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Joined July 2020
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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!!
Time to end the code wars, AFL and NRL can live in harmony
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.
Time to end the code wars, AFL and NRL can live in harmony
Hum, I wonder what connects Hodges, Mitchell and non-anthem singers Wood.Duck? Ah, that’s right, they’re all Indigenous. What Mitchell’s petulant outbursts has to do with his Aboriginality stumps me. Being a teacher and the dad of a son myself, I’d suggest that it’s mostly because he hasn’t fully grown up emotionally yet (he’s 22) and that he earned fame very young, rather than the colour of his skin. Bit odd for a League supporter to be anti-Indigenous, especially on our Bunnies page. Did you accidently stray over from the AFL page mate? I’m sure you’d have lots of friends there!
Souths sweat on Mitchell charge