A-League to increase threat to AFL?

[The Frederick]

and what would young kids want to play in
the A-League
or the AFL
come back with an unbiast opinion and about 75% would say AFL
and 20% would say the Domestic Cricket league.

Why would they want to play in the AFL or cricket, when they know that they can play in the A-League, and then get a transfer to England?

But I wouldn't be surprised if you were right. This country always has settled for mediocrity.

 

[greenhat]

I dont think many teenagers think 'Im gonna switch sports cause theres a tiny chance I might make money in this other sport'

Teenage males leave soccer and go to one of the football codes because they get to an age where image is important and playing a non contact sport gets them no respect.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Why would they want to play in the AFL or cricket, when they know that they can play in the A-League, and then get a transfer to England?

You make it sound like its as easy to do as applying to uni
Kids nowdays(the vast majority, 70%+), and in the past, and in the future, enjoy AFL more then Europe, more money in AFL then in australian Soccer,
And why are we debating this, the "A league" will fall apart in 3-4 years and will only create another league
THis isnt a "oh im threatened by the sleeping giant" that is soccer, its more of a "i dont care because i know that soccer will not be able to compete with AFL for at least the next 20 years

 

[The Frederick]

Teenage males leave soccer and go to one of the football codes because they get to an age where image is important and playing a non contact sport gets them no respect.

LOL!

Sorry, but I'd much rather be any European football player than play a sport in which hotpants and groping are standard.

You make it sound like its as easy to do as applying to uni

It's very easy to get transferred to Europe if you're half decent. See: Adrian Leijer.

Kids nowdays(the vast majority, 70%+), and in the past, and in the future, enjoy AFL more then Europe, more money in AFL then in australian Soccer,
And why are we debating this, the "A league" will fall apart in 3-4 years and will only create another league
THis isnt a "oh im threatened by the sleeping giant" that is soccer, its more of a "i dont care because i know that soccer will not be able to compete with AFL for at least the next 20 years

You should be worried. There is far, far more money in football, and indeed, in Australia football, than there will ever be in AFL. You can't just sit there and hope we'll disappear this time. Every city, town, hamlet and swamp in the country is vying for a spot in the league, we're signing better and more well known players ever year, and we're being broadcast millions of people in Asia. And this is after three years! Three years!

Face it. We're popular, we're rich, and we're not going away.

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

However though give the A-League 10-20 years then I believe that we will be a very respected competition throughout the world. The standard of soccer will be vastly better during this time.

Gotta disagree.

In 10 -20 years there will be ssentially a global champions league, albeit with European clubs, but they'll have two 'home grounds' in that say Real Madrid will play a certain number of games in an Asian city etc.

The A-League will never move beyond minnow feeder league.

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

Interesting line in The Age yesterday from FFA Chief Executive Ben Buckley:

Buckley flagged the introduction of a national youth league for next season, with the clubs linked to A-League sides

Surely such a move would send the AFL into hysterics. Soccer is the AFL's biggest concern - any form of junior competition from a rival sport would concern them greatly. Could we possibly see the AFL adopt something similar - such as a 10 or 12 week interstate competition from 2009 onwards? The AFL are already moving in the direction of expanding the U16 and U18 National Carnivals.

I suspect some big changes on the cards in the AFL beyond this year - perhaps even the abolishment of the TAC Cup.

Why do you have to start an argument between world football fans and AFL fans, mate. If you wanna do that just ring SEN, where it happens all day.
Just look at most big footy posters and you will see that the other teams they support are actually soccer teams.
Who cares if kids chose to play soccer rather than footy, it's better than choosing to do drugs or hanging out causing trouble.
This argument can start a war here in Oz.

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

Please take Carlton off your team you are an absoloute dick... Soccer doesn't have to be worried it's already the number one sport in such illustrious countries such as Mozambique, El Salvador and Serbia.. Really global powerhouses there

If AFL was played in these countries though Bluegene, it would be used as bragging material. It would splashed all over those biased papers we read.
And please don't bagd Serbia, it has produced some of the best soccer players the world has seen. And they earn more in a week than most AFL players earn in a year.

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

In Australia soccer will never become bigger than footy unless the A League can draw big name European/South American players, which I can't see happening.

Sydney FC brought over Dwight Yorke in it's first year in business and paid him close to $1M.
Melb Victory, in it's second year in business brought over a Brazilian in Fred, with that he gave us success both on and off the field. Champions in 07, and crowd averages of over 30000 per game. Imagine if they bring back a Mark Viduka.
In year 3 of the A-league we saw a number of high profile players such as world cup winner Juninho, Costa Rican international Hernandez, Ex Brazilian international Jardel, Michael Bridges from Leeds, Aloisi, Moore, Tiato, have also come back and more will continue to do so.

 

[Hawkers]

I heard the coach of the national soccer team on sports tonight or the news say that any German teams training session is better than the a-league in terms of quality and skill

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

And then when they get to their mid-teens they start converting to AFL because they realise the chances of them emulating Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill etc are very limited. On the other hand with AFL lists combined totalling approximately 700 players, the odds of getting on to an AFL list are far greater.

Not many will become Kewell, Cahill etc but they still have the opportunity to play the game by going to smaller leagues. Just check how many average players are making a living in Europe.

Also that's crap it's easier to get on an AFL list. There was something like 700 kids trying out for this years draft (my cousin was one of them) and how many got drafted, about 50. Now these kids can look forward to playing in lower leagues, the same as young soccer players.

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

I heard the coach of the national soccer team on sports tonight or the news say that any German teams training session is better than the a-league in terms of quality and skill

Hawker, he also said that the league is only in it's 3rd year and in a few years time it will be of a very good standard once a youth league is introduced.

A point most people overlook is that AFL has all it's players here playing in one league.Of course it's going to be a strong competition.
If all the Australian soccer players playing overseas came back and played in the A-league it would be world class. Probably in the top 5 in the world.

 

[Hawkers]

Hawker, he also said that the league is only in it's 3rd year and in a few years time it will be of a very good standard once a youth league is introduced.

A point most people overlook is that AFL has all it's players here playing in one league.Of course it's going to be a strong competition.
If all the Australian soccer players playing overseas came back and played in the A-league it would be world class. Probably in the top 5 in the world.

Do you honestly think that the Australian team is the 5th best in the world?
Because that is what it sounds like you're saying.

I think you're point is highly debatable because if every country had their players go home and play in their leagues there then those leagues would be a lot better as well

 

[Deenamite]

Why would they want to play in the AFL or cricket, when they know that they can play in the A-League, and then get a transfer to England?

But I wouldn't be surprised if you were right. This country always has settled for mediocrity.

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

I dont think many teenagers think 'Im gonna switch sports cause theres a tiny chance I might make money in this other sport'

Teenage males leave soccer and go to one of the football codes because they get to an age where image is important and playing a non contact sport gets them no respect.

Wrong mate, it has nothing to do with body conatct, if it did then why is the AFL heading towards the same non-contact philosophy?

The truth is that they were leaving the sport because the previous soccer administration was in all sorts and kids and their parents were fed up. They had no team to follow in the big league therefore kids were discouraged to continue playing and dreaming of the big league.
Kids would hardly find aspiring playing for Melb Croatia or South Melb Hellas in front of 5000 people.

Now though they have an opprtunity to play in a half decent comp in front of 25000+ fans earning more than $100000. With the chance of playing overseas if they are good enough.

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

Do you honestly think that the Australian team is the 5th best in the world?
Because that is what it sounds like you're saying.


I think you're point is highly debatable because if every country had their players go home and play in their leagues there then those leagues would be a lot better as well

No, I said that if kewell, cahill, emerton, schwarzer, bresciano, grella, viduka etc etc were all playing in the A-league it could be in the top 5 leagues in the world. We get top crowds going to games and they are played in great stadiums. So there is the potential one day.


The best leagues in the world i.e England, Spain, Italy do have most of their top players playing in their domestic leagues. This is why they get so much exposure and standard is so high.

Look mate, I'm not trying to be a smartarse and be anti AFL because I'm not, but I am sick to death when I read and hear soccer is boring, non-contact etc. If you haven't played the game, you dont know how hard it is, so don't comment. Better still, dont mention soccer on an AFL forum because there are a lot of soccer followers who enjoy both sports.
It's time to put this argument to bed.
The two sports are different in many aspects and that's what makes them so likeable, if you dont like it dont watch it, simple. Go Hawks and Melb Victory.

 

[Bourky23]

Oh, I'm not under that impression, AFL fans are. They've gotten this idea that Australia is the centre of the universe, and that if they beat football here they beat it everywhere and AFL will become the most popular sport in the world.

the best post i've ever read on bigfooty... so very true.. afl fans say football is no threat to aussie rules and that they aren't worried.. but go into hysterics as soon as somebody dare mention the word soccer

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

the best post i've ever read on bigfooty... so very true.. afl fans say football is no threat to aussie rules and that they aren't worried.. but go into hysterics as soon as somebody dare mention the word soccer

Agree 100% bourky

 

[that_dood]

This is rather amusing. I really enjoy soccer and try get to Glory games and watch the EPL, but seriously. All you ex-pats out there who are trying to tell us that AUSTRALIA'S No. 1 game will be overrun and conquered by the world game are knobs. Considering that cricket is bigger than soccer in summer, AFL is bigger than soccer all year round, and most Australians may well enjoy soccer but ultimately forget about round balls when the temperature drops come easter.

And also what's to say that we can't have a competitive A-League that clashes with the AFL in 10 years time. It won't happen but if it did, it's just more sport to watch. I wouldn't be jumping up and down.

 

[Punt Road Feral]

This is rather amusing. I really enjoy soccer and try get to Glory games and watch the EPL, but seriously. All you ex-pats out there who are trying to tell us that AUSTRALIA'S No. 1 game will be overrun and conquered by the world game are knobs. Considering that cricket is bigger than soccer in summer, AFL is bigger than soccer all year round, and most Australians may well enjoy soccer but ultimately forget about round balls when the temperature drops come easter.

And also what's to say that we can't have a competitive A-League that clashes with the AFL in 10 years time. It won't happen but if it did, it's just more sport to watch. I wouldn't be jumping up and down.

Are you serious?
If your comparing domestic leagues we all know which league players earn more money and who shits on who in the crowds.
If your talking about internationally Australian fans in Soccer sing the nation anthem louder than any code i know compared to ********s who sing racists chants to Indians but are percieved but the media as "good ole Aussie blokes letting of some steam" its unbelievable how it is tolerated in a proud country like Australia

.


Dont get me wrong. Both Aussie Rules and Soccer are great sports for different reasons and i love them equally.
One thing though the A-League has done right before the AFL is there one team per town policy which has worked a charm.
But AFL has a better product eg. 3 hours of watching the footy compared to 2 hours at the A-League.

 

[that_dood]

Are you serious?
If your comparing domestic leagues we all know which league players earn more money and who shits on who in the crowds.
If your talking about internationally Australian fans in Soccer sing the nation anthem louder than any code i know compared to ********s who sing racists chants to Indians but are percieved but the media as "good ole Aussie blokes letting of some steam" its unbelievable how it is tolerated in a proud country like Australia

.


Dont get me wrong. Both Aussie Rules and Soccer are great sports for different reasons and i love them equally.
One thing though the A-League has done right before the AFL is there one team per town policy which has worked a charm.
But AFL has a better product eg. 3 hours of watching the footy compared to 2 hours at the A-League.

If the A-League had their way they would have 10 teams in Sydney! And you are right that more people are going to watch a nil-all draw between Sydney and Melbourne than the second day of a Pura Cup match between the Vics and NSW. But more people are listening to the cricket on the radio, reading the papers and watching the cricket on TV than the A-League. More people will be interested in the current Adelaide test than the Socceroos playing Qatar.

My last point is that Soccer will not progress with no free-to-air matches. Socceroos matches must be on SBS and even some A-League matches on SBS i.e. Match of the week or something.

 

[Hawk Glory 08]

If the A-League had their way they would have 10 teams in Sydney! And you are right that more people are going to watch a nil-all draw between Sydney and Melbourne than the second day of a Pura Cup match between the Vics and NSW. But more people are listening to the cricket on the radio, reading the papers and watching the cricket on TV than the A-League. More people will be interested in the current Adelaide test than the Socceroos playing Qatar.

My last point is that Soccer will not progress with no free-to-air matches. Socceroos matches must be on SBS and even some A-League matches on SBS i.e. Match of the week or something.

Once upon a time I would have agreed with you and said that free to air soccer was a neccesity for the game to grow but not any more, soon everyone will have pay tv and then we wont have anything to worry about.

Also on the point you make that more people will be interested in Adelaide test rather than Qatar game, that's absurd.
You're only saying that because you're from Adelaide and you're only hearing the test match hype. The Qatar game is nearly a sell out and will be packed with 55,000.
The third test will get 55,000 over the next 5 days.
We are two weeks away from the Qatar game and the hype is growing. It's only going to get louder when o/s players arrive.

 

[Hawkers]

No, I said that if kewell, cahill, emerton, schwarzer, bresciano, grella, viduka etc etc were all playing in the A-league it could be in the top 5 leagues in the world. We get top crowds going to games and they are played in great stadiums. So there is the potential one day.


The best leagues in the world i.e England, Spain, Italy do have most of their top players playing in their domestic leagues. This is why they get so much exposure and standard is so high.

Look mate, I'm not trying to be a smartarse and be anti AFL because I'm not, but I am sick to death when I read and hear soccer is boring, non-contact etc. If you haven't played the game, you dont know how hard it is, so don't comment. Better still, dont mention soccer on an AFL forum because there are a lot of soccer followers who enjoy both sports.
It's time to put this argument to bed.
The two sports are different in many aspects and that's what makes them so likeable, if you dont like it dont watch it, simple. Go Hawks and Melb Victory.

I have played soccer for a very long time. I have even played against visiting international youth teams. I was into soccer around the WC in America.
I gave it a chance and I don't like it at all

 

[Punt Road Feral]

If the A-League had their way they would have 10 teams in Sydney! And you are right that more people are going to watch a nil-all draw between Sydney and Melbourne than the second day of a Pura Cup match between the Vics and NSW. But more people are listening to the cricket on the radio, reading the papers and watching the cricket on TV than the A-League. More people will be interested in the current Adelaide test than the Socceroos playing Qatar.

My last point is that Soccer will not progress with no free-to-air matches. Socceroos matches must be on SBS and even some A-League matches on SBS i.e. Match of the week or something.

Of course cricket will have more exposure than Soccer when its on free to air. Soccer needs to be on pay tv because all good free to air channels hate soccer (bar channel 10) channel 7 single handledly tried to kill the NSL and 9 is obsessed with cricket. Supposedly Packer before he died was trying to get involved with the A-League too.

A lot of people say how soccer is boring but how about cricket.
I would rather

all saturday than just stand out there in 40 degree heat and wait for a ball to roll to me.

 

[that_dood]

Once upon a time I would have agreed with you and said that free to air soccer was a neccesity for the game to grow but not any more, soon everyone will have pay tv and then we wont have anything to worry about.

Also on the point you make that more people will be interested in Adelaide test rather than Qatar game, that's absurd.
You're only saying that because you're from Adelaide and you're only hearing the test match hype. The Qatar game is nearly a sell out and will be packed with 55,000.
The third test will get 55,000 over the next 5 days.
We are two weeks away from the Qatar game and the hype is growing. It's only going to get louder when o/s players arrive.

I didn't realise that Fremantle was in Adelaide. Must be that idea that if your not Victorian, we don't care where you are.

Back on topic. How does a youth soccer league threaten the nation's No. 1 sport?

 

[Punt Road Feral]

I didn't realise that Fremantle was in Adelaide. Must be that idea that if your not Victorian, we don't care where you are.

Back on topic. How does a youth soccer league threaten the nation's No. 1 sport?

I think its about a path for the youth to aspire too which never used to be there.