Popularity divided between AFL and NRL?

Question

Hi. I'm a Japanese bloke who is interested in Aussie culture and AFL. I have been curious about popularity division between AFL and NRL since I had read the news article how Melbourne's the Age newspaper reported about NRL's State of Origin held in Melbourne. I have just checked AFL history and heard that Aussie Rules Football was established in Victoria and then speard to then other colonies including New Zealand. However the sport code was declined in NSW and Queensland. One of the reasons is interstate rivality. Does it mean Sydney didn't like Aussie Rules Football because Sydneysiders didn't like Melbourne? Also how does it (interstate rivality) affect the popularity of AFL nowadays? Thanks :) Yoshi

Answer 1

AFL (or Australian Rules as it's properly called) was founded in Victoria and is popular throughout the southern states.



One reason I'd suggest for that is that the southern states are cooler and Aussie Rules involves a lot more running that Rugby League or even Rugby Union. The Rugby codes were also popular amongst British coal miners and factory workers who migrated to Australia after the war ... most of the coal mines and the industrial heartland of Australia was in NSW and Queensland. Melbourne was essentially the financial capital for many years and most Australian Prime Ministers were from Melbourne back then (in fact the vast majority were of Scottish descent).



Yes AFL has expanded into Sydney and Brisbane but the popularity isn't close to what it is in the Southern States

Answer 2

Up until about 10 years ago in NSW and QLD you were culturally forced to follow NRL and despise AFL. Yes it is because of interstate rivalry. Now people are more open minded and can appreciate other sports for what they are regardless of where they come from. There is even a growing appreciation for NFL here whereas a decade ago it was rubbished.



Because the NRL dominant states now have there own AFL teams who have been successful we are able to follow AFL and still "hate" the other states through our own team. This makes interstate rivalry a healthy thing whereas in the past it was negative.

Answer 3

The AFL has two clubs in queensland (gold coast suns and brisbane lions) aswell as two in new south wales (sydney, who were moved up there years ago they did start as south melbourne and greater western sydney) so there is atleast some foothold for the sport in the 2 states. NRL on the other hand has only got 1 side in australia that is outside of nsw/qld in melbourne storm and have yet to move west of the eastern states.

Answer 4

I believe that the definitive answer to your Q lies within the article on the history of Aussie Rules in Sydney from its inception researched by MA Smart ... Rugby League owes its dominance in NSW to the Aussie Rules code, even forcing some early AR clubs through political pressure, to change codes or nave no football grounds to play on.



Simply, AR had both popularity and dominance, lost it, and is now making big inroads into re-establishing popularity and dominance.



Here's the link that I recommend to all serious AR code followers:-

http://www.aafla.org/SportsLibrary/SportingTraditions/1987/st0401/st0401d.pdf

Answer 5

a japanese bloke lol