Fred wrote: Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:46 amThe problem is that whilst storm are a successful team the expansion of rl into Melbourne has not really happened. I think there has been a change in the later half re focus on grass roots but even then there has been little growth. I think this is the issue for rl in Australia in non traditional areas .... it is largely confined to those areas and with AFL expanding into these areas with more people playing, more clubs and more teams then it becomes a shrinking market locally. A saving grace may be the decline in Union however seems AFL is filling that upper class void well enough but the similarities in game would obviously see some go over the rl.
But again, you could have a very successful club but unless you are growing the game at grass roots which is a key kpi, really one of the main points of expanding, then is it really a success.
To illustrate a point ... reguarly made by the rl folk here... GWS are reasonably successful but it is derided by rl people for not having any local support .... that people in the area dont know who they are or care. I would agree that if gws was successful for the next 20 years, whilst they may garner a niche market with locals over that time, if they had not grown aussie rules in the area substantially then would they have been truely successful
Your new 'go to' rant seems to be grassroots.......grassroots..........grassroots.......over and over again Freddo old son!!!!!!!! The reality is junior RL hardly existed in Melb/Vic 20, 30, 40 years ago. It now does. It has gone from virtually non-existent to where kids can play at any age right up to 1st grade in local comps.
There are also development teams with pathways to the elite game. Is it huge? No. Is it big? No. Is it much bigger than it used to be? Yep. Is it getting bigger? Yep.
In comparison AFL in NSW is much bigger. And so it should be with the millions of dollars thrown at it over decades. It is more like soccer.......a participation game for kids because it's so easy and simple to play.
Non sporting kids and families are attracted to it. The intensity and skill level of the Rugby codes scares off these low sporting ability kids so they play soccer and AFL. This is borne out by the fact no Sydney kid was added to an AFL team list from the 2019 rookie draft. After massive amounts of money they came up with zero, zilch and nought. That's because they don't get the best athletes.
I suspect you will continue with this rant over and over and over again as is your want Freddy. Please refer back to this post when you do to save me posting further.
