Soccer still Behind AFL and NRL

[Dave The Man]

I have same sentiments as J W. Dont forget the soccer takes over the MCG in the middle of the 2015 AFL season for the first time in its long history ( im guessing it hasnt happened before )
In the past, even when the AFL did give soccer the odd free hit, the round ball code couldnt take advantage of the opportunity. Not any more, if the AFL dont get it right quickly, the round ball code is now in much better shape to make further inroads. Mightnt be a bad thing if it means reigning in the arrogance of the AFL for the next few years and bringing aussie rules back to the people.
BTW - 90,000 tickets sold out in a couple hours for the manchester vs real madrid game at around $200 each for an average seat for an adult.

It Sold Out because this could be the only chance that people might get to see these Giants of European Soccer

[Geelongpie]

Why is it people seem to be scared of soccer?
The fact is in 50 years from now, that's still ages but soccer will be the number 1 code in Aus.
It will take a long time but soccer has endless possibilities and there is a reason it's the world game and eventually It will be intrenched in our culture aswell.

Think 20 years back no one played soccer at school, think 40 years back people were teased at school for playing 'w.g ball'
Now 4.2 million people watched the asian cup final.

Afl and nrl have peaked, they can't go anywhere else, crowds have declined and it will always be an australian game only.
Afl and collingwood will always be my love but I'm embracing the melbourne victory and the Socceroos and it's really a great game.

[RudeBoy]

Soccer will definitely grow massively in Australia over the next couple of decades. However, footy will remain the number one code because it's a better game. Seriously, watching the Socceroos in finals is exciting, but most A league games are pretty boring and uninspiring. After all, that's why the crowds have to sing and fight, because too often the game itself is dull. For those predicting doom and gloom for footy, I suggest you consider the case of Ireland, where Gaelic football, despite being an amateur competition, remains the number one football code, despite soccer's international status. Rugby is likely to slip to the 3rd 'football' code in Australia, basically because it's an unattractive game and is seen as way too thuggish.

[Lazza]

[Dave The Man]

[Lazza]

Think 20 years back no one played soccer at school, think 40 years back people were teased at school for playing 'w.g ball'
Now 4.2 million people watched the asian cup final.

Not too sure which school you went to but in 1973, Cheltenham High School had a champion soccer team and ironically the captain was no other than Trevor Barker (who was banned from playing footy at school by St Kilda due to injury worries!). I was a cricket person so I didn't play soccer but the local school comp. was bloody huge. BTW, no one was ever teased about playing soccer at Chelt. High and we had 3 VFL players (Trevor Barker, Brendon Breen (Barry Breen's brother) and Peter Ivanoff (who later played for Port Melbourne) who all played for the Saints or their reserves at that time playing soccer.

[Lazza]

[jackcass]

I think sports mad AFL followers have always had an interest in soccer (as well as other sports like NFL, basketball and rugby) so don't think it's too much of a shock that it should grow in attractiveness locally as soon as the league restructured away from the historic ethnic based allegencies that dominated in the past.

Think the only time it ever becomes an either/or scenario is when you start chasing corporate dollars for sponsorships.

Personally, I probably watch less soccer now than I did when I was younger. The staging just wore me down. Hopefully it doesn't become too prominent in the AFL.

Oh, and isn't netball still the largest participation sport in Australia?

[jackcass]

All sports can co-exist if they really wanted to, there's no need for the code war crap Andrew Dimwitriou was the only one thinking he needed to try a hostile takeover of areas.

Agree, just a waste of resources.

[HAL]

I think sports mad AFL followers have always had an interest in soccer (as well as other sports like NFL, basketball and rugby) so don't think it's too much of a shock that it should grow in attractiveness locally as soon as the league restructured away from the historic ethnic based allegencies that dominated in the past.

Think the only time it ever becomes an either/or scenario is when you start chasing corporate dollars for sponsorships.

Personally, I probably watch less soccer now than I did when I was younger. The staging just wore me down. Hopefully it doesn't become too prominent in the AFL.

Oh, and isn't netball still the largest participation sport in Australia?

What is your favourite show?

[Lazza]

I think sports mad AFL followers have always had an interest in soccer (as well as other sports like NFL, basketball and rugby) so don't think it's too much of a shock that it should grow in attractiveness locally as soon as the league restructured away from the historic ethnic based allegencies that dominated in the past.

Think the only time it ever becomes an either/or scenario is when you start chasing corporate dollars for sponsorships.

Personally, I probably watch less soccer now than I did when I was younger. The staging just wore me down. Hopefully it doesn't become too prominent in the AFL.

Yes of course I forgot to mention that. I know we have divers (Lloyd etc.), Actors (Ablett etc.) and Duckers (Selwood etc.) in the AFL but geez, it is (pun intended!) bloody painful to watch soccer players dying on the field and then running like a rabbit in the next 5 mts. I hope fervently that our Aussie culture continues to hate this type of acting and that it never reaches the same level in the AFL as in the Soccer. It gives the distinct impression (rightly or wrongly) that most soccer players are bloody gutless wimps who lack physical toughness...

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Soccer has been threatening for decades but as long as the best players and most lucrative competitions are way over in Europe it will continue to play 3rd fiddle to AFL and NRL in this country. Can't see the status quo changing, not this century at least.

[Al Swearengen]

Soccer has been threatening for decades but as long as the best players and most lucrative competitions are way over in Europe it will continue to play 3rd fiddle to AFL and NRL in this country. Can't see the status quo changing, not this century at least.

I'd say it's as big if not bigger than Rugby League in this country, who I don't know how can survive as a competition getting 10-15k people at their games. Heck, 25k at the rugby would make front page news. I know sponsorship contributes, but bloody hell, if those players are on comparable wages to AFL players, how does it survive?

Being a [snip] growing up in Western Melbourne, naturally the folks steered me towards soccer, but my first love was always AFL. I don't think soccer will ever take the mantle in this country. Even if it does, who cares really.
I love both games and go to watch both codes. Although, I'm more of a fan of the VPL and grass roots soccer than A-League.

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

I believe NRL gets quite a large tv audience, as big as AFL? I don't mind soccer either but unless the Socceroos are playing I'm really only interested in the European variety.

[Lazza]