Why’s the AFL still a niche sport in NSW and Queensland? You want the answer? It’s not hard to to find it. I have been a sports fan for my whole life, and support every sport in the world that Australia competes at (and Aussie Rules).
I have lived long periods of my life in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. I consider myself lucky to have had this opportunity. Being a sports fan and living in all these locations, I have picked up a few things about what makes some sports successful in some areas and not so successful in others.
The most kind way to describe the state of Aussie Rules in New South Wales and Queensland is by labeling it a ‘niche’ sport – and truly that is what it is. But why is this the case?
Why does the AFL dominate Melbourne, Adelaide and to a lesser extent Perth and not have a strong following in New South Wales or Queensland?
Top level AFL has been around in Sydney since 1982 and in Brisbane since 1986, but still relies heavily on imports from southern states to support the two teams located in these areas. Even some of the Gold Coast Suns games in the first season at their new stadium, their fans have been outnumbered by imports and opposition fans.
Why is this the case? Well, I believe the draft is standing in the way of AFL being as successful as it can in Queensland and New South Wales.
Why do I think this? Because while the support for the AFL in southern parts of Australia is tribal, it’s not the same in northern parts of Australia and the draft is the reason why it’s not.
While most AFL fans will hail the draft system the AFL has in place because it provides an equal spread of talent, it’s holding the game back in northern parts of Australia.
There are currently 45 New South Welshmen playing AFL while there is are 52 Queenslanders playing AFL. But a majority of these players, if not all of them, are unknowns to people of New South Wales or Queensland who are not a part of that small niche of supporters who follow the AFL.
Why doesn’t average Joe who lives in NSW or Queensland know these players? It’s because they don’t represent the areas which they hail from, which is the basis of sport in NSW and Queensland.
Before you claim this is bull, think about it for a minute. The dominant sport in NSW and Queensland is and has always been rugby league. First-grade rugby league started out as a sport which was territorial, you had to live in the area of the team that you played for – this happened for a large part of the sport’s life.
When it stopped, the majority of players remained for a long time one-club players, it has only been recently where players and club loyalty have gone missing and everybody is out for the best deal they can get. The best deal may not be about money and also includes many other aspects of life.
But as that club loyalty goes down, there is this little thing called State of Origin that brings that tribal feel back or even keeps it in the lifeblood of sport in NSW and Queensland. Still in rugby league, the dominant sport of NSW and Queensland, you represent the area of which you are from – and look at those players; everyone knows them. Hell, even in Melbourne Billy Slater and Cameron Smith are stars.
The draft prevents those 52 Queenslanders and 45 New South Welshmen from representing the area of where they come from and thus is holding back their potential stardom in those areas, which in turn is holding back the sport’s growth.
In the NRL, it’s possible to be born in an area, grow up there and play all your junior footy there, including junior representative football, and go on to spend your entire career at that local club. Michael Jennings is the prime example of this and a huge star, particularly in his local area.
I have no doubt that AFL players from areas in New South Wales and Queensland could be local stars as well, if given the opportunity. But the things that makes the AFL competition so great, is the thing that is holding the sport back in NSW and Queensland.
While that is happening in NSW and Queensland, in Melbourne the Melbourne Storm are getting ready to unleash Victorian homegrown talent into the NRL. Victorian players already dominate Melbourne’s SG ball under 18s representative and Toyota Cup under 20s club sides and the next step is not too far away.
For the NRL to get a Victorian born and breed player into the NRL will be massive, and to have that player play for Melbourne will be bigger and will also open a floodgate for other players to follow.
Melbourne Storm school programs reach over 35,000 kids and have an ever increasing junior numbers.
The Storm are also now considered part of Melbourne, part of the community as prior to this they were outsides placed in Melbourne.