AFL and SANFL

I only live in the past on some things   

On football, I'm often surprised that I find myself, along with many others, accepting progress and reality.  

I watched Adelaide and Gold Coast play today.  I saw many acts of courage and some not so.  I saw many sublime skills and many the opposite. I saw a game well worth watching, a game representing the highest level of skill in the land.

Yesterday, I watched SA v VFL, another highly skilled, entertaining game.  I was surprised to read people still commenting that this was an irrelevant game.  I know from being previously involved in a small way that all those involved think exactly the opposite.  I remain surprised at how many think the same about the AFL games.  They are the pinnacle of the game of football.

I enjoy AFL games most of the time.  I enjoy State games.  I enjoy SANFL games much, much more.

Why?

Because I (and we) belong.  Because it has a genuine heart.  Because it has a history and most of those following know that history.

As much as I enjoy the AFL games (and I rarely attend), I never feel that the supporters belong.  It's all too corporate, many supporters have no idea of the history of the game and I tire of the cliches and the well-trodden publicity path.

If the Crows lose, I get annoyed for a short while, then forget about it.  If West lose, it's a downer for the week and then a chance of redemption to look forward to.  I've had a lot of down weeks, but I'd never think of not turning up again.

I see posters here with tag lines saying they've been financial members for 37 years.  I see South supporters hanging in there no matter what.  I see Centrals people who can never get enough of talking about their club and I see Norwood people who are always in the same spot every time I go to the Parade.  The same for every club. I see real football supporters.

So now we have two AFL teams in the SANFL. I'd rather they weren't there, but they are and I accept that.  Most of my friends disagree with that, fair enough, but to me it was inevitable.  All I ask for is that the playing field is level and there's work to be done there, to say the least, whatever Port fans might say.

However, it's with us and pretending it's not is a bit head in the sand to me.

The AFL teams haven't delivered on its promised crowd numbers.  Why not?  Well, it's because of what I said earlier.  Their supporters are generally, with some honourable exceptions, including Mr Booney, too comfortable with their AFL team.  They love the Crows, they love the Power.

I suspect loving football isn't as high a priority for them.

At one end of the scale is Bayman, a genuine lover of football, and many people similar to posters here.  At the other end are the Corporates, many if whom glance at the game now and then between canapes and champers from the Corporate Box.

That's unfair, perhaps, but I watched Shaun Rehn and several later legends play junior grades and come through the SANFL system.  Most AFL fans in SA wouldn't have a clue about the SANFL backgrounds of most of their players.  They suddenly appear and 'start their football careers' at age 18 or so.

SANFL is real footy, but it's not the only 'real' footy. Peake v Lameroo is real footy, too. Goody Saints B grade is real footy, Auskick is real footy.  Believe it or not, but AFL is real footy.

There's room to come out of denial and enjoy it all.

What he said!

Here, here, R&B...

redandblack wrote: There's room to come out of denial and enjoy it all.

... I didn't know they played footy in Egypt....

Nyuck Nyuck, that one's for you bayman    

Plenty live in it, GN   

That's a great post r&b. Like you I was weaned on SANFL footy and I could never really get into supporting a team in the AFL. My mother started towing me along to Sturt games as a kid, when the full comp started up again after WW2. I treasure those memories of running around scrounging bottles on the mound and chasing kicks with the other kids at half time. One of the earliest games I recall was the 1947 semi-final between Sturt and West Adelaide. West won and I think went on to take the premiership that year. I remember Gil Langley playing for Sturt. in that game, which was his last. He retired that year, to concentrate on cricket and of course made his test debut for Australia in the 1951/52 season.
I enjoy watching the occasional AFL game. They are the best players in the business, they wouldn't be there otherwise. But I think it's the fact that it is a business, rather than just a game, that I find hard to get enthusiastic about.

That pretty well covers it for me R&B, well said.

To me and my wife, going along each week to see the club that we love and support has been a huge part of our married life . We wouldn't change a thing.
Mind you a few more wins over the years would have been well received.

The other positive of supporting our club is the many life long friends that we have made over many years.

My wife and I share the same with our Crows season tickets testy, and we're looking forward to sharing our footy passion with our kids once they're old enough.

I think a lot of it comes down to what you have grown up with to be honest.

Gingernuts wrote:

redandblack wrote: There's room to come out of denial and enjoy it all.

... I didn't know they played footy in Egypt....

Nyuck Nyuck, that one's for you bayman    

apart from the Jerome Howard quip, what do you mean ?

That is what I meant bayman!

ok, thanks for that   

for those playing at home Jerome Howard is Soitenly better known as Curly Howard