Moaning Wallabies

**Oscar** · 27th August 2013, 11:43

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

I reckon. The whole no arms thing is fucking dangerous though man.

I see there was a broken jaw in last nights NRL game from a shoulder charge.

**Big Dave** · 27th August 2013, 12:23

What I should know!! Without googling I can only name two members of the current Wallabies - and one of those is a convert.

But I know based on empirical measures (if you can call Wikipedia that) like participation rates, comparing attendances between codes and player payments - all indicate that elite athletes are more likely to play AFL than they been have historically. That's the trend.

The concern over repeated concussion injury also is having an effect on the Rugby codes participation rates.
More so with League, but as it always has done, Soccer has many more participants - but AFL is gaining.

(Bureau of Stats)

The Reds are the only team in the Top 20 list of average attendances across all codes. The top 10 are all AFL.

Anecdotally, I know there is a cultural shift. Even here in Brisbane - League and Union territory, the kids down at my local park are kicking a Sherrin (AFL football) after school, partly because the game has become national and the AFL media and marketing is so far ahead of the other codes in quality and coverage (Fox Footy won the ASTRA award for 'best channel') that it's changed the culture of sport in quite a short time. The big stars are AFL players.

Kudos of a World Cup! UK comic Jimmy Carr summed it up. 'I was interested in the Rugby World Cup - till I found out there are really only 8 teams in it and 4 of them are us.'
Our 'World Series' tag is reserved for the Cricket - which ironically has even less countries participating.

Go Carlton.

**ellipsis** · 27th August 2013, 12:41

...in Melbourne recently and talking to some similar aged headbangers to me after the Black Sabbath gig...conversation drifted to where I lived and our Feb earthquakes...two of them were aware of the damage and shit we put up with, the other two looked blank and then realised that there was a couple of huge AFL games on at that time so that would account for them hearing nothing about them...I've always known AFL was big but had no idea how big 'til I went to Melbourne...

**Oscar** · 27th August 2013, 12:45

It's good that the Aussies are so good at a game no one else plays, as they're currently crap at games where they have to compete with other countries...

**Big Dave** · 27th August 2013, 13:37

Originally Posted by Oscar

as they're currently crap at games where they have to compete with other countries...

Cricket? That has changed in a short time too.

Where not so long ago it was the forge of the national squad, there are more WAGS than spectators at a State game these days.

And there has been a scattering of the talent pool. T20 pros and the 'Big Bash League' is now the most popular form.

**MisterD** · 27th August 2013, 15:47

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Anecdotally, I know there is a cultural shift. Even here in Brisbane - League and Union territory, the kids down at my local park are kicking a Sherrin (AFL football) after school,

They seem to have the development side of things sussed pretty well too, MasterD had a term's worth of weekly after school AFL sessions run (guessing by the yellow and brown hat and bag he's got) by Hawthorn reps earlier this year.

He was quite excited about it until his soccer season started.

I do like the minimal referee intervention, but it really is a completely useless code on TV.

**Big Dave** · 27th August 2013, 16:03

Originally Posted by MisterD

They seem to have the development side of things sussed pretty well too, MasterD had a term's worth of weekly after school AFL sessions run (guessing by the yellow and brown hat and bag he's got) by Hawthorn reps earlier this year.

He was quite excited about it until his soccer season started.

I do like the minimal referee intervention, but it really is a completely useless code on TV.

They are not that fussed about the sidelines either.

It's OK if you know the rulez - but the games too long, agree.
Ratings and club memberships don't necessarily agree though.

**MisterD** · 27th August 2013, 16:21

Originally Posted by Big Dave

It's OK if you know the rulez - but the games too long, agree.
Ratings and club memberships don't necessarily agree though.

I wasn't meaning the game's too long, more that the pitch is so big and so much happens away from the ball that cameras can't hope to cover it.

The strength of AFL and League in Aussie, versus SuperHowmanyisitnow?, is that what people want to watch is local rivalries. St Kilda vs Geelong or Rabbitohs vs Roosters on a Saturday afternoon or Reds vs Bulls from South Africa at some weird time in the morning?

I am, and will always be, a rugby head. There's no other sport that has a position for the big fat bloke and the small quick one and situations in the game where either could have a massively unfair advantage over the other...I could bang on endlessly about how fantastic the game is in spite of the efforts of lawmakers to strangle it with its own guts, but even I'm bored of SuperH. Love the ITM cup though: Hawkes Bay vs BoP...proper rivalries people care about.

**Big Dave** · 27th August 2013, 17:22

Works fine on TV. They follow individual players with a GPS and put a dedicated tracking camera on the high profile players. With dozens of camera angles around the circle. It's more of an issue at the ground than the broadcast.
They have even offered different commentary options on some games. 'Press the red button if you want biased commentary for your team'.

**Big Dave** · 27th August 2013, 17:32

Originally Posted by MisterD

The strength of AFL and League in Aussie, ---- Rabbitohs vs Roosters on a Saturday afternoon

Rugby league shot itself in that foot when News Limited bought it, merged several of the clubs and started calling the game 'our product and its consumers'.
A career in one jersey is a rarity.

**BoristheBiter** · 27th August 2013, 17:43

Originally Posted by Oscar

Not only off side, but crashing through the breakdown and holding back players on the wrong side of the ruck.
Then they whinge like Casey Stoner...
...sorry, i couldn't resist

Seeing you started it, Have you seen how friendly everyone seems without that whinny little arse there?

**Oscar** · 27th August 2013, 18:31

Originally Posted by BoristheBiter

Seeing you started it, Have you seen how friendly everyone seems without that whinny little arse there?

I have several mates who work at MotoGP, and none of them are missing him.

**Big Dave** · 27th August 2013, 18:46

Go Casey - you little champion.

At least he is one of ours. I don't get how you guys can barrack for an Italian in a competition that is run on Nationalist lines. Flags, Anthems etc etc.

If there isn't an Aussie (or after living there so long - a Kiwi) in the field, I'm not interested.

**Oscar** · 27th August 2013, 19:02

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Go Casey - you little champion.

At least he is one of ours. I don't get how you guys can barrack for an Italian in a competition that is run on Nationalist lines. Flags, Anthems etc etc.

If there isn't an Aussie (or after living there so long - a Kiwi) in the field, I'm not interested.

Jeez, you must watch a lot of golf...