AFL punts on Gold Coast

[wittyfan]

When South Melbourne won the premiership, I didn't care because they are neither Sydney nor playing a real sport.

You must be a fair age! South Melbourne won it for the last time in 1933.

 

[Cap302]

Being an aussie rules fan,who tries to understand and get a liking for league.Then reading through these threads and reading the responses,I understand why the AFL is growing at record rates and offering an alternative to people who enjoy a fast physical sport.Both codes can exist,AFL is not out to get/or destroy rugby league.
Both codes have very different styles of game play,different enough that people choose what they enjoy to play and watch.Giving people that opportunity is not trying to destroy another code,but giving them the choice of what they like or prefer.

 

[j5o6hn]

Cap32, you dont listen to what the head of your code is saying,they want to dominate Australia in all states, instead of the 3 that they do now,Living in Perth its like having the bloke on UE, Price in your ear all day every day I was driving up to QLD and picked up UE on the road up towards Port Augusta SA all he did in the time I had it on was talk about AFL.
On radio here they talk AFL on almost every station they drag AFL into anything they are brainwashed,no other code gets a look in.
One commentator will not even mention Rugby League unless its to rubbish it,during the season the ABC 7pm news dont even give scores,which is a bit rude considering that the ABC is supposed to give all sports a fair go,but not in WA if its not AFL they dont want to know.
Quidgybo your a bright lad and you do a reasoned article which to me makes a lot of sense keep it up in spite of the slings and arrows, and your right about the Art of War by Sun Tzu, was not far off the mark.

 

[McCrud]

Being an aussie rules fan,who tries to understand and get a liking for league.Then reading through these threads and reading the responses,I understand why the AFL is growing at record rates and offering an alternative to people who enjoy a fast physical sport.Both codes can exist,AFL is not out to get/or destroy rugby league.
Both codes have very different styles of game play,different enough that people choose what they enjoy to play and watch.Giving people that opportunity is not trying to destroy another code,but giving them the choice of what they like or prefer.

What a bogus comment. Why is the AFL spending god knows how many millions of dollars in promotion, junior development, and the hosting of AFL matches on the Gold Coast? They are so arrogant they think Aussie Rules will dominate up in these parts.

Have you noticed how the two most dominant teams in the AFL since 2000 have been the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions? These clubs were granted salary cap concessions which many AFL fans see as a deliberate attempt by the AFL to create support for these teams and the code in NSW and QLD.

The AFL is obsessed with dominating rugby league and gaining popularity up in these parts.

 

[Cap302]

J5o6hn,I have to agree,Afl is almost a religion in Perth,and talkback sportsradio is predominatly Afl focussed.I have no problem with a fair go for any sport and let the public follow what they enjoy.I would put the lack of coverage and exposure of league in Perth,More down to the administrators/ governing body of the sport not having the vision/or persistance to promote the game as Afl have and are doing elsewhere in the country.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

That's BS, RL has been played in WA for 50 years, just because Murdoch kicked them out doesn't mean the supporters of RL over there should miss out on scores and updates, all AFL fans continually say RL failed in WA, SA and the Gold coast, this is all BS, it was SL that killed it all off.

RL is played in every state and Territory on the mainland, it's as big as AFL, the media are full of shyte.

SA ch 9 is linked up to capital, thats why they don't get any RL at a decent time, they are protecting their investment, that's plain and simple, nothing to do with ratings at all, protecting AFL because they know they have too.

 

[Cap302]

What a bogus comment. Why is the AFL spending god knows how many millions of dollars in promotion, junior development, and the hosting of AFL matches on the Gold Coast? They are so arrogant they think Aussie Rules will dominate up in these parts.

Have you noticed how the two most dominant teams in the AFL since 2000 have been the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions? These clubs were granted salary cap concessions which many AFL fans see as a deliberate attempt by the AFL to create support for these teams and the code in NSW and QLD.

The AFL is obsessed with dominating rugby league and gaining popularity up in these parts.

I think all the Afl want is to have a healthy competition in all states so the competition can support itself and give people the choice to learn and understand the code if they choose to.
Rugby league in the northern states will always be number1 and the Afl understands this.
Rugby league should be promoting its brand better in the Southern States.In the end both codes can co exist,and have their markets.Which is bigger in the end will be voted by the consumer.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Do you not think that it is not a coincidence that until the mid 90's the AFL's biggest competitor wouldn't even be in the top 50 sports in the AFL homelands. The game is barely played in Tasmania. How can a game be so popular in NSW yet over the state border it is barely heard of? What could possibly cause this to happen?

 

[Perth Red]

J5o6hn disagree mate. When the NRL shoes some commitment to the West then we can expect the media to show some commitment to the NRL. I hear plenty about the Force, Glory, Wildcats and even the Orioles on the radio as well as the AFL teams. Ever heard "you've made your bed now lie in it"? That's exactly what RL is doing at the moment in WA and SA.

The AFL can see where the future lies in terms of markets, media deals and expansion. The NRL? We just seem to be playing catch up. Would the GC have a team next year if the AFL hadn't shown such an interest in the area? Seems best chance of a NRL expansion team is to get the AFL interested first!

 

[Lockyer4President!]

J5o6hn disagree mate. When the NRL shoes some commitment to the West then we can expect the media to show some commitment to the NRL. I hear plenty about the Force, Glory, Wildcats and even the Orioles on the radio as well as the AFL teams. Ever heard "you've made your bed now lie in it"? That's exactly what RL is doing at the moment in WA and SA.

The AFL can see where the future lies in terms of markets, media deals and expansion. The NRL? We just seem to be playing catch up. Would the GC have a team next year if the AFL hadn't shown such an interest in the area? Seems best chance of a NRL expansion team is to get the AFL interested first!

Well there has been talk of a third WA team, let's hope that sparks the NRL into action.

 

[Perth Red]

Not surprised with both clubs memberships over 35,000 and both clubs making over a million$ profit last season!

 

[McCrud]

I think all the Afl want is to have a healthy competition in all states so the competition can support itself and give people the choice to learn and understand the code if they choose to.
Rugby league in the northern states will always be number1 and the Afl understands this.
Rugby league should be promoting its brand better in the Southern States.In the end both codes can co exist,and have their markets.Which is bigger in the end will be voted by the consumer.

The AFL isn't all 'fuzzy-wuzzy' about it's competitors - they are investing millions upon millions of dollars in an effort to gain ground in RL heartland.

Agree with you in relation to RL promotion - Hopefully Channel Nine can do what is painfully obvious and televise more games of the Melbourne Storm for Melbourne fans, instead of helping the AFL and Channels 7 and 10.

 

[aarondoyle]

Down with AFL!!!

Sorry... just came out.

 

[LeagueXIII]

The AFL is aiming a generational change ie. kids. If they grow up with a knowledge of the game they hope this converts to TV viewers. If this happens you can kiss RL big dollars goodbye as sponsors will go where the viewers are. Rather than sponsor league in the north and AR in the south, they will just have one code nationally. This is what AFL is aiming for and why all the investors are supporting them.
We should be asking why we know where the AFL is headed yet there is nothing from our "leaders".
RL is used to sell payTV, is it possible that News don't need teams in the black hole that is the noth shore and central coast as well as Perth because union is providing the market for selling payTV? Thus league is used elsewhere.

 

[LRC]

Another thing the AFL does have over league is the population migration from Melbourne to the northern states.
This is where they lay their foundations on to build a slow and steady supporter base.
Its working class type people that leave the suburbs of Melbourne to got to the Gold Coast etc in search of more oppurutunity and better climate (If you call heat and humidity better). and take their inbred love for AFL with them.
And this is also where the generational aspect kicks off also...
The only people that go south are usually less inclined to be into any sports and are business or arty types seeking the music culture etc of Melbourne.
I guess the base for League in Melb are the kiwis to a degree.

This is what makes it easier for them than the NRL.

 

[russ13]

LRC - a couple of things . The Titans say those that are coming to the GC now are (mostly )from rural Queensland & NSW.

But so what - the last game of AFL on the coast got a crowd of 8000.


The fastest growing state in Australia is Queensland with 76,000 (population increase) last year & WA was second with 38,000 (mentioned in today's Courier-Mail).The AFL states have less than 45% of Australia's population. They (AFL) have got to expand or die.

After 3GF wins & a GF appearance the AFL in Queensland has collapsed. A finals game (yes finals) are being beaten by lawn bowls on ABC TV.

 

[Quidgybo]

AFL fans continually say RL failed in WA, SA and the Gold coast, this is all BS, it was SL that killed it all off.

Exactly. If it wasn't for the war the Reds would almost certainly still be with us. The game didn't fail, it just never had a chance under the circumstances. It was too busy self destructing to be able to fight the good fight on the frontier. The events of 1995-1998 are in no way a valid indication of our future prospects should the game try again during more civilised times - committed and undistracted.

Leigh

 

[russ13]

The AFL might have hit a bit of a snag with the GPS schools in Sydney:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/the-young-and-the-restless/2006/12/08/1165081155014.html?page=2
...John McDonald, the master in charge of athletics at Riverview, said his school was alarmed to hear that the AFL would attempt to lure athletes from other sports. "We are one school that has generally supported AFL (three Riverview teams play in the Sydney AFL competition), but I know the headmaster here was disappointed with the tone of Demetriou's remarks," he said. "Just about every other GPS school has said no to AFL and there's no prospect of them getting there with words like that."...

 

[_Johnsy]

Lets remember one very important thing when it comes to crowd figures for the GF in respective states. The GF for AFL is shown live in EVERY state.

NRL grandfinal is not, therefore the stats re: GF viewing numbers in a null point.

 

[Quidgybo]

Lets remember one very important thing when it comes to crowd figures for the GF in respective states. The GF for AFL is shown live in EVERY state.

NRL grandfinal is not, therefore the stats re: GF viewing numbers in a null point.

Far from being a null point, it's at the heart of the matter. No local team on the ground promoting and growing the game equals no local fanbase. No local fanbase equals no market for advertisers. No advertiser interest equals low dollar rates for television commericals. Low commercial returns equals little incentive for the local television station to show the match over normal programming. The key point isn't that the AFL Grand Final is shown live in every state and our game is not. It's *why* it is shown live and ours is not. Even without a contractual obligation with the Nein affiliates in these states, money talks. If the game makes them money, then they'll show it. But Perth and Adelaide will never see the game live while the game continues to ignore their markets.

Leigh.