Only read this if you like Rugby League

[ballaratdragons]

Here's is a bit of a suprise!!!

Down here in Anti-Rugby-League-Land an Aussie Rules club has approached Melbourne Storm to help them investigate becoming a Rugby League Club!

RL maybe finally on the increase after approx 80 years of trying to compete with the dominant AFL. It's a start anyway.

It happens this afternoon and I will be in contact with Storm in the next day or two to see how it all went!

A very interesting read: http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/default.asp?sec=1&ssec=6

[slice of heaven]

Oh no not Yarrambat :eek:

The last stronghold for Aussie Rules :sad:

I dont know how the other 500,000 registered players will get by without them :poke:

:rofl:

[ballaratdragons]

We will just have to convert the remaining 500,000 players! It may take a month or two, but it can be done.

About time Aussie Rules paid attention to the REAL game!! (that will start an argument)

[slice of heaven]

Aussie rules always pays attention to itself. It is THE REAL game of footy.

[fringe_dweller]

I'm very sorry Ken but you have treaded were angels would fear to tread :D soooo.. so will I !
Australian Rules Football is a game of SKILL!!! - the REAL beautiful game! of course I do like the rugby codes - especially the international stuff - but arent you guys happy with having all of NSW/QLD/NZ isnt that enough for youse? HANDS OFF THE SOUTH!! heheh
Kearn

[asimov]

^^^^:evil2: :evil: :wink2: :2thumbs: :poke: :reindeer: :P :nerd: :whistle: :ship2: :hi: ^^^^

[ballaratdragons]

At least NSW/QLD/NZ embrace all sports codes and support them. Victoria is only one-eyed!
Actually NZ is Rugby Union based, not League.

There is plenty of room and plenty of kids in Victoria to support other codes, only if they would accept that there is life outside AFL!

The South Australian Rugby League is on the march too, so look out over there!!!

[slice of heaven]

Yes Qld and NSW are realizing theyve missed out on the best of the codes and are slowly jumping ship to follow Aussie Rules.

The SA rugby league is on the march ?
Back across the borders probably. :rofl:

Aussie rules is the 'complete' game of footy.
The fact it is the most popular spectator sport in the country says everything.

[elusiver]

not a fan of league.. it's too repetitive.. ball goes back.. guy with the ball runs forward.. crashes into 4 defenders.. repeat.

occasionally he'll break through and score a tri. But otherwise.. it's the same thing over and over. until they kick.. then its the same thing in the opposite direction. :P

BUT THE BIFFS ARE AWESOME!! :D :D :D i'll give league that. when i lived in brissy i'd watch league just for the biffs.

If i'm gonna watch a ball throwing game I'd much prefer union.. it's fast.. good skill levels.. and the way they pass the ball on so fluidly is something that you can definately watch..

But of course.. being a REAL VICTORIAN( :P ) my love is AFL.. it has everything.. covers all aspects of athleticism and skill.. a beautiful game to watch..

el :)


P.S. CARN THE TIGES!

[fringe_dweller]

Hi Ken, all the codes are excellent of course mate - i just dont have time to watch/follow them all.
It was weird it was on the news last night about the afl is investing millions in NSW/QLD in educating these sadly misguided people to were the real action is, while the NRL ect is spending very little the other way - especially in the country and at amateur level.
And i dont think the Vics are all that bad?? they have been nice enough to let all the other states take turns at winning and dominating what was once their competition for many years now! :D and we all get to have a go at demolishing Collingwood/Eddie every now and then :-)) i know at least people in SA find that a very enjoyable experience.
Kearn

[slice of heaven]

Sydney hasnt won one yet Kearn.
96 they made it to the grand final but the Mighty ROOS thrashed them.

Eddiewood are where they deserve to be on the ladder.

[fringe_dweller]

Woops! your right of course Slice - i should of said allowing the other states to dominate the top 8 for all these years :) Eddiewood hehe :-))
Kearn

[[1ponders]]

I've play three of the four main "football" codes and the only one I watch is the one I haven't played. "Go the Wallabies" :D (Except when the Lions whoop Eddiewood of course :lol: )

Its good to see that all the codes are trying for national supremacy. It can only benefit all the fans.

You do know of course that eventually there will be only 1. Soccafl legunion :poke: :poke:

[ballaratdragons]

That article that I started this thread with (remember that?) was such an odd story for Victoria that it actually made the National Nine News!

Even I didn't think it was that important, but apparently it is.

The CEO of St.Kilda jumped ship and is now CEO of Melbourne Storm, now Yarrambat is jumping ship!

I know a lot of you are AFL supporters but I find it a bit strange that these dedicated Aussie Rules people are switching codes.

To Quote Slick: "Aussie rules is the 'complete' game of footy.
The fact it is the most popular spectator sport in the country says everything"

Actually Slick, 2004/2005 Statistics show that Soccer is the largest supported game in Australia and droves of kids are defecting to it here in Victoria. So us League guys aren't pinching them, Soccer is!

Country NSW is losing Aussie Rules, Rugby League and Rugby Union Players to Soccer.

3 Ballarat Junior Aussie Rules Clubs closed down last years because they lost the majority of their kids to Soccer. Let's blame Soccer for the upset to our respective codes.

Kearn, the ARL is spending a lot of money to help Junior Rugby League nationally (and Papua/New Guinea) whereas Ballarat Roosters VFL had to drop it's Juniors as the AFL refused to give Junior Developement Funds to any more clubs.

BTW - Basketball has grown by 300% in Western Victoria in the last 2 years.

It is as if all sports are being shuffled around a bit. Oh well, variety is the spice of life!!!

[slice of heaven]

Show me the stats BEADY.

Thats a massive turnaround if soocer has outstripped Aussie Rules in the number of people that watch the game. I did say 'spectator' sport. The AFL grand final is consistently the most watched single sporting event as well for Australians.

Some of the reasons young kids are turning to soocer is because its a non contact sport (unless your a spectator) and has an ethnocentric base and the parents are choosing this option , not the kids. I know of many kids here that are simply not allowed to play Aussie rules for those reasons. Soocer is an easier game to play than the other codes with less skills and physical strengths and abilitys needed.

Thats a hard knock you gave the AFL on junior development. Their Auskick program this year cost $4million and attracted 125,000 kids across Australia. Its a fantastic program for developing skills in kids.My lad started when he was 2 at Auskick and 6 years later he still enjoys it as much as playing a game. He especially enjoyed playing in a game at halftime during Round 7 at AAMI Stadium this year. Why arent the VFL looking after the kids in their own backyard, the SANFL does here? Why arent the Roosters looking after their youngsters for that matter? The league here supports all their junior teams as well as they do the seniors.

Paul, Its even better when that whooping is a Grand Final.

[ballaratdragons]

Same here in Victoria. It has become the same with League, Union & Aussie Rules. We (CHRL) have heard lots of parents say they are putting their kids into soccer coz it's safer!!! Our direct overseers (the VRL) have been having meetings with the VFL about the Soccer grab, and about 2 months ago the ARL and the AFL started working together to look at ways of regaining ground!

On a side note about League and AFL working together, Melbourne Storm coaches are now sub-contracted out to St.Kilda & Collingwood to teach effective and safer tackling to their AFL players, and the AFL has helped the VRL & the Melbourne HQ of the ARL set up in a better office complex.

Methinks something is going on!!



Don't know. I can't speak for them but it has been in the news a lot here for the last 12 months or so, and parents are outraged and kids are very dissappointed (as well they should be). I don't care what code they are, they should look after their Juniors. They will eventually become their Seniors (or are they going to recruit from Melbourne and forget about the local kids).

Storm is just as bad. They refuse to look at up and coming Victorian Juniors and only use their feeder club in North Brisbane.

Well, Storm better wake up because the NQ Cowboys have just this week recruited 4 Juniors from Victorian Clubs!!!!

Sport!!!!!!!!!!!! I just don't understand the workings at times.

[h0ughy]

Thats why you like astronomy so much Ken, less complicated!! :D

[ballaratdragons]

Your probably right Houghy!

I have to laugh at all the Anti-League and Pro-AFL posts in this thread.

Read the title of the thread again.

Gotcha guys :rofl: :D

[slice of heaven]

The juniors are the next generation players and need to be cared for. Their the lifeline of the clubs and codes future. I cant understand them either.
Grassroots footy is well served by the SANFL in SA to keep a continuous flow of up and coming players.

I noticed your lads wear helmets, are they supplied by the club or themselves? While their not common in Aussie rules a few kids wear them at the lads club and its a good idea.

[ballaratdragons]

The Headgear and Mouthguards are mandatory in Junior Rugby League (and so they should be) up until they turn 13. After that, Headgear is optional.

Our club provides both Headgear and Mouthguards to the players.

As the president of the Club, I applied to the District to supply both items.

As the President of the District, I approved the request.

I also supply all the teams in the District with them.

[cahullian]

No wonder the kids are leaving all the other codes in droves. Football is the greatest game the world has ever seen. Even with main stream media only bagging the sport to help along the lesser codes the beautiful game is getting a head of steam going. In the part of Newcastle I live in Wallsend/Maryland there are at least 4 football fields to every 1 Rugby union/ league and aussie rules combined. Also ladies are taking the game up in droves. I refereed a ladies all age F grade game the other week, that makes at least 48 teams in this area alone.(cracks me up when a player asks permission to leave the field as their 3 year old is heading towards the creek and "my usless husband is sitting on the hill drinking with his mates")
I think you guys are using thimbles to bail out sinking ships : )
P.s.
Anyone who thinks there is little skill in playing this game need to get off to the Optometrists ASAP as it's the most skillful game ever to grace a playing field.

[ballaratdragons]

Check my posts Gazz, I never said that! HE DID, HE DID!!!! :D

[cahullian]

Ken I know your one of the good guys.It's these AFL people they maks a cyclopse look two eyed : )
BTW GO THE KNIGHTS

[slice of heaven]

You invited an open discussion (argument) in post #3.

I like a lot of sports, the title of the thread wasnt 'Only read this if your a League fan only'

[slice of heaven]

No I didnt !
I said it is an easier game to play and requires less skill and physical strengths and abilitys.
I've never seen a soocer game where tacklings allowed.(apart from in the crowd)
I've never seen soocer played with an oval shaped ball .Try bouncing one while running, or kicking one ,along the ground or in the air.
Never seen a soocer player fly over the back of a pack and take a screamer.
Do they handball? No
Sorry Gazz but the skills needed for Aussie rules are more varied than just dribbling a dented round ball.

Soocers the most skilfull game to grace a playing field ?
Your kidding yourself. Wipe the gunge off your monocle and take a real look.

[slice of heaven]

Now that cuts through a lot of red tape.
:thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Yep! Good system, works every time.

Here's my Jake in action yesterday:

[fringe_dweller]

Regarding Soccer fans being open minded libertarian world peace envoys spreading love, i lived in the UK for 2 and half years late 80's early 90's (I was there for the world cup - awesome buzz!! the world just stopped during the england games! it was eerie) I didnt notice very much interest in any other sport other than soccer? not even cricket - the working class I worked with there derisorly called cricket a toffs game. Very much an indoors society.
Second point, us drunken colonials like to see more action in their game than one or two goals per game - that is just boring - specially a nil-nil game. so your up against it there for sure.
thirdly i dont think i would want my child heading soggy wet heavy balls too often thats just not good for their chances of working for nasa?
fourthly everything Slice said.
Kearn

[cahullian]

Never seen a goalkeeper catch a ball??? Ever seen Gordon Banks save agianst Pele?Ever seen footballers crawling around on their hands and knees? The skill level is so good in AFL you dont even have to catch the ball clean to get a Mark. They will be giving Marks for feeling the wind of the ball as it passes you by next.
No real skill needed to kick a ball into an unguarded goal area, you even give a point for a close miss. How many goals would be scored it AFL had a 8 foot by 24 foot target? NONE.
You talk about tackles!! Ever been kicked with leather boots with metal studs?? you cant train for that you just have to be man enough to take it week in week out.
A wise american once said "you can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you cant fool all of the people all of the time. You know it's true, football is more than a game it's a way of life for Billions of people YES BILLIONS AND BILLIONS!!!!!!! you do the maths.You dont need to be>> :einstein: to work it out :rofl:

[ving]

/me doesnt read post....

[slice of heaven]

Gazz " :lol: "

[fringe_dweller]

Dear footheadball fan: I was going to say, is this the same manly men in boots with real metal studs who flop onto the ground in simulated and unseemly writhing death throes of agony, like great big nancy boys, if they think there is the slightest chance they might inflict a penalty on their opponent, who has probably only just brushed past them, and get a free kick.
BUT i have thought better of it, and to be the bigger man, and just say "BIG GROUP HUG" with all the other codes and talk about our inner feelings :) Yes I know P.T. Barnums quote very well, and good luck with the world domination thing :)
Kearn
PS come down here and say that - your just sucking up to the rugby people coz your in their lands hehe

[ballaratdragons]

Well,

Did anybody like the action shot I took of my Jake diving in for a try. :poke:

See back a few posts.

[h0ughy]

Quote caption: Ballarat Dragons Attempted Try was dis allowed for picture being taken by kodak. Failed to see ball droped over line :D

[ballaratdragons]

:eyepop: Oh No! Not the dreaded 'dropped ball over the try-line whist diving' trick!

But luckily he got the try LOL!

[cahullian]

Everyone knows the mainland europeans are nancy boys, their rellies in Australia are the AFL boys who fall down writhing on the ground because someone brushed past them.(hoping to get someone suspended for a few weeks)
On a serious note though I am a lover of all sports and admire anyone who strives hard all their lives to make it to the top of their chosen sport. Only through dedication and scarafice can these things be achieved.
Nice pick of the try your son scored Ken (that Kodak must be a really great camera.wish I had one) my youngest plays league also, he is or should I say was a front row prop until he broke his finger in a tackle a month ago, he had had 2 operations on it so far but the doctors seem to think it will heal straight, but his season is over. I work every saturday morning and referee every saturday afternoon so his mum videos the games for me and as soon as I get home it is put on and he gives me a running commentary of the entire game (with multi replays of every tackle he makes and every hit up he has) I wonder how long it will last once he discovers girls??? lol that has been the ruin of many a good footy player.

YOURS IN SPORT (ANY SPORT) ESPECIALLY FOOTBALL THE ROUND BALL KIND
GAZZ

[slice of heaven]

Quote from your post Gazz "fooball is more than a game it's a way of life"

Fooball... :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :lol: :rofl: :rofl:

Reminds me of the jock in Dumb and Dumberer :rofl: :rofl: :D

[cahullian]

typo fixed thanks :ashamed: :rofl: