AFL participation in Western Sydney Booming

[Beaussie]

Well done AFL, a bright future is assured with such a big increases in participation numbers. =D> =D> =D>

Giant leap forward for game in Sydney's west
From: AAP
September 15, 201212:00AM

AUSTRALIAN Football participation in western Sydney rose by 27 per cent this year and administrators believe the full impact of the region's new AFL club is yet to be felt.

While Greater Western Sydney enjoyed limited on-field success in its maiden season, AFL NSW-ACT won over almost 10,000 new players in the region the team represents.

"We've grown at this stage by 27 per cent from last year's participation, which was 28,306," said Dean Connors, AFL NSW-ACT's manager for GWS.

"There's been substantial growth from a very high base, so we're up around that 36,000-37,000 mark in participation in Greater Western Sydney."

The ethnically diverse region covers 14 local government areas and is a hotspot of population growth -- one of the charms that attracted the AFL.

The spike is likely to rile some rugby league figures who will undoubtedly have two main questions for Connors -- are the figures genuine and how much money is being poured in?

"What we classify as a participant is a no-less-than-six-weeks paying customer," Connors said. "So they're through our Auskick programs, through our clubs and our community programs."

As for funding, Connors said there had been no war chest lumped on his desk to use in the so-called code war.

"As a business, we've had to become a lot more efficient and confident of our ability to grow participation without the funding thrown at us like in the past," Connors said.

"Our funding will stay the same for the next five years.

"We're engaging volunteers and engaging universities . . . trying to spend our money in better and more efficient ways."

Connors senses the growth resulting from the AFL's new baby is yet to fully materialise.

"Was the impact caused by the Giants? I'd probably say no at this stage," he said.

"It certainly played a part in adding to our programs . . . but I think it (the Giants) is in its first year.

"It's very challenging to say whether they had a full-on impact on participation in the region. But what we have seen towards the end of the year, as opposed to the start of the year, is a significant interest in the Giants as a club.

"People have been asking a lot more questions."

The 27-year-old has been looking after the region for six years -- long before the announcement of the league's 18th franchise -- and recalls when the participation tally was just 2500.

He pointed to partnerships with the University of Western Sydney and a focus on schools as some of the main factors affecting growth.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/a ... 6474498038

[Striker]

I'll bet that's Auskick, right? How many of them will you keep, eh?

[Beaussie]

I'll bet that's Auskick, right? How many of them will you keep, eh?

Ah, no, you clearly missed this part.

"What we classify as a participant is a no-less-than-six-weeks paying customer," Connors said. "So they're through our Auskick programs, through our clubs and our community programs."

[Striker]

Auskick goes for less than six weeks?? You can not be serious!

[Beaussie]

Auskick goes for less than six weeks?? You can not be serious!

Well obviously the numbers mentioned are not Auskick as the article clearly states participants are only counted for no less than 6 weeks and participants pay to play.

[piesman2011]

Connors said. "So they're through our Auskick programs, through our clubs and our community programs."

A normal Auskick progam that is payed for, goes for at least 6 weeks. The once off clinics that go to schools and are referred to as Auskick are not counted. Thats the way I understand it.
I have never liked the term participation it is a dodgy figure (not statistically but by suggesting that these figures are people who are playing AR for at least a season) that makes it hard to determine how many people play the sport week in and week out. I would much prefer to see a breakdown of these participation figures into club numbers and auskick numbers at the very least. That would give us a better indication of the number of people who play the sport for at least a season rathing then because their parents making them do a 6 week fitness course.

[pookus]

Fifteen years ago not one kid out there would have seen a goal poast.Now we have 50 odd thousand running about.It doesnt matter if they go on to play footy what matters is the introduction to the sport.It is pretty obvious most people who bag AFL in Sydney have never seen a game thats why they all use the same language to desribe it(aerial ping pong.seagulls chasing a chip etc,etc.).These kids whatever happens will know the rules and remember the days that aussie rules put a smile on their dial. They will be much more accepting of their kids having a go. As I said before quoting Grumpy Mick."The ox is slow but the ground is patient."

[Striker]

Auskick goes for less than six weeks?? You can not be serious!

Well obviously the numbers mentioned are not Auskick as the article clearly states participants are only counted for no less than 6 weeks and participants pay to play.

They ARE Auskick! They have to be for such numbers!

[Xman]

Auskick goes for less than six weeks?? You can not be serious!

Well obviously the numbers mentioned are not Auskick as the article clearly states participants are only counted for no less than 6 weeks and participants pay to play.

They ARE Auskick! They have to be for such numbers!

They may be official auskick comps, which is essentially under 6, 8, and 10 competition. But they aren't simply one off auskick clinics like held at schools in Sydney.

[Striker]

Did I say they were?

[Xman]

Did I say they were?

No, but that's what LU fools like Dave claim to help them sleep at night.

[Striker]

Yeah well I'm not a member of that place. Took one look and nearly puked with all the extreme bias over there.

[Xman]

Yeah well I'm not a member of that place. Took one look and nearly puked with all the extreme bias over there.

Dave tries his hardest to bring it here.

[Striker]

Yeah well he can go take a running jump. He makes the rest of us league fans look bad.

[piesman2011]

AFL has its own scum bag league haters as well, in my opinion not as many but they exist. I wish certain people would stop using terms like Thugby as well.