Media publications in Australia are you scared?
Are you on your last legs and searching cowardly for a spike in web traffic? Are you just plain illogical, ignorant and naive or let us go one step further, idiotic and narrow-minded to the extent that you write drivel in a self-manufactured fantasy land?
Simply put, if you talk on air or pen a piece slating Australian football in an overt and unsavoury manner, then at least have the common courtesy and courage to vindicate your opinions with those who do not agree with you.
If you hide, you are only accentuating the backlash – it is gutless behaviour.
Australian football is public enemy No. 1 to outsiders, haters, agenda-driven corporations and people who are generally out of touch with reality and cultural elements of what makes football the most powerful sporting antidote on the planet.
There are a few things we need to consider when people decide to throw themselves into the passionate hotbed of football.
Firstly, why do supposed journalists – who completely dismiss the premise of writing fair and balanced opinion pieces – feel the need to blow things out of proportion to the point of it being so unimaginable that the content becomes useless and laughable? At the very least go back to the drawing board and allow yourself the dignity and common sense of toning it down to make it sound even semi believable.
Point number two, to the editors who work their arses off at newspapers to elevate themselves to a position of power and authority, how do these stories get your seal of approval? These people are just as guilty and shameful as those who choose to create the content.
And lastly, and this is the final nail in the coffin, if you don’t have the slightest idea about the code then do not put yourself through the ignominy of even contemplating such a story – your reputation and credibility will be tarnished forever and you come out of the whole process looking like a blockhead.
You clearly do not understand the game, you never will and we (football fans) feel pity for you.
You will never experience the unique buzz, the adrenalin rush and beauty that makes every football fan so giddy and glad to be a part of the code. It’s a shame but no point dwelling on it; your loss.
There is a plethora of assumptions and theories one can draw from degrading articles targeted at Australian football. And you know what, who cares anymore? This is my last outburst. It’s time to move above and beyond it and use any negative headlines as a source of unwavering motivation.
If they want to keep feeding the sleeping giant and providing the football community with more reasons to reach for the stars, then be my guest.
Football remains a long way off from the lofty targets that have been set by the FFA with it’s Whole of Football Plan, however it’s time to act and become more innovative, progressive and ultimately engaging with the key stakeholders of the game – the fans.
The junior participation rates may be through the roof but only 22% of those actively follow an A-League club.
The percentage of the Football Community who are fans of Top Tier clubs remains low. Research shows that 22% of junior participants are fans of an A-League club. The conversion rate is below what is required to deliver sustained growth. Other Australian sports count up to 70% of their junior participation base as fans of their Australian clubs.
To the FFA, it’s time to get real, to dig the heels in and to value the fans more and create a greater connection between A-League clubs and the fans through strategic and incentivised strategies.
There is no better time to capitalise on the momentum and rising growth of Australian football – we must all play our part.
And to the media who try in earnest to bash the code, keep throwing it our way because we’re not going anywhere.
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