AFL Announces Expansion To 19

[EggFace]

not really into AFL but always watch the finals highlights and this year both Brisbane Lions and Bronco's being the grand finals of their respective sports I took a bit more of an interest.

Shame for the Lions and sport can be so cruel but lets hope the Bronco's get the right result tomorrow.

[unapologetic pedant]

This took some finding. Posting here to avert "AFL troll" and thread-derailing allegations.

It's a gratuitously scurrilous response to the report from @Sports Prophet on the attendance thread about groups of young ladies at the Fumbleball.

Could be intriguing to see the impact on attendances if Fumblers started wearing big baggy shorts and proper jerseys. I recall reading an Australia travel guide where AFL was depicted as a male version of female Beach Volleyball. Seemed as plausible an explanation of the sport's appeal as any I've heard.

Wouldn't for one second even hint that SP's affection is similarly motivated. I will only say that he did once express a strong interest in Nicho Hynes. So strong in fact that the post was labelled "lude" and promptly deleted by the TRL censors.

[Sports Prophet]

The new Tasmanian AFL franchise have secured over 75,000 $10 members within 24hrs of launching having announced at launch negotiations with Warner Brothers have been successful in securing the club name Tasmanian Devils.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-19/tasmania-devils-new-afl-club-exceeds-membership-target/103603510

[unapologetic pedant]

Sampled the North Melbourne v Carlton highlights on Good Friday. Surprising amount of royal blue and white in the 47k crowd. Was expecting virtually all Carlton fans. Perhaps North aren't as moribund as I thought. Just as well because, with the creation of the Giants and Suns, and Tas getting their own team, all relocation options have evaporated. Apart from maybe Darwin.

[Damien]

Interesting in light of some of the racism scandals:

 

[The Future is League]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

Interesting in light of some of the racism scandals:

 

AFL has had racism problems from it's beginnings and why would people of colour play a game with obvious racism problems play the game, and the penny is beginning to drop with them, but AFL problems don't end there they have a huge drug problems, which they are trying to cover up

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2024/mar/27/afl-drug-scandal-andrew-wilkie-reveals-alleged-secret-drug-tests-on-players-video

[unapologetic pedant]

On 10/04/2024 at 18:31, The Future is League said:

AFL has had racism problems from it's beginnings and why would people of colour play a game with obvious racism problems play the game, and the penny is beginning to drop with them, but AFL problems don't end there they have a huge drug problems, which they are trying to cover up

I remember a photo of the new Swans AFLW team. So far as I could see, they were all white. Nothing inherently wrong with that, but it was striking in that you would rarely see it, or anything close to it, with a metropolitan Aussie RL team these days. Only maybe in certain regional areas.

Over in NZ, they have a problem attracting Pakeha into grass roots RL. Heard a radio doc over 30 years ago about a journalist researching a piece on the Pakuranga RL club. Even back then, the tone was of a white NZer venturing into quintessentially Polynesian culture.

RL needs involvement from all demographics for the game to truly thrive.

[unapologetic pedant]

AFL seem willing to take a hit to their attendance figures for Gather round. Obvious drops with the games played at small grounds (apart from Giants v Suns), but I reckon some of the Adelaide Oval fixtures would have got bigger crowds in Melbourne.

Example - Collingwood v Hawthorn 43k

[The Future is League]

Another problem for the Anglo-Irish game

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-legend-carl-ditterich-charged-with-child-sexual-abuse/news-story/cd9ec1c940ef36a4621ca590157193da

[lucky 7]

On 11/04/2024 at 03:31, The Future is League said:

AFL has had racism problems from it's beginnings and why would people of colour play a game with obvious racism problems play the game, and the penny is beginning to drop with them, but AFL problems don't end there they have a huge drug problems, which they are trying to cover up

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2024/mar/27/afl-drug-scandal-andrew-wilkie-reveals-alleged-secret-drug-tests-on-players-video

They appear to have swept the drug problem under the rug and AFL journalists won't say anymore about it for fear of losing their AFL accreditation, which the AFL would do if the drug problem is brought up again, by any of them. The AFL journalists will continue to write puff pieces about the game just to keep their AFL accreditation, even if its sparing with the truth.

[unapologetic pedant]

The MCG ANZAC Day clash ended in a 85-85 draw. Magpies were leading 85-84. Bombers equalized with a miss. Looked a pretty bad miss too. Still, a miss is a miss.

Real shame AFL don't have golden miss extra time. Ditto NRL. Shaun Johnson's missed FG attempt would have beaten Manly a fortnight ago.

Seven's commentators are constantly at fever pitch. One of them doesn't just sound excited, but emotional. As though he could burst into tears at any moment.  

[gingerjon]

2 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

The MCG ANZAC Day clash ended in a 85-85 draw. Magpies were leading 85-84. Bombers equalized with a miss. Looked a pretty bad miss too. Still, a miss is a miss.

Real shame AFL don't have golden miss extra time. Ditto NRL. Shaun Johnson's missed FG attempt would have beaten Manly a fortnight ago.

Seven's commentators are constantly at fever pitch. One of them doesn't just sound excited, but emotional. As though he could burst into tears at any moment.  

93,000 there to get excited by the miss.

[unapologetic pedant]

3 hours ago, gingerjon said:

93,000 there to get excited by the miss.

Guessing Magpies fans enjoyed the wayward effort more than Bombers fans.

Could be wrong. Routine miss, for all I know. 

Perhaps our favourite Fumbleball troll (and Essendon fan) could shed some light?