Ok, my first post. Yes Im from Melbourne and recently with all this AFL / NRL code war going on, have been in the recent months scouting your forums.... there really are some NRL ignorant dics on here! But having said that we have someone eyed AFL dics on our side too. So lets call that one even.
First of all let me say I love AFL, but I do follow soccer and NRL. I am a Melb Victory member and watch at least couple of NRL games (not just the storm) every week (especially if I have a bet on) and find them quite entertaining. So you can't call me one eyed.
Ok, now with this Super 15 announcement I have to say that there is very little talk about it right now. Most people do not care. I can tell you although that many people will say that they will support this team, I can't see that happening. People can barrack for a team (like Sydney swans is the most barracked for footy code team in Australia), but when it comes to supporting them like going to games, watching them on TV etc. that is a different story).
The Super 14 missed their boat when they gave Perth their license. People were excited back then cause Melbourne had nothing to support before then as a whole city. In that time the Melbourne Victory have came, peaked (crowds of 25-40k weekly) the dust has settled and a lot of fickle supporters stopped caring and crowds have stabilised at around 20,000. People used to be really excited about supporting Melbourne for anything. That soon wears off. Now it is more about Melbourne Victory representing themselves instead of representing the city of Melbourne.
Even though I think it won't succeed and the International aspect wont help it that much either, It might still survive. What we call a failure down here in Melbourne (crowds of 15-20k), you guys North of the border might call a raging success. I call that surviving.
One thing I do think that makes the AFL look a little pathetic is trying to be International when AFL fans don't care. When some of my fellow AFL bloggers talk about AFL becoming International, I cringe too....Luckily it doesn't matter though. What is all this talk of AFL will never succeed because it isn't international?? Soccer is international (A-league is going pathetic), Hockey is International (anyone watch their recent championship in Argentina?), league (seriously.... how many proper countries??? 3/4?) ... union (pretty pathetic crowds considering they have a shorter season). Biggest average crowds in the world for sport leagues
(it won't let me post the wikipedia link cause I need 20+ posts:roll. Search it if ya really want - List of Sports Attendance Figures.
- 5 out of the top 10 are NOT international sports, including the NFL (which a lot of people hate for some reason) right at the top. Why do a lot of you guys hate the NFL anyway? If it only because it is American you have a lot of growing up to do. Just as bad for hating AFL only because it is played in Victoria.
Also why do people think AFL is trying to take over Sydney? They are just after a small Niche market. Even if they get 20% of people in western Sydney supporting them in some form (even minor), that is 400,000 people to try and encourage to watch AFL on TV and attend games. It might increase their dominance as Australia's No 1 football code, but they will never take over.