#AussieRules

[sublimeobservationarcade]

Every Side Played On Saturday Afternoon

Not so long ago, you watched your footy team play on the weekend or followed the game on the radio if you could not be there. Every side played on Saturday afternoon, so you could plan your weekend around it with certainty. Sometimes the club you supported won or lost or very rarely drew with the opposition. Whatever the result you moved on with your life. Sure, a thrashing would sting for a while and handing one out would leave a warm glow for a few days more. The football was not covered by the TV networks, as the expense of cameras etc must have been prohibitive. Radio stations were more likely to devote air time to discussing the matches during the week and they covered games.

AFL Did Not Exist It Was Called Aussie Rules

The game was not commercialised like it is today. Yes, league players were paid a modest stipend but only a few out and out stars could be said to be well paid. Still, the crowds at matches loved the game and gloried in the performance of their players when warranted. There was no national league just healthy state leagues run out of the big cities. Kids loved their teams, as they do today; and in grand final week the whole place got dressed up in club colours and such. There was not the constant day in day out stuff in the media, however, maybe just a bit on the back pages of the newspapers.

Football Players Let Their On-Field Actions Do The Talking

Football players did their communicating via their actions on the field. It was what you could do with the ball and how tough you were out there on the oval amid the play. Loud voices were only heard to call for a pass. Real men walked the walk. I remember being a kid and barracking for my footy team. Attending matches with my father and it was standing room only, just about everywhere. The stands were really stands and sitting was for old ladies. The smell of liniment was sharp in the air as the players ran out onto the ground. These were men, with only a few younger types among them. Not like today, where youth predominates across sides. Most of these guys had real jobs Monday to Friday and played footy on the weekends. Old warriors bearing bandaged limbs and wearing high cut black boots. Footy Pundits With Loud Voices Laying Down The Lore Back then, when every side played on Saturday afternoon, you savoured any public mention of the game or your team. It was like sipping a rare spirit. Unlike these days, where footy shows are on every evening on the tellie. Online it is even more prevalent with whole teams of former players employed as talking heads to discuss the game. Of course, like a Greek chorus, themes are endlessly repeated and the same things mentioned by these ‘so-called’ experts. The narrative is determined by their parroting of each other. Footy pundits with loud voices laying down the lore. The commercialisation of the game has funded these appendages.

Millionaire Footy Players With Mental Illness Today, you get million dollar salaries for footy players. You even get million dollar players taking time off from the game with mental health issues. The pressures of expectations amid the age old problem of form. Big money wants its pound of flesh every bloody moment. Investors demand returns on their money in life and sport. Football becomes all consuming for the players and the fans. It’s 24/7 with smart phones and an online presence. Kids don’t dream about footy quite so often because they don’t need to anymore, as it’s everywhere. Matches are played on Thursday through to Sunday with the odd public holiday game thrown in for good measure. Sated by the game or has it been so diluted via over exposure that it’s like watered wine? Coke without sugar? Pepsi with an artificial sweetener? Players grace our screens dining at Maccas and ordering KFC. Walking billboards for a host of sponsor products. Each star player has a small team of managers and agents to cover the commodification mercantile territory. “Carlton's training base and former home ground has been vandalised, as the Blues take stock following a 50-point loss to Port Adelaide. Graffiti on the walls surrounding Princes Park was visible on Friday morning. It featured messages such as "Sack the board" and "Keep Voss", a reference to embattled Blues coach Michael Voss. “ - (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-26/afl-round-16-port-adelaide-power-carlton-blues-live-blog/105465658) The Game Football and sport, more broadly, used to be a rare pleasure indulged for fan and player. In contrast to today, where recreational pursuits are the main game in our lives. Work has lost its meaning for many of us, as bullshit jobs (soon to be swallowed up by AI)  merely paid the rent or mortgage. Things like belonging to a club of supporters took on greater kudos. Tribal associations like wearing the club colours became ever more meaningful in this 21C. There is a push me pull me dynamic happening here. Commercialisation exploits the sporting club for all its worth whilst the need for the identity it provides to supporters grows. Seasons extend for much longer through the calendar year. The legions of fans never want the game to end. Big bucks are in the billions for the rights to broadcast the game. https://twitter.com/footyindustryAU/status/1938423798245863699?ref_src=twsrcgoogletwcampserptwgrtweet The Old Scoreboards I remember when every side played on Saturday afternoon and you knew where your team was placed on the ladder as of around 5.30pm that day. There was some frisson looking up at the scoreboard to see the results of the other matches being played. Those white symbols on the black background telling you what was what. The radio announcers at the games would share the live scores at other matches being played. This was the only number crunching you had to do. Player stats were not common currency back then and only for the clubs to monitor really. You knew who had played well from what your eyes or ears told you without reference to the detailed counting of possessions or disposals. The mysteries of loving footy were intact from such scientific banalities. Sack The Coach!!! Today, if your footy team is travelling poorly and languishing at the bottom of the ladder the relentless cacophony of criticism can drive you potty. Loud voiced pundits on TV and radio opine endlessly about the causes and call for coaches to be sacked. Lists are deemed inadequate and the proficiency of list managers called into question. Star players, on generous contracts, if not performing are named and shamed. Ultimately, however, it all boils down to the head coach and it’s his head that has to go. Then, headless footy clubs flail around helplessly until a new coach is appointed and the dance begins again. Sacking the coach is the modern sporting equivalent of sacrifice and the role this plays within human societies of yore. “Back to back time trials, during pre-season training have not delivered the results that Swan’s head coach Dean Cox would have wanted. Running the hard yards, twice, has not indemnified the playing group against failure out on the paddock. The narrative currently being hawked around by AFL media ‘talking heads’ is that the Sydney Swans are emotionally traumatised by grand final wallopings in 2 of the last 3 seasons. I called them Black Swan events because they are usually very rare and totally unexpected. Not for the Swans, it seems, this playing group has been belted off the park twice on the biggest stage in the AFL calendar.” - (https://www.housetherapy.com.au/the-sydney-swans-are-emotionally-traumatised/) Once upon a time, every side played on Saturday afternoon. Some things were better then and some things were worse. It was a different world; and the sporting prowess displayed on field was as greatly admired as it is today, possibly more. Glory belongs on the sporting oval and has done for millennia. There are more side hustles and deals these days, that’s all. Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of Money Matters and America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump. ©HouseTherapy

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[thebackpocketau]

AFL Opening Round Episode - We Love Sam live wherever you get your podcasts. We talk opening round, we've got new segments, thoughts on next week, and very abridged Scarlett-Silvagni Medal votes.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts: 🎙️https://spoti.fi/3xoZYv5 🍎https://apple.co/3VktnQZ 📺https://bit.ly/4cLXyqn 🔗https://linktr.ee/thebackpocket

[comraderoscoes]

ok now let’s start talking about papaya rules to get oscar that wdc #lfg #🔥🔥🔥 #aussierules

[stradiasport]

Kickin' it Aussie style with STRADIA Aussie Rules balls! 🏉⚡️ The perfect balance of performance and power for every play

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[thedmwright]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by D. M. Wright - DMW Productions Australia (@thedmwright)

🚨 BLOKES! THIS ONE'S A BLOODY RIPPER! 🚨

You know footy. You know a good laugh. You know that feeling when the competition gets a bit… heated. Well, Beth Mac takes that to a whole new level.

Imagine a women’s Aussie Rules footy team where climbing the ranks ain't about just skill... it’s about SURVIVAL. The captain isn’t just leading: she’s killing it. Literally.

It's fast. It’s brutal. It’s gut-busting hilarious!

A seriously funny footy horror with more blood than a grand final punch-up and more twists than an ankle in the mud. This is the kind of book that goes best with a cold one and a proper recline.

📣 Don't just sit there! GET A COPY NOW: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08SBRJ63J

Read it. Survive it. And whatever you do, don’t turn your back on the captain. 😈🏉

#BethMac #FootyHorror #AussieRules #BlokesReadToo

www.DMWproductionsAus.com www.amazon.com/author/dmwright

[chopcult]

☝👍👉 @greasykulture Outtake from the new issue. Luke @luke_wallace1 on his homebuilt pre-unit; the only thing I was building at 23 was a stomach ulcer from drinking black velvets and smoking 30 fags a day, so hats off to him. 📷: @thewilsonmurphy #chopcult #triumphchopper #triumphpreunit #preunitchopper #aussierules #istillcallaustraliahome #customtriumph #triumphmotorcycles #greasykulture #greasykulturemagazine #gkm #greasykulturemag #greasykulturefeaturebikes #theoilyrag https://www.instagram.com/p/B8q9xf0lnTi/?igshid=klywg22nx3o9

[influjana]

My team. Go Cats! #cats #geelongcats #geelongfootballclub #afl #australianrulesfootball #geelongfc #aussierules #aussierulesfootball https://www.instagram.com/p/BzQKjjfH1Wr/?igshid=4xf12hdu4rdc

[jemkrause]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jeremy Krause (@jemkrause)

Happy Friyay #fun #carlton #football #aussierules #sport #afl #footyfandirect @pet.house.online #house @house.online #sport #basketball #carltoninbusiness #business @carlton_fc_updates @marcmurphy74 @we_have_david_teague #nba @nba @real_nbamemes @nbaontnt @nbastore @nbahistory @shaqtinafool @shaq @michaelkrywyn https://www.instagram.com/p/B1fv7x8Akh4/?igshid=wuwu3qoy6jkx

[endometriosisaustralia]

A HUGE shout out & thank you to the magnificent team at the @southcroydonfc for their continued support and for raising much-needed awareness and funds for #endometriosis. Absolute Champions 💪🏆🏉 2 years in a row!! 🙏 Thank you to our passionate & dedicated volunteers Elaine Phelan and our Victorian Coordinator Emma Schafer for helping spread the word and help #EndTheSilenceOnEndo 💛 . . https://efl.org.au/south-croydon-leads-the-way/?fbclid=IwAR3E4NOVrL4dtag6GnBCklW5L3mBYzzRHfLIcW0FUjYrsqczMyrQ39Sg4AU (link 🔗 in stories) . . @footyefl @aflwomens @afl #endometriosisaustralia #endometriosis #endo #1in10 #aussierules #EFL #volunteers #AFL #AFLWomens https://www.instagram.com/p/B1LTxbtg1ST/?igshid=1e49mx6zdk8px

[sublimeobservationarcade]

The Sydney Swans Are Emotionally Traumatised

Back to back time trials, during pre-season training have not delivered the results that Swan’s head coach Dean Cox would have wanted. Running the hard yards, twice, has not indemnified the playing group against failure out on the paddock. The narrative currently being hawked around by AFL media ‘talking heads’ is that the Sydney Swans are emotionally traumatised by grand final wallopings in 2 of the last 3 seasons. I called them Black Swan events because they are usually very rare and totally unexpected. Not for the Swans, it seems, this playing group has been belted off the park twice on the biggest stage in the AFL calendar.

Are The Swans Demoralised By Repeat Grand Final Drubbings?

Have the bitter defeats in grand finals drained the spirit of the Sydney Swans AFL team? Picture the scene, the changerooms at the MCG, 23 young men have finally arrived at the penultimate step prior to the absolute AFL pinnacle – the Premiership. Win this and the next step is onto that stage where they hand over the Cup and medallions. Butterflies in the belfry? Give me a break, this must be a whole battalion of buzzing beasts in your guts – talk about nervous energy! Flash forward to the immediate aftermath of complete scoreboard annihilation and players staggering around in a daze of defeated shock. One side is crying with joy and the Swans are shedding tears of real pain and frustration at not being good enough again. Not by a long shot! Can The Swans Keep Demanding More From These Players? Can you keep going back to the well? Can you expect players to keep digging deep, season after season, because these young men are not robots. AI hasn’t taken over the game yet. The physical demands of AFL are profound. Just take a look at the retired players a decade later – many of them are prematurely old men in appearance. Hair has turned grey or fallen out. Knees have seized up, along with backs and other degenerative complaints. These are the walking wounded heroes of yesteryear. We only see a smattering of them made up with makeup for the TV cameras on footy shows. The majority are forgotten gladiators living in the shadows. The extreme physical demands upon these men and boys are mighty high and they have consequences, especially in the longer term. We are only, now finding out about the effects of concussions from head knocks over the journey. Deeply Wounded Or A Doppelganger? The Sydney Swans are emotionally traumatised, according to the pundits on AFL 360. The Sydney Swans have looked weak and not up to it – over recent weeks. Uncharacteristic thrashings by contending teams have seen them head to the bottom of the AFL ladder. Brody Grundy, a grey beard, literally and not metaphorically, labours like some character from ancient Greek myth during games for the Swans. He wrestles with both opponents and time, it seems, as the game has, perhaps, gone past him. Younger heroes, Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner battle manfully, each week, on behalf of the red and white mob. Even these, remarkable talents, are waning under the combined onslaught of better performing sides. Nick Blakey, the Lizard, rarely makes his scattergun runs of late; something is wrong in the city of Sydney. A new coach, the tallest head coach in the game, is finding it hard to resurrect the Blood’s spirit in season 2025. Is it a case of a deep wound in the minds and hearts of these Swans? Or are the real Sydney Swans capable of standing up in 2025?

Bring Your Mouth Guards To Training Boys Will all the yelling and harsh words in the world be able to resurrect their spirit and application? Will ever more physical demands in mano on mano contests at training spark a midseason revival? The Sydney Swans are emotionally traumatised, apparently.  AFL, the game itself, has changed heaps of late – it is all about ball movement on the outside and much less accountable. Players don’t really play on each other anymore. It is basketball on grass, being all about speed and precise passing. Look at the body types of the AFL players – they all look like long distance runners. It is a running game and a game of keepie off. “SYDNEY players were ordered to attend an early morning beach session just hours after their Saturday night smacking at the hands of Adelaide. It is understood the previously unplanned Clovelly venture was at the directive of the club's leaders in the aftermath of the SCG hammering and took place before sunrise on Sunday morning. Players braved the waters and were put through some old-school physical exertion as part of the session, with push-ups and sit-ups also forming part of the gruelling morning's activities.” - (https://www.afl.com.au/news/1335448/sydney-swans-players-put-through-paces-at-pre-dawn-beach-session-with-coach-dean-cox) Offence vs Defence Yes, you still have to win the ball out of the centre to get it forward but ball winning is not as important as it once was. The Champion Data stats tell us that in 2025. Ball movement is king this season. The trouble with this, is that players put all their eggs into the one basket – called offence. Too many are looking to receive on the outside and not two way running to get back to help with defence. The Swans have been so easy to score against, which is not the Sydney longtime MO. None of these players are willing to tackle hard and effectively enough. The suspensions to Joel Amartey, Justin McInerney repeatedly, and Mills have been for the bump to the head. Bumping is a sign of a lack of physical commitment. A tackle is a real contest. It aint easy because umpires rarely reward the tackler in AFL any more. Players drop it cold and get away with it these days. Tackler holds on too long and gets pinged. It’s crap really! The game is not in great shape, in my opinion. Can the Swans playing group mount another charge? Do they have it in them in 2025? The outer shell appears normal but underneath is where their real problems reside? Does the Sydney Swan's club have the expertise to handle this situation? Oh Dear, what can the matter be? Does Dean Cox have the repertoire to solve this dilemma? We will have to wait and see. “There are no easy answers to complex things.” - (https://www.housetherapy.com.au/no-easy-answers-to-complex-things/) Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump. ©HouseTherapy

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[polly-jeanius]

Pilgrimage to the GO LIONS!!!! 🦁🦁🦁🦁 @brisbanelions 📷: @james_north posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2N6SZxH

[australiannetting]

AFL Nets: Keeping Your Games Safe and Spectacular!

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Our nets not only prevent footballs from flying into car parks or bushlands but also come in various widths and heights tailored to your club’s sports oval needs. Whether you’re part of an AFL, soccer, NRL, or rugby club, Netting.com.au is your go-to for custom-designed nets that protect your fans and enhance the game experience.

Reach out to the Netting.com.au team today to design the perfect sports net for your club’s unique requirements.

https://www.netting.com.au/

Related Post : https://posts.gle/cLByMK

[satellitetrain]

A special thank you to Italian blog Artisti.tv @artistionline_playlist for their write up of our new single “Superstar” from “The Melbourne Sessions”. #SatelliteTrain #SuperstarSong #AFLMusic #AustralianRulesFootball #FootySong #AussieRules #FootyAnthem #FootballMusic #SportsSong #MelbourneMusic #VictorianMusic #AustralianMusic #MusicReview #NewMusicRelease #MusicBlog #artistitv (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqML4XdPDWr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[stradiasport]

It’s the final minutes of the AFL Grand Final. The crowd is roaring. The pressure’s on.

You’ve got the STRADIA Aussie Rules Ball in hand- Do you take the long-range shot or pass to your teammate for a safer goal?

Tell us your game plan!

Shop From A Wide Range Of Aussie Rules Balls- https://stradiasport.com/collections/aussie-rules-balls

#STRADIASports #AFLFinals #AussieRules #GameChanger #AFLFans #STRADIABalls #FootyFever #AussieMade #TeamPlayerOrHero #PlayToWin #FinalMinutes #GrandFinalMoment #head #wilson #spalding #yonex #babolat #puma #joola #melbourne #sydney #brisbane #adelaide #perth #goldcoast #brisbane #geelong #afl #footy

[kcpowerafc]

Come join us! Any experience level is welcome. #KCsports #KCMO #kc #AussieRules #workout #kcpowerafc #thingstodokc (at Berkley Riverfront) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpeY3JBu4PJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[uglystik]

LAST YEAR WAS TOUGH LUCK FOR BARRY IN ROMPIN. No such problem this year! Thanks for coming back, mate. . . #sailfish #fishing #rompinsailfish #sportfishingasia #flyfishingasia #seaurchincharters #pennfishing #pennreels #abugarcia #aussierules #malaysiatrulyasia #kualarompin www.SportFishin.Asia https://www.instagram.com/p/BqT6P4eD5Ze/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1u9ra3bv7ami1