 minutes.”””””

i love your passion. i agree with every word you say. its the world game, 90 minutes…90 emotions watever you said. i’ll jump crazy when the socceroos score at the world cup, admire the skill and tactical crescendo of the europeans compared to the flair of the south americans.

i’ll also go almost weekly to see my beloved pies play at the mcg during the winter months and no matter what the score: love every minute of it. if i did not know what sport was and listened to you: I’d walk away from that comment thinking football was the only form of professional sporting entertainment on the planet.

instead of passionately clinging to my one solitary sport of upbringing, i seek to be entertained by every sport in the known universe. alongside numerous other sports; i support and enjoy both Australian Rules Football and Association Football… i can only recommend you do the same

he’s right. Particularly this year, set shots have been average to say the least. Players like Cloke, Roughead should not be playing if they cant kick simple goals.

With years and years of practice and refinment, kicking for goal by any AFL player should be as simple as any NBA player draining a shot from the free throw line after being fouled.

“could do the soccer strategy and call ourselves football ”

“AusBall” anyone?

MVDave:

A “member” is any one person joining a club or group for the purpose of expressing their alleigance to that group. I would still classify a 3 game member the same as an 11 game member, just that the latter deserves more privileges and club bonuses than the former. The fact that clubs like Collingwood are able to offer degrees of membership only indicates how strong a position they are in. All clubs including NRL clubs are able to be discreet on their membership numbers. I dont think the AFL are deliberatley trying to prop up membership numbers of all clubs just to appear to have a one up on other codes. That is petty, the AFL is too professional for that…perhaps a reason as to why they are the #1 sports organization in the country?

“The AFL has been showing off its wares to NSW and Queensland for almost 30 years, and not that many are buying”

You are kidding yourself if you think AFL has been imbedded in these areas (RL heartland NSW, northern Queensland…). Until now, the Australian game has barley been advertised up there. Finally though that is changing. Its not about taking over but rather gaining a genuine foothold in these areas. The times… they are a changin!

BTW – If you regard AFL Football as the “McDonalds” of Australian sport (ie: strong, cash-filled organization but with a poor product to display) then I can only wish you were present at the MCG last Friday Night when 50,000 fans watched the game of the season between Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs or Round 2 classic between Melbourne and Collingwood, again at the home of Football.

perhaps. But the new Perth Stadium appears the logical solution, if of course we get the FIFA World Cup. I think the most lasting legacy an Aussie World Cup would bring is an improved AFL stadium for WA, sad is it may sound!

best article on the roar! hands down. could not agree with you more. It would be foolish not to have it. With an expanded comp, more rounds and more football, state of origin would be a nice little niche. I actually prefer having it once every 3 years (since the IR Series is supposed to be only twice in a 3 year cycle). So in 2010/2011 IR is played in October, followed by an expanded 2012 season featuring State of Origin and the cycle continues.

Format wise: Victoria V South Australia, best of 3 game series, deciding game played at ANZ Stadium (in the same year as an expanded GWS side kicks off). 2 of those games played during the season (perhaps have 2 split rounds) and October 3 weeks after the GF is host of the 3rd game. Simple, no chance of player burnout with only 3 SOO games every 3 years and a TV revenue would skyrocket! Tell me how that is not good for the game!

agree with the comments about Ireland and USA. In terms of professional sport; I dont think any Europe nation matches it with Australia. Football (Soccer) dominates much of their sporting landscape. Not including Olympic sports; thats not what this article is about!
1) USA -Gridiron, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Motorsport
2) Ireland -Gaelic Footy, Hurling, Rugby Union, Football… Rugby League or Cricket???
3) Australia -AFL Football, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Football, Cricket and Motorsport (id say Yanks just pip the Aussies on this one)

Cant split Aus and USA. At a pro level and even underage level; the 2 countries have almost the most choice of anywhere else on the planet. (And to think I havnt even mentioned minor sports the average citizen can participate in!) Just coz im patriotic:

1) Australia
2) America
3) Ireland
4) Canada
5) England/New Zealand/Japan

hmmm. A bit of a dramtic overstatment, by readers and author alike. I cant agree that the voices of Demetriou and responses on the Herald Sun readers comments do justice for the countries chances of hosting a world cup. Perhaps we should point out the facts, clear cut:

1) An AFL season can still go ahead because of FIFA World cup, clear and calm heads would remind AFL supporters (I’m one of them) that the required grounds could easily be used for Premiership matches (Etihad stadium, scg, gabba, cairns, tio stadium, geelong, launceston, regional cities, possibly 2nd stadium from Adelaide/Perth). That seems like enough for 4-12 weeks

2) Adrian Musolino stated: “Sadly, we have become the new America: introverted and overly protective.” To label an entire country of 22 million as introverted and overly protective based on some 500 readers comments and the article from news limited newspapers is ridiculous. To then label the entire country of America as introverted and overly protective is prejudice beyond belief, which ties in closely to racial acceptance/tolerance. So our faboulous author has labelled the country as unable to accept an “unaustralian game” and its major sporting event to our country as well as stating our society is one sided, racially motivated and unaccepting of other cultures, despite himself using similar tactics upon labelling us as a new America; “introverted and overley protective.” America probably loves being referred to like that; you are in no position to blatantly label our country into one stereotypical category, take the moral high ground, and employ these stereotypical qualities on a fellow democratic country like that of America.

3) Ultimatley, if our World Cup bid fails, it will be the fault of the most influential. If we fail to convince FIFA, it will be because our FFA officials could not complete the task they set out to do. The voices of the prejudice readers on the Herald Sun, News Limited and the Roar (read comment 698 for confirmation), remains the voices of the minority, who will have very little say as to weather Australia gains the world cup, how the AFL deals with a world cup during their season, or any other related topic. Ultimatley, their opinion will matter little, we should not get sidetracked by those people’s prejudice comments, as we strive to bring a spectacular sporting and cultural event to our nations shores!

Have been keeping up to date with this issue for a while now. After the success of the Oceanic Cup, I reckon the AFL are on to a real winner here. Allowing a standalone Pacific Side will prove just how athletically capable some of these young men are. Likewise with a “World XVIII” side, there is some serious talent from places like Sth Africa, USA, Ireland etc…

Your old stereotypical view that “soccer and rugby is the norm overseas” is just about the only true thing in your entire statement. The game is only just starting to be boosted in awareness overseas, and most of this is geared towards AFL recruitment of young, athletically skilled athletes. The game is in its infancy overseas, and as evident by the plethora of underage talent outisde of Australia; has gigantic potential.

Our game doesn’t need to be well known around the world for it to be one of the best sports on the planet, but expanding it to foreign countries is the right way to go about things. Rugby and (in particular Soccer) have reached their full popularity potential in most parts of the globe. Our game is slowly turning heads around the world, and for positive reasons!

In the wise words of an unkown in regard to the game spreading overseas: “You’ll never know, unless you ever know!”

sounds a bit like a jelous Sydneysider article trying to copy what the great city of Melbourne has! If you are truly disappointed at having an 80,000 seat stadium that fails to fall under the category “world class,” than take solace and join in the fun. Move to Melbourne (;

Whoa! Never would have guessed this articke would be the 3rd most talked about on the Roar! Look, the point of the article was above all else:

-To inform readers that the game of Australian Rules is specificley devoted to clubs
-Representative football appeals to people in the 21st Century (I should know, I am a minor after all)
-The game is too “One-Dimensional!” Modernisation in our game must be acheived
-The best code of football is Australian Rules, why are we limiting it to this country
-International awareness is better than International recruitment

Thanks for all the replies!

look, I understand the opposition to my article. I’m not interested in AFL being an international game; but there simply has to be at least one form of representation for our players (be that State of Origin, International Rules, or something different). The fact that RL has been willing to give the international game a go, signifies the switch in thinking for most sports on an international level.

I dont at all beleive the AFL is in trouble, in fact it is probably the most likley of the Australian codes to prosper in future years. But we are entering the 21st centry, and the AFL’s version of representation is embarrasing, the game should not be dominated by clubs and clubs only… not any more!

right, time to vent my spleen!

This idea was.. just that.. an idea! I do not see why such a move shouldn’t be considered. First of all: the AFL is not a big fan of State of Origin, and players do not want it every single year. Once every 4 years seems appropriate. Secondly, players and (in particular) COACHES, do not like seeing their players represent their state. That’s why this knockout cup would be a good idea, players would still be able to play for their clubs.

I admit the AFL would have to get strict on player managment for this new cup, as clubs wouldn’t be interested in using their star player for a Round 1 clash in South Adelaide. Instead: players are drafted into State League clubs, and if their not playing for the AFL club, they are playing for their State League club. This is a concept I have not thought of because I revere the UEFA Champions League or anything, but it is an idea that allows players to stick with their clubs, and I am positive their are enough State League clubs who could match it with AFL Clubs.

Central Districts are the prime example from the SANFL. 8 premierships from their last 10 grand finals (in the last 10 years) indicates potential against almost any AFL Club. If a regular AFL club like West Coast played Central Districts in this Knockout Cup, I am certain we would have a thriller of the match on hand. I would say that most SANFL and VFL clubs culd compete with AFL clubs in a game, RIGHT NOW! In 15 years time, when we have a 19 round Premiership Season with 20 clubs competing, most State League clubs would either fold or become genuine (almost) professional clubs. I am not suggesting this competition for the coming months, but the coming years.

Hope you all understand…!

lol. This is the worst article i’ve ever seen. Aussie rules having a round ball… what a joke!!!

For the record to “James”…

i am a passionate aussie rules football fan. attend almost every collingwood home game, and much prefer AFL to soccer. My article is only to point out the importance of a-league games achieving greater status in the coming months, and not any reference to a AFL vs NRL vs Soccer argument, as the article has unfortunatley been viewed upon.