Fozzie takes aim at the AFL

[midfielder]

Fozzie is mixed sometimes he writes utter trash and sometimes he does brilliant stuff ... let you decide where this fits for yourself but I for one say this time Foz you got it right...

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/soccer/foster-scorn-for-afl-spoiling-schedule/story-e6frectc-1225947723425

Foster scorn for AFL spoiling schedule

FORMER Socceroo Craig Foster has slammed the AFL for doing nothing to help Australia secure sport's biggest event, the 2022 World Cup.

With FIFA's host nations announcement less than a month away in Zurich the AFL has again slapped soccer across the face by ensuring some pre-season NAB Cup fixtures clash with showcase A-League matches.

According to IBISWorld market research if Australia wins the bid it would inject $35.56 billion of spending across the economy, dwarfing the $9.1 billion of spending generated by Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Foster, SBS's chief football analyst, has lambasted the code's bullying tactics.

"The insecurity of AFL is obvious, almost like a bad case of small man syndrome," Foster said.

"They're forever trying to appear bigger than they are."
Adelaide United's premium gate - the clash against Melbourne Victory at Adelaide Oval on February 11 - its biggest fixture on the home and away calendar will cop the AFL's first smash and grab raid.

The AFL has secured the opening round of the NAB Cup featuring Melbourne, the Crows and Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium while United hosts Victory.

Adelaide United may well feel the AFL sucker-punch via its gate takings after the last Reds clash at Adelaide Oval in January 2009 attracted an SA record 23,002 A-League fans.

And the AFL's scheduled pre-season fixtures almost appear intent on softening the blow in key markets by clashing sports if Australia secures the World Cup.

Foster believes the AFL's hierarchy was decisive in making Australia's World Cup bid difficult and the A-League was a massive target.

"Since the AFL brains trust tried to sink Australia's World Cup bid, nothing surprises me," Foster said.

"Clearly, the AFL is extremely concerned and prepared to take any measure necessary to protect its tiny patch of earth.

"This is natural when, after more than 100 years, you are still trying to push the sport on large swathes of Australia, let alone the world."

And after United's fan base is tested against the AFL's drawing power in February the nation's most popular spectator sport takes aim in Melbourne just 24 hours later.

NAB Cup fixtures at Etihad Stadium will almost certainly affect the gate between Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC at AAMI Park on February 12.

"The real question is this, if AFL is such a great game, why waste energy trying to hold down football (soccer)?" Foster said.

"The answer is self-explanatory.

"This is the difference between our games. Football (soccer) lovers are focused only on our game. Why? Because we can be."

An AFL spokesperson denied the notion that the early NAB Cup fixtures were purposely targeting the A-League.

"Naturally there are other events on the sporting calendar in February but it is not a case of going head-to-head with other sports," the spokesperson said.



CODE CLASHES

February 11 - Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory at Adelaide Oval: Crows v Port Adelaide v Melbourne mini games at AAMI Stadium.

February 12 - Melbourne Heart v Sydney FC at AAMI Park: Carlton v Richmond v Collingwood mini games at Etihad Stadium.

February 18 - 20 - A-League finals series: NAB Cup ultimate minor round.

February 25-27 - A-League finals series: NAB Cup quarter finals.

March 4-6 - A-League preliminary final weekend: NAB Cup semi finals.

 

[dibo]

we would only care if they were really big and it affects us negatively.

which they are.

and it does.

they are therefore no smaller than they think but in fact every bit of big as they think. we should quit whining about what they're doing to f**k us up and instead focus on not f**king up ourselves.

 

[tsd]

australia gets world cup -> tv pays record amounts for socceroos/ a-league -> massive amounts of money for a-league clubs to buy good players -> massive exposure and awareness of football -> football becomes king -> massive drop in interest in gayFL and thugby -> bankrupt of their clubs -> me being very happy

that my 12 year plan for australian sport

 

[dibo]

Dreamland it is. Didn't happen in the US. The other sports there are still going strong, football's just finding a steady place. That's as good as we'll have it, and I'd be perfectly happy with that.

 

[curious]

Fozzie is mixed sometimes he writes utter trash and sometimes he does brilliant stuff ... let you decide where this fits for yourself but I for one say this time Foz you got it right...

Mid, like Foz, you had better check the timetable/schedule for the afl's preseason cup over the years previous to 2011. Also check the stadium, date, day and time they played their preseason cup in Adelaide in 2010.

I'd suggest, for the afl to be doing as Foz claims with steam from his ears fogging over his eyes, they would need to have altered their regular preseason schedule to do so. However, the difference in scheduling from previous years is actually not that of the NAB Cup, but that of the aleague.

A touch remiss of the aleague scheduling procedure (and the author of the article and foz, if accidental, which I doubt) if it only took a 30 second google by a mug like myself to realise the regular, annual afl preseason schedule and avoiding a clash if they chose to, was completely within their hands.

But that wouldn't serve Foz well and remove an opportunity to once again display the gifted art of talking out of one's arse. But alas, Anal Language does work to a degree, as we can see by the many lads much smarter than I being regularly baffled by it.

 

[scottmac]

But that wouldn't serve Foz well and remove an opportunity to once again display the gifted art of talking out of one's arse. But alas, Anal Language does work to a degree, as we can see by the many lads much smarter than I being regularly baffled by it.

I don't see it as anal language at all. Rather a very opportune moment to right a piece intended to plant the seed of AFL hatred into the public at a time when they are being seen as the big bad wolf already.

Great piece by Foz. Fire with fire.

 

[curious]

I don't see it as anal language at all. Rather a very opportune moment to right a piece intended to plant the seed of AFL hatred into the public at a time when they are being seen as the big bad wolf already.

Great piece by Foz. Fire with fire.

And I see it as Anal Language. Lies, bullshit, feral and childish. So, abviously, we disgaree. By a long shot.

 

[scottmac]

And I see it as Anal Language. Lies, bullshit, feral and childish. So, abviously, we disgaree. By a long shot.

To borrow a few words about Foster from an AFL mad sports journo, Richard Hinds

The acerbic Foster has divided viewers. Some love his brutally honest, in-your-face assessments. Others wonder if his oft-stated agenda to have soccer become the predominant football code in Australia adds an edge of desperation and even irrationality to his commentary.

This is where Foster comes from. Not childish feral or bullshit, but giving the AFL a small taste of their own medicine at the opportune moment. But don't let that stop you from believing whatever you want. Not once did Foster say anything about schedule clashes in that article.

It seems as though a 30 sec google by a mug like yourself was not enough to see an article by Val Migliaccio (I didn't pick this up first time either) for what it is. Go back and read what Foster has said again and tell me that his OPINIONS are lies???

 

[curious]

So, abviously, we disgaree. By a long shot.