Only read this if you like Rugby League

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 13-07-2005, 03:25 PM

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/def...p?sec=1&ssec=6

slice of heaven · #2 13-07-2005, 04:02 PM

Oh no not Yarrambat

The last stronghold for Aussie Rules

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

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #3 13-07-2005, 04:10 PM

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 · #4 13-07-2005, 04:27 PM

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

fringe_dweller · #5 13-07-2005, 05:10 PM

I'm very sorry Ken but you have treaded were angels would fear to tread

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 (John) · #6 13-07-2005, 06:05 PM

^^^^

^^^^

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #7 14-07-2005, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

but arent you guys happy with having all of NSW/QLD/NZ isnt that enough for youse? HANDS OFF THE SOUTH!! heheh
Kearn

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 · #8 14-07-2005, 10:08 AM

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.

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

elusiver · #9 14-07-2005, 11:30 AM

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.

BUT THE BIFFS ARE AWESOME!!

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(

) 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 · #10 14-07-2005, 04:13 PM

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!

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 · #11 14-07-2005, 04:23 PM

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 · #12 14-07-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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] (Paul) · #13 14-07-2005, 04:38 PM

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"

(Except when the Lions whoop Eddiewood of course

)

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

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #14 17-07-2005, 02:14 AM

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 · #15 17-07-2005, 09:19 AM

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 (Ken) · #16 17-07-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slice of heaven

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.

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!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by slice of heaven

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.

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 (David) · #17 17-07-2005, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

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

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

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #18 17-07-2005, 11:22 PM

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

slice of heaven · #19 17-07-2005, 11:26 PM

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 (Ken) · #20 18-07-2005, 12:41 AM

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.