Funny, I was reading this thread then came across this:
http://tbldaily.com/back-then-the-afl-was-simple/
Back then, the AFL was simple…
The AFL/VFL has been the pinnacle of winter sport in Australia since 1897, continuing to grow from strength-to-strength, developing passionate fans like no other sporting competition this country has ever seen. The other respective football codes in Australia had pockets of popularity spread out across this great land, however as far as a true national competition went, the AFL/VFL was certainly the widest-reaching and ultimately became the most popular.
From its small, humble beginnings in suburban Melbourne, the League expanded and continued to flourish for almost 120 years, attracting record crowds who blindly idolised their heroes both on and off the field. Players were household names and not too long after the middle of the 20th century, players could earn a living from playing the sport they loved – and rightly so.
As a child growing up in the outer suburbs of Melbourne in the 1990′s, all my mates and I ever dreamed of was running out onto the famous MCG, in front of 100,000 screaming fans and kicking the winning goal after the siren, to deliver our faithful a premiership win for the ages.
Back then, nothing else really mattered. The mood of my whole 48-hour weekend was decided upon what happened in the three hours in which the Essendon Football Club was playing. If they won, life was grand. If they lost, I‘d spend hours-upon-hours in my room crying and wondering why the world was so unkind. This was not uncommon for a child back then, in fact I‘d even argue it was the norm.
Back then, the media focused on strongly built, power forward superstars such as Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall and Wayne Carey. If players, superstars or not, performed well and went out that night to celebrate with their teammates over a few beers, passers-by would approach them, congratulating them and sometimes, if they were lucky, they‘d even get an opportunity to share a beer with them.
Back then, the game was simple. Gain possession of the ball and kick it long to a one-on-one contest, backing your teammate to beat his opponent, before going back to kick the goal from 40 metres out. The forward, who‘d often only have seven or eight kicks a game, would make them count and usually slotted the ball straight through the middle at post height. Players rarely had 40 possessions and teams rarely had more than 400 disposals as a collective group.
Back then, a score of 60 points would usually result in a ten goal flogging and games frequently had each team scoring in excess of 100 points. The focus was on attacking game plans and efficient use of the ball - move it forward and get some points on the board.
Back then, footy stickers were sold for 90 cents a packet and when you opened it up and revealed a player from the team you supported, it was sure to be a wonderful day. The only sour note was receiving a sticker you‘d already had, but even then you‘d trade it with your mate and help each other complete their own collection. A scarf, a footy, a home-knitted jumper and a footy sticker album was enough to make any child happy.
Back then, heading to the footy was a family event like no other. Mum and dad would take some food, usually a mixture of something healthy and a snack for the later moments of the game. Alternatively, you could buy a meat pie and soft drink and still expect change from a five dollar note. The entire outing was an affordable experience which brought families closer together. The prices were fixed and it allowed families to budget and plan their weekends in advance – the process was simple, yet very effective.
Back then, just six umpires walked out to officiate a game and enforced a set of rules which had hardly been altered for 100 years. At times mistakes were made and of course the crowd boo‘ed, however the game was generally well umpired and the focus was on protecting the player who attempted to get the ball. The approach was understood and the media focused on the costly mistakes made by players and not that of the men in white. Yes, the men in white – not yellow, or green, or pink or red.
Back then, the game grew from strength-to-strength and most years, the footballing public would respond to annual fan surveys with the overwhelming majority usually noting that the game was in a better state than it was the season prior. The footballing public was, in general, proud of their game – a unique game played only in our country with no need to experiment in overseas markets.
Last week, after yet another weekend where my social media feeds were filled with many ranting a raving fans about various issues in the AFL today, I asked a simple question…
Factoring in quality of play, standard of umpiring, fixturing, media coverage and affordability, is the AFL in a better or worsestate compared to what it was two years ago?
Many responses were obtained and the results were nothing short of alarming:
BETTER – 3%
WORSE – 96%
NEUTRAL – 1%
Back then, I‘d never have imagined seeing a result like this.
Don‘t get me wrong, the AFL is still a wonderful game and for the foreseeable future, it is likely to remain Australia‘s most popular winter sporting code. However, as soccer continues its rapid rise in Australia and as many young fans start taking an interest in sporting leagues all around the world, the next twelve months are as crucial as any in the last fifty or more years.
Judging by the results of this survey, it is clear to see that there are many fans out there who are not happy with the way in which the game is heading and something needs to give.
Personally, I think it‘s time the AFL went back to its roots and made the game more entertaining for the fans. It‘s time attending the footy returned to being an affordable family outing and not one which can only be attended by those who are lucky enough to afford to do so. And finally, probably more importantly than anything else, it‘s time to change the way in which this great game is covered in the media.
At a seminar I attended a few weeks ago, the guest presenter (a former high-profile AFL footballer) told the audience that there were approximately 1,000 accredited media personnel covering the AFL. This figure, if correct, is absolutely absurd when considering there are less than 1,000 players in the AFL at any given time.
The AFL has a new CEO and with this, comes an opportunity for change. Andrew Demetriou delivered some great outcomes for the League, in particular spreading it to parts of Australia in which it had previously never been done before. In his decade-long tenure he also attracted new audiences, especially women, and for that he needs to be applauded for.
It‘s now it‘s over to Gillon McLachlan to return the game to a fan-friendly experience. McLachlan, a very intelligent and highly-regarded businessman, must surely be aware of the significant challenges which await and on behalf of all football fans, I wish him well in his endeavours.