When will AFL genuinely hit the world stage?

[OnSong]

With the money being generated at the moment and the push to make it the nation's undisputed number one football code, how many years until the greatest game in the world actually hits the world stage for real?

I just get the feeling in about 10 years, there will be a bigger push to head over seas and the game will take a firm grip on an international market.

What's everyone's thoughts? Should we try and grow it offshore or keep it enclosed to our fine nation?

[Bum Crack]

I can't see it taking off professionally overseas.

[Drop Bear]

Can't see it ever being popular overseas.

[Interceptor]

Yep pretty unlikely to go professional outside Australia, but clubs will still go looking to pinch the odd player form Ireland, etc.
They're trying to make South Africa a breeding ground as well, with thousands of kids apparently having a go.

Read on BF someone saying many, many years ago that a group from the US came over to check Aussie Rules out in Melbourne to possibly adopt it over there. The locals apparently weren't too friendly to them and the yanks went home. Gridiron emerged as their main game, which incidently isn't played professionally outside the country of origin either...

[OnSong]

Gridiron emerged as their main game, which incidently isn't played professionally outside the country of origin either...

Because it's shit.

[Mr66]

Only when a time machine is invented so we go go back and pre-empt evey other
football code.

[gadj1976]

When Oprah announces it as "her game".

[Media Park]

I don't think AFL could currently grow into a "world stage" sport...

I mean, as great as WE think the game is, when we play as a national game (against Ireland), we change the rules, so it is a different game altogether...

We don't have enough interest in the current format of AFL, and if it is a choice between staying a national sport (as opposed to international), and bastardizing our game, I would rather stay as a national sport.

[Q.]

Got about as much chance as Korfball becoming our national sport.

[White Line Fever]

Korfball is sweet.

[LMA]

Never. If they were allowed to play like they did 20 odd years ago, with the money in the game nowadays it could of become hugely popular, back then play your position, simpler approach to the game, no bogus arse rules. But theses days the game is a bore on most occasions with the way it's played and the changes introduced by the AFL, us Aussies find it hard to interpret the game, hows a foreigner gonna grasp it

[Punk Rooster]

I remeber hearing that the AFL get more people to a GF than FIFA get to a World Cup Final.

[MatteeG]

Gridiron emerged as their main game, which incidently isn't played professionally outside the country of origin either...

Because it's ****.

At least they dont change the rules every year...

[smac]

Yep pretty unlikely to go professional outside Australia, but clubs will still go looking to pinch the odd player form Ireland, etc.
They're trying to make South Africa a breeding ground as well, with thousands of kids apparently having a go.

Read on BF someone saying many, many years ago that a group from the US came over to check Aussie Rules out in Melbourne to possibly adopt it over there. The locals apparently weren't too friendly to them and the yanks went home. Gridiron emerged as their main game, which incidently isn't played professionally outside the country of origin either...

Sth Africa has approximately 15,000 kids signed up to Auskick which is impressive. If that converts into some form of competition as they get older the potentially the game could begin to 'exist' over there.

But if they made a concerted effort to grow worldwide then it would sacrifice a lot of what they do within Australia and that is something they will never risk I imagine. Footy 'owns' about 10 months of the year currently, they won't head OS properly until that is 12 months (December/January are currently the only real cricket months nowadays, footy takes the major headlines in all other months).

[redden whites]

Very large chunks of Australia don't give a shit about it.........international ..never!

[Ingall]

I don't think it will ever be a major sport outside of Australia, and don't even think it will knock rugby league off its perch in NSW and Queensland (Union would do that if anything was to). I am also at a loss to think why we even worry about global expansion. The stories of Jim Stynes and Tadhg Kennelly etc are all well and good, and good luck to any foreigner that makes it on the AFL stage, but I don't think it's necessary for the future of the game.

[The Dark Knight]

With the money being generated at the moment and the push to make it the nation's undisputed number one football code, how many years until the greatest game in the world actually hits the world stage for real?

I just get the feeling in about 10 years, there will be a bigger push to head over seas and the game will take a firm grip on an international market.

What's everyone's thoughts? Should we try and grow it offshore or keep it enclosed to our fine nation?

Nah don't see it happening, not in my lifetime that's for sure.

[Barto]

It wont even be big in NSW.