TOPIC:

Has anyone else been to an AFL game lately?

I went to the GWS v Bulldogs game at Manuka the other week.

They played music to try build atmosphere, which simply didn't work. The game was absolutely scrappy, with very little class.

Is this the same everywhere? Do they play their music to build atmosphere, put a highlights video to it on a big screen?

Very American... Big fail.

I also suspect they counted the free tickets (even for non attendance) to reach the 7,000 reported non vocal crowed. I have seriously seen more people at a WAFL game with less of a figure.

As much as we can bag the AFL, theoretically we should see a fairly polished contest at this level, but I was probably better off to attend the NRL game down the road that was scheduled at the same time.

Hi Mike,
2 years ago I met a friend of mine in Melbourne. He came in from America as an expat Australian. He hadn't been to a footy game for at least 12 or so years.
He couldn't believe how flat it was. We went to a night game at the MCG and it was just terrible. Packs, flooding and to be honest I didn't realise how bad it had become until he told me. He was shocked and left the game very deflated. I think we have gotten used to it over time, but he got it all in one hit. He didn't recognise the game anymore. I will never forget his reaction that night. It was a wake up call for me. As a result I am now more aware of how the game has changed for the worse. And it has. Some footy people hate bagging the game, but I feel we need to to highlight it, and get something done about it. So many games now are very dull. Ive seen only a few good games this year, the rest not worth it at all.

Yeah I have been to a few AFL games this year Mike both here & in Melbourne and I have to say they have all been very average at best and one of them the Melbourne vs WCE game was the most boring game of footy I have ever attended and that is saying something when you have attended footy weekly for 33 years.
The AFL have been losing the plot slowly but surely under Demetriou's watch and it has really come to a head this season. Boring, ugly footy, drug scandals, tanking, over umpired, confusing tribunal results, you name it it has gone backwards from the footy of 10,20,30 years ago.
I find it quite funny how all of those with a vested interest (McGuire & co who earn a living from the game) have come out and defended to the hilt how well things are going, never been better etc etc but they are not listening to the fans who have been around a while, seen the game at its majestic best and know better and that is footy is going backwards as a spectacle!

The last WAFL game I went to was SD v WP late last season. It was a much better, faster solid spectacle.

The AFL, unless it is say the Hawks v Geelong is just horrid. I believe membership is up across the board in VFL clubs, yet AFL crowed numbers are down.

The same is happening within the NRL. What is it that the soccer is doing right?

Hopefully with all this negative publicity about how the game has become ugly to watch as a spectacle something will be done about it before it is too late and we are left with a game that resembles a cross between rugby & soccer!
With all of these full time coaches now all on 6 figures a year trying to justify their jobs and coming up with defensive, negative tactics & structures instead of allowing players to play on instinct and actually developing them to beat their opponent one on one they are the one's solely responsible for these rolling mauls that have become common place in the AFL.
On the other hand it could be a good thing for the WAFL as people become disillusioned with the AFL and want to get back to the game they grew up watching, good old fashioned grassroots footy!
Here's hoping anyway!

The standard of AFL football ATM is shite! Not good for spectators at all!

Ha, ha. This forum is awesome!

kicking backwards is OK, but don't allow it to be claimed as a mark. That would instantly break up play if a defender knows the receiver wont have the shelter of that easy stat we all hate.

And the umpires have been appalling on the short kicks. Some kicks have been barely 15 metres. And in my eyes 15 is too short. They at least need to be much stricter on these and hundreds have been let through this year. Its terrible and that is creating this chip chip chip around bulldust.

Its not hard to fix, the AFL just need to use their brains.

Beasley Hutton wrote: Yeah I have been to a few AFL games this year Mike both here & in Melbourne and I have to say they have all been very average at best and one of them the Melbourne vs WCE game was the most boring game of footy I have ever attended and that is saying something when you have attended footy weekly for 33 years.
The AFL have been losing the plot slowly but surely under Demetriou's watch and it has really come to a head this season. Boring, ugly footy, drug scandals, tanking, over umpired, confusing tribunal results, you name it it has gone backwards from the footy of 10,20,30 years ago.
I find it quite funny how all of those with a vested interest (McGuire & co who earn a living from the game) have come out and defended to the hilt how well things are going, never been better etc etc but they are not listening to the fans who have been around a while, seen the game at its majestic best and know better and that is footy is going backwards as a spectacle!

good post. All those with a vested interest (thier meal ticket), REFUSE toadmit anything is wrong. Population has expanded at a rapid rate, but crowds not so. It is a weak competition now, with a FEW gun players in each side, the rest either kids or average footballers at best. Serioulsy how many AFL teams are EXCITING or skillfull enough to watch outta the 18 teams. I'd go Geelong Hawks Port Adeliade, and maybe just mabye the Pies. 4 outta 18 aint flash.

UNKA2 wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote: Yeah I have been to a few AFL games this year Mike both here & in Melbourne and I have to say they have all been very average at best and one of them the Melbourne vs WCE game was the most boring game of footy I have ever attended and that is saying something when you have attended footy weekly for 33 years.
The AFL have been losing the plot slowly but surely under Demetriou's watch and it has really come to a head this season. Boring, ugly footy, drug scandals, tanking, over umpired, confusing tribunal results, you name it it has gone backwards from the footy of 10,20,30 years ago.
I find it quite funny how all of those with a vested interest (McGuire & co who earn a living from the game) have come out and defended to the hilt how well things are going, never been better etc etc but they are not listening to the fans who have been around a while, seen the game at its majestic best and know better and that is footy is going backwards as a spectacle!

good post. All those with a vested interest (thier meal ticket), REFUSE toadmit anything is wrong. Population has expanded at a rapid rate, but crowds not so. It is a weak competition now, with a FEW gun players in each side, the rest either kids or average footballers at best. Serioulsy how many AFL teams are EXCITING or skillfull enough to watch outta the 18 teams. I'd go Geelong Hawks Port Adeliade, and maybe just mabye the Pies. 4 outta 18 aint flash.

I don't agree with this unk. Watching the footy shows on Fox people like your resident nerd Gero and forthright Robbo constantly talk about how poor the game is faring with falling numbers. And they aren't the only ones saying this. Perhaps when the fatman leaves, a bit of fresh blood will start with newer and better ideas. But still, a couple of the WAFL games I have seen this year were very, very good.