NRL must be very wary of AFL junior development

[Runaround Man]

I am a teacher in an Inner West school and today we had a visit from some Sydney Swans players.

They were so smooth and so likable, they really won the kids over.

They were promoting kids to come down for a free kick with the swans at their local clubs and then sign up as members (not the ticketed variety but just part of the club - more just the spirit of the club)

With that they will get free entry into 3 Swans home games plus posters and stuff.....


The AFL are so smooth and slick when it comes to promoting their game to the kids.....light years ahead of league.......
League better be very, very careful and get out to the schools on a regular basis and win back the kids or they will lose them........... :crazy:

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Strewth what sort of responsible teacher allows them into the school!

 

[Angry_eel]

so f**kin what man. Im sick of this they're gonna take over rubbish.So what if they get a few kids to play AFL.

Infact, Im glad that there is a team in Western Sydney. The NRL clubs are finally getting off their arse and doing their bit to earn the juniors.

 

[Eels Dude]

Whatever. Rugby League clubs have already stepped up and increased their involvement in schools, particularly in western sydney during the past year... and CEO's like Ozzie are becoming more active in trying to promote the clubs and more importantly the game in general and have had great success in doing so. Maybe you should look into the schools they do visit, and maybe actively encourage your school to look into accept similar offers from the Tigers or Bulldogs depending on where you're located.

Jarryd Hayne is currently the most popular sportsperson in western sydney with the youngsters, you'd have to be living under a rock to not know that or think that any AFL club is going to win over fans just by simply offering a couple of free passes and a poster.

 

[Runaround Man]

You really are an angry eel aren't you.......

Mate, if you win the kids you win the war....

 

[Runaround Man]

Don't believe the hype that we keep getting told in the papers.....

In the west Hayne might be big but closer to the city, in the inner west, AFL has got a pretty strong foot hold...I am just telling it how I see it...I work with kids everyday and I hear what they talk about and AFL has pretty close to equal popularity where I am.........

Don't shoot the messenger...

 

[Eels Dude]

So where are you? Inner west could be anywhere. You sound like you're selling propoganda for the AFL. Just because of your very simple observations are we supposed to believe AFL is going to suddenly dominate Sydney. Of course the kids are going to be excited if they pro sportsmen visit their school. If A-league players rocked up it'd be the same. It sounds to me you're making a very vague conclusion based on limited evidence rather than a proper opinion.

 

[TheParraboy]

agree with RM, and thanks for sharing mate

It can be a huge problem, Maybe not in the short term, but medium to longer term it can be very damaging. NRL needs to keep their finger the pulse and be very proactive, not just here and there, but consistantly all year round.

 

[Angry_eel]

there's no war as far as Im concerned.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

I have two boys (2 yrs and 5 months) and I will be encouraging them to play afl. I don't want to see them being smashed by islanders twice their size each week. Afl looks to be a better game for the young ones in my opinion.

 

[parra pete]

Kevin Sheedy is a very very VERY good operator. A very good appointment by the AFL.
In my view, Sheedy is AFL answer to Jack Gibson. Under estimate his influence at Leagues' peril.
Not that long ago..everybody smoked. So began the anti-smoking campaign, look where it is at now..
The AFL is in for the long haul..make no mistake about that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XmiUQgvjAw

 

[Runaround Man]

Eels Dude, I am coming from the perspective of a life time league tragic. I love our game and I want it to thrive and prosper. I am honestly concerned about the future of league in my part of Sydney. I have been a one-eyed Eel supporter since 1976 but I have always lived in the inner city.

League is still strong here, but I see what the kids are into and what excites them, who their heroes are and I can promise you, the influence of league is shrinking where I live.......That concerns me.....last year my son played league in the souths juniors comp - a very well run comp - and the kids get everything for free, no fees - yet the numbers of kids playing for local junior AFL clubs continues to boom for the reasons outlined by Maroubra Eel.

Now whether this is all a "vague conclusion based on limited evidence or a proper opinion" I can't say which. I hope I am totally off the mark...but I don't think I am

 

[fish eel]

Don't believe the hype that we keep getting told in the papers.....

In the west Hayne might be big but closer to the city, in the inner west, AFL has got a pretty strong foot hold...I am just telling it how I see it...I work with kids everyday and I hear what they talk about and AFL has pretty close to equal popularity where I am.........

Don't shoot the messenger...

Tell ya what.

Let's give the swannies the inner west, and we'll keep western sydney.

 

[Suitman]

Jarryd Hayne is currently the most popular sportsperson in western sydney with the youngsters, you'd have to be living under a rock to not know that or think that any AFL club is going to win over fans just by simply offering a couple of free passes and a poster.

No, but they might when Hayne is playing for GWS.

Suity

 

[hineyrulz]

No, but they might when Hayne is playing for GWS.

Suity

:lol: And didn't you know, KK,Morts and Mateo are all playing for the GWS. Calvin Shoddy signed them all uo to multi Million dollar deals. There first game will be played on the moon Baaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwllllllll!!!!!!!!!

 

[Suitman]

:lol: And didn't you know, KK,Morts and Mateo are all playing for the GWS. Calvin Shoddy signed them all uo to multi Million dollar deals. There first game will be played on the moon Baaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwllllllll!!!!!!!!!

:lol:

Suity

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Eels Dude, I am coming from the perspective of a life time league tragic. I love our game and I want it to thrive and prosper. I am honestly concerned about the future of league in my part of Sydney. I have been a one-eyed Eel supporter since 1976 but I have always lived in the inner city.

League is still strong here, but I see what the kids are into and what excites them, who their heroes are and I can promise you, the influence of league is shrinking where I live.......That concerns me.....last year my son played league in the souths juniors comp - a very well run comp - and the kids get everything for free, no fees - yet the numbers of kids playing for local junior AFL clubs continues to boom for the reasons outlined by Maroubra Eel.

Now whether this is all a "vague conclusion based on limited evidence or a proper opinion" I can't say which. I hope I am totally off the mark...but I don't think I am

If you are inner west then I guess that means that the Wests Tigers via the Balmain Leagues club needs to step up its game, Or Win a premiership or feature in a grand final again.

Out here in the greater west, Parramatta Eels Players, are in schools and Junior Clubs every single week, having a kick and pass with the kids, both boys and girls.

To counter the AFL's massive hype attempt with the Swans playing at Blacktown, the NRL had a Week long community carnival with not only the Indigenous and NRL all stars but Stars from all 4 Western Sydney Clubs, (Dogs, Eels, Tigers and Panthers) together at Junior Carnival days and events to get the kids signed up to their local clubs.

The Swans have been doing this for a while, but so have the Eels and the Panthers and the Tigers are getting better.

If I were you I would expect a visit from the NRL players some time during the year, Most probably closer to when Junior competitions are about to start and the NRL competition has started.

 

[Twizzle]

They do this all over Australia, not just in Sydney

 

[forward pass]

It isn't just the inner west. The swans players were at Kellyville Public school last week too.

 

[hineyrulz]

They can send as many Swans out to as many schools as they want, at the end
of the day their sport is sh*t. They can pump as much money in western Sydney
as they Want their sport will always be inferior.