Firko, Ceorge who ? I'm from SA
Exactly!.......
I don't mean it as a put down on anybody in SA but use the example to explain the different prorities we give to footy. Whereas in the AFL states
there is no other code of footy we here in NSW generally have an interest in all codes even though Rugby League is the most popular due to the historic origins of the sport,the average New South Welshman (
and Queenslander I'd assume) is fully aware of the other codes and watches them all with some interest. As well as being a season ticket holder of the NSW Blues Super 14 Rugby team and a longtime member of Randwick Rugby(
http://www.randwickrugby.com.au/rugby/news-and-events), I'm also a member of South Sydney Rabbitoes Rugby League and often attend Sydney Swans games. Most of my mates are of the same line of thinking but to talk to South Aussies and Victorians about anything besides their precious AFL and their eyes glaze over, not having a clue what you're talking about.
That's why the Rugby League stuffed up thinking they can get a League team up and running in Adelaide. They're just not interested. Sure the Storm have a following in Melbourne but it's subsidised by News Limited and can only achieve 12-15000 fans to a regular game which is piss poor when compared to AFL support. The Western Force Rugby Union team are succeeding in WA due I suspect to the high number of expat Poms, Kiwis and South Africans living there. If the club had to rely on indidgenous Sandgropers I fear they'd be in strife.
As a fan of both codes of Rugby I'd be pretty pissed off having to sit up 'til midnight to watch a game on free to air telly if I lived in Adelaide whereas AFL gets prime time here in NSW and Qld. What I don't understand is that while we in NSW and Qld enjoy all of the codes, why are the AFL states so blinkered towards one code only? I guess it's something for the urban anthropologists to work out.