Football the most difficult game in Australia
Take the four football codes, AFL, League, Union and Football.
I often discuss, alright argue, with my AFL mates about which code requires the greatest skills.
I maintain it's football. (No surprise there I guess!)
I reckon you can transfer from football to ANY of the other codes from the age of 12 up until 16 and you still could make a living from the game. (Of course Union and League you can transfer up until 30 or so;)
But if you haven't played football prior to 12 I reckon your chances of making it are extremely limited. The skill set is clearly superior.
I'd go further, athletes who can't master the game of football often switch to other codes.....
Makes sense to me!
2 comments:
well, you're hardly going to brook much argument on a football blog, but i rekkun it's a close call regarding skill levels between our football and that played by the mighty geelong cats and other lesser teams, aussie rules.
the speed of that game and the fact that there are non-natural hand and feet skills involved while having a heaving mass of humanity allowed to ram into you while you're trying to execute them, on wide open windy terrains, means that a lot of athleticism is blended with the right skills and the same reading of the game (i'd actually argue this latter skill is pretty well equivalent across a range of team sports and would hesitate to single our football out on this basis)
but the sublime skills of a great footballer and the dribbling of some of the best, like best, is ridiculously hard to master and qualifies for the tag - the most skilful game - says astro... after all that!
Well, can't comment on Aussie Rules, as I've just always thought it's total shit and have never watched a game in my life, but your argument for the rugby codes stand true. I recall in the 90s, both Easts and the Tigers recruited ex-sprinters who went straight into first grade. Can't remember who the tigers bloke was (though he was the most famous... Tim something??), but Shane Whereat was a Stawell Gift winner who the Roosters signed as an out and out sprinter and stuck him on the wing for a season. Shit rugby league player but they just gave him the ball and made him run. Scored bagloads of tries in first grade with no previous experience. Says it all. I doubt Matt Shirvington could be given a round ball one week and be turning out for Sydney FC the next (regardless of the package).
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