A Numbers Game

Aussie Rules vs Football, Resistance on this hot topic amongst the SportsAustralia staff is futile. Phill Chadwick reports, today's youngsters will ultimately decide which code
is most popular in the future.

I have tried to resist commenting on the recent consternation felt by some AFL supporting Australians when confronted by the recent rise in popularity of Football. There seems to be some kind of concern that the game that dominates the rest of the planet might do some damage to the popularity of the Australian game.

One of the reasons for my reluctance has been that I don't actually understand the arguments that AFL supporters, commentators and pundits generally seem to use to explain why Football could never, ever, supersede Australian Rules.

Time and time again, various "reasons" are trotted out.

There is not enough physical contact. True Aussies like to see a bit of the rough stuff.

There is too much rolling around writhing on the ground as a result of slight contact. True Aussies won't put up with wusses.

There are too few goals scored. True Aussies need to see a lot of scoring, or else they get bored.

It is this last point that seems to be at the heart of the argument. Australians (from the southern states, at least), they seem to imply, brought up on the double-digit goal scoring of AFL are not capable of enjoying a game in which only a couple of goals may be scored.

True enough, the level of physical contact in Football is much lower than in AFL. But only someone who has never played the game could characterise it as non-contact. Even my short and decidedly non-illustrious career inflicted on me a broken ankle, knee ligament and cartilage damage and cracked ribs, all resulting from collisions and contact from opposition players.

There is plenty of physical challenge in Football. What we don't have is the savage impact that is such a feature of AFL football.

Now, I do have to agree with the criticism of the play acting indulged in by many Footballers. This could be stamped out overnight if authorities enforced a mandatory (say) two minutes on the sidelines for every player that goes down injured and stays down for more than 10 seconds. That sort of thing would encourage players to get on with it. It is definitely wussy.

Now we come to the heart of the argument. AFL matches commonly see 15 or more goals kicked by either team. In Football, it is more like one or two goals. Clearly, 15 is better than two, isn't it?

Well, actually, no it isn't. The comparison of the two codes based on goal scoring is as absurd as preferring roses over orchids based solely on the number of petals in each flower. It is only the whole flower that can be compared. And some people prefer orchids and others prefer roses. And some like both.

They are different games. The value of a single goal in football is much higher than a single goal in AFL. So what? The scoring of a goal in football is much more difficult than in AFL. Again, so what?

These two codes, or, for that matter, any other sporting codes, cannot be compared sensibly unless the sport as a whole is looked at, and then all that anyone can say is that, on the whole, they prefer one over another. It is nonsense to suggest that one set of rules are superior to another.

It is also nonsense to suggest that the two codes are incompatible, or that one must dominate the other. There is room in the landscape for both. In fact, in New South Wales and Queensland, the other rugby football codes must also be factored in to the equation. These support bases are not mutually exclusive. It is perfectly legitimate to support the Adelaide Crows at the same time as the Adelaide United Football Club.

And that is my point. Why do the two codes seem to be so antagonistic towards each other? "My football is better than your football" is just juvenile, schoolyard stuff. It does neither code any good to belittle the other.

Whether Football overtakes AFL as the nation's favourite football code is open to debate. It might, it might not.

In twenty years time we may have a completely different sporting landscape with AFL a quaint minority sport.

Or AFL may, by then, be taking the world by storm.

That decision will be made by the children now at Primary School. Sure, participation levels are at an all time high for Football. Many parents like to see their children protected from the high impact of AFL. But it is spectators, both at the grounds and on television that wield the power. So which sport dominates will be decided by converting Primary School players into spectators and television viewers.

I, for one, would be sad to see AFL, that uniquely Australian game, fade from the public's consciousness. Its sheer physical courage, power and grace make it one of my two favourite spectator sports. The other, naturally, is Football.

I had the chance the other day to put my preference to the test. In a local park were two games being played on adjacent fields. On one, a bunch of very enthusiastic 10-year olds chased a Football all over the pitch. Next door, equally keen 12-year olds kicked, tackled and marked around the oval.

To watch a few unskilled but keen young lads chase a ball around made for not a particularly attractive match. The Beautiful Game it was not. The Aussie Rules game, equally unskilled, had similar quality.

I had no particular interest in either game, didn't know any of the boys taking part, but, somehow found myself standing with my back to the oval, watching the lads chasing a round ball.

I found myself drawn in to the game and spent a pleasant hour or so, just watching.

That, I think, is the true test of which sport you really prefer. How many goals are scored has nothing to do with it.

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