Cape Town canned - again! - World Footy News

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Cape Town canned - again!

Authored by: Sean Finlayson
on Wednesday, September 02 2009 @ 06:27 pm ACST

Since my comment which summed up the situation perfectly was deleted (read censored), I will elaborate.

I think these ridiculous games the AFL keeps playing with South Africa is an absolute disgrace. It shows complete disrespect and vision for our game's future from the powers to be.

Experience even at home with Tasmania has made it blatantly obvious that the AFL cares about only three things - television audiences, money and talent. Now this short sighted, arrogant and greedy message from AFL House has spread to South Africa, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. While some of these interests are compatible to a small extent with game development, on the whole the AFL offers only fools gold for these developing nations. For a governing body it is simply not ethical behaviour.

FIFA are putting their money where their mouth is in South Africa but our governing body of our game is chasing television money in a limited market with two very expensive white elephants. The AFL has to come to terms with the fact that it is a little fish in a tiny pond that is both drying up and giant whales are jumping into. So this is an unfathomably short sighted decision.

It may please the AFL to know in a year when it and the media were been bleating of a coup de grace over rugby league that NRL crowds and TV audiences are at almost record levels while the AFL's are in steep decline. And you can't put it all down to fixturing and the global economic crisis.

Cape Town canned - again!

Authored by: Aaron Richard
on Wednesday, September 02 2009 @ 08:49 pm ACST

Not really relevant, but if I can be a pedant for a moment, you do know that "coup de grâce" means a mercy killing of someone who's already mortally wounded? I don't anyone at the AFL thinks it has performed a coup de grâce on the NRL.

Cape Town canned - again!

Authored by: Sean Finlayson
on Wednesday, September 02 2009 @ 09:58 pm ACST

Yes, that is exactly what I meant. Officially the line is that it will take more than one generation. However there are some people very high up at AFL House who are so convinced that league is rubbish that they are blind to the challenges that they face. That is why they've already spent so much and will continue to do so - because they think defeating league is a cakewalk. They still assume rugby league fans will convert in droves simply once they see it. Why do you think they paid $3 million for Karmichael Hunt ? But can you imagine rugby league becoming a popular sport in Melbourne ? That is as likely as AFL becoming popular in western Sydney. Its a war that can't be won.

If the game continues to grow in South Africa, then expect many more people in NSW and QLD to take an interest. Its the good old cultural cringe. The flow ons of the game's popularity in PNG is already having and effect in QLD - at a time when the Lions are at the bottom of the ladder. But without the AFL's full support, it will not continue to grow as fast or faster than Queensland or New South Wales.

Cape Town canned - again!

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Wednesday, September 02 2009 @ 10:14 pm ACST

As you know Sean all that was censored was name calling, but let's move on.

You make lots of statements there in those last 2 emails. I'm curious what your reasoning is behind them.

You're a big fan of spreading the game more in QLD and NSW. You've stated before that international development will help that cause. It's in your bio on this site right now. And I agree, to some extent, but the primary driver will be investment and clubs in those states in my opinion. For many years I've been hoping the AFL will take the plunge and add second sides, in my opinion it was the logical thing to do that would create the rivalry required to spur on many aspects, so I was delighted to see them announce it. If you think they are white elephants and don't want the new clubs, how do you propose they fast track the game in those states. Surely you don't think world penetration and a resultant increase in interest QLD and NSW would happen within 30 years? What exactly is it that you think will bring about the growth in those states that you desire?

Also, are you saying PNG and NZ have been badly done by this year?

And is the small decrease in minor round crowds this year greater than the underlying statistical variation of the last 20 years? Are NRL crowds relevant? Is it a one to one war to take a regular patron from one sport to another?

What are you referring to when you say PNG's success is helping interest in Brisbane? I must be mis-reading your statement it sounded like you are suggesting PNG's growth or success in footy has somehow helped the Brisbane Lions AFL side be more popular? Obviously you can't be saying that, I'm confused.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Cape Town canned - again!

Authored by: Jake Anson
on Thursday, September 03 2009 @ 02:29 am ACST

There is a fringe within our community that plays up a life-or-death struggle that Australian football is engaged in, and I don't believe that sensationalism does any good for the sport.

The AFL is an entirely different beast to FIFA, so comparing their commitment to sports development is silly. For one, FIFA is an international body, guaranteed revenue from international tournaments and founded for the express purpose of developing soccer and coordinating international fixtures. The AFL is charged with organizing a national football competition and its development portfolio is a responsibility that has been assumed in the absence of an international governing body wealthy and influential enough to adequately perform the role. You can hardly blame the AFL for focusing upon the development of the Australian national competition when the development of football overseas is tied to the financial success of the game in Australia.

Markets are globalizing and people all over the world watch the AFL on a weekly basis. The AFL is hardly a 'little fish in a tiny pond' - it is the largest fish in a mid-size pond at worst. Australia is a very dynamic sporting economy. There may not be a large population, but the standard of living ensures that there is a disproportionately lucrative sporting market in Australia that the AFL enjoys primacy in.

By investing in QLD and NSW, the AFL is ensuring that it maintains its #1 position and will expand its domestic exposure, which bodes well for the international scene eventually. In the mean time, the number of clubs overseas are growing healthily each year without substantial support from outside, which proves that our grassroots international programs are financially viable and sustainable without AFL help.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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