h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Last week I saw South Australia play Victoria in the only interstate match of the year. In previous lives Aussie Rules Footy has had interstate carnivals, regular challenge matches etc but, with modern television demanding contracted numbers of hours of sport, this has all passed away. The nature of the new "National Competition" which superseded (or destroyed in Victoria) the old state based comps may also have something to do with it.

Anyway, the game was set to determine which competition was the "Second Best Competition in Australia". The teams lined up for the national anthem at the Adelaide Oval in front of a (small) crowd of 7000: the Croweaters (SA) vs the Big Vs (Victoria). As the game unfolded it became apparent to me and a few others around me that we were, in fact, watching the best competition in Australia.

The differences between the game in front of us and the national superleague, the AFL, were obvious. The players weren't playing to some scientific plan, they were playing good, hard footy because they really wanted to be there and they enjoyed the contest. There was no hanging off the ball, shepherding the opposition so that a rover could swoop in. If the ball was there to be got, the best placed player would commit himself to it. The players constantly talked to each other, others were ready to take the ball out of the packs and run with it. There was all that sort of discipline, but not the sort of rigid game plays that take the life out of the sport.

All of the best players of the state leagues of the SA National Football League and the Victorian Football league were there. There were no weak players on either team. The selectors had not focused on youth, as they do in the AFL, but on real footy ability. Delivery by hand and foot was excellent and inspired by people with experience, ability and footy instinct honed over time. There were some young guys out there but they worked within the team.

The AFL is fast, focused on managing the odds over a season of 24 games. The intensity of the pride held by grown men in their jumper has been replaced with the intensity of playing a game backed by 15 million dollar team budgets. It used to be that teams didn't want loose. Now they cannot afford to loose.

The State Game provided a place were some of the best footballers in the country, all of whom were being paid enough by their own clubs, could go out for one day and play the game as was once always played when it was played at its best.

Not many people bothering to contribute from South Australia, then this boring blurb about boring Aussie Rules, don't you devotees of this game realise that Soccer is gradually taking over and one day Aussie hand ball, as it should be called will be a thing of the past.
I did think your poemat the beginning many months ago Feisor, was very good but Aussie Rules no way. Marj

Sorry I got your name wrong it was Pheonician Trader probably spelt wrongly now but you know who you are. Marj

Alas you are right. Before to long difference will be banned and uniformity will be all that is left. The only distinction that will be permissable is how much more uniform than the next person.

However, there will always be someone out there who disagrees. I for one am against the taking away of our sport by those who would make money out of it. That is why I was at that game and not watching the national league game. Good sport is played by good people who want to be there. The shape of the ball can be changed at any time.

Talk to you again.

PT