Will International footy reshape Australian Football?

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Will International footy reshape Australian Football?

Authored by: Peter Parry
on Tuesday, November 10 2009 @ 07:30 pm ACDT

All other sports have smaller versions to aid greater participation, game development and marketing. Soccer has both indoor and outdoor 5-a-side, cricket has 8-a-side and also 20:20 time limited, Rugby has the very successful Rugby 7's which will now give the slightly ailing code a huge boost through the Olympics, Rugby League has a 9's version and of course the immensely popular "touch football" version Brett plays, even basketball has a 3-a-side version. Gridiron has flag football.

Aussie Rules - requiring a huge field and large numbers of players - more than any other game needs a more organised widely played smaller version, particularly for development and participation purposes. 9-a-side offers this as does the 8-a-side non-contact co-ed "Recfooty" version.

Most Australian primary schools are more suited to 9's, as are some high schools, yet many no longer have footy teams since they couldn't raise a 22 or a squad large enough to support 18 on the field, or the oval was shortened for extra classrooms. 9's tournaments can quicken the pace of international growth (as the EU Cup shows). Recfooty is a belated attempt to enter the social sports market - but better late than never.

What is lacking is AFL promotion and marketing of these smaller forms of the game. The AFL could and should organise a lightening carnival with Netball Australia for both RecFooty and recreational mixed netball - other celebrities could be coopted. This would boost recognition of RecFooty that is mostly unknown to the wider public and even to most footy fans. AFL clubs could also play a lightening carnival of tackle 9-a-side - this could be organised as a promotion of schools' 9's cups.

A 9's international cup, held perhaps every 4 years, 2 years apart from a full 18 on the field International Cup that goes to a 4 year format - would allow for more countries to enter than can financially and logistically field a full team at their stage of development. AFL or State of Origin 9's could be used to promote a 9's international tournament. At a divisional level some countries may be able to compete with Australian state, amateur or even AFL sides in a 9's format years or decades before they could in the full format. Ultimately a widely played 9's version could even be considered for Commonwealth or Olympic games (though way in the future from now).

Shorter versions don't detract from other codes' full sized games, they give rise to more people with appreciation of the game and thus potential fans and players of the full version. Australian Football needs a more prominent half sized version - both contact and non-contact/social.

Will International footy reshape Australian Football?

Authored by: Michael Christiansen
on Tuesday, November 10 2009 @ 08:33 pm ACDT

I'm involved with a VAFA lower grade club, and am seriously looking at getting initially a 9's pre-season lightning premiership happening....as an introduction for clubs and players to the 9's format.

(from our perspective, player numbers are often limited in the lead up to the season due guys still playing cricket).

I'd love to get a full blown tournament to evolve out of it (inc. womens, old f@rts etc)...but, we'll get past the first hurdle first.

anyway, if anyone is interested in being involved.....let me know.

(I kinda wonder whether a mid-week 4-6 week 9's season could work where often clubs early in a season have surplus players who keep missing out on Saturdays.)

anyway, just a few thoughts.

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