Draw @@@@ UP

[Norris Lurker]

Originally posted by robbieando
Don't forget the AFL vowed to pay Union back by any means possible, after Union put their big matches up against Swans matches in Sydney which effected our crowds. If the AFL do have first rights to the ground and I believe they do, then the ARU have no option but to either move to a different time that weekend or hold the Australia leg at a different time.

BTW does anyone have a link to that article????

Here it is:

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/06/29/1088487967517.html

The AFL wouldn't have put that draw out if they weren't sure the ground was available; so they must be confident they've got the ground, and the rugby union will have to find another date.

[liz]

The wording of the piece in the Tele implies that it is an error at the Telstra Stadium end - ie that both codes think they have gone through the appropriate process to book the venue for that date but that somewhere someone's wires have been crossed.

[Bart]

Originally posted by DST
The AFL and Swans were the only ones to put money into the reconfiguration of the stadium. As part of that deal it meant we have first dips for scheduling at Telstra Stadium during the winter football months.

The Rugby Union will be looking for another date this year or a venue change which is unlikely.

DST

Mark my words, the ARU will win through. Bledisloe is the biggest grossing football match of any kind in Australia (AFL and NRL GF included). Just because AFL released its fixture doesn't mean ARU hadn't the venue booked.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Bart
Mark my words, the ARU will win through. Bledisloe is the biggest grossing football match of any kind in Australia (AFL and NRL GF included). Just because AFL released its fixture doesn't mean ARU hadn't the venue booked.

This could make for an interesting Double header, Crowd wise anyway!!

[Bart]

Originally posted by ScottH
This could make for an interesting Double header, Crowd wise anyway!!

Heh heh. I like it !

[Damien]

Originally posted by Bart
Mark my words, the ARU will win through. Bledisloe is the biggest grossing football match of any kind in Australia (AFL and NRL GF included). Just because AFL released its fixture doesn't mean ARU hadn't the venue booked.

So what? If the AFL have a contract in place it is bye bye Union on that night.

[Bart]

Originally posted by Damien
So what? If the AFL have a contract in place it is bye bye Union on that night.

just saying that article sounded like both AFL and ARU have contracts. And that union could get precedence.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by ScottH
This could make for an interesting Double header, Crowd wise anyway!!

Lots of Chardonnay sippers either way.....what's the problem?!?!

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Mike_B
Lots of Chardonnay sippers either way.....what's the problem?!?!

But do designer jeans and the latest mobile phones really 'go' with an old school tweed jacket and Cranbrook Old Boys tie? I think NOT!

Good to see the AFL is playing hardball with the bombastic ARU tossers. What is the bet that lot get their way, again? Personally I'll be spewing (but not surprised) if they do!!!!!

If I was the AFL I'd be playing hardball with the Telstra Stadium Trust as well. It is high time the AFL realised that being lovey-dovey may win us friends in Sydney. But will NOT get us where we want to be as a code in Sydney.

We owe the union back big time for their complete lack of diplomacy last season.

Say what you like about rugby league and the NRL, but they are generally always accommodating with us so our big games do NOT clash.

JF

[barry]

Originally posted by Bart
Mark my words, the ARU will win through.

I wouldnt mind if the RU get that night, if it means both codes work together in the future. But hats off to the AFL. Now whatever is negotiated, they will dictate the terms.
(Pity they cant do that with the MCC)

Bledisloe is the biggest grossing football match of any kind in Australia (AFL and NRL GF included).

As if.

[OldE]

This will be fun. My friend and I have a constant AFL v. Rugby debate. She's always having a go at the "tight short boys" (stuck in the '80s), yet was happy enough to accept a membership (I didn't want to sit alone, so bought two. Man, THAT was expensive. The problem with having no friend who like REAL footy).

Anyway, I called her tonight, and she's sworn to boycott all future AFL matches if the Bledisloe is moved. I hope it is moved- it'd serve the ARU right for being such bloody prima donnas. They only release about 10,000 Bledisloe tickets to the general public. That's not football- that's just corporate entertainment. I don't care if it would win all of NSW over, if AFL did that I would give up on it.


Erin

PS Did you know 4-5 times as many kids plays Aussie Rules in NSW as Rugby? I wrote a paper the growth of football codes last year. Aussie Rules is only slightly behind league, whereas Rugby has terrible number- less than 10,000 registered junior players, and that includes the GPS comp! No wonder they're scared.

[peterh_oz]

Originally posted by eirinn
Did you know 4-5 times as many kids plays Aussie Rules in NSW as Rugby? I wrote a paper the growth of football codes last year. Aussie Rules is only slightly behind league, whereas Rugby has terrible number- less than 10,000 registered junior players, and that includes the GPS comp! No wonder they're scared.

I wonder if your figures include/exclude "auskick" run in/after school? When looking strictly at weekend or out-of-school competition we are a long way behind and there's still a lot of work to do. HOWEVER hats off to the AFL(NSW/ACT) and AFL (National ie Victoria) for lifting us from almost nowhere to a distant-but-at-least-somewhere. Still too many H's on rectangular fields for my liking though

One day ...

At least footy these days is a viable option for kids, not a "left-field" minor sport.

[OldE]

It did include Auskick, so I guess it's inaccurate. The main point of the paper was to assess the effect of Super 12 on junior level rugby. I compared its growth to that of Aussie Rules and League. Even though league is the hands-down winner, it has had very little growth in the last 10 years, whereas Aussie Rules in NSW has grown significantly. Rugby has grown at a similar pace since '97, but the numbers have increased from around 3.000 to 10,000.

It's interesting, though to see the way the two products are marketed. Even my Rugby-loving friends will admit, when pressed, that Aussie Rules is far more fan-friendly. I am forever dragging them to some training session or day at the races or something. They invariably moan that Rugby has no such luxuries, and that fans are not respected.

Erin

PS This is exciting. I am all inspired with a topic for my honours thesis. I was going to look at the early history of Aussie Rules in Sydney (i.e. up to 1900) but I found out that had been done. So now I'm thinking that I may look at the expansion of AFL into Sydney since 1982. It would an interesting topic. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!!!!!

[Matt79]

Originally posted by eirinn


Erin

PS Did you know 4-5 times as many kids plays Aussie Rules in NSW as Rugby? I wrote a paper the growth of football codes last year. Aussie Rules is only slightly behind league, whereas Rugby has terrible number- less than 10,000 registered junior players, and that includes the GPS comp! No wonder they're scared.

Interesting point Erin. I am a primary school teacher in North West Sydney (public and proud of it!) and have established our school's first ever AFL team which competes in the Paul Kelly Cup and an annual game against another local school.

On June 26th this year in the lead up to the Swans V Collingwood game I organised a "Red and White Day". 600 children and staff dressed in red and white clothes, painted posters and practised Cheer Cheer to sing to Jared Crouch, Heath James and Scott McGlone who visited our school. The children were in awe of the players and bless the Swannies they even gave us 30 free tickets to take some children to the Collingwood game. We took 30 children who have never been before and 5 staff and well we have some staff who are absolute converts not to mentions LOTS AND LOTS OF KIDS!!

The tide is turning and now on the school oval, AFL footballs are flying around instead of soccer and league footies.

The Swannies and AFL are making inroads into Sydney and NSW!
It will take time but we are on the right track!

Also our district is establishing the first PSSA AFL comp (weekly sport between schools) in our area. Fingers crossed it gets going!

[peterh_oz]

Originally posted by eirinn
This is exciting. I am all inspired with a topic for my honours thesis. I was going to look at the early history of Aussie Rules in Sydney (i.e. up to 1900) but I found out that had been done. So now I'm thinking that I may look at the expansion of AFL into Sydney since 1982. It would an interesting topic. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!!!!!

For those interested ...

NSW Football History