Ths fumblefan has outed himself .
The afl has 5 states
Nrl has 3 states
1 territory
1 overseas team .
So not much difference
16 teams
3 x QLD
10 x NSW
1 x ACT, VIC & NZ
18 teams
10 x Vic
2 x Qld, NSW, SA, WA
Games are also regularly played in Tasmania, NT and ACT.
The SA and WA also refused to lift restrictions in a political move to force the AFL to base clubs there in a hub for economic benefit of having 4 to 6 teams based in both states.
The bottom line remains - they AFL could afford to wait because they weren’t gonna go bankrupt. 10 of their clubs are also based in Victoria whose govt doesn’t have as a relaxed attitude to COVID19 as NSW gov.
There is no impetus for AFL to get back quickly at the expense of the integrity of the game or undermining public health and safety.
This isn’t USSR and USA space race to the moon ffs. Both codes have extremely different motives and needs.
Ones administrators love beating their chest, telling the world how awesome they are, changing rules on the fly, creating drama wherever they go and needed to get the game going to avoid bankruptcy.
The other code called it off till 31 May, announced a 17 game season, secured a loan and went about its business behind closed doors. No media drama and no negative fallout with channel 7 or Foxtel or players unions or umpires.
There is no way you can defend the unnecessary public drama the NRL has caused along the way. It didn’t have to be that way and I think that leadership style tarnishes the sport rather than benefits it when you consider the AFL will restart 2 weeks later with little fuss or drama along the way.