2025 Australia Cup final rounds thread

[Robbos]

I used to go to bondi beach quite regularly a few years ago, used to always see buddy Franklin Guernsey's, so I'd say there is definitely an interest in afl in Sydney, it's been proven that it's growing, just obviously won't be dominating the nrl, not anytime soon atleast.

Here in Melbourne though, i legit couldn't tell you a single player's name from the storm, apart from like billy slater and sonny Bill Williams. If you held a photo up of them to my face, I'd have no idea who they are.

If i went to Chadstone shopping centre and asked 1,000 people there to name me a single Melbourne storm player, i doubt a single person would know, but if i asked them to name me a South Melbourne player, i reckon they'd be a few there who would atleast mention big ange.

You do realise that Bondi beach is the heart of the Eastern Suburbs & a stone throw away from SCG.
Go to Parramatta, or Penrith or Crounlla or Manly, you won't see any Franklin Guernseys.
Yes we know a couple more AFL players because the ABC just slams AFL down our throats, but most would struggle to tell you 1 Swans player, since Buddy retired.

 

[Robbos]

For me, you split both cities in two and join - it's one of the greatest places in the world.

Both do different things good.

Yep I think Melbourne is a great city.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I reckon that was true, but is now gradually changing, albeit slowly. Personally I have no idea what's going on in the AFL. Couldn't tell you who's on top. Couldn't name a current player. I don't watch FTA, don't watch the news and I have spent a good amount of time filtering out any AFL stuff from my feeds. I reckon that took a good 3-4 years of making the effort to click 'not interested in' on any AFL item. If you are an adult male living in Melbourne, the algorithm definitely shoves it down your throat. Nobody actively follows it at work, and majority of my close friends and family follow what we and the rest of the world call football. I get the occasional small talk conversation with a work client here and there, but that's really about it. When I get asked "who d'ya follow in the footy?" I've even started replying with "nobody, I don't follow it.", which is absolutely true. I reckon it's actually true of a lot more people in Melbourne than it appears. We've been conditioned to say we follow a particular AFL team, but it all depends on how you define follow. Many people in Melbourne will say they follow a particular team, but never go to a game and never watch on TV and barely keep up with the results.

Thats EXACTLY my level of support... and most of the people I know... There are a few nuphies at Hellas matches talking footy scores but more as a chatter thing with both eyes firmly on the real football infront of them. As you say, almost a robotic preconditioning to be defined by the team you follow....

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Most of the world does.

Most of the world also thinks we drink Fosters and ride to work on kangaroos, doesn't mean as much as you hope bud

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

It's branded as a sport in Sydney, 'come & play AFL'.

pretty much the same here.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Doesn’t make sense, Eddie is a born and bred Skippy.

So was I but you don't seem to be able to accept that either? hahahaahahaah

 

[Robbos]

sure, "versions of" but there is only ONE Melbourne Cup, One Australian Open, ONE Australian Grand Prix, ONE NPL VIC Grand final...

But there are huge horse races around the world, Grand National, Kentucky Derby, there are other Tennis Grand slams, other countries hold Grand prixs, Other countries have 2nd, 3rd & 4th tier football finals depending where you rank NPL Vic.

 

[Son of Sam]

It's actually crazy. Visited Melbourne last November but everything was still AFL. Its in the DNA, just like football in Brazil etc.

Awesome as a AFL fan, but must be crap if you don't like it.

Sydney and NRL is nothing like what AFL is to Melbourne.

It’s worse for those like me who drifted from Australian Rules to Soccer.

 

[Son of Sam]

For mine AFL is probably the most uniquely Melbourne “thing”. On a global stage a big afl game at the MCG is probably one of the only things which “could only be in Melbourne”. An international point of difference. All the other things Melbourne is known for can also be found elsewhere

Trams …. Hehe

 

[Oakleigh]

What does Sydney even do better than Melbourne? Sight seeing? Beaches?

 

[Son of Sam]

I’ve lived in both cities.

Both great but in very different ways.

But they are getting too big. The sprawl aspect being the worst.

It’s why I love Adelaide.

 

[Sutherlandbear]

So was I but you don't seem to be able to accept that either? hahahaahahaah

It sounds like neither do you.

 

[grazorblade]

Well someone obviously got up on the wrong side of the border this morning

Melbournites tend to cheer for qld when we play state of origin in their back yard, so i think that settles for me which of the cities is better

 

[grazorblade]

Thats my question mate.... Maybe you don't hate it but most other Sydneysiders on here declare this undying hatred of AFL like it some sort of boogeyman.. its actually pretty funny....

I totally would understand if none of you like it or watch it or prefer Rugby, no issue, but the hate (from some) is hilarious...

To be fair its pretty darn boring

brissie lions made the grand final for the fifth time, so i felt oblidged to watch

Fell asleep at half time. Dont even fall asleep during the obscure sports at the olympics unless gymnastics is on (my wife loves it). Equistrian gets me dozey

 

[grazorblade]

Yeah Ill go along with that.... Most Yanks, probably still think Sydney is Australia's capital city....

Had quite a few conversations with yanks whose eyes would light up when hearing my aussie accent and say "sydney?" Then they get confused and disinterested when i say i live in cairns.

 

[grazorblade]

Most of the world also thinks we drink Fosters and ride to work on kangaroos, doesn't mean as much as you hope bud

Im baffled that every pub in england has fosters

Do they have different taste buds to me??!!

 

[HappyGuus]

Avondale 2 nil up already. Victoria proving yet again they are the centre of the football universe. NSW is a clear 2nd, but can't touch Victoria, it's not even close.

 

[grazorblade]

But there are huge horse races around the world, Grand National, Kentucky Derby, there are other Tennis Grand slams, other countries hold Grand prixs, Other countries have 2nd, 3rd & 4th tier football finals depending where you rank NPL Vic.

My poor wife keeps getting asked where in America is she from (kentucky).

They say "oh you guys are known for" and she tries to jump in "horse racing!" Before they get a chance to say "kentucky fried chicken!"

 

[Glenardo]

Not to deny Avondale and Heidelberg, they’re very solid teams, or south Melbourne last year, all of it has been on merit.

A lot of it is the luck of the draw but somehow it keeps happening that the top few Victorian clubs on the table qualify for the cup, where for example this year from nsw it was APIA near the top, then Sydney united mid table, then 2 npl 2 clubs. Very rare that the better npl nsw clubs have qualified. The top teams keep knocking each other out in the earlier rounds, so maybe a better account of npl nsw might have been given if the best teams had been there by the national rounds.

And I know what people will say, clubs should take it more serious then, excuses etc etc

Just my 2c

 

[Sutherlandbear]

Avondale 2 nil up already. Victoria proving yet again they are the centre of the football universe. NSW is a clear 2nd, but can't touch Victoria, it's not even close.

Sydney FC , the most successful team in national league history.

Overall NSW has won more national titles the VIC.