I live in the Hills District which has always been known as an AFL hotbed (lol). Some of my son's friends have taken to playing RL/Soccer on Saturday and AFL on Sunday.
Yet...……………..I never see anyone wearing any merchandise, and I very, very rarely come across people who are into AFL or discuss it. I occasionally see a Swans or Gnats sticker on a car. Big f**king deal.
All this, despite the millions being poured into promoting the sport.
The Gnats crowds are testimony to this lack of interest in the sport. I'd suggest that the interest is even less and almost non-existent in other parts of the west and south west of Sydney.
I'm hardly bothered by the propaganda push from the media being perpetuated from those south of the border.
RL, soccer and netball will continue to be the dominant sports amongst children in Sydney for decades to come.
AFL will continue to be an outlier, minor nuisance, and nothing more.
Nothing gives me more joy than seeing "PLAY AFL" signs strung up around the district slashed into pieces.
Back to NRL crowds - 14000 today is pathetic really, considering the run Souths are on.