Last night saw two codes play side by side competing for the hearts and minds of the people of Western Sydney. The new Greater Western Sydney Giants were given a good old fashioned thrashing by The Sydney Swans (83-4) and the whole experience has left many wondering if the AFL is wasting their money.
So it got me thinking. What is the motivation of the AFL in pursuing a team in the heartland of League? Is this payback for League intruducing the Melbourne Storm to those south of the border?
When the NRL launched the Melbourne Storm many believed that the club could not be successful in the heartland of Melbourne and with their recent scandal aside, they have managed to attract a loyal fan base and cement themselves in an area where AFL is a religion. Even with the drama of last year they still averaged crowd figures of 14,000 per game.
Could it be that there are chinks in the NRL's armour that have been exposed? The A league seems to have taken business away from both the AFL and the NRL.In the minds of parents the Soccer appears to be a friendlier sport for their children, and the AFL and NRL aren't doing themselves any favours with their recent off field scandals.
It could also be that perhaps Sydney is no longer the hub of Rugby League and that that mantal has been taken up by our Queensland brothers and sisters. As an example in 2010, 11 of the 20 highest attended games were in Queensland and 2 in Melbourne. The Broncos regularly hosted games that attracted crowds in excess of 30,000 people.
Whether the AFL see this as a genuine opportunity or are just there to niggle the NRL the truth is that the NRL can not afford to 'drop the ball' (excuse the pun). The NRL it seems are in a pretty good position with memberships up from last year, crowd figures are up, a new commission is onboard and a new T.V. deal around the corner. So maybe this is all a horrible mistake by the AFL and this venture will purely drain money from their coffers. The NRL will need to be focused and be on the offensive at every opportunity.
Thats why I found it suprising that the NRL have chosen not to view all the trial games. Surley there would be significant numbers to justify showing the games and they would prove as a booster to the season ahead. Without harping on too long, I will just say "not good enough" and hope it gets heard.
I believe that the AFL have launched their new team at the wrong time and will pay the price for their investment. For me they are about five years to late. League followers everywhere are excited about the future and one things for sure they have dug in for the long haul. The question is how long will it take for the AFL to pull back and count their loses?
Tell us what you think. Are the AFL doomed in Western Sydney?
This could be a win-win situation if both codes are interested. Both codes can gain momentum on the back of competition between fans.
ReplyDeleteAFL are certainly interested. They wouldn't be there if they weren't. GWS AFL has a lot of work to do. Kevin Sheedy is the man who can guide them to where they need to be on the field.
NRL has been in the west for 100+ years but has not fully capitalised on the potential of this wonderful market. Looking forward to the new ARL Commission Ltd and some new marketing ideas.