Cul's Sports Bar

[Cayal]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

but they do have the popular and successful Titans to compete with.

From what I hear, the Titans have no money.

[Culhwch]

Yeah, but what rugby league club does? It'd be a concern if they were losing every game and drawing small crowds, but I think they'll weather it.

[tangaloomababe]

The Sports bar is still open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its been awhile since Ive been in............ place still looks nice Cul. I guess we are watching world cup but did anyone see QLD demolish NSW last night?

[Culhwch]

You'll find me bemoaning the game a few posts back, Tanga. And it's good to see you again!

[tangaloomababe]

Cul just reading snippets of past posts, obviouslly the money they are offer Folau is the reason for his defection, I guess only time will tell if he is any good. I supose the same can be said of Carmichal Hunt who has been headhunted for Gold Coast Team.
I recall when the first interstate teams entered the Afl and we viewed them with much hate here in the hethan state! Still hate them and there is a general view that we would rather Collingwood win a grand final than an interstate team and thats saying something!!!! As to whether QLD and NSW can sustain another AFL side well I have my doubts. No doubt Gold coast have a very nice financial backing but will they win and sustain a fan base. Then again Fremantle seem to not only have survived entering the league but are now starting to do well. They have two AFL teams in WA and they both have a reasonable support base.
Its would be nice though if QLD actually telecast AFL matches, unless things have changed, the last time I was in QLD the only time you could see an AFL match was very very late at night, if at all.

Cully your right its got to get a bit boring playing the same damm team each year and beating them so convincingly each year!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

There's two things I'm sure of. The first is that AFL absolutley dominates league when it comes to crowd numbers (this is an interesting page), TV coverage, mechandising, revenue, and whatever other measure you want to use. The other is that league is a far superior sport, and it's not surprising the heathens in Victoria don't realise this...

League is never going to compete with AFL in territories like Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. The Storm have survived, but not much else. I don't know the figures but I'd be shocked if they didn't operate at a significant loss. If they hadn't enjoyed the (highly questionable) success they have, I wonder if they'd have gone the way of the Adelaide Rams and the Western Reds. League really needs to look at expanding within rather than without (if that makes any sense) and put teams in heartlands like the NSW and Queensland central coasts. And cut a few Sydney teams from the comp. Immediate heartache for long term gain.

The AFL do marginally better in the Sydney and Brisbane market, though I wonder if the two new teams will draw that many new supporters, or just divide the existing fanbases. I was surprised to see the Swans drew an average of thirty thousand to home games. That's a good number, but are there another thirty thousand willing to follow the GWS team? Gold Coast obviously have an advantage here, being geographically removed from the competition, but they do have the popular and successful Titans to compete with. The next couple of years will be interesting.

And then there's union, but no one cares about union except doctors, lawyers, and private school graduates...

Whoa!...good to see that Queensland fire is still burning brightly....

I of course can't agree on Rugby being a superior code to AFL but that may well depend upon what you were brought up on.

Those comments of yours certainly provide food for thoguht. Listening to the AFL head honchos down here and various commentators the expectation is that because the 2 new teams are getting extraordinary concessions in terms of first round picks (to an extent at the cost of the current weaker teams), drawing good established players from other teams with wads of cash etc. that they may have some short term success after 2 - 3 years. However, it s also expected tat they sill need about 20 years before becoming an established team. The Sydney Swans have a pretty good regular fan base now but that took a good 20 years to achieve and of course the Premiership win in '05 was a kind of icing on the cake/justification for the AFL strategists.

My perceptions living in Melbourne are that whilst not perfect by any means, the AFL just seems to be more professionally run and the players in general better coached/educated etc. in terms of how to handle the media than their Rugby counterparts. What is your take on this aspect?

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

I really think the Blues need to do whatever it takes to get Phil Gould back into the fold. He's the only person ever associated with the New South Wales team that has understood the Queensland attitude, and brought something similar to the Blues.

Yeh! There's my man again...Mr. Gould. As per a previous discussion, whenever I watch the NRL "footy" show I am always impressed by the way Gould is able to articulate issues and strategies relating to the game; especially insightful for someone who doesn't follow Rugby on a regular basis.

[Quokka]

Originally Posted by tangaloomababe

Then again Fremantle seem to not only have survived entering the league but are now starting to do well. They have two AFL teams in WA and they both have a reasonable support base.

I'm pretty sure both WA teams are only behind Collingwood for being the most financially secure clubs and that's despite Freo sucking since we entered bit of an evener for the travel disadvantages but it's a lot easier without competition and WA has always been predominantly AFL focused, the WAFL doesn't get many now but in it's hey day the crowds used to pack in the same as the VFL.

But same as most people I'd be suprised if GWS find it as easy. It wasn't that long ago that Roos said that Sydney can't afford to 'bottom out' and rebuild, the fans just wouldn't accept it and it would be too big a strain on the club. I know they're talking about Tasmania being the next club but I really wish they had been in front of GWS. Gold Coast will do fine but it would be great to see Tassy have a club of their own rather then having other clubs selling their home games away.

[Cayal]

Tasmania should have gotten the GWS team. I was down in Tassie this past weekend and they are keen footy fans. They would no doubt have a stronger fan base then the GWS team and people down there really only have one choice of team to support.

But same as most people I'd be suprised if GWS find it as easy. It wasn't that long ago that Roos said that Sydney can't afford to 'bottom out' and rebuild, the fans just wouldn't accept it and it would be too big a strain on the club.

They struggled last year and crowds weren't there. I expect Gold Coast to do well, I don't see Sydney maintaining two teams.

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

My perceptions living in Melbourne are that whilst not perfect by any means, the AFL just seems to be more professionally run and the players in general better coached/educated etc. in terms of how to handle the media than their Rugby counterparts. What is your take on this aspect?

Having very little to do with AFL I can't really comment on that. On the surface it would appear that the overall management of the code is probably more competant and efficient. As far as players being better coached and educated, I think it's probably a level playing field. I see just as many controversies dogging AFL players as NRL players. I think the truth of the matter is that ninety-five percent of players in both codes are decent, upstanding men, and the other five percent give the rest of them a bad name...

Originally Posted by Tanga

Its would be nice though if QLD actually telecast AFL matches, unless things have changed, the last time I was in QLD the only time you could see an AFL match was very very late at night, if at all.

Wow, that sounds like paradise! Actually, some weekends there's probably more live AFL on than NRL. Nine shows one game of league live and one delayed on a Friday night, then another delayed game on Sunday. I believe the AFL is on live both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and occasionally Saturday nights if the Lions are playing (delayed if they are at home). Don't quote me one that, but it seems like every weekend whenever I'm channel surfing AFL is on somewhere. Even old games on Seven Two!

[Quokka]

Wow if the A-League and union get a look in that's an incredible amount of sport (I assume most NRL games are shown either live or delayed?) you can see why basketball struggles. I don't know about the other states but I remember when the Wildcat games used to be prime time 8:30pm on a Friday and they'd get big audiences both watching on TV and at the games. Now most people who aren't dedicated fans would barely know when the season is on.

We're finally getting the origin games at a reasonable time over here, it wasn't that long ago that they were being shown delayed at close to midnight. I almost posted before that the Western Reds were trying to get back into the NRL after hearing that they we're playing in a 3rd tier league last year with the plan of reserves this year and then maybe NRL but I just checked their website and the senior team has folded and they are trying to focus on a under 18 team. Not suprising really, there's a reasonable amount of support in WA for league but the financial side, trying to find sponsers and get media coverage is always going to be a steep up hill battle.

[Culhwch]

A-League might be on SBS, I'm not sure, and the only union we get are tests and Tri-Nations. I remember we used to get basketball way back in the day, when the Bullets were still around, but I don't think they show any anymore. I know One shows a lot of netball, though...

[Cayal]

A-League is on Foxtel, I don't know if it is on Free-to-Air at all.

In Melbourne, Channel 9 don't have the balls to show NRL against the AFL.
I'll be interested to see how Melbourne Rebels go in Melbourne.

[Quokka]

You're right and I think the union is as well. No wonder I don't see it anymore.

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by Cayal

In Melbourne, Channel 9 don't have the balls to show NRL against the AFL.

I don't understand that at all. What do they show instead? Two and a Half Men? Old movies? If they're going to take a beating in the ratings anyway, why not show it? Get a little market penetration, at least. Ridiculous. Channel Nine is one of the main things holding the game back. Seriously need a new broadcaster.