Numero Uno

Me living in New South Wales, the next statement might get me lynched but I believe AFL is indeed the number one game in Australia as rugby league, rugby union and the A League, they are nothing more than a foot note on the monster that is AFL. It is blatantly apparent that AFL is big brother, though calling them that kid every junior rugby team has who is about 12 kg's and 12 inches bigger than everyone else may be a more appropriate analogy.

With AFL bursting onto the scene with a far superior average attendance record, they leave the fragile and futile attempts from it's smaller brothers for a share of the domination broken and on the ground. AFL leaps above the pack averaging 36,933 per game, coming in a distant second is the Super 15 with 19, 602 (keep in mind that this average takes into account the attendances of the South African and Kiwi teams.). Third place belongs to the NRL who secured an average attendance of 17, 235 which also takes into account the New Zealand Warriors, and finally in at fourth  place the A League, with a dismal 8, 393.

If that was not enough to convince you then I bring in my second point, fused together, the NRL and Super 15 have teams in four different states. AFL alone is spread over five with massive connection to the Northern Territory and Tasmania. There are numerous contributors to such an imbalance in power the main one, I believe is it's as simple as AFL being a better game than both Rugby League Rugby Union (Excluding the A League as it is still rather new and Football has more registered players in Australia than the other three.). The AFL is far quicker game with lots of points scored, there are the bone crunching hits, the high flying marks and those goals that leave you scratching your head in confusion thinking 'How?'.

The scary things for the minnow codes is that AFL are spreading their massive hands over the nation, pushing a mass expansion drive. They have two teams in 'Rugby League Heartland' Queensland and are about to launch their second team in Sydney which has more rival code sides than a dodecahedron. Throw in the constant talk of  a team in Tasmania, the possibility of a fused team for Northern Territory and the recent rumblings of even expanding abroad to our little neighbours New Zealand.

It seems the roots are firmly embedded in the Australian earth and the new seeds planted all over, the take over is in progress and I don't see a change on the horizon. The supporters are fanatical and there is no other place you would rather be on grand final day other than at the MCG  with 99,537 screaming supporters. The noise echoes through the MCG adding to the most electrifying  sport experience I feel one can experience. If you are one of those people sitting back still maintaining that Rugby League or Rugby Union are the dominant 'species' I urge you, buy an AFL ticket, experience the atmosphere. I have a feeling that most of you that do will buy another not long after.