Nrlolol wrote: Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:15 pm
AFLcrap1 wrote: Mon Jan 21, 2019 3:54 pm
NlolRL wrote: Mon Jan 21, 2019 3:21 pm
It's a pre-season warmup you moron. Who the hell takes preseason games seriously?
Gil
Patrick Dangerfield
The brainwashed cultists .
Sports "MASTERSTROKE" Capital .
Shitting bricks uh crapper!
Endless posts trying to mock a shits and giggle warm up preseason experimental tournament that no AFL fan takes seriously
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...t ... 841e582ec3
AFL says pulling power of young fans will make AFLX a hit ahead of new-look format
JON RALPH, Herald Sun
an hour ago
THE AFL has urged critics of its contentious AFLX brand to consider its massive pulling power with kids as it tips $360,000 into assembling an elite playing squad.
The league will assemble 56 of the AFL’s elite players on February 22 at Marvel Stadium with Patrick Dangerfield, Nathan Fyfe, Eddie Betts and Jack Riewoldt to captain 14-man squads.
AFL executive David Stevenson confirmed that while vice-captains would be appointed in coming days, the rest of the teams would be chosen by captains in a schoolyard-style draw.
The four captains will each make $20,000, vice-captains $10,000 and players $5000, meaning the league will spend $360,000 on player fees.
The Herald Sun understands four-time premiership star Luke Hodge will take part after a flawless Lions pre-season and is expected to be named as a vice-captain.
Stevenson said there had been strong buy-in from clubs and players to take part in the games, which will feature eight players per side and an open, high-scoring brand.
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Last year’s AFLX launch.
Stevenson knows there are haters who have mocked the concept but said last year’s demographics at the concept’s first trials were compelling.
“We will always respect the existing fans and we know any time we try anything new there are people who are supportive and people who are critical,” he said.
“But people can judge for themselves. And the really powerful thing from last year is we had five times as many kids to go AFLX as a traditional regular-season game.
“That gave us a fair bit of confidence as we try to get more kids engaged in football. There are a lot of different sports and options for them.
“But if we can get more kids exposed to footy that helps them become footy fans for life. The kids are the future of our game and we have to get them as interested as traditional fans are.”
Dangerfield is bemused by the scepticism over the concept, saying the critics are the same ones who last year complained the league’s best players were not taking part.
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AFLX captain and Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Alan Barber
Stevenson said the teams would be picked in enough time for the four squads - The Bolts, the Flyers, the Rampage and the Deadlys - to train together and formulate tactics.
“We will announce the vice-captains shortly but in essence it’s like the schoolyard. We will do a draw to see who picks first and guys like Eddie and Patrick have played with two clubs so it will be a sub plot to see who they choose,’’ he said.
“We are working with players and player managers and clubs to get an appropriate balance across clubs.
“We have been really pleased with the interest that has been shown and we are pleased with the support of clubs.
“We will be really respectful about players in rehab and managing loads but we are really pleased with the standard of players keen to play.”
