Talking Footy

Fred wrote: Mon Sep 02, 2024 12:29 pm

Good to see the nrl increasing their crowd sizes in general.

Fred wrote: Mon Sep 02, 2024 4:11 pm

I think rl has always been number 1 in most areas of nsw and qld.

My sim again work at broncos and dolphins - said the crowd was good but a one sided affair - but can’t believe how short the game is. Do you thi k making the game experience longer would help with people going?


Brisbane always has good crowds though too. What’s the average for nsw? I think that’s where it is let down but do hear some clubs are getting good crowds - like at the new stadium in (Penrith) or parramatta .

Maybe ground rationalisation is the way to go to get numbers up - meaning sma suburban games go . They did that in the AFL but then we see western bulldogs play a few game in Ballarat - and of course there is Manuka.

Fred wrote: Mon Sep 02, 2024 8:48 pm

I think it is short if comparing to an AFL
Match - the AFL have actually worked to shorten the game over the years - and still are.

What my son does like about the nrl is the off field entertainment - re kind the half time shows they put on are amazing. Is this a newish thing ? If so, may explain partly the increase.

Fred wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 2:50 pm

I am not sure where you get half the country - I don''t thinkl state borders are an indication as aussie rules bleeds well into NSW and of course SEQ has a heavy aussie rules presence and scene. And places in Far north QLD have a very strong AFL presence. I think the NRL would love to have the footprint in their Non traditional states that the AFL has in Qld and NSW. I think Vlandy's is working on it though and think he is the man for the job. I know rating in NSW and QLd aren't great for AFL but other metrics seem quite good.

Fred wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:27 pm

If we were to draw a line - or shade a map - I think there would be large sections where AFL and NRL coexist - and this would be north of the barassi line - SEQ for instance, part of north queensland, 100 k into NSW at nsw/vic border.

Agree re: rating in these two states could be better but cannot argue with crowds in these areas - the amount of clubs, leagues etc.

Fred wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 4:45 pm

I don't think there is a small amount of support in SEQ - RL is still the dominant code but aussie rules go way back in QLD history - particularly in the South East - hence there have been many players go on to play at the elite level going back prior to AFL having a team here. So it has always had a foothold here. I don't know the numbers exactly of course, we both can only guess, but participation rates (registered players with clubs not auskick), amount of teams and leagues, crowd sizes - I don't think you can just say they don't count.

Anyway - it doesn't really matter - I will say this - the NRL would love to have the presence in victoria or south Australia that AFL has in NSW and QLD.

Fred wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2024 1:24 pm

I would not say it is small - the numbers of registered players, the number of grounds, the number of new ground, the growth in women's AFL, the amount of leagues - anything but small.