AFL

[Damien]

Another problem that will no doubt be quickly glossed over. There seems to have been loads of really negative scandals around AFL recently but they always get quickly glossed over. They seem a match for RU in that regard and it doesnt half seem to get a free ride compared to Rugby League from the media:

Knox Football Netball Club team stood down indefinitely for allegedly ranking female players 'hot or not'

An entire footy team in Melbourne has been stood down indefinitely after sticking their feet out to trip female opposition players and shouting out "hot or not" rankings as they entered the field.

An entire team at Knox Football Netball Club has been stood down following claims the male players rated the physical appearance of Donvale Football Club’s female players and tried to trip them as they re-entered the field after half-time on Saturday.

Reports of the incident, which occurred in the Melbourne's Eastern Football League during the domestic violence awareness round, first emerged on Monday evening and reportedly involved a "development team" at Knox.

The men allegedly ranked their opposition as "hot or not," ordering them between one and 10 and under the categories of “yes”, “no” and “mediocre”.

3AW’s Jacqui Felgate revealed she spoke with a number of players from the league who fell victim to the behaviour of the rival club.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/knox-football-netball-club-team-stood-down-indefinitely-for-allegedly-ranking-female-players-hot-or-not/news-story/04dd372b4a4e4b153d988a5054c1fcc3

 

[unapologetic pedant]

5 hours ago, gingerjon said:

The couple of Swans fans I know also have (different) NRL teams they follow. The difference is they seem to attend a lot more Swans games.

Without knowing their on-field preferences, I would surmise this is because Swans games feel more like occasions than the average Sydney NRL game. Large crowds generate rousing atmospheres, which in turn attract even more attendees.

 

5 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

A smidge under 7,000 more went to watch Magic than which went as part of the 44,000 to watch the Swans stay top of the ladder.

Magic at Suncorp is an occasion. For most fans, the decision to go is not influenced by their team's form. The Swans have crossed that threshold for all their games at the SCG. Just a question of the scale.

A majority of comments and forecasts on L.U. attendance threads betray a fixed belief that poor form inevitably means poor crowds. Nobody appears to think an NRL game is an event worth attending in and of itself.

AFL throngs are dismissed as cult members assembling for further indoctrination. The same contributors are also more likely to belittle NRL players, teams, games, and the comp as a whole. One gets the impression some Sydney NRL fans are happiest in a suburban-ground 10k crowd, stood on the hill yelling slurs at officials and players. Or performing similar rituals on their sofas and keyboards.

Despite all that, things are changing. I would say the crowd and TV ratings for Women's Origin are more significant, as regards the prospect of emulating AFL attendance culture, than the Magic Round sell-outs.

[Sports Prophet]

3 hours ago, Damien said:

Another problem that will no doubt be quickly glossed over. There seems to have been loads of really negative scandals around AFL recently but they always get quickly glossed over. They seem a match for RU in that regard and it doesnt half seem to get a free ride compared to Rugby League from the media:

Knox Football Netball Club team stood down indefinitely for allegedly ranking female players 'hot or not'

An entire footy team in Melbourne has been stood down indefinitely after sticking their feet out to trip female opposition players and shouting out "hot or not" rankings as they entered the field.

An entire team at Knox Football Netball Club has been stood down following claims the male players rated the physical appearance of Donvale Football Club’s female players and tried to trip them as they re-entered the field after half-time on Saturday.

Reports of the incident, which occurred in the Melbourne's Eastern Football League during the domestic violence awareness round, first emerged on Monday evening and reportedly involved a "development team" at Knox.

The men allegedly ranked their opposition as "hot or not," ordering them between one and 10 and under the categories of “yes”, “no” and “mediocre”.

3AW’s Jacqui Felgate revealed she spoke with a number of players from the league who fell victim to the behaviour of the rival club.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/knox-football-netball-club-team-stood-down-indefinitely-for-allegedly-ranking-female-players-hot-or-not/news-story/04dd372b4a4e4b153d988a5054c1fcc3

 

There have been scandals, but the example above for one, it obviously hasn’t been glossed over. It has made Sky News for one and the League have stood the team down. I wouldn’t call that glossed over. The matter has been dealt with and is no doubt being further dealt with.

Do we need to hear the story in the news with daily updates for a week for it to be considered not glossed over?

[Damien]

5 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

There have been scandals, but the example above for one, it obviously hasn’t been glossed over. It has made Sky News for one and the League have stood the team down. I wouldn’t call that glossed over. The matter has been dealt with and is no doubt being further dealt with.

Do we need to hear the story in the news with daily updates for a week for it to be considered not glossed over?

I'm talking generally. AFL very much gets a free ride compared to Rugby League and the media certainly doesnt dig for dirt the same way. It's very noticeable and similar to the way RU is treated in the UK in comparison to other sports.

Edited May 18, 2024 by Damien

[Sports Prophet]

47 minutes ago, Damien said:

I'm talking generally. AFL very much gets a free ride compared to Rugby League and the media certainly doesnt dig for dirt the same way. It's very noticeable and similar to the way RU is treated in the UK in comparison to other sports.

There has been coverage recently of racist behaviour at RL crowds, but it’s not like accusations of racism aren’t levelled in AFL as well and they sure do get media coverage.

AFL has had recent controversy well documented on their policy for players failing recreational drugs. Controversy over fan punch ups have made the headlines.

AFL gets its fair share of negative headlines, it’s just those headlines are naturally not as well documented in the media in Sydney or Brisbane. Residents in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth could equally level an accusation that indiscretions in RL are swept under the carpet because they don’t hit the headlines in their respective press or media outlets.

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

I'm talking generally. AFL very much gets a free ride compared to Rugby League and the media certainly doesnt dig for dirt the same way. It's very noticeable and similar to the way RU is treated in the UK in comparison to other sports.

It's not quite as favourable as RU (and golf, and cricket - spot a type here) in the UK but there's definitely a difference. Mind you, the reporting of NRL in Oz seems very similar to Premier League here in that, yes, stories do come out but in a superficial gossipy way that doesn't change anything and never really damages those with real power.

[EggFace]

20 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

A smidge under 7,000 more went to watch Magic than which went as part of the 44,000 to watch the Swans stay top of the ladder.

I know a sellout is a sellout, so it’s not like Suncorp could have fit more, but I think we are a very long way from seeing Melbourne Storm commanding a 44,000 audience for a regular season match. 

There is no mistaking Sydney Swans as the biggest sports club in NSW.

Swans maybe the biggest sports clubs for crowds in NSW but lets remember the Super League give a massive leg up for Aussie Rules in Sydney and Brisbane....what a gift.

[Sports Prophet]

56 minutes ago, EggFace said:

Swans maybe the biggest sports clubs for crowds in NSW but lets remember the Super League give a massive leg up for Aussie Rules in Sydney and Brisbane....what a gift.

Gotta convert your chances. Rugby League 1.01

[The Future is League]

10 hours ago, Damien said:

I'm talking generally. AFL very much gets a free ride compared to Rugby League and the media certainly doesnt dig for dirt the same way. It's very noticeable and similar to the way RU is treated in the UK in comparison to other sports.

Former AFL player Ben Cousins has admitted being a drugie all his adult life and never once tested positive for drugs in his AFL career. That alone tell you all you need to know about the AFL's drug policy, and let's not forget the case of the Essendon 34 players when it come's to drugs.

Edited May 18, 2024 by The Future is League

[unapologetic pedant]

On 17/05/2024 at 15:09, unapologetic pedant said:

Will be interesting to see the crowd for Giants v Bulldogs this weekend. I make it they haven't played at their supposed home ground since Round 1.

7747

Far cry from the big SCG turnout. Major setback for Giants on the field too.

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

Gotta convert your chances. Rugby League 1.01

Or - "Never look a gift horse in the mouth"

Like in this comedy nugget from Giants v Bulldogs - "Ward's horror assist for ex-team after kicking wrong way".

Piecing this together, some bloke called Ward, wearing a Giants tank top, who used to play for Western Bulldogs, didn't realize he was facing the GWS goalposts. Bulldogs player marked Mr. Ward's kick, said thank you very much, and booted a goal.

Probably the closest approximation in AFL to a Soccer own goal since, as I understand it, in the weird and wonderful world of Fumbleball, an actual own goal counts as a behind.

To be fair, I have seen tackled players in RL get up and play the ball the wrong way. Best one was DWZ when he was at Canterbury.

[Sports Prophet]

5 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

7747

Far cry from the big SCG turnout. Major setback for Giants on the field too.

Or - "Never look a gift horse in the mouth"

Like in this comedy nugget from Giants v Bulldogs - "Ward's horror assist for ex-team after kicking wrong way".

Piecing this together, some bloke called Ward, wearing a Giants tank top, who used to play for Western Bulldogs, didn't realize he was facing the GWS goalposts. Bulldogs player marked Mr. Ward's kick, said thank you very much, and booted a goal.

Probably the closest approximation in AFL to a Soccer own goal since, as I understand it, in the weird and wonderful world of Fumbleball, an actual own goal counts as a behind.

To be fair, I have seen tackled players in RL get up and play the ball the wrong way. Best one was DWZ when he was at Canterbury.

I will never forget big Martin Bella doing it in Origin. I was very young at the time. I was in stitches  

[Sports Prophet]

On 18/05/2024 at 23:44, unapologetic pedant said:

7747

Far cry from the big SCG turnout. Major setback for Giants on the field too.

27,200 at the Gabba for Brisbane on the weekend was pretty impressive considering Magic Weekend was on at the same time.

[Sports Prophet]

On 18/05/2024 at 23:30, The Future is League said:

Former AFL player Ben Cousins has admitted being a drugie all his adult life and never once tested positive for drugs in his AFL career. That alone tell you all you need to know about the AFL's drug policy, and let's not forget the case of the Essendon 34 players when it come's to drugs.

Not too dissimilar to a certain RL Immortal.

What has the AFL’s drug policy got to do with the discussion anyway? Or are you just saying things?

[unapologetic pedant]

9 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

27,200 at the Gabba for Brisbane on the weekend was pretty impressive considering Magic Weekend was on at the same time.

I thought that was surprisingly low. Never seen any evidence that RL events in Brisbane affect Lions crowds at the Gabba.

Last week Bombers got 37k v Giants. This week 43k v North. Both at Marvel. Allowing for any miscellaneous factors, seems like a good indication of the current supporter bases of Essendon and North.

By contrast, Collingwood got 37k v WCE at Marvel last week, 64k v Crows at the MCG this week. So both fixtures against out-of-town teams. Again, might be miscellaneous factors at play that I'm unaware of, but the most conspicuous dissimilarity is the venue.

Which begs the question - would Bombers have got substantially more against North at the MCG?

[The Future is League]

On 19/05/2024 at 01:44, unapologetic pedant said:

7747

Far cry from the big SCG turnout. Major setback for Giants on the field too.

Or - "Never look a gift horse in the mouth"

Like in this comedy nugget from Giants v Bulldogs - "Ward's horror assist for ex-team after kicking wrong way".

Piecing this together, some bloke called Ward, wearing a Giants tank top, who used to play for Western Bulldogs, didn't realize he was facing the GWS goalposts. Bulldogs player marked Mr. Ward's kick, said thank you very much, and booted a goal.

Probably the closest approximation in AFL to a Soccer own goal since, as I understand it, in the weird and wonderful world of Fumbleball, an actual own goal counts as a behind.

To be fair, I have seen tackled players in RL get up and play the ball the wrong way. Best one was DWZ when he was at Canterbury.

7747 .

They must have been counting arms and legs to come up with that crowd figure from the stills i see, but no doubt the AFL apologists will say that most of the crowd was in the bars sheltering from the Rain and Sun, and what ever the weather was in Sydney this past weekend

[The Future is League]

On 18/05/2024 at 15:13, Damien said:

I'm talking generally. AFL very much gets a free ride compared to Rugby League and the media certainly doesnt dig for dirt the same way. It's very noticeable and similar to the way RU is treated in the UK in comparison to other sports.

Without a doubt the AFL journalists are spineless when it comes to reporting drug problems, racism, women beating by AFL players or former AFL players.

AFL journalists know that they will lose their AFL match day accreditations if they write the truth in the about the above subjects. The AFL hates the truth about their game coming out, if it doesn't suit their agenda.

[unapologetic pedant]

On 20/05/2024 at 16:32, The Future is League said:

They must have been counting arms and legs to come up with that crowd figure from the stills i see, but no doubt the AFL apologists will say that most of the crowd was in the bars sheltering from the Rain and Sun, and what ever the weather was in Sydney this past weekend

Can a league with no promotion and relegation manage such vast disparities between some of its clubs in perpetuity?

Does AFL want a franchise in Western Sydney for the sake of it, regardless of costs and consequences?

GWS distorts the image fumblers want to project for their comp.

NRL are currently sitting pretty. Every franchise is manifestly viable, each with a mix of qualities, assets and prospects for growth. The politically-motivated PNG disaster-in-waiting could turn that around. Potentially a bigger millstone round the NRL's neck than Giants and Suns combined.

Edited May 22, 2024 by unapologetic pedant

[unapologetic pedant]

Dockers/Magpies ended in a 75-75 draw. Guess what levelled the scores? Spoiler alert - it wasn't a spectacular goal.

One of the goals that brought Freo within range came from a free kick when a Collingwood player handed the ball to a teammate rather than the umpire after a routine impasse. Thereby upgrading the ball-up to a balls-up. "Officious" call, according to the commentator.

"NRL officiating is in a poor state"

[The Future is League]

Racism rears it ugly head in the AFL again.

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/news-2024-racism-class-action-clubs-investigated/a0830be8-637e-43de-be46-5cadcfdeef78

[The Future is League]

Barry Cable.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-24/barry-cable-charged-with-sexual-abuse-young-girl/103891766

[The Future is League]

On 23/05/2024 at 01:24, unapologetic pedant said:

Can a league with no promotion and relegation manage such vast disparities between some of its clubs in perpetuity?

Does AFL want a franchise in Western Sydney for the sake of it, regardless of costs and consequences?

GWS distorts the image fumblers want to project for their comp.

NRL are currently sitting pretty. Every franchise is manifestly viable, each with a mix of qualities, assets and prospects for growth. The politically-motivated PNG disaster-in-waiting could turn that around. Potentially a bigger millstone round the NRL's neck than Giants and Suns combined.

GWS and GC are huge Financial black holes for the AFL, and this was one year ago and i suspect their funding is close to $30 million a year now.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2023-league-funding-for-afl-clubs-ladder-who-gets-the-most-money-list-assistance-north-melbourne-cost-of-funding-gold-coast-and-gws/news-story/3425722d96a28b632b3eeae1a17c5a6b

[unapologetic pedant]

7 hours ago, The Future is League said:

Barry Cable.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-24/barry-cable-charged-with-sexual-abuse-young-girl/103891766

Apropos AFL scandals, the Dean/Danielle Laidley saga is hard to beat.

[unapologetic pedant]

40 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

GWS and GC are huge Financial black holes for the AFL, and this was one year ago and i suspect their funding is close to $30 million a year now.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2023-league-funding-for-afl-clubs-ladder-who-gets-the-most-money-list-assistance-north-melbourne-cost-of-funding-gold-coast-and-gws/news-story/3425722d96a28b632b3eeae1a17c5a6b

North Melbourne are a major headache for AFL. Currently anchored at the bottom of the ladder with 11 straight losses. The club appears to be in terminal decline.

Sydney relocation failed. No other viable escape routes. Unlikely to get the sweetheart treatment afforded GWS and GCS. Would have made sense to merge their licence into the new Tas franchise. Akin to Fitzroy/Brisbane.

[unapologetic pedant]

I quite like AFL when the player in possession anticipates the tackle, raises the arms out in front, and gets a hand-pass away upon contact. 

Reminds me of round-the-corner offloads by ball-playing forwards in RL. The sort of skill we seldom see now that most tackles involve 2 or 3 defenders.

AFL tackles are usually one-on-one and scarcely more than a grab. Found out from Demons v Blues that robust tackling is too dangerous for fumblers.

[lucky 7]

On 19/05/2024 at 01:30, The Future is League said:

Former AFL player Ben Cousins has admitted being a drugie all his adult life and never once tested positive for drugs in his AFL career. That alone tell you all you need to know about the AFL's drug policy, and let's not forget the case of the Essendon 34 players when it come's to drugs.

Strange how AFL apologists don't want ti discuss this.