Fax Missionary wrote:You seem to forget that the NFL operates in a country of 300+ million people which generates huge television revenues. The NRL operates in a country of 22 million where television is dire and the revenues aint too hot. Forget the NFL model it wont work and Tallis is talking out of his rear as usual. He only spouts when he thinks there is a chance of getting his ugly mush in the news.
Reducing the number of games is a crap idea and just gives extra space for AFL to take a stronger grip in RL heartlands like NSW and QLD. They are already attacking Western Sydney and have the Gold Coast (QLD) and Central Coast (NSW) in their sights.
Altering some of the ridiculous rules would help the attractiveness. Such as reducing the number of interchanges would be a start, making more of an open game rather than dull defence oriented encounters that currently plague games out here.
But the interest in the NFL wasn't there from the start and therefore neither was the mega money or mega tv deals - they had to make changes.
Try a book called 'America's game'. There are some interesting parallels and it's difficult to argue that the way they developed the game didn't work.
Both Baseball and College sports provided equally tough competition for them over there.
I agree totally with your point on the dull defensive battles in Australia.
