AFL's two black holes

[justanotherleaguefan]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226419377363

Maroons and Ratten stand tall in a week of crushing pressure


by: Patrick Smith
From: The Australian
July 07, 2012 12:00AM



IN a week where sport was X-rayed and the oddest things discovered, one condition needs no further research. The dominance of rugby league in Queensland and NSW grows and does not stutter under the splurge of AFL money and marketing.



The third State of Origin match, a one-point body wrestle of violent sport, confirmed that rugby league possesses a hold over the nation that will only grow and not diminish. The three-match series is Australia's premier sporting event. Bigger than the Melbourne Cup, even bigger than the Ashes.


The AFL's investment in second teams in Queensland and NSW will now clearly draw more than the budgeted money. More than $200 million will not get the AFL to half-time in the fight to secure the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants. The AFL's privately acknowledged war chest of $400m will be drained to the last cent.


There were heroes left and right in Queensland's win but Cooper Cronk's execution of technique and temperament to secure the match was sport distilled to its very essence. A three-match series reduced to a moment.

[eelofwest]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226419377363

Maroons and Ratten stand tall in a week of crushing pressure


by: Patrick Smith
From: The Australian
July 07, 2012 12:00AM



IN a week where sport was X-rayed and the oddest things discovered, one condition needs no further research. The dominance of rugby league in Queensland and NSW grows and does not stutter under the splurge of AFL money and marketing.



The third State of Origin match, a one-point body wrestle of violent sport, confirmed that rugby league possesses a hold over the nation that will only grow and not diminish. The three-match series is Australia's premier sporting event. Bigger than the Melbourne Cup, even bigger than the Ashes.


The AFL's investment in second teams in Queensland and NSW will now clearly draw more than the budgeted money. More than $200 million will not get the AFL to half-time in the fight to secure the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants. The AFL's privately acknowledged war chest of $400m will be drained to the last cent.


There were heroes left and right in Queensland's win but Cooper Cronk's execution of technique and temperament to secure the match was sport distilled to its very essence. A three-match series reduced to a moment.

There is no doubt in my mind that these 2 expansion teams will take more then the allocated 400Million. The Suns are already draining more then what was allocated to them and GWS are even worse of in there first year then the Suns.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/AFL ... 6417739977

[TLPG]

Smith needs to do his research better. He always was an opinionated oaf. Judging the state of thugby on State of Origin is absolute BS. The only shining light right now at club level (where it really counts) is the Broncos. The rest are struggling, including the Storm, because the so called love of the game just isn't there! You only have to look at match attendances for proof.

[justanotherleaguefan]

Well last time I checked State of origin is "thugby" so that argument that soo doesn't count is BS. The only reason AFL fans discount is because it is so popular

[Beaussie]

Meanwhile just 13k watch live prime time NRL in Melbourne.

1k in Adelaide

and what 2k in Perth where the NRL talks of expansion.

Oh dear.

[Xman]

Patrick Smith is paid to be controversial. Judging RL because of prime time SOO is like judging athletics by the Olympics. Everyone cares when the occasional event is on but the routine meets are a joke.

16k from 7.5million people watched the live NRL last night.

There's you gauge of popularity right there.

[TLPG]

Well last time I checked State of origin is "thugby" so that argument that soo doesn't count is BS. The only reason AFL fans discount is because it is so popular

It doesn't matter what sport it is. It's State of Origin. It's an event with it's own identity. The fact that it's thugby is NOT a factor to most fans who watch who are NOT from NSW or QLD. That is a fact. As is what Xman said about frequency.

[eelofwest]

Well last time I checked State of origin is "thugby" so that argument that soo doesn't count is BS. The only reason AFL fans discount is because it is so popular

The butthurt over SOO ratings is strong....

[TLPG]

The over rating of SOO in the thugby picture in general is strong....

[justanotherleaguefan]

overating? 3 games of rugby league pulled just under 12 mil. How the fuck is that overating Dipshit

[Xman]

overating? 3 games of rugby league pulled just under 12 mil. How the **** is that overating Dipshit

Because it's one 3 game series in a year. The NrL season suffers immensely due to it which offsets the advantages.

[justanotherleaguefan]

SOO is said to be worth around about 40 million dollars a year for 4 rounds of disrupted footy. There are many advantages then disadvantages

[Xman]

SOO is said to be worth around about 40 million dollars a year for 4 rounds of disrupted footy. There are many advantages then disadvantages

No doubt, but your regular season gets pushed to the background and ratings and crowds suffer.

The AFL would go back to SOO if they could, and the VFL v WAFL v SANFL SOO was fantastic, but the comp is just too national now. It works well in the NrL because your game is in two states only, and they are fairly even, so the matchup is a good one.

[justanotherleaguefan]

Well theres talk that in todays paper that it could go to stand alone weekends in 2014 anyway.

[Beaussie]

Well theres talk that in todays paper that it could go to stand alone weekends in 2014 anyway.

Watch the tv ratings drop dramatically when up against the AFL on a weekend.