Talking Footy

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:21 pm

Fred wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 10:25 am

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2026 6:03 pm

Wrong you loser..

Swans are bigger success than the Storm (period)
They are both successful expansions

Gosh you are one mental case...

I do think there is a case that the Swans are likely more ingrained now into the Sydney culture than the Storm are - but Storm have made some in roads. Both indeed, have become successes - each finding a niche market - I think the expansion of Australian Rules is far greater into Sydney and surrounds than Rugby Leagues "expansion" or growth in Victoria. But would agree, neither club has been a failure per se.

yep more ingrained and deeper grassroots too.
16 years more older than the Storm as well..

like ive said before Storm have done more for the game in Victoria since 2024 (in 2 years)
than they did 25 years prior>> its amazing really.

True - the NRL did a disastrous job to start with - was terrible - they just dropped a team in there and that was it. They have certainly done a lot to rectify this. Also, Aussie Rules has always had a presence in Sydney at grassroots - with clubs and leagues set up across the area - whereas RL simply has not - although it is growing nowadays - but they really did start from barely no grassroots base. Still, I think, there is only 1 league for the state (but would need to check).

Fred wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:49 am

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:21 pm

Fred wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 10:25 am

I do think there is a case that the Swans are likely more ingrained now into the Sydney culture than the Storm are - but Storm have made some in roads. Both indeed, have become successes - each finding a niche market - I think the expansion of Australian Rules is far greater into Sydney and surrounds than Rugby Leagues "expansion" or growth in Victoria. But would agree, neither club has been a failure per se.

yep more ingrained and deeper grassroots too.
16 years more older than the Storm as well..

like ive said before Storm have done more for the game in Victoria since 2024 (in 2 years)
than they did 25 years prior>> its amazing really.

True - the NRL did a disastrous job to start with - was terrible - they just dropped a team in there and that was it. They have certainly done a lot to rectify this. Also, Aussie Rules has always had a presence in Sydney at grassroots - with clubs and leagues set up across the area - whereas RL simply has not - although it is growing nowadays - but they really did start from barely no grassroots base. Still, I think, there is only 1 league for the state (but would need to check).

FMD you fumblers are on fire today. Freddy - the NRL did such a disastrous job the Storm won the comp in their 2nd year. Unprecedented in Australian professional sports. And they are currently on a run of consecutive sold out home crowds.

This site has turned into comedy routine. Hilarious.

Terry wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:58 am

Fred wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:49 am

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:21 pm

yep more ingrained and deeper grassroots too.
16 years more older than the Storm as well..

like ive said before Storm have done more for the game in Victoria since 2024 (in 2 years)
than they did 25 years prior>> its amazing really.

True - the NRL did a disastrous job to start with - was terrible - they just dropped a team in there and that was it. They have certainly done a lot to rectify this. Also, Aussie Rules has always had a presence in Sydney at grassroots - with clubs and leagues set up across the area - whereas RL simply has not - although it is growing nowadays - but they really did start from barely no grassroots base. Still, I think, there is only 1 league for the state (but would need to check).

FMD you fumblers are on fire today. Freddy - the NRL did such a disastrous job the Storm won the comp in their 2nd year. Unprecedented in Australian professional sports. And they are currently on a run of consecutive sold out home crowds.

This site has turned into comedy routine. Hilarious.

all that successes and still can't attract interest of kids to play League

Terry wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:58 am

Fred wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:49 am

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:21 pm

yep more ingrained and deeper grassroots too.
16 years more older than the Storm as well..

like ive said before Storm have done more for the game in Victoria since 2024 (in 2 years)
than they did 25 years prior>> its amazing really.

True - the NRL did a disastrous job to start with - was terrible - they just dropped a team in there and that was it. They have certainly done a lot to rectify this. Also, Aussie Rules has always had a presence in Sydney at grassroots - with clubs and leagues set up across the area - whereas RL simply has not - although it is growing nowadays - but they really did start from barely no grassroots base. Still, I think, there is only 1 league for the state (but would need to check).

FMD you fumblers are on fire today. Freddy - the NRL did such a disastrous job the Storm won the comp in their 2nd year. Unprecedented in Australian professional sports. And they are currently on a run of consecutive sold out home crowds.

This site has turned into comedy routine. Hilarious.

No doubt about that - on field success has been there - what LeRoy and I have been discussing or referring to - was that they did a poor job selling the game and growing the game in the initial years. Even in later years under Bellemy - they did not grow the game much - or get many onside to much later in the piece. I think Storm have righted the ship in that regard but has wasted many many years.

Here's another article detailing the abject failure of fumbling in western Sydney. No official will release official playing numbers and volunteers have been directed by the AFL not to talk about it. That sure as hell means Gerard Healy was right - there are only 97 13 year olds playing the mess in the golden west and all the other age groups are also diabolical.

AFL official Tim Hartley gave a number for the old, "....participants across western Sydney programs" lololololol. Of course 'programs' means anything and everything. Bottom line - its a made up BS number trying to mask the disaster.

And for the AFL folk here the article is from an actual journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald. Not Barney Rubble from league unlimited lololololol!!!

Terry wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:58 am

Fred wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:49 am

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:21 pm

yep more ingrained and deeper grassroots too.
16 years more older than the Storm as well..

like ive said before Storm have done more for the game in Victoria since 2024 (in 2 years)
than they did 25 years prior>> its amazing really.

True - the NRL did a disastrous job to start with - was terrible - they just dropped a team in there and that was it. They have certainly done a lot to rectify this. Also, Aussie Rules has always had a presence in Sydney at grassroots - with clubs and leagues set up across the area - whereas RL simply has not - although it is growing nowadays - but they really did start from barely no grassroots base. Still, I think, there is only 1 league for the state (but would need to check).

FMD you fumblers are on fire today. Freddy - the NRL did such a disastrous job the Storm won the comp in their 2nd year. Unprecedented in Australian professional sports. And they are currently on a run of consecutive sold out home crowds.

This site has turned into comedy routine. Hilarious.

yet they still can't attract local talent and still draw low levels of interest.

at least the AFL has commentators that will call an issue out and critic of it, instead of needing pretend everything is ok like the NRL and its fans love to do

Great article in today's SMH. Ginats coach Allan Kingfield said the 'responsibility to drive participation in fumbling football in western Sydney rests with the AFL not the Ginats'.

So there ya have it sports fans. A team afforded hundreds of millions of dollars and planted in western Sydney should not be responsible for western Sydney fumbling participation. Makes sense to me. I mean why should a team based in western Sydney be responsible for western Sydney. That'd be lunacy lololololol!!!!!

FFS fumblers can anyone help me here?????

Terry wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2026 10:37 am

Great article in today's SMH. Ginats coach Allan Kingfield said the 'responsibility to drive participation in fumbling football in western Sydney rests with the AFL not the Ginats'.

So there ya have it sports fans. A team afforded hundreds of millions of dollars and planted in western Sydney should not be responsible for western Sydney fumbling participation. Makes sense to me. I mean why should a team based in western Sydney be responsible for western Sydney. That'd be lunacy lololololol!!!!!

FFS fumblers can anyone help me here?????

Reading the article you provided and then this - there certainly does seem to be major issues in Western sydney. The whole thing has been a balls up from day dot if you ask me.

Fred wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:49 am

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:21 pm

Fred wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 10:25 am

I do think there is a case that the Swans are likely more ingrained now into the Sydney culture than the Storm are - but Storm have made some in roads. Both indeed, have become successes - each finding a niche market - I think the expansion of Australian Rules is far greater into Sydney and surrounds than Rugby Leagues "expansion" or growth in Victoria. But would agree, neither club has been a failure per se.

yep more ingrained and deeper grassroots too.
16 years more older than the Storm as well..

like ive said before Storm have done more for the game in Victoria since 2024 (in 2 years)
than they did 25 years prior>> its amazing really.

True - the NRL did a disastrous job to start with - was terrible - they just dropped a team in there and that was it. They have certainly done a lot to rectify this. Also, Aussie Rules has always had a presence in Sydney at grassroots - with clubs and leagues set up across the area - whereas RL simply has not - although it is growing nowadays - but they really did start from barely no grassroots base. Still, I think, there is only 1 league for the state (but would need to check).

lol literally, that is a good way of putting it>> they just dropped a team & said goodluck

They were owned by NEWS LIMITED> NRL and News limited who owned 50% of the NRL made it difficult.

Fred wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 1:27 pm

Terry wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:58 am

Fred wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:49 am

True - the NRL did a disastrous job to start with - was terrible - they just dropped a team in there and that was it. They have certainly done a lot to rectify this. Also, Aussie Rules has always had a presence in Sydney at grassroots - with clubs and leagues set up across the area - whereas RL simply has not - although it is growing nowadays - but they really did start from barely no grassroots base. Still, I think, there is only 1 league for the state (but would need to check).

FMD you fumblers are on fire today. Freddy - the NRL did such a disastrous job the Storm won the comp in their 2nd year. Unprecedented in Australian professional sports. And they are currently on a run of consecutive sold out home crowds.

This site has turned into comedy routine. Hilarious.

No doubt about that - on field success has been there - what LeRoy and I have been discussing or referring to - was that they did a poor job selling the game and growing the game in the initial years. Even in later years under Bellemy - they did not grow the game much - or get many onside to much later in the piece. I think Storm have righted the ship in that regard but has wasted many many years.

100% with the success the storm have had in the early years and under bellemy (if they had the same blueprint of what the Swans did
and invest in infrastructure for growth and grassroots they would be alot more saturated into melbourne.
too true... so many many wasted years before they decided to do something..

Swans and the AFL did a good job in Sydney overall..

Terry wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 7:24 pm

Here's another article detailing the abject failure of fumbling in western Sydney. No official will release official playing numbers and volunteers have been directed by the AFL not to talk about it. That sure as hell means Gerard Healy was right - there are only 97 13 year olds playing the mess in the golden west and all the other age groups are also diabolical.

AFL official Tim Hartley gave a number for the old, "....participants across western Sydney programs" lololololol. Of course 'programs' means anything and everything. Bottom line - its a made up BS number trying to mask the disaster.

And for the AFL folk here the article is from an actual journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald. Not Barney Rubble from league unlimited lololololol!!!

its actually amazing>> Gerald Healy has come out and said this about the Under 13 and unders across western sydney>>
and there has been nothing to back up the hate towards him>> ziltch

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Fri Apr 17, 2026 6:24 pm

Fred wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 10:49 am

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:21 pm

yep more ingrained and deeper grassroots too.
16 years more older than the Storm as well..

like ive said before Storm have done more for the game in Victoria since 2024 (in 2 years)
than they did 25 years prior>> its amazing really.

True - the NRL did a disastrous job to start with - was terrible - they just dropped a team in there and that was it. They have certainly done a lot to rectify this. Also, Aussie Rules has always had a presence in Sydney at grassroots - with clubs and leagues set up across the area - whereas RL simply has not - although it is growing nowadays - but they really did start from barely no grassroots base. Still, I think, there is only 1 league for the state (but would need to check).

lol literally, that is a good way of putting it>> they just dropped a team & said goodluck

They were owned by NEWS LIMITED> NRL and News limited who owned 50% of the NRL made it difficult.

the News Limited also own the Brisbane Broncos also and this is never said about them

More proof of fumbling failing not just in western Sydney but in all of NSW. A very accurate and informative article by well respected AFL identity Caroline Wilson. Apparently participation numbers are dropping all over the state. We know they are disastrous in western Sydney but it seems its the same story everywhere.

Even the formerly strong southern areas of NSW are seeing numbers plummet. AFL NSW boss Andrew Varasdi was approached for comment by Caro but in true AFL style was prevented from talking. Yep, when they don't like the truth they muzzle the press.

Apparently Varasdi is expected to present a detailed document addressing declining participation to AFL house this week. Ouch!!!! Thats gotta be embarrassing. The great Caro also contacted the AFL for comment but they.....ummm.......yeah........declined lololololololol!!!!!!!!!

Seems the mess is in big trouble in Australia's largest state just as the NRL surges. Lets see how the AFL handle this. My prediction - it'll be covered up as usual. Stay tuned.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/AFL/the ... 5zuz7.html

It seems its not just NSW that is having problems with finding kids to play fumbling. Even the AFL heartland of Gippsland is in crisis. Teams folding, forfeiting and 200+ floggings. The article bags fumblehouse for its BS campaign that everything is great saying, ".....officials sitting behind desks in the city keep releasing reports saying participation rates are healthy, anyone with skin in the games locally will tell you just how far removed from reality that is". Boooommmmm!!!!

It seems like even fumble folk are now calling out The AFL's incessant lies and obfuscations. Its good to see reality and facts having a number of rare victories over fumblehouse lies recently. Let the truth be told!!!!!

Having lived in Gippsland for several years and played Aussie rules for a couple of clubs - the declining numbers in country footballl has been an issue for st least 20 years- and is something that has been an issue in country towns for a long time too. The big issue back then was retaining youth in small country towns - although surprisingly there were a few at the clubs I played at that travelled back on weekends - having move for work or University. That’s probably another issue - the push for teenagers to go onto university has grown - placing pressure also on apprenticeship numbers as well across the country. The other issue, and it touches on the other thread highlighting how if you don’t go through the private school sector on a scholarship (usually white privileged kids) - you don’t get picked up in the AFL draft. So if you are doing a trade - are you going risk a serious injury and losing income and possibly a job. My son just broke his leg and hasn’t been able to work - and on lighter duties (thankfully a good boss). But if he was in a trade or manual labour - he’d be stuffed. So there a few things impacting numbers in country footy - but that is mainly senior footy - not sure with kids numbers