What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Country Football...

SouthsCountry

Juniors
Messages
516
It seems like a lot of big country towns (e.g. 5-7000 pop.) are struggling to field Firsts teams this year, such as Junee, Cootamundra in Group 9, Group 16 looks short a few teams and Dubbo Westside don't appear on Group 11's results page. This is a stark contrast to Victorian (and Southern Riverina) Aussie Rules clubs where every town of 200 people or more can field a team. Why is this not the case in NSW Country RL clubs? I think the smallest town with an RL team is Ivanhoe, NSW, population 196. Feel free to correct me on any of this.
 

10$ Ferret

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
1,094
there is a theory that the death of country RL started with the change to first grade on TV. With games on all over the weekend including when country A grade was being played people stay at home to watch the footy on the TV rather than go to watch the local games
 

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,546
there is a theory that the death of country RL started with the change to first grade on TV. With games on all over the weekend including when country A grade was being played people stay at home to watch the footy on the TV rather than go to watch the local games

A lot changed around this period

Noting that Sydney game attendances were also dropping.

Penetration of TV sets into homes
Residency rule ended, Transfer fees and then their end
Expansion of the cities & improved road networks
Population drift away from country due to jobs
 

SouthsCountry

Juniors
Messages
516
there is a theory that the death of country RL started with the change to first grade on TV. With games on all over the weekend including when country A grade was being played people stay at home to watch the footy on the TV rather than go to watch the local games

CRL Groups need to ensure the last game kicks off around 2pm at the latest so people stick around to watch 1st grade before the 4:05pm ch9 game. Most country people don't have FOX League so the 2pm game is irrelevant.

Clubs could run a day as follows:
- U16s 9:30am (60 min + 5 min H/T)
- U18s 10:40am (70 min + 5 min H/T)
- Leaguetag 12:00pm (50 min + 5 min H/T)
- Ressies 1:00pm (60 min + 5 min H/T)
- Firsts 2:05pm (80 min + 10 min H/T)
FINISH 3:35pm
 
Last edited:

SouthsCountry

Juniors
Messages
516
A lot changed around this period

Noting that Sydney game attendances were also dropping.

Penetration of TV sets into homes
Residency rule ended, Transfer fees and then their end
Expansion of the cities & improved road networks
Population drift away from country due to jobs

Sydney attendances have grown only by 5000 since 1995
In 2015 the AFL stopped "Saturday Arvo Footy" on ch7 because attendances at country footy were dropping, the NRL need to have a dedicated window where country footy doesn't clash with an FTA NRL game.
 

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,546
Sydney attendances have grown only by 5000 since 1995
In 2015 the AFL stopped "Saturday Arvo Footy" on ch7 because attendances at country footy were dropping, the NRL need to have a dedicated window where country footy doesn't clash with an FTA NRL game.

This is one of the reasons why I am not a fan of the Saturday 3pm timeslot
 

Bomboss

Juniors
Messages
11
It seems like a lot of big country towns (e.g. 5-7000 pop.) are struggling to field Firsts teams this year, such as Junee, Cootamundra in Group 9, Group 16 looks short a few teams and Dubbo Westside don't appear on Group 11's results page. This is a stark contrast to Victorian (and Southern Riverina) Aussie Rules clubs where every town of 200 people or more can field a team. Why is this not the case in NSW Country RL clubs? I think the smallest town with an RL team is Ivanhoe, NSW, population 196. Feel free to correct me on any of this.
Part of the problem IMO is most bush comps are played on Sunday. When you consider the travel times some comps have between their furthest opponents you’re getting home late at night and then have to work the next day.
If they changed it to a Saturday comp you’d have more participants
 
Top