AFL needs to get rid of NSW and QLD

[Grim Reaper]

I am so sick about the AFL having to promote the game in NSW and QLD. For fuck sake the game belongs in SA, VIC, WA, TAS and NT. The heathens in NSW and QLD are a lost cause....fuck em and put our valuable AFL resources into the true AFL states.

The Ca Swannies and Bears have got their Cups and the locals there don't give a stuff.....It's time the AFL went back to the grassroots and let these NRL States do whatever they do!

[Beaussie]

Yet Sydney and Brisbane in the AFL GF provides the highest ever TV ratings in the history of the game which in turn results in a huge increase in the TV rights dollars. You need us. Without us, you have a tin pot competition that can hardly be called national.

[Grim Reaper]

No Port Adelaide and West Coast in the Grand Finals made the ratings go through the roof!

[Beaussie]

Nowhere near the ratings achieved with Sydney or Brisbane in a GF, particularly Sydney with over 1.3m viewers alone. The rest of the competition is small fry when compared to a successful Swans outfit.

[Grim Reaper]

That is small fry

[King-Eliagh]

The pair of you are small fry

Beaussie your the pot calling the kettle black.
And grim you dont have the courage of your convictions.

[Grim Reaper]

My courage is for the survival of the AFL and death to the NRL

[Beaussie]

I am so sick about the AFL having to promote the game in NSW and QLD.

Get used to it Grim. Some fantastic results are already presenting in NSW and more spending at a grassroots level will only further increase the participation numbers.

AFL steps up fight for hearts and minds
By TIM MORRISSEY
February 03, 2006
http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.a...001023,00.html

THE AFL will spend $9 million in 2006 to grow their game at all levels in Sydney and NSW - signalling a major escalation in the battle of the codes in Australia's biggest sporting market on the back of the Swans' stunning premiership victory.

The significant fighting fund is a 25 per cent increase in spending on last year's $7.25 million budget to help win NSW hearts and minds from the grassroots upwards.

A major component of the AFL's NSW/ACT strategy is launching a five-year plan to increase Aussie rules participation throughout the region's high schools.

"For the last five years what we have being doing is basically building a base, largely in the public primary school system, through the Auskick program," said Dale Holmes, general manager of AFL NSW/ACT.

"What we're seeing now is that base coming through, creating a demand into the secondary system.

"Our next five-year plan is to grow AFL in high schools, starting with Years 7 and 8, then roll those teams over up each year so the schools will have a full complement of of Aussie rules teams in all years by 2010."

The AFL is contributing $6.5 million this year to the NSW/ACT's war chest - an increase of $1million on 2005 - to help Aussie rules' new attempt to fast-track the growth of the game here.

Another key element to the strategy adopted by AFL NSW/ACT this year is to consolidate the eight junior associations into one body, to be called the Greater Sydney Juniors, covering Newcastle to the Illawarra.

The AFL is targeting independent preparatory schools and will push strongly to introduce and develop Aussie rules as one of the codes that kids can play before entering the influential private high school system.

They are also moving the emerging AFL competition in GPS/CAS schools, which boasted 16 teams last year, from Saturday to Sunday.

"Strategically that's because it opens up a greater pool of potential players," Holmes said. "We think there is a big market for kids who want to try different sports.

"Over time they'll select a sport that they enjoy - but we have to be in there batting for them at the early ages.

"So we are hoping that kids who play soccer or rugby or league on a Saturday will also try AFL on a Sunday."

As part of the AFL's push into NSW the Swans, Collingwood and Carlton will be conducting community camps next week to spread the Aussie rules gospel in rugby league strongholds.

The Swans will base themselves in Wollongong, while Collingwood will come to Sydney and Carlton are to head up to Newcastle.

On top of training commitments, the three clubs will visit 158 schools.