2008 Newman Award

Over the course of 2007, the Anti-Football League board noticed a peculiar trend. Our annual best and fairest, the Douglas Wilkie medal, received many nominations for footballers past and present.

According to the AFL constitution, The ‘Wilkie’ is to be awarded to the person who “does the least for football in a given year, in the best and fairest manner”. Footballers, by their involvement in the game, should probably be immediately disqualified from nomination.

We therefore have decided to create a new award, presented to a footballer who displays the worst off field performance, in the preceding 12 months.

With the recent spate football ’stars’ caught urinating on public buildings and denying the undeniable on talk shows, it shouldn’t be too hard to find an (un)worthy recipient of this inaugural prize.

Current Nominations:

Sam Newman
Alan Didak
Wayne Carey
Brendan Fevola
Ben Cousins

10 Comments

Eric Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am
The Caligula Award?
Eric Says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:20 am
Surely after the antics this week we really need to consider it being called “The Newman Award”? Just smacks of poor, childish, antisocial, and unsuitable behaviour to me.
Greg Says:
May 30th, 2008 at 3:41 am
The media give football too much attention especially the off field ‘hero antics’, let us not add to it.
If the AFL were serious about showing a positive public image, misdemeanors by players, on and off the field, would be punished by denying them playing for the balance of the season.
Rev D A Nichols Says:
June 12th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Bad Behaviour? Isnt that the standard operating procedure for Footballers? What would be bad behaviour for them then; reading? Possibly make it the ‘Peter Bell Award’ (Fremantle FC) for completing a law degree? As for Newman, we cant confuse stupidity with bad behaviour, imagine the number of nominees!
Flash Says:
June 12th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
The Drunken Junkie Thug Rapist Award
Chris Says:
June 20th, 2008 at 4:33 am
If Dick Pratt gets convicted of price fixing you can name the award after him. What I find amazing is how Carlton supporters are saying that they support Pratt at the moment and I’ll bet they’ll be saying it even if he gets convicted. Why? Because he’s helped their club of course, which I guess is far important than whether he stole 700 million dollars from our country or not.
Matt Says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 am
The Nerd Bashers Award.
Matt Says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:50 am
Hayden. You demonstrate just the sort of bone headed ignorance i would expect from a football fan. The seventeenth century was far more violent than the watered down game that is football today. They would have burnt many of your junky thug rapist heros at the stake.I doubt you know anything about history. That would require literacy. Chess, you claim, is a pussy’s game. Chess champions, however, are not to be seen publicly groping each others backside. Footballers, who seem to think themself the bastion of masculinity, are very keen on touching each others bottom. Go back to the trees, ape.
Tania Says:
September 11th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Please give the inaugural award to Sam Newman - he’s been at it longer than the other nominees. He regularly does the least for footballs image.
Chris Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I’d also like to nominate Liam Pickering. I’ve had the misfortune of having to listen to him on SEN a few times and every second thing that comes out of his mouth is a smart ass comment designed to humiliate the person he’s talking to. He’s also a defensive little twerp who is quick to anger whenever anybody disagrees with his POV. He’s the epitome of someone with a big ego and low self-esteem.

2008 Wilkie Nominations

March 23rd, 2008

Nominations for the 2008 Doulgas Wilkie Medal are now being considered.

Current Nominations:

Tony Martin
Brendan Fevola
Michael Leunig
Tim Jacobs, Chief Executive of the Victorian Arts Centre.
Jeffrey Browne, GTV9 Producer who took Sam Newman off the air.

Feel free to nominate in the comment box below….

14 Comments

James Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Surely Brendan Fevola is up for nomination?
Jeffrey G Says:
March 30th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Radio announcer Tony Martin deserves the Wilkie Medal more than any other person I know.

His last major project was “Get This” a radio show on the Triple M network. His ratings share were double anything else on Triple M at the time even though he famously avoided discussing football - long considered the sacred subject of the average Triple M listener. What did Triple M do? They sacked him at the end of last year!

Even in his home of Melbourne, Martin was clever to point out that more Australian watch a film than attend a sporting event. For daring to suggest that Australians are not as simple as our media makes us out to be - Martin would be a worthy winner of the Wilkie Medal.
Alison Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Tony Martin would be a thoroughly deserving winner of this award. He is a man who likes and promotes indoor pursuits and has next to no knowledge of football or sports of any other kind.
Tony Says:
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:50 am
Tony would indeed be a deserving winner - many was the time on Get This where he’d reveal a complete lack of understanding about even the most basic facts about football. Not to mention that he went to the movies every year during the Grand Final so he could have the cinema to himself. Very refreshing to hear on Melbourne radio.
Prue Says:
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 am
Let’s just give Tony Martin an award. He’s lovely and I want to see him back in the public eye again.
Kim Says:
July 5th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I agree, Tony is a real man, one who doesn’t care about competitive sports of any kind!
grant spatchcock Says:
July 6th, 2008 at 3:14 am
tony martin
Rev D A Nichols Says:
July 18th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Tim Jacobs, Chief Executive of the Victorian Arts Centre. Tim is widely acknowledged for being the diode of AFL, givin’ nothin and takin’ everythin’.
James Waldron Says:
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
How about Jeffrey Browne? He must deserve at least a mention for taking Sam Newman off the air.
joe.g Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 12:48 am
i nominate ex western australian opisition leader troy buswell
Chris Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Bob Brown. Unlike his counter parts in the other parties he doesn’t have to “pretend” to barrack for a football team to show how much he relates to the “common man”. Footy in this country is like religion in the USA, with most prominent public figures pretending that they’re into it even when they’re clearly not. So kudos to people like Bob Brown for not being full of BS.
Mark Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
I’d like to nominate actor, Stephen Hall. Not only did he say during a footy themed ‘Einstein Factor’ screened last night (21/9) that he would rarher read a book than watch football but while playing his fantastcially understated character, Warren, on the ‘The Hollowmen’ he hatched a plan that instead of building another Prime Ministerial Arts edifice in Canberra they could instead use the money to bring the arts to all Australians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hall
sally sheila Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
howabout puttin in a sheila bonza idea for 2008
Chris Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I have a late nomination. Don Scott. The AFL life member and Hawthorn triple premiership player came out and said that Hawthorn’s victory in Saturday’s grand final meant nothing to him.

Link here; http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24416635-19742,00.html

Guestbook 2008

February 8th, 2008

A new year means a new anti-season, and so a new Guestbook. 2007’s Guestbook logged 178 comments from people on both sides of the ‘members stand’. You can look back in history and read them all here

All comments for 2008 will be forwarded to Wayne Carey.

127 Comments

Eric Says:
February 8th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
What a wonderful summer its been away from the dreaded game, alas here it is back again.
This time it’s being played overseas “pre season” (which is really the start of the season anyway) and will no doubt be televised. Makes sense - we cant have the fans sobering up and realizing that there is more to life than football.
Besides that, just think how much money the AFL is missing out on over summer - it is after all a corporation, reliant on its fanatics to fill the coffers.
Laurie Dacy Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 8:41 am
NEEDED MORE THAN EVER!
Get sport OFF the ABC and let the boofs consume their entertainment on commercial media - at no cost to the taxpayer.
Les Says:
February 20th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Football does have a positive element ,,,,,
It induces one to ride one’s bicycle more ,,,,,
Rod Watson Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I am a marriage celebrant & I just love it when I am asked to celebrate on grand final day. It makes what goes on at the MCG totally irrelevant.
darin Says:
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Football has it’s place, it draws the morons and scum of society into one place at one time. In doing so it increases the average IQ and reduces the crime rate of places not unfortunate enough to have a football ground in their locality.
Mark Micallef Says:
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
I never understood the Australian obsession with watching other people play sport, and there is probably nothing duller on this earth than people who’s *only* topic of social conversation is what’s happening at the “footy” or cricket. Glad to see there is an organisation around to poke some fun at the obsessive spectator crowd.
kieran Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 10:12 am
bahahaha get a life
you guys have nothing better to do than bag football?
your a bunch of softcocks who probably suck at everything and wanted to play football but weren’t good enough
so basically there is more to life than hating football perhaps you should go find out what it is?
KRin Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
When asked if wanted to join the Footie Tipping at work, I said I would rather lose a leg. The asker just stared at me in puzzlement.
Nicky Says:
March 20th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Joy of joys to discover the existence of the Anti-Football League on the dreaded first day of the season - and all because I saw someone wearing a badge and asked what it meant. At last I feel I’m not alone!
Phil Says:
March 20th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Thank goodness I googled you - I thought this AFL was defunct after the founder passed away…I think? Anyway, glad to see you are alive and well. I was a member back in the 70’s and still have my certificate and badge, which I will wear with pride again this season! I’ll be rejoining very soon.
Phil, Keith is also alive and well and ensures the AFLs apathy stays on the straight and narrow. -the secretary.
Richard Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Keep up the good work.
For those wanting solace in these ever decreasingly sensible times I commend them to “Desiderata” and to that old classic “Clancy Of the Overflow”.
Mavis Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I cannot believe there is such a sensible website. I am totally sick of urinating football players. I hate football and cannot get any sense out of 774 or 3AW when it is on. There must be something more interesting in the winter than overpaid, over testosteroned idiots jumping about and then getting drunk. Please Australia find something else to do.
Tony Says:
March 29th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Wonderful to hear that others are sick of the never ending rubbish of ‘aerial ping-pong’, the latest saga of ‘wizz’ kids’ urinations, Sam’s prostrate (prostate) activities and bladder, and Carey’s shenanigans.
Yes, thank God there is a lot more to life than footy.
Johnno Says:
April 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
You guys seem a bit sad, concentrating all this time on something so seemless. Why not just go enjoy those other things in life that are so much better than the real AFL?
Mark Condell Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I seem to remember hearing about this AFL some years ago but have just rediscovered it. I wish it embraced a larger scope of indifference. Why stop at Aussie Rules? Why stop at football. I am fed up with the time wasted at my work with people discussing football of all codes. Why should anyone give a toss if so and so pulled this or strained that. I am repeatedly frustrared with the overwhelming coverage of sport in our media. Why should 2 of the 3 ABC radio stations I can receive broadcast football on a friday night. Why should hours of airtime be consumed by drongoes commentating on the cricket. I long each year for that short reprieve between the cricket and the football season!
Mato Says:
April 5th, 2008 at 9:52 am
How about you guys go back to playing chess or some other panzy sport instead of bagging a good sport?
Hannah Says:
April 5th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I’m so glad I have found this site. You’ll never believe what disgusting, unintelligent, loathsome, blasphemous practice is happening in my living room - both my parents are watching, shamelessly i must add, the detestible sport of football. My heart is too heavy to go on.
Dean Says:
April 5th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Here we go again. More of this ridiculous nonsense for 2008. Despite people finding it hard to pay their mortgage they’ll always find money to go and watch football.
Amanda Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 9:43 am
If it bothers you so much how about you ignore it instead of wasting your time focusing on negatives.
Don’t you think there are more pressing issues to devote your time and worry too.
Felix Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I can’t stand any of the rugby codes although I don’t mind soccer.
It’s less aggressive and requires a reasonable level of intelligence to be played properly.
What bugs me the most is the mindless dedication of the fans. they speak about “their” team as if they are family members.
Most sports are really just a useful distraction for the masses. The elite of this planet are very thankful that the masses are more interested in “footy” (or some other silly little game) than the real issues that control our lives. If only these moronic fans could see that the intrigue and corruption surrounding world politics and other world issues is so much more fascinating and interesting than any silly old football game. Damned wally brains!!
Felix Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Mato! This is “our” site why don’t YOU go elsewhere if you don’t like the comment. There are plenty of “footy” forums where you and your fellow knuckle draggers can spend all the time you like massaging each others’ egos.
Eric Says:
April 16th, 2008 at 6:50 am
It never fails to astound me as to why grown men commentating on the radio and TV about the dreaded game, yell and scream like demented fools?
Is this a further attempt at making a boring game seen interesting? Perhaps it’s an attempt to whip the fanatics into an emotional frenzy in an effort to get more support out of the poor brainwashed fans. The Television sponsors pay the Australian Football League heaps of money to place advertisements in the middle of this madness, every supporter is a potential consumer.
Come on football zombies, snap out of it, join the Anti Football League, get off the commercial treadmill and come back to life.
stevo Says:
April 16th, 2008 at 9:06 am
over publisized over paid,
they’re a bunch of ******.
get a real job where u work 7 am till 6pm and get paid peanuts.

great site its good to see more people that have the same views as we do
stevo Says:
April 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
p.s eddie mcguire is a doushe
stevo Says:
April 16th, 2008 at 9:14 am
where can i purchase one of those anti football bunkers from. can u send me the link to the supplier.
Robert Kelly Says:
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I wish we had an organisation such as this in the UK for soccer It is so refreshing to find sensible people who are anti football in all its forms
Down with football!
Would like to join this club but can't Says:
April 26th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Hi,I would like to join this anit-football league however I dare not because my husband and teenage son love AFL! My son would be devastated if I were to join and I suppose there are worse things than AFL that they could be fantatical about! So every now and then I’ll just ’sneak a peak’ at this site! Sincerely, Carolyn
Eric Says:
April 30th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
What on earth is the State Government doing giving our taxes to the Geelong football club for use on the upgrading of their facilities. Schools, Hospitals, Aged care facilities; all of these are essential services crying out for funds. Has this dreaded disease spread through the corridors of power?
Could this be vote gathering? Should football fanatics be allowed to vote?
Perhaps the Anti Football League needs to gather some allies in high places?
Maybe we need to look within the government for our Wilkie Medal Award nominee.
Shinobu Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 9:58 am
I’m not anti-football, I am quite happy for people to play any sport they wish - buy I don’t want to subsidise it through taxes and my bills!

Hey Mato, at least we play sport rather than watching other people.
Tech DJ Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Football supporters inject so much energy into something that they have absolutely no control over. Face painting, buying overpriced merchandise, relentless water cooler conversations and giving up weekends to see “the game”… absolutely none of it influences the outcome of matches played!
There are three types of Football supporter that particularly sadden me: The Hardcore Fanatic, the Spineless Sheep and the Brain Washed Youngster.

The Hardcore Fanatics life will revolve around Football. We’ve all seen the obituaries in the paper: “Lifelong supporter of their beloved Xyz team”. Despite many years of loyal obedience and wasted money, would their Football team contribute financially to their supporters welfare if times were tough? I think not!

The Spineless Sheep are those that are actually disinterested in Football but claim to support a team and engage in Footy talk because they are too scared to admit they’re not fans. It’s a big herd and we all know them - the guy or girl in the office who will clench their fist and sigh upon hearing that “their team” lost on the weekend and offer a verbal quip about “We’ll get you next time” before slinking off into the background with a Cup-A-Soup. To an extent, I understand their position - it’s sometimes easier to “go with the flow” and not be challenged on your views. However, it is the ambivalence of this group that contributes to the ubiquity of Football and feeds the hype machine. (The Anti Football League should note that this group is a rich feeding ground for membership support as they are potentially closer to “enlightenment” than other supporter types).

Lastly, parents of brain washed youngsters paint their kids faces, take them to the games and talk Footy ad nauseam. The child has little to no opportunity to repel their fathers boisterous assailment and the vicious cycle continues.

There’s one question that some Anti Football members may hate, but I love: “Who do you barrack for?”. I enjoy proclaiming loudly that “I don’t follow a team because I don’t like Football”. It stuns the question asker (typically a Hardcore Fanatic) and raises the eyebrows of the Spineless Sheep in the vicinity! Unfortunately, unless Parental Brain Washing makes it onto the list of actions considered as “child abuse” , there is nothing we can do about the Brain Washed Youngsters. A pity - unless you’re in the face paint industry.
Greg Says:
May 30th, 2008 at 4:20 am
If we could remove the ‘greed’ factor from corporations then maybe football would be played Saturday afternoons only, leaving Friday nights and the balance of the weekend for family or other sports.
If the media could understand the difference between ‘news’ and ’sport’ maybe our community would be better informed about the events affecting our society.
Instead of the government funding improvments to the current ‘football’ facilities how about sending those funds to local sports ovals for rainwater tanks, regrassing and fences to reduce the costs of vandalism.
This would help the majority not the minority!
Chris Says:
June 6th, 2008 at 2:43 am
What I can’t cop about a lot of football supporters is that they’ll yell their guts out and get bent out of shape over footy, yet, many of them will justify their apathy towards politics by saying that there’s nothing they can do about it, so it’s pointless to bother. Can’t they see their hypocrisy?
Chris Says:
June 7th, 2008 at 9:45 am
The great thing about being a footy player is that it doesn’t matter what you do wrong. Because if you stuff up and people criticise you for it, you can just run on to the footy field on the weekend and prove them wrong.
Rev D A Nichols Says:
June 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
While being an anti-football league member, I am also a member of 2 AFL teams. I believe that there is a place for sports in the community, though this has been blown completely out of proportion. Idolising young men for being able to jump is quite odd and the anti-football league is needed to help point this out
joy Says:
June 19th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Yes it is usual in democracy for a few to tell others how they should behave. Hang on thats not right it is a dicatorship.My advice is if you dont like afl, just keep away from it but dont bag what you dont want to understand.
I like all sport watching and playing it. I am a member of an AFL club and have missed one match this year out of 12 and have been to 3 states so far.
I dont discuss footy unless the other person is interested but wont stop discussing it to please you neither will I stop my passion.
Chris Howie Says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 am
Grand final tickets are promised to the privileged few, while ordinary Australians moan about not being able to see their team in the grand final. That’s a dictatorship, Joy.

Also, the elite “few” who control this country love the fact that so many Aussies are obsessed with footy because it keeps them from interfering with important things like government policy.

Bread and circuses Joy. Bread and circuses.
Eric Says:
July 7th, 2008 at 2:26 am
I would suggest that we dont lose sight of the fact that the Australian Football league is very much a corporation. This is no less obvious when we see Vic Roads offering vehicle number plates with your team logo and colours. At $495 a set of plates, it begs the question – how much money goes to the Australian Football League? Multiply it by the number of fanatics willing to move their obsessive passion for their team to the outside of their respective vehicles, and we are talking about a lot of money.
I wonder if people would be willing to place number plates with the logo and colours of a leading brand of cola drink onto their respective vehicles. Probably not, that would be supporting a corporation, which spends a lot of money pushing its products to the masses as hard as it can!
Hmmmmm.
Matt Says:
July 8th, 2008 at 1:53 am
This is a great site and has full and my utmost support. From reading the comments of other visitors I realise that i’m not alone afterall!!! It’s great to think that i’m not the only one who must frequently get “that look” - you know the one……from all those “real Australians” when we say “oh, I don’t follow footy”. My dislike of this game stems, and is fuelled by the blatent amount of “in your face” social and media coverage that it recieves. This game has solely become a “business” which is all about making money rather than the enjoyment of playing a sport. This along with the over-indulgence and bad behaviour of the players -who are given “god like” status - especially when involved in some personal incident that makes the papers, ie: (drugs, drink driving, assaulting their girlfriend or postman etc etc etc.) The “zombie like” facination people have for footy is, I believe, a really sad reflection of our society. My suggestions, (to any footy follower), would be to go and buy a good book to read, go to a art gallery, find any other interest in the world no matter what it might be, just as long as you don’t tell others that your “hobby” is following footy for god sake!
Chris Howie Says:
July 18th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
The Australian Labor Party has 14,000 card carrying members.
There’re over three hundred thousand card carrying members for the sixteen AFL clubs. Not to mention MCC members and AFL members. Melbourne has the least amount of members at about twenty eight thousand

The Australian media has something like six football reporters for every one political reporter. It’s no wonder news about footballers hamstring strains or their latest off field indiscretions are given front page coverage in front significant national and international events. It’s a sad indictment on the mentality of the Australian public.
Paul Walker Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Roll on October!
jack Says:
July 28th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I think it makes perfect sense that the Government should introduce new legislation that makes it compulsory for every australian citizen to become an AFL club member… and prevent morons like you guys from voicing your opinions no one cares about… AFL IS THE BEST SPORT EVER! CHRIS JUDD IS A GOD!!! GO CARLTON!!!!!
Eric Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Well, that just about sums it up.
Don’t know about others, but this fellow has completely justified my membership of the anti football league –he probably doesn’t understand how, and probably never will.
Sautéing the horse Says:
July 29th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Good old Jack.
jack Says:
July 30th, 2008 at 10:08 am
look… i don’t actually believe what i wrote, it was just a joke, but seriously… fair enough you guys don’t like Aussie Rules, but you all seem to think it’s a crime the rest of us do?? We’re just enjoying ourselves watching a game we find entertaining. There well might be more to life, but really… i’m happy enough just with footy…. that will do for me.
Gerry Says:
August 1st, 2008 at 6:05 am
I recently had to travel on the same train as a large number of a football supporters. The monosyllabic grunts emanating from these simian creatures only confirmed what I’d always believed. Also, why are most football supporters just plain ugly? Or. are all ugly people football supporters because they are excluded from normal ssocialising?
Chris Howie Says:
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
AFL star urinates on cafe. Chris Judd has a sore foot and in other news the USA has launched a nuclear strike on Iran. We now cross to Carlton to look at Judd’s foot.
eric Says:
August 4th, 2008 at 3:31 am
The Olympics are on our doorstep.
This is a time where sports identities are paid lots of money to represent the team/country with the opportunity to be sporting “heroes”. We are able to barrack for them, wave the flag, and engage in everything between patriotic hysteria and abuse. We can shout, “kill the opposition”, and criticize our “heroes” when they fail, we can talk about these failures the next day/week, and watch the results over and over again on the TV. We can analyze why they lost and how.
There will be total TV, radio and press saturation covering the events.. …….wait a minute this sounds very familiar.
Bruce McRae Says:
August 5th, 2008 at 6:26 am
I think we should create an award for the most ridiculous WEASEL words uttered on Radio or TV. An example; Player XXX causes injury during the unmentionable game, he is taken before the tribunal at which time he is suspended…as far as the presenter is concerned player XXX “accepted” a 1 week suspension as if he was doing something honourable. The fact is he broke the rules and was punished by a 1 week suspension…that is how it should be presented to the public. Bah Humbug
Jamie Charman Says:
August 5th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
you XXXX need lives, seriously, football is an aussie tradition, you guys are the kids that where always XXXX at it as a kid and sat off the field and watched as the good ones got the girls, and use got level ups on pokemon. if you think you can rally together and ban AFL, then you need to reconsider your humanity

This message has been censored to comply with anti-sedition legislation -The Secretary
Junior Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Thank god for sites like this. I cannot stand the silly game of AFL. I also have no idea how it went from being 100 years old in 1996 to 150 years old in 2008. Does the AFL have anyone on the board who knows math?
Alex 4.0 Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Never before have so many people worked themselves into so great a lather over so trivial a pastime over which they have so little control over the outcome.

Imagine if the same level of attention paid to ‘Australian Rules Football’ was paid to, say, the road toll and driver safety, local, state and federal politics … we would have a more efficient political system: or less dead on the road … instead we have S*m N*wman driving women to self-harm. Thanks, rabid, one-eyed AFL supporters! You’re part of the problem!
T-Dogga Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 8:43 am
To Bruce McRae and other uneducated fools.

1. Players can either choose to accept a ban or appeal it. THEY DO HAVE A CHOICE, and no option is seen as being heroic.

2. Football fans are tax payers aswell.

3. Football players are like all other people, they make mistakes.

Funny that you hate something so passionately without knowing a thing about it.
Sam Says:
August 7th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Gerry, AFL supporters are all ugly because they have all had sex with Joffa and reproduced.

Don’t swim in the shallow end of the gene pool that is AFL.
Eric Says:
August 7th, 2008 at 1:20 am
There are many people who do the wrong thing and break the law. We have a penal system to cope with this and it offers effective punishment.
If footballers were not falsely held up as so called “heroes” and so called “role models” they would be fined and punished without comment just like all other offenders, and we wouldn’t hear about it. They are not heroes, they are not role models they are just ordinary people made out to be more important than they really are. The Australian Football League is not the judge or jury in these matters and has no jurisdiction, it can only impose its own internal irrelevant punishments, which are really of little consequence
and just a phony as the whole game.
Let the court system take care of these issues and deal with them within the genuine legal system.
brendan Says:
August 7th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Thank God for a site like this… because it’s just given me yet another reason to love football… so i can piss you guys off!!!
Duff Sport Says:
August 7th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Get a Life, You sad (pig skin) sack.
Rod Says:
August 11th, 2008 at 7:56 am
I feel sport has a place in a sane society. The type of sport that the masses can and do participate in to promote health and fitness. Foolsball does not fit this category. However many sports that do are currently on offer during the Olympics. Unless the station with the rights to televise the Olympics also has AFL obligations. In which case Foolsball gets priority. Is it any wonder I hate football.
Chris Howie Says:
August 11th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I guess some people will get obsessed with anything as long as it distracts them from contemplating their mortality.
Ben Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Heres another great article on the problem of Australia’s obsession with sport.

http://blogs.theage.com.au/malcontent/archives/2005/09/further_thought.html

He is absolutely right, if someone wants to waste their life and play sport, then they shouldn’t expect public funding for their training. Reduce the fees for the Doctor or the scientist and give it to the parasites (”olympic champions”).

Knock down the MCG and build some more victorian terraces and apartments, extend jolimont to the trainline.
Tony Says:
August 15th, 2008 at 1:37 am
At last!! after interminable monday morning taxi rides in footy season with absolutely no interest in listening to the drivers rant about his team or the team that beat his team, I can now just flash my new AFL pin and extol the virtues of the “real” AFL - I was a member 40 odd years ago when it was almost anti Australian to question the sanctity of football - while I don’t mind a bit of sport in all its guises I can certainly do without the inevitable offield brainless behaviour that surrounds many past and present players of this code - may the cube be with you!!
Hayden Says:
August 15th, 2008 at 1:47 am
This site is a complete and utter discrace. you people who are stuck in the 17th century who are scared of a bit of rouhg and tumble. Football provides hard working people with a weekend of enjoyment that comes close to nothing else. they can forget there problems and watch there team fight it out. football is an aussie tradition and will live on and on!
Hayden Says:
August 15th, 2008 at 1:51 am
And another thing go and play your little pussy sports like chess and board games! you bunch of losers! Carn the brisbane lions!
Don Brooke Says:
August 16th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I have been in Melbourne for 26 years. When I arrived I was told how great Melbourne is because the then VFL was the greatest game ever. PLEASE Melbourne people this AFL is pathetic. Truly analised it is simply a lot of fit people kicking and catching. They push and shove each other before the “game” has even started, look silly passing a ball with a fist punch and the silly Melbourne people support this nonsense and outrageous payments made to these men by paying astronomical entrance fees. MELBOURNE AFL FANS you truly are dumb.
brendan Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 6:18 am
if you cannot stand AFL then my suggestion is to pack up and leave… because it’s only gonna get worse and worse for you guys

Which AFL are you referring to, Brendan?
eric Says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:18 am
Oh great football sheep, why do you flock each week in large numbers inside huge oval pens, to watch other bovines run around on the grass.
You bleat and butt each other in the stalls, you are lead and fleeced by the shepherds of commercialism, your wool is traded for fine things, things to make the shepherds more prosperous. Come on sheep, break out of the mindless flock - come and join the anti football league, and bleat no more.
Chris Howie Says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Nice post, Eric. I’d love some of our pro-footy friends to respond to it, but unfortunately they wouldn’t understand it. LOL.
Redmiond Says:
August 27th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
How many Aus Football League stars does it take to change a light bulb?

None - the club organises a team of electricians to do it for them.

You do realise Football clubs are non-profit organisations…
Chris Howie Says:
August 28th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Really? The WCE have about twenty million bucks in the bank.
Chip Saunders Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 2:20 am
What a very sad group of people you all are. An elitist bunch of clowns who have nothing better to do than to look down your noses at people who have a passion for a great Australian game. I have a suggestion for you. If you don’t like Australian Rules, move to a place where your delicate sensibilities won’t be offended by it. How about Cuba? The don’t play it there, and I am sure most of you would love to live under the tender mrecies of Fidel/Raoul Castro. Just think, you will be to daydream about the “glory” days of your beloved Soviet Union.
brendan Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 1:33 am
Well said
Chris Says:
September 1st, 2008 at 10:56 am
Hehe “elitist bunch of clowns”!

Football is so boring … can barely keep my eyes open if I’m forced to watch it … a bunch of hoons mud-wrestling … if I have to watch sport, I prefer sports like women’s beach volleyball

By the way … what do people think about the Greenhouse effect? Occuring? Not? Natural Cycle? Pollution driven? Who is right? Al Gore? Bjorn Lomborg? Is there a scientific consensus? Does it matter?
Matt Says:
September 1st, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Chip Saunders. Who’s elitist? The elitism of Football is extreme, right from the schoolyard through to the halls of power. Why should we leave? Isn’t that a bit elitist of you? A poitless recalcitrant such as yourself would fail to see their own hypocrisy so clearly.
Edward Says:
September 1st, 2008 at 9:59 pm
You’re a nutcase, are you actually paying any attention to the crap you’re fingers are typing??

The people on this site are insulting footballers and footballer supporters alike just for enjoying something they dislike… absolutely pathetic! You all seem have this narrow minded belief that all football supporters are ignorant, loud-mouthed buffoons, that all footballers are rapist-thug heroes… now that is what I call ignorance. If you don’t like it turn off the television. Get a life.
Chip Saunders Says:
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Matt; Australian Rules is not about elitism. It is a game played by all levels of society, boys and girls, men and women and by people of very variable standards of ability. People play it because it is fun, and because of the camaraderie it produces. As for your misspelt comment about me being elitist and a hypocritical recalcitrant, may I suggest you go and look at a mirror and take a very good hard look at yourself? I suggested people of your ilk had a choice. You can choose to not watch football. You can choose to change the channel. You can chose not to reads the back page. You can choose to go to a place where they do not play football. You are free to indulge in whatever bizarre fantasy hat you wish. What you are not free to do is to denigrate people who have different interests to you.
Chris Says:
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Bah, can’t we talk about something else other than football? Perhaps love it or hate it Australians can’t talk about anything else???
Cameron Says:
September 4th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Thank god there’s a guest book on this site! I have to give a talk in my english class on a certain topic, Afl. We can chose to be for or against it. Of course most mindless bogans in my class chose to be “fully supportive of footy, mate” But oh what a shock they will get when I step up and start telling them exactly why their ’super’ sport is a shameful stereotype for Australia.
Mr Smith Says:
September 6th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Pathetic excuse for a sport. I also decided against Footy Tipping, I always have, always will.
Ben Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Thank goodness there is a site like this

Football is everywhere, it is impossible to stay out of it, its become completly over the top in Australia. It and sport in general, when I search on the internet for a suburb and get 90% hits a football club then you know theres a problem. I support you guys 100%, I know you probably get heaps of critisism, as football is religion here, critisising football is like attaking democracy, it is supported blindly by everyone. Australia needs a site like this. There is more to East Melbourne then the MCG — there is more to Melbourne then sport. There is more to life then sport.
eric Says:
September 11th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Steady now football sheep, the time fast approaches where you will be freed from visits to the huge oval pens, and you will be able to move into the paddock of sanity. Living away from the flock will be scary, and the unity that you felt comfortable amongst will dissipate in time.
You will learn to live on your own, in the paddock of sanity, there will be some minor adjustment, your brain will recover, and your bleating and head butting will subside.
Do not lament oh football sheep, the anti football league is here for you during this terrible period.
Chris Howie Says:
September 11th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
This morning I heard that football TV ratings have declined in NSW and that the crowd at last weekend’s game between Sydney and North Melbourne was the lowest at a final since 1924. Obviously the people in NSW have better things to do with their time.
Carolyn Says:
September 11th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Sorry, I will have to be an apology for the 2008 Football free lunch as I’m from out of town and working that afternoon. I know I will be busy as most others will want the afternoon off for you know what but suits me fine as I love my Saturday arvo job. I will be there by myself with the radio tuned into a football-free station - bliss.
stuart Says:
September 12th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Please, can someone offer an escape for me from the madness that is September, billboards, tv, newspapers, it goddam everywhere, AND I’M SICK OF IT!

Thankfully this quietcorner of the world exists, where I can sit and contemplate interesting things about the world around me.

A recent art critic summed up football quite well recently, here is his article:-

http://blog.stunik.com/2008/08/aint_the_internet_grand.html
Edward Says:
September 16th, 2008 at 1:22 am
why don’t you just follow dame edna’s example and give it a try… you never know, you might discover just how miserable you’re previous lives were…
Chip Saunders Says:
September 16th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Like many of you, I do not understand why the AFL continue to try to break into the Sydney market. As a good product as Australian Rules, the good burghers of Sydney remain committed to a sport that you would consider an even bigger travesty; Rugby League. Perhaps Chris you should move to NSW and give League a try? The season goes even longer than the footy season, and then the World Cup will follow on straight away. Then the cricket starts! Its a great tome of year. If you keep an open mind, then I am sure you will love it! Then again, keeping an open mind seems a step to far for most of the punters on this blog.
Matt Says:
September 16th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Chip. Wrong. I am free to denigrate morons like you as much as I please… only at a safe distance though, as I can’t trust trained bullies to not solve arguments with fists. I stand by what I said, football is elitist, schools have the AFL corporation shamelessly advertising thier violent product to six year olds as though playing football were the greastest possible aspiration our youth could have. I did miss the ‘n’ in pointless, granted, but check the spelling on your reply. Use a dictionary.
Edward Says:
September 16th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I would be so proud for you to denigrate me… I certainly wouldn’t want people to think I have any sort of understanding with you. 99.9% of the population… including those who have no interest in football whatsoever, would read that and be forgiven for questioning you’re sanity. It makes me wonder. What is the one thing that just about every comment on this site has mentioned? That’s right… you guessed it! Football… Football Football Football!!! It’s enough to make one wonder just really how much you hate it, perhaps you’re in denial? Either way, you’re certainly obsessed with it. I’d love to see whoever heads this cult to come out with those views in public, you wouldn’t dare because you’d realise you’d become the biggest joke in Australia:)
Jack Says:
September 17th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Quote: I am free to denigrate morons like you as much as I please… only at a safe distance though, as I can’t trust trained bullies to not solve arguments with fists.

This proves two things… one, you love categorizing people into stereotypes. Two, you’re an absolute coward who only has the guts to fire ammo from you’re own keyboard
Chip Saunders Says:
September 17th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Matt,

Must you descend into puerile name calling? Sure, I may have taken a few knocks to my head playing sport, but what is your excuse? As for needing a dictionary, I would suggest you would be in greater need of it than me. Pardon my knocks to the head, my bemused exposure to an increasingly dysfunctional education system run by the Lunar Left and my clearly childlike intellect; however I am fairly sure that you may need to check the spelling of the following:
- thier
- greastest

That should give you something to do while the rest of us get on with normal pursuits. Have fun. If you can.
Matt Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Chip, I know no other way of dealing with what you admit is a ‘childlike intellect’. Why do you assume that my pursuits are abnormal? Sorry about the typos Chip. ‘Lunar’, Chip, means ‘to do with the moon’. ‘Loony left’ is the more common phrase. Maybe if more emphasis were placed on inlellctual pursuits rather than sport in Australia, education would improve. You would be suprised to know how many ex-footballers dominate management in education. Why do you assume, Chip, that my pursuits, which you know nothing about, are abnormal? Is football the only ‘normal’ passtime?
Matt Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Jack, why are you on our website? Nothing better to do?
Julie Says:
September 18th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I am very proud to become a member of such a fine League.
If pre season is played over seas
maybe they would like to keep it there, we do not need it !!!!!
Keep up the great work
Hey Mato guess you must be into football, you have the traditional o at the end of your name, original isn’t it.
Chip Saunders Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Matt,

Loony Left is the more common phrase, however Lunar Left is also in widespread use. It implies people with bizarre ideas with little or no basis in fact or reality. Yes I maybe as thick as two short planks in comparison to a towering genius like yourself, however I am more than happy to stay that way. I maybe thick, but I can spell. I also don’t go around making sweeping statements on issues that I know nothing about. The only person who implied that football is the only normal “passtime” (I assume you mean past time) is you. I know nothing about your lifestyle Matt, and to be honest, I really don’t want to. You are free to live your life, just as I am free to live mine. I will defend your right to speak freely, no matter how ill-informed and just plain dumb the words are. However, until I can get evidence to change my opinions, my distaste for people like you, with your false sense of superiority based on disdain for something you don’t like, will remain. By the way, can you recommend any good books for me to read? I am sick of Dr Seuss, and his sidekick John Pilger.
Chris Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
If you want something to read, Chip. (I take it that Chip refers to the thing on your shoulder) I’d recommend you read something by Andrew Bolt or Tangles. I’m sure they’d be right up your alley.
MaverickKK Says:
September 20th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Yahooooo
Chris Says:
September 20th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
That was a good article Stuart. I agree with the bit that said:

“The whole point of sport is to insulate you from things that matter.”
FOOTY is no.1 Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 am
What a bunch of losers you are. You people are whats wrong with this country. If you dont like football, dont watch it and you might think you’re important commenting on a rubbish site like this but i propose that you come down this saturday to the G and we’ll give you a good touch up. You can go sing and dance in brunswick st all you like and frankly we dont care. we dont criticise anyone for not loving footy, so what the hell gives you the right to do so to us? Go paint pictures and stay at home you losers, you will always be the minority and if you don’t like football, keep it to yourself
D Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 am
It still amazes me as to why people would start an anti-football league. Possibly the most insane and idiotic i have ever heard of. I admire your spirit and all but honestly, what gives you the right to stop Footy? Think about the thousands, if not millions of people who play it every saturday. They play as a team and have fun at the same time. This gives you good leadership skills and socialising skills. To be honest, every member who supports this has nothing better do as they could never come up with something as good and iconic as footy. AntiFootballLeague will go no where so just give up.
Some people just don’t have lives…
Rex Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:31 am
BTW, Hawks or Cats? Hawthorn are the sentimental favourites for mine, with Crawford in their side and being the underdogs. Having said that, I’ve always had a soft spot for Geelong and they have been the best team this year. Hawthorn will have plenty of opportunities in years to come, it would be disastrous for the Cats to have a period of such dominance (43 wins from 45 games now?) and not go back-to-back. Thus, I’ll have reason to be happy no matter who wins, provided it eclipses the rest of this lacklustre finals series in terms of entertainment. What do you guys think? And to think we still have the Brownlow to be awarded tomorrow night! There is plenty of excitement left in this season, and before we know it, we’ll be going around the merry go round once again in the year 2009. God, I love football.
Chip Saunders Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 am
Geelong do look good, but I am leaning towards the Wee and the Poo causing an upset. If their forward line works to its potential, they may do it. As for the Brownlow Jimmy Bartell is my tip; may just pip Boomer for it. I know that will cause controversy on this blog, but thats the beauty of free speech. Does anybody think that any club will bother to pick up Nathan Thompson?
Chip Saunders Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:24 am
Chris,

No, I don’t like Andrew Bolt. He is way to wishy-washy for my tastes. On a totally different subject, do you think the Australian Cricket selectors made a mistake in not picking Ashley Noffke for the tour of India?
David Schutz Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
Once football starts to appear on both the front and back covers of the newspapers, you know it is time to pull down the shutters, burrow into the bunker and declare your home, your office, your car, your blog - indeed, the entire universe if one only had the right to define one’s own concept of existence - a football free zone, and to proudly wear the pin of the only AFL I will ever barrack for: The Anti-Football League.

Great article in today’s edition of The Age, BTW.
.... Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:15 am
i would have thought that the reason people go to the football is the same reason people go to a concert, cinema, theatre, opera etc. To be entertained. The only difference is that football is a more popular form of entertainment.
Ani-Anti-Football-League Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 am
So, football is only for bogans eh?

Try telling that to the physiotherapists, the doctors, the pharmacists, marketing execs, stockbrokers, lawyers and members of the police force that play the game and support it enthusiastically.

Meanwhile you lot write letters and play with model trains.
Brett Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
How ironic that your acronym mirrors that of the Australian Football League. They are who you should be directing your petty frustrations at, not at the game of Australian rules football.
On any given winter Saturday, just around the corner from where you will be eating your tofu and eggplant salad on Grand Final Day, you will find boys and men of all ages engaging in a social activity that gets them out in the open, gets them active, and enjoying each others company. Weather permitting, you will also see couples, singles, families, dogs, cats and all manner of other animals enjoying the leafy surrounds of the Brunswick Street Oval, even if they don’t follow either side. Football is not just a sport for the worlds bogans and boofheads, it’s like all other sports and provides the platform for friendships, physical exercise and fun. Enjoy your lunch !
??? Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Yes, D - barely a week goes by without yet another high-profile demonstration of great “leadership and socialising skills” on the part of footballers gracing the front pages. That’d also be why the AFL (the other one), felt compelled to produce a video for its players pointing out that sexual assault is actually a bit of a no-no.

… - the other difference being that those who go to the cinema, etc, tend to get on with the rest of their lives afterwards, rather than going on about it ad-bloody-nauseam; neither do people at the movies tend to have some sort of unjustified, vicarious sense of achievement at the conclusion. Neither do they tend to obsess over it to the detriment of the rest of their lives and bore the living daylights out of evryone else.

FOOTY IS NO. 1 - A recent survey showed 57% of the population have no interest in football - surely even you could figure out that isn’t a “minority”. As for the “if you don’t like it, don’t watch it” argument; sure, that’s easy - you just have to spend 26 weeks a year avoiding TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, the internet.. or any contact whatsoever with people with double digit IQs…
Chris Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I love way some of the pro-footy boofheads keep trying to defend the integrity of their beloved footy culture with threats of violence towards anyone who is critical of it. The best way to damage your cause is to argue badly for it. Keep up the good work guys.
.... Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
???- really? i heard plenty of people taliking about the latest batman movies and others such as james bond and star wars always generate high levels of interest, as do concerts when certain music groups tour. Why? Because they are popular! if a movie on the popularity scale of batman came out every one or two weeks you would find that of course everyone would be talking about it ad nauseum. It has nothing to do with who supports it rather how many support it.

as for your survey, is that the national population? considering NSW and QLD have little to no interest in AFL (and those states make up over 1/2 the nations population) i’m relativbely surprised its not higher.

why do you have to avoid tv, radio, magazines, internet or newspapers?

tv- football is only ever on one channel at a time. that means theres 4 other FTA stations and if you have foxtel, there are plenty of other channels to pick from.

radio- again plenty of stations and i know they don’t all go on about football 24/7

newspapers- just dont read the back of the paper. personally i don’t like the gossip columns. its very easy to skip over things you don’t like.

magazines- plenty of other types of magazines apart from sport ones

internet- for the millions of websites out there you cant find one which doesnt talk about AFL??
Ando Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
This website sucks balls. I bet a bunch of batty boys made it. I thought it would b funny to have a look. Wish i didn’t waste my Data allowance on this…
Im not the jehovah Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
…and here I was thinking that the piont of the ‘real’ AFL was that there is something more important in life than football.

It’s a great game, but that’s all it is - a game.
QT Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Someone mentioned movies.

The office tipping comp meets Reservoir Dogs right here:

http://www.simplyscripts.com/scripts/FINALMAVERICK1.doc
Rob Alsop Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Ando… you suck balls…
Chris Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I have one question for all of you footy supporters.

If Aussie rules football is as magnificent as it’s made out to be in the Victorian media, why hasn’t it been embraced by any other countries?
jason Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 am
one more thing football cosumes my life because i love it.

football cosumes your life because you hate it.

what is the point hating something so much you make a day of it?

just like you said we waste our days at the footy, at least we love it. all the while your having your little meeting at a pub im sure someone will make the comment ‘i bet the people at the footy arnt having this much fun’

which shows how u do care about australian rules football, just the sheer fact you are protesting against it makes me wonder how much interest you have in it.

i dont like american (fake) wrestling so i dont watch it, when its on i change the channel. if u asked me when thier grand final or whatever they have is one i wouldnt know but it seems to me you all know a fair bit about football and the grandfinal. you will probably have a celebration at the start of the game or something.

if you dont care dont make a point of it.

also you wont be able to get away from the game either. im sure someone with a boom box will come share rex hunts call of the game for you all.
jason Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 am
i just read this from one of you members.
‘can certainly do without the inevitable offield brainless behaviour that surrounds many past and present players of this code’
i dont know if u like art or music or whatever.

but their have been some bad artist who have done some bad things and musians just the same.

and politians if your in to politics.

let it go, you are all a lost cause, when u talk about hating afl your talking about it. move your conversation onto the weather if you want to talk about something else.

i did notice someone talk about the sydney north finals attendance. there someone goes again paying our game some respect by mentioning it.

get over it and be gone with your stupid cause.

go save some trees if you want to make a difference. football isnt hurting anyone.
Chip Saunders Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Chris,

You are a Victorian aren’t you? That does explain a few things. Chris should you ever leave Victoria you will find Australian Rules is played throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, plus a great many countries around the world. In fact there was just recently a tournament featuring these nations - surely you would have noticed that, given your belief that the media is a craven puppet of the AFL? Or maybe you don’t read, watch or listen to any media sources? That would again explain a few things. Get a grip on reality, and loosen the grip on your other thing.
hit 'im!! Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:23 am
The people who created this website should spend their time doing something useful like finding a fix for cancer or solving world poverty, or putting a huge hit on while they skull a VB and smash meat pies!
??? Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 am
… - I wouldn’t deny that coverage of popular entertainment goes way over the top as well, but I doubt that Batman (or whatever) would receive front page coverage in the newspapers day after day after day (especially in the middle of a global financial crisis). Neither would those who watched it claim that its of any broader consequence, or feel some sense of personal achievement when Batman vanquishes the bad guys (in contrast to those who go on interminably about “their” team’s victory, as though they had some sort of personal involvement, and it somehow makes the world a better place).

Re the survey - it appeared in the Age a while back, and it was indeed just Victorians (Melbournians, no less!). And the 57% covered only those professing “no interest” - large chunks of the population also claimed “little” or “moderate” interest only. Admittedly the survey was a few years back, but I see no reason why our collective IQ would have plummeted dramatically in the meantime.

Re the media - with newspapers, its not just a matter of avoiding the back - try the back, the front, the innumerable liftouts, and a fair portion of the remainder. Likewise with TV news bulletins, talk radio, internet news sites, etc, etc. (needless to say the caped crusader would never get anything even approaching this kind of blanket coverage). And perhaps there’s plenty of non-football magazines out there if you can be bothered paying for them, but as a self-confessed tightwad, I prefer the free ones that fall out of the Saturday papers, and once again they tend to be full of it. And by far the worst source of football-related boredom are the obsessed fans who go on about it endlessly, and, needless to say, they remain absolutely unavoidable.
Fidel Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Somebody wrote on this site that if you don’t like footy then you should go to Cuba. That is preposterous. Why should we export such individuals to places that already suffer enough misery, without inflicting that. Go Hawks.
andy Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
“You can choose to go to a place where they do not play football. You are free to indulge in whatever bizarre fantasy hat you wish. What you are not free to do is to denigrate people who have different interests to you.”
I think a lot of people who have been called ‘poofter’, ‘weirdo’ or other names for not joining in a discussion about football can tell you more about what the word ‘denigrate’ means. Why are all these loser football fans here being all defensive about their precious AFL anyway…?
cesspool Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Thank you Keith Dunstan for your diligent work stamping out religion disguised as circus.

My favorite football phenomenon is the announcement of the “All Australian Team”. A national team with no-one to play against. HHAHA

Weshould become more militant, I think. I am organising terrorist attacks on the Burley and Chesson factories, if anyone would like to be involved…
Chris Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Chip,

Just because a “handful” of people play Aussie rules football in a few other countries that doesn’t mean those countries have embraced the sport.

So again I ask. If Aussies rules football is as magnificent as the Victorian media claims it is why hasn’t it been embraced by other countries?
Matt Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Well said Andy
Matt Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 11:27 am
The fascinating thing is that intellectuals and members of the Anti Football League seem toi constantly have thier heterosexuality questioned. It is football players, however, who are actually closet homosexuals. Why else would they touch each others bottoms publicly? You see the one thing that these people don’t understand is that free speech requires an absense of violence. Otherwise only the violent people are free to say what they want. If the world learned this lesson there would be no wars. This is not high school, this is the adult world.
andy Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Well put, Matt. Sadly enough, the footballers that are homosexual (estimated to be 5 to 10% of players) feel unable to come out of the closet because of the small-minded homophobia of fans and other players. I wonder how many footy fans are in ignorance or denial that some of their favourite players are gay.
Belinda Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
It may be 3 days to the end of the season but it never ends and the torture just continues
Jack Says:
October 1st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
good… i hope you suffer immensely
adam Says:
October 1st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
hahaha,
do people actually bother ridiculing a sport?!

is this crap actually real?!
hahahahaha

and people gather to ridicule it?!

i’ve never laughed so hard in my life!

Membership and Merchandise

August 2nd, 2007

Membership to the Anti-Football League has always been simple.
By purchasing one of the our lapel badges, and wearing it proudly,
noble citizens can ‘Kick the Footy Habit’ and join the AFL.

Made from sterling nickel, these fashionable items will render the wearer impervious to the contents of overpriced meat pies at the Telstra Dome. AFL Badges are also the ideal Christmas gift all year round.

Badges are now available for purchase for AUD$9.00 (plus postage) each. Badge purchases now include an Anti-Football League sticker. (see below)

Purchases can be made by credit card, through the secure Paypal website.

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April 15th, 2007

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178 Comments

Johnathan Harris Says:
April 8th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Looks like this website is the only safe place to hide this winter. Keep up the good work.
patrick Says:
May 4th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
this is the funeyist website i have ever been to and i will jion you in your concept that aussie rules is bad for children and adults alike. most of the kids in my class are football mad when they ask me what foot ball team i go for i say i hate football
Rob Lovelace Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 8:34 am
And heres me thinking I was the only Victorian who hated football. Thanks for bringing me out of the closet. *****Message censored -Ed
Ian Rixon Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 8:49 am
I abhore the way the media overplays “football”. I cannot watch the news on the 3 main channels, they always put in stories, or even open the lead story with some boring football news. By the way, who is this Ben Cousins guy, he has no relevance to me.
I also totally avoid watching channel nine, this Eddie guy must be the centre of the universe, but once again, he has no relevance to me in my life.
Bring it on ABC TV.
Mike Christoph Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 9:25 am
First of all, GLAD TO SEE YOUR BACK….

It was a sad day when AntiFL was disbanded in the late 90’s.

Got to say I’ve detested with a passion the 3 worst things about australian culture nearly my whole 50+ odd years…..bloody football, holden cars, and 4&20 puke pastries (pies).

Awesome..
Kelvyn Wiggins Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 11:05 am
there is no respite, the cursed “thing” goes on all year, thanks to the media! no where else does anyone celebrate a total lack of ball handling skills, women’s netball/basketball players are far better at catching & handling the ball.
Stephen Hunter Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Finally!!
A website after my own heart!!!
Go Baseball + Ice Hockey!!!!!
Anthony J Stevens Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
This may be a record.
I came from Tasmania in 1961 and as yet have not been to an AFL or other football match anywhere in 47 years. My first visit to the MCG was for one night of the Commonwealth Games 2006.

At school in Launceston I was forced to play football each winter which I hated and as you can see I have hated it ever since.

It is very disappointing to find the newspapers, the radio and TV obsessed with football - it appears like a religion to a lot of people.
Ross Smith Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Glad to see it’s back - Keep it up.
Kelvyn Wiggins Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
i have no further comment !
Rachel Pearce Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
So when will we have an anti football day were no media talks about football the news would only be about 10 mins long lol
Damian Jones Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I have been searching for something like the AFL all my life. My search is over.
MYOB Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
If you don’t like football thats fair enough but keep your opinions to your-self, this sport is more popular than this anti fan club will ever be no matter what scandals you blow out of proportion .
murray Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
you lot are the biggest losers that is going around long live Aussie Rules
Mark Lindupp Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
ABOUT TIME! I have grown up bombarded with this stupid, pointless, thuggish game for far too long. The players are a disgrace to humanity, not just the professionals but from amatuer leagues as well, mostly being associated with alcohol abuse, drug abuse and general abuse of people in general. That event with that poor Jewish guy is just typical of football thugs in our communities but it’s all accepted because they’re footy players and they’re heroes…please…gimme a break…nothing but brain dead, meat headed thugs and I…as I’m sure a LOT of people are…AM SICK OF THEM. If any normal people behaved like these cavemen they’d be hung out to dry by the media, so should these ape-ish thugs.
Carmel Vandersman (nee Kirby) Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
My husband found your website and forwarded it to me, despite being a footy fan himself.

I was a member of the original AFL in its prime and am very pleased to see its return. Now I am married and, as well as my family of origin interested in football, they have managed to reach my husband and daughter as well. I really truly need you!
I’m glad you are supporting Villa Maria now, as we use their services for our sons.
Carmel.
Ken Binns Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
I am a guest in your fair city and have been having a lovely cultural experience, I have been formulating positive points of order to put to SWMBO in a case arguing a move to Melbourne.

So as I walked along going over the arguments in my head working out counter moves to her counter points I decide it was time for some late lunch.

I walked into 4 cafe / restaurants in a row, they all had the bloody footy on so I walked straight out with the realisation that the dream had just died.

I love you city but until the people can put footy in perspective you will always have this cultural cringe to create awkward moments in your cities make up

I, like you, look forward to the day in september when all their melarchy is over for another year.
Peter Miller Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
You have no idea how excited I was to read in the Herald Sun today of the re-establishment of the AFL. I immediately determined that I would certainly become a member, not having done so in the first iteration of the organisation.

Having been forced to play the ridiculous game at the tender age of 13, because it was ‘expected’ for boys in my small Victorian country town, even though I had absolutely no interest in it. I think I was scarred for life.

At 17 years, I ran away and joined the Army, only to be posted over the next 31 years, to various locations around Australia, finding that all the states either had the local Victorian version or their own even weirder version of the game. Also finding that the papers, the office conversation and even on field exercises virtually the only topic of conversation was football, with the ‘Boredom of the Day’ even being broadcast on the radio in the middle of nowhere.
Abekitah Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Is it wrong? To be a member of our League? Should we not be spending our time profitably - worshipping footy idols? The most upstanding members of our society(members alright!!) . I think not! Should we fear them? Perhaps. But we must band together to prevent them from infecting our next precious and vulnerable generation with their disease. At least we know that they will never be able to infiltrate our ranks. The fans are too busy sucking down beam & coke and smoking winnie blues to find a site on the net other than that of their favourite team. Not to mention that the players struggle to construct sentences using multi-syllable words let alone to figure out how to even turn a pc on. We may one day win our fight - it will be a long one but let us rely on our intelligence and their lack thereof… Let us all drink a toast each night to the Anti-Football League!
Paul Taylor Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
I hate football.

After reading todays Herald Sun I could not get home quick enough to join the AFL and order three badges (I hate football so much one badge would not be enough).
Now I won’t have to explain when asked which team I barrack for, I can simply point to the badge.
I am an Electrician an cannot believe that at brew times my workmates read the paper starting at the back!. They can’t believe it when I take out the football section in the centre and throw it it the bin!.

Roll on September.

I really hate football.

Paul Taylor
Teddy Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
At last you are back, a great way to encourage friends from far flung lands to be sane and not join in the Australian love of pigskin.
josh Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Today I read the article in the Herald Sun about your anti football cult. You are un-Australian and un-human. You should be ashamed of yourselves and if you don’t shut the hell up i will lynch you. Football helps to encourage growth and development of team and social skills in young children. Many clubs put back into the communities that support them. You should go back into what ever hole you crawled out of.
Yours Joshua.
Mark Says:
May 13th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Great to see it is back. I was always a bit annoyed that the “fooody mob” pinched the AFL name when it tried to hijack the rest of the country into to cult.
Steve B. Says:
May 13th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Well done everyone. I’m sick and tired to AFL players being referred to a “heroes”. If I carried on like some of these so-called “sportsmen” in my job, I’d be out on my ear.

I admit that I used to follow football, when it was only 6 matches (12 Melbourne teams) played at 2pm every Saturday. and after the Grand Final we never heard from them again until the next April.

Oh dear, according to Josh, it appears we are all “un-Australia and un-human”.

I don’t acually think the term “un-human” exists meathead!!
josh Says:
May 13th, 2007 at 11:51 am
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhh this is so pathetic!
Dean Says:
May 13th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Finally the original AFL has returned. I have just turned 40 and have never been to a football match in my life and don’t plan to. It is to expensive to get into the ground, food and drinks are over priced and I really don’t want to have to put up with a bunch of drunken idots carrying on like there is no tomorrow (Collingwood supporters are the worst) if their team loses. Just because we don’t like football doesn’t make us un-Australian.
If anything we realise there is more to life than sport, sport and more damn sport.
I don’t like sport and never have, it just makes me wonder where my eleven year old son gets his interest in sport from because my wife is not into sport either.
At least I was able to talk him out of playing for the local football team this year.
RAY Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Had a few laughs at the comments,good to see some balance with Josh.

The media has got me down,and the tv is football and more football,and then the radio,has anybody ever had a earfull of that screaming moron on 3AW.

I do not know if i fit here as i like to watch the AFL final once a year and i was a member of Carlton (long time ago) i left after a leader of business (JOHN) used it as his personal play thing.I am sick to death of interstate football,and i did like the VLF,and i feel money has ruined the game.I might join up,thinking,thinking.cheers
jimmyboy Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Why would anybody in their right mind waste their time watching a number of deadheads chasing a piece of leather around a paddock, and then to pay ripoff prices for food and drink , I can only assume the spectators are deadheads like the ones chasing the piece of leather, my brother and sister inlaw and my daughter inlaw do nothing during the so called football season but go to, talk, eat and sleep footbRawl ,I just hope my 3 grandchildren do not catch this bug . I am joining up, thank god your back. ***Message censored at this point, -Ed
RAY Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Bit the bullet,joined up,and will try my best to become one eyed like the rest of you.cheers
Robyn W Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Was a member last time. Glad that you are back.Can not stand football, most players have sand between there ears.What a waste of TV and Radio air time,also to much print media. I dread the football season some of the players actions off the field are a disgrace,they are no heroes just idiots.Why would you want your young children calling them “Heroes”. The players are paid far to much money and it quite often go’s to there head with what they get up tooff the field.I say BBFB (Ban Bloody Foot Ball )
Andrew Says:
May 15th, 2007 at 1:46 am
I have heard some crazy stories about the different ways that AFL members have destroyed footballs in the past. I would love to hear more, or better yet, see some photos of their humours and creative attempts. Any chance of adding a gallery to this fine site?
Fantastic article in the Saturday Herald, great to see that word is getting around. May I suggest trying to get some coverage from a hip and happening online magazine called 3000? They are AWESOME!
A proud new member
Jim Moon Says:
May 17th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I belive that it’s only a matter of time before technology provides us with a buffon or bozoid filter that will instantly detect cromagnon voice inflections (talking ‘foopy’) and automatically switch radio or TV stations to a non-offensive AV signal. Utopia will be when these detectors can be fitted to one’s person so that any such cretin detected within a metre of the wearer will be instantly teleported to the closest foopy oval, thereby providing relief to both parties.
Bill Says:
May 18th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Hello all!
Kelvyn Wiggins Says:
May 19th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
just to rub salt in the wound, ch 7 has cut V8 supercar race coverage this weekend to 3 hours to allow the the “footy morons” the overdoses sat & sun. i hope the V8 supercar execs get a good kick in the balls for allowing ch 7 to take the program from ch 10.
Lois Simon Says:
May 21st, 2007 at 5:25 pm
When I read that you were back I dug out my Antifootball windcheater and wore it with pride much to,the disgust of my grandson who was visiting. Alas he is a promising 17teen year old footballer who aspires to play AFL.. My agony and worry will be with me for a long time , but with the help of the Antifootball League I will survive.
cj Says:
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:34 pm
would just like to renew my membership foom the 70’s
RAY Says:
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:48 am
I find it is interesting that if the football hero coaches have their way it will destroy it self by flooding and even football followers will be turned off.Three cheers for the flooding tactics.

I am also upset by channel 7 lack of V8 supercars coverage on Saturday,the camera was not on the leader enough times also.Cheers
Kelvyn Wiggins Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Why is the TAC allowed to spend money on football sponsorship, the money comes from motorists pockets to fund accident victims medical treatment. It is compulsory (government regulations), so there is no need to advertise. Do we need to see a bunch of clowns running around with TAC logos on their guernseys? They are not good models for anyone. Drugs, alcohol abuse, bullying is their motto/aim.
simon Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
haha, just read the article in the sun. fantastic lads!
Lachlan B Says:
May 25th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I would quite like to sign up to your anti football league. There’s one small problem; signing up to your site and receiving occasional emails will only help to remind me of AFL - something which I’m actually trying to avoid. Kind of self defeating isn’t it?

Maybe if you changed your site to only feature non AFL things like kite flying, go-karting, rock climbing, pinball, break dancing, heavy metal music, carpet weaving, french comedians, knitting, ham radio broadcasting, chess, cooking, dog breeding, home brewing, coin collecting, hats, hacky sac, snowboarding or gin rummy it would be more effective.
Abekitah Says:
May 25th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Have been wondering if footy fans and/or players will be seen as a distinct species by archealogists hundreds or thousands of years from now? Surely the way that they hold their slack jaws and drag their knuckes on the ground will be evident?? Not to mention their significantly smaller brain size. Would welcome other members views on this theory.
Lindsay Hocking Says:
May 26th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Thank heaven the REAL AFL is back. I joined the original version and was mortified when it vanished.

I still have my poster that announces a ban on talk about footbrawl withing 30 feet of it… perhaps you ought to re-release that item as well as the beloved badge.

And how about a campaign to raise a bronze statue outside the MCG of our founding father, Keith Dunstan, clutching a square footy and staring scornfully at the others?
Chris Howie Says:
May 26th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Last night I bottomed out on football culture for the final time. I dragged my 5 year old son to his fifth session of Aus Kick where he was slung to the ground twice whilst standing in line and pinched hard enough on the arm to end up with a bruise. I left early with him whilst he was crying from the third attack, vowing never to return to not just to Auskick, but to all forms of football. I should add that my boy doesn’t have these sort of things happen to him at school.

Today I came across a great quote from Noam Chomsky that I feel is relevant to this site:

The real mass media are basically trying to divert people. “Let them do something else, but don’t bother us (us being the people who run the show). Let them get interested in professional sports, for example. Let everybody be crazed about professional sports or sex scandals or the personalities and their problems or something like that. Anything, as long as it isn’t serious. Of course, the serious stuff is for the big guys. ‘We’ take care of that.”

I say it’s time everybody took their eye OFF the ball and started looking at the real world.
Gwalch Says:
May 27th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
It’s always a worry when the media portray these Neanderthals that are modern football players, as heroes.
Great role models… bash each other up, brawl in pubs, drink drive, do drugs, carry on like morons.
As proud as I am of being an Aussie.. I’m afraid that if and when I have kids.. I shall not be pushing them towards the great Aussie sport of Gay F L.
Grant Says:
May 27th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Thank you Chris Howie, this was what I was on about with my letter in the member’s letters section of this website about parents who do not want their kids involved with competitive sport. I have not been successful in finding an Australian based website by parents who do not want their children playing competitive sport, be it AFL, rugby or anything else. I want to put forward the idea of adding a section to the anti-football league’s website for parents who want to their kids not to play body contact competitive sports.
elliot harvey Says:
May 28th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
you guys are the biggest ****heads i have ever seen. why the **** would you call your piece of **** organization the AFL when you are against the AFL you *****. how bout you put your energy towards sumthin positive instead of wasting your time complaining all the time. what the **** is wrong with u. footy is an australian tradition. get off your fat **** filled **** and stop playin counter strike and hacking in internet dating chat rooms. the computer is not your friend, no body loves u.

This comment was edited for reasons other than poor grammar and spelling.
Eric Says:
May 30th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Football – Mass Hysteria
I am baffled as to how this silly game of kicking a ball full of wind around an oval park generates such hysteria.
The corporate magnates have become so imbedded in the control of “the game” that they have taken control of peoples emotions.
Personality changes based on whether your team wins or looses is the ugly side of this business and the very reason why I cant stand it.
Wake up football fans– you are being manipulated by corporate people who want to make you believe that “the game” really is an important part of life, and why shouldn’t they - its to their financial advantage to do so.
I am sure that if it were financially viable we would see “the game” played every day of the week.
Its not too late - join the anti football league and regain control of your senses and lives.
Anne Bryan Says:
May 30th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Thank Goodness, I was so pleased to see the report in the paper that the true AFL had returned, I have been wearing a badge in the Operating Theatre of The Royal Children’s Hospital (a hotbed of footy talking) for thirty years and really need the support of like-minded people!!! I too have a grandson named Jack and hope to protect him and his twin Will from the mindless drivel. ( They are three and already have clothing I refuse to put on them) I am ordering a badge for a retirement present for the greatest footy addict of all time!!!!!!!!!! Hope he will find something else to do when he no longer works with me.
Keep up the good work Jack!!!!
Karen Says:
May 30th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
After years of suffering ‘Footy Talk’ at various workplaces of mixed gender, I made a career change to work in libraries, with its predominantly female workforce. I thought I would be free. I thought I would be safe from the ‘Footy Tipping’ competitions, the inane discussion of who beat who on the weekend (who cares?), BUT I WAS WRONG. Even the most mild-mannered and ladylike of my work colleagues appears to follow someone-or-other. Their quiet and mundane lives are punctuated by a successful punt in the tipping comp. They are more likely to know all the players in such-and-such team, than what is going on in World News. Sadly, I am now minding one lady’s budgie (whilst she is on holidays) and that budgie’s name is ‘AJ’ apparently named after some footballer or other (oh, dear…).
Bek Says:
May 31st, 2007 at 3:41 pm
4 elliot harvey

poor elliot. jus remember u come lookin n that n got on our site n that. we neva made ya.

NB: I have dumbed down above comment for the benefit of Elliot should he return.
Rebekah Says:
May 31st, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Can we Anti-Footballers identify all sponsors of teams/players/whatever and then boycott their products? Watching tv earlier today there was some talk of the game and I noticed the following sponsors: Addidas, Wizard, and Emirates. At present I don’t need any sneakers, home loans or international flights so feel I am doing my little bit for the cause already!
Kelvyn Wiggins Says:
June 1st, 2007 at 9:42 am
maybe the village idiot (elliot) should have a look at the “AFL” the Anti-Football League was the AFL well before the afl (the large corporate bloodsuckers) came into existence. the so-called afl is a misnomer, the two teams north of the Murray river are relocated victorian teams. both teams were pretty well finished here in victoria, the afl has profited by sending them interstate. the spin involved in tricking people into this mindless “footy fever” is too easy when the locals believe all the lies out of afl house & of course the press makes a huge profit out of footy histeria. it is hardly a national game.
Harry McSeal Says:
June 2nd, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I also hate football. I live across the road from a footy ground and me and my friend put up a massive poster on the big grandstand saying “i wish you were a tv so I could turn you off” and it stands out a lot. It was just our little bit to try and make Australia a football-free nation.
rhiannon mcorgan Says:
June 2nd, 2007 at 12:11 pm
hey i hate football dont u just want to turn it off. well i liove near the”mcg” so every weekend i go and start a protest that a small child like myself should not have that raket going on near me i live in echuca which is really close to the mcg i hear all the raket it seems to go throught the tv. byebyebye im in love with u xoxoxoxo
rhiannon mcorgan Says:
June 2nd, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Why would anybody in their right mind waste their time watching a number of deadheads chasing a piece of leather around a paddock, and then to pay rip off prices for food and drink , I can only assume the spectators are deadheads like the ones chasing the piece of leather, my brother and sister inlaw and my daughter inlaw do nothing during the so called football season but go to, talk, eat and sleep footBrawl ,I just hope my 3 grandchildren do not catch this bug . I am joining up, thank god you’re back.
Dean Says:
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Elliot Harvey you’re a loser.
() |_ | \/ [- R Says:
June 5th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I’ve been searching for this webstie for a long time. It has always been a distant dream for the anti-football legue to come back. and finnally it has! good on you!
A few years ago my school had a “football colours day fundraiser”, in slight annoyance I decided ill come with a home-made anti-football badge. Now i can get the real one! hehe how my friends will loath me. I’m fine with rough sports… but football takes it too far! it is time for the rebellian to fight back! we will not be defeted!!!
() |_ | \/ [- R Says:
June 5th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
elliot harvey’s comment should be deleted. i think its ok for a different opinion but not a stupid one.
stewie Says:
June 7th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
I kinda aggree with elliot. its our choice 2 like football and its not like u guys r made to support a team. its not a stupid comment its just sum 1 speaking his mind and i agree with him. though i dont care weather u like it or not, im not gonna bag u 4 tht (like he did). GO ST KILDA!!!
Kim Hollands Says:
June 8th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
How wonderful that the A.F.L. has been resuscitated after all these years !!!! I have still got my badge and intend to wear it every ” Saderdee” till the end of the ,what ever they call it .
Now people will understand me when I proudly declare “I am a member of the ANTI-FOOTBALL LEAGUE !!!!!!” in answer to the ubiquitous question “whoodyabarrackfor ?”
Kelvyn Wiggins Says:
June 10th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
another two hours (minus many two minute ad breaks) of V8 supercars today. then more of the mindnumbing afl football. ch 10 certainly gave the V8’s more airtime.
Damian Jones Says:
June 11th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Dear Elliot,

I read your post with some amusement. Maybe you could start………….Oh is there any point? GO AFL!!!
Damian Jones Says:
June 11th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I know punctuation and grammar are not really important in a places like this. However, just try to read the few posts supporting football above. And when I say read, of course I mean decode or interpret. I tried some online translators. They were no use.

I suppose requiring people to read your opinion several times to get the “hidden meaning” is almost as good as actually having an opinion worth reading. Almost but not quite. Now I have a headache.
Colin Burt Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Shame ! Shame! You DISCRIMINATE! What about those other games which we are cursed with in Queensland and NSW ? I refer of course to Rugby League and Rugby Union. Why are you so fixated on Aussie Rules? Sure, it is dreadful, and it is spreading like a malignant tumour into other states. But compared with Staterforigin … Those ‘accidental high tackles’ repeated endlessly on the telly showing one hoon trying to decapitate another hoon. Those ‘careless tackles’ in which a hapless player is driven like a star picket into the ground head first. Aussie Rules is cultured and civilised by comparison. Thank God no gridiron yet . Come to think of it, cricket is not the gentleman’s sport it used to be.
josh Says:
June 17th, 2007 at 10:27 am
hi, josh again At first i thought this was just a fad, but i’ve noticed this website is still up and still abusing our national sport. I’ve grown tired of this ‘concept’ of yours and have decided enough is enough. You should all be deported to a warzone, hopefully that will be far enough away from football for you. You should all listen to elliot harvey he is the only one on this website with any sense . Anyone that joins this should go and play in the traffic it is about the only thing you are good for you inbred moronic, chromosome missing **** heads. You should do the human race a favor and kill yourself.
josh Says:
June 17th, 2007 at 10:31 am
i have read over my comments and have decided to apologise… the smiley face was a bit much
Tom Says:
June 18th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I was prompted to find you after being confronted by requests to buy raffle tickets in support of an AFL football club today - this organisation turns over 10s of millions of dollars! Your article about Harold Holt caught my attention especially when you described him as more of a ”doer” than a spectator. I have no problem with people playing football, no more than I have with flower arrangers, bushwalkers or authors. If people are doing something it is all good with me … What I do have a problem with is the endless discussions about and promotion of this multi million dollar industry at the expense of actual participation in anything. I consider that I am lucky to live at a time when there is a fabulous diversity of entertainment and many amazing human achievements to celebrate. To me AFL represents a very small part of the entertainment spectrum and none of the human achievements that I think should be celebrated.
I suggest that you shouldn’t just focus here on the negatives of AFL but also celebrate the many alternatives - which are many and wonderful. Clebrate all of the “doers”. Make a list. The “other things that are going on in Australia List” perhaps ABC radio and TV might be inspired to promote this as much as it does football.
outerspacecanoerace Says:
June 19th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
This is great, a place where I can feel like I’m not a pariah for not supporting the game. The game itself has its merits, but the incessant glorifying just bores me.
Rev D A Nichols Says:
June 20th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Lachlan has a good point. A newsletter with anti-football activities would be wonderful.
Chris Howie Says:
June 25th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
If you want to have a good laugh people, type this into your search engine:

http://www.simplyscripts.com/scripts/FINALMAVERICK1.doc

It’s a short script that sends up the opening scene from Reservoir Dogs. There’s a good anti-footy spiel in it. Enjoy.
Bill Johnson Says:
June 25th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I received the badge on Friday and will have great pleasure wearing it to my veterans golf club on Tuesday as most are footy mad I am looking forward to their reaction.
Eric Says:
June 27th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Is there someone missing the point? I have always had a problem with the hysterical and adverse emotional responses to these “major sports”, be they AFL, Rugby or whatever. Over exposure to these sports appears to me to generate hostility in people’s lives towards others. You only have to take a look through some of the comments above to see what I mean. What better justification is there for an anti football league.
Rebekah Says:
June 27th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
tonight i started to try to compile the list of which i have spoken previously. i don’t know if i have the energy to create it. not only do i have to visit the official site of each “club” (and this pains me enough) but i can’t live with the knowledge of the NUMBER of sponsors involved. having looked at the sites of just 3 clubs i managed to compile a list of no less than 25 sponsors. a lot of major coporations. i had no idea that “footy fever” had travelled so far into our lives. i have been unwittingly supporting it. banks, australia post, tourism, car and food manufacturers. the only way i can see to avoid supporting these people is to move to a far off country. but then no doubt will be supporting another ‘league’ of sorts. there is no escaping it!!!!!!! what hope does the human race have…
Chris Howie Says:
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:21 am
Someone needs to do a Michael Moore style documentary which separates the reality of football from the hype surrounding it. As for me, I’ve chosen to give footy the flick this year, but it’s been hard to break free, because the team I’m trying not to follow is kicking butt and everyone I know keeps trying to talk to me about them. When I tell them that I think football is a vice and I’m trying to kick it,-no pun intended- they look at me like I’m crazy or think I’m joking. There’s a lot spoken about footy but I’m yet to hear anyone explain why it’s taken so seriously and treated with so much importance, because at the end of the day all it really does is distract people from engaging in more worthwhile pursuits.
George Krooglik Says:
July 9th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
How refreshing to see and dread that democracy IS alive and well in Australia.

Why does society make tin gods out of sports people and elevate their status ? Let’s not forget those after-footy season trips to country towns where slobbo Aussie males really show their team colours and destroy hotels, chuck bown-eyes in the back windows of coaches to all and sundry, bash innocent folk up in pubs and clubs, only to be revered in the weekend press..get real Australia.

Enjoy the finer points of skill on the field but why be so obsessed and tolerate the sub-culture that goes with it ? Why don’t you mention the broken fingers, missing teeth, sprains, strains and fractures, the buggered up knees that cripple former players when they reach their 40’s or so…? Why foist this obsession so frequently upon a public whose composition doesn’t necessarily like or appreciate football ? Give it brief exposure but why the fanaticism ?

It’s not just inflated prices to see the game and the food/drink prices but also the crazy demands upon the road and public transport system, the police, council and so on. Want to lift your game…? Then lift your mind.
Eric Says:
July 10th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I was at a function on the weekend and the subject of football came up.
I made it clear that I was not interested in football and that I was a member of the anti football league (complete with badge).
At that point I copped the stock standard response that I was “un Australian” for having no interest in the “game”.
To my great delight three others in the room, also admitted to being anti football as well – I am pleased to say that we now have three new members for the movement.
james Says:
July 13th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
This site is just pathetic. No-one is asking anyone to like AFL and its a hobby that brings joy inio the lives of so many people. Why dont you show this site to my footy mad cousin who is ten years old and currently fighting for his life in hospital. the happiest times of his life was seeing the bombers players come in and say hello to him and he makes me come in and watch every essendon match with him. You people are obviously intelligent (or seem to think you are anyway) so why worry about it? Let people do what they want to do and just chill out!
Damian Says:
July 21st, 2007 at 10:23 pm
James, I am very sorry to hear about your cousin. But, shame on you for using him to further your “pathetic” point. You are clearly intelligent (or seem to think you are) so why worry about this site? Why drag your cousin into it? If football makes him happy that is fantastic. Sick kids need all the help they can get.

However, not everyone shares YOUR views on football. If you haven’t already, then read what this “pathetic” site is actually about. Then, try to imagine that there are people in this world who are not interested in YOUR hobby. Then, try to wrap your mind around the concept that some people derive no joy what-so-ever from YOUR hobby. If you can do that, then try to accept that not everyone wants to hear about YOUR hobby all of the time. Then, ask yourself “Why am I worried about this site? Why did I try to use my sick cousin to further my argument? Why don’t I let people do what they want to do and just chill out!?”. Then James, you can turn on the TV. Watch a match. And with an enlightened mind never post YOUR opinions here ever again.

I truly hope your cousin recovers and leads a long and happy life. If you care to post the name of a charity that supports research or care for children with his illness I promise that I will make a donation to them.
simon B Says:
July 24th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
lolz u pplz that made/ support this site basically dont like any sport full stop. am i correct?
im not sayin that i am, im just highly opinionated. anyweyz, so wat if the majority of Melbourne are sport induced and most hav a particular sport they favor. obviously members of this site dont like any sport or anything too physical becos maybe, just maybe, ur parents wrapped u up in cotton when u were kids and neva wanted their little babies to get hurt, and rite now my guess is ur life is more of the ps/xbox type that cant get enough of halo or counterstrike or sumthin, but u dont see others making a hate site for gaming consoles do u? so jus giv it up, Melbourne will always be the Aussie rules capital whether u guys like it or not. btw congrats to browny, he slotted thru 10 on the weekend

A translated version of this comment is available on request- Ed.
Eric Says:
August 9th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
My goodness what was that all about – perhaps we need to acknowledge the link between the dreaded game and alcohol?
Peter Barrett Says:
August 20th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Sam Newman you are a hypocrite, a narcissistic ********** and a fool. Despite your childish delusions I can assure you that no-one has done less for football in their life.

Edited for our own legal protection - Ed.
James Sutcliffe Says:
September 4th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Finally a website that understands my resentment towards sport. Which reminds me im currently writing an article on sport title: The Pointlessness Of Sport by James Sutcliffe. sounds interesting doesnt it
Kelvyn W. Says:
September 9th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
everyone is entitled to enjoy any sport they wish ! it does not have to be 24/7. i know the afl caters to the lowest common denominator, their attention span is terribly limited so the afl has to run the mind numbing brainwashing constantly to prevent anyone discovering that there is more to life than fumbleball
John Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
It is interesting to read through the comments. In doing so it quite easy to sum up the mentality of the pro foolsball brigade. Maybe foolsball is the only thing they can comprehend. Because they have no idea when it comes to the english language. GO THE ANTI FOOTBALL LEAGUE!
Ken Hutchison Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Well done (the real) AFL.
I work in Brisbane but the office is infested with Victorian refugees who somehow reconcile a dislike of all things “Qld” with actually living here. They drink VB for heavens sake.

The constant Aussie Rules worship I have to hear suggests some form of creeping mental disorder.

More power to you!
Mark Wiggins Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Well done, it’s about time we speak out against this so called sport. Actually is it realy a sport? Let see, you can have a the sport of track and field, the sport of cycling and the sport of swimming. None of these we say I going to watch the swimming game or the cycling game but we can say we are going to watch the footy game. There fore footy must be a game and I thought games were played by kids. Well at least they were when I was young. Imagine grown men play games and getting paid for it. What has this country come to.
Sue Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
I was terribly excited to see your organisation featured on Can We Help. I thought I was the only person in australia who couldn’t stand that thing those men do with the funny shaped ball. Of course I had to join immediately!
Alan Moore Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
I’m a sports fan but after living in N.E. Victoria for 15 years, I was so relieved to get away from the mindless prattle of what was referred to as football. I promise to buy the first tickets when they hold their first “World Cup”
Jeff Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I also saw the feature on can we help. I do not understand how 36 grown men need to chase after a ball that is not even round. Surely the balls are not that expensive that they could by one each for all 36 and save all the hassle !
Michelle Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Aghh! Home at last.
So nice to be amongst like minded re detestation AFL.
Quite like sports per se, is simply the overload and hype associated with AFL that has put me off forever. Plus maybe the likes of Sam Newman and Eddie whats-his-name.
Kia Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I find football a discraceful thing. Imagine the hospital bills a footballer gets from all the injuries in one game! Dislocated knee, broken arms. What is so exciting about seeing a whole bunch of guys running around a feild chasing a ball anyway? Im sure the half a million fans sitting in the audience will have a ball to spare and save the hospital coverage.
Chris Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
That was a fantastic feature on Can We Help. Sport in moderation and for entertainment is fine (ice hockey fan myself) but when it is shoved down your throat for almost half of any news program on any network it is crossing the line. The fervor for this mindless, skill less sport needs to stop. No wonder why the sport has got a bad rap when its fans are rabid and its players are drug addicted and constantly assaulting people.
Glen Douglas Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
As a petrol head the lack of motor sport news and the excess of AFL news is disgracefull. We have a young Australian on the edge of becoming the world champion in moto GP and all we hear about is Ben Cousins. How do we convince the media that there is life outside of AFL?
PS it would be clearer if you label the email box as email rather than Mail.

-Suggestion noted, thanks Glen! (ed.)
Jordy Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I think this is a great idea and am surprised I have never heard of it before. I’m not a fan of football (to be honest I really find it quite boring. I once went to a game on our classes year 11 trip, if it wasn’t so loud I probably could have drifted off to sleep :D), but I respect other peoples choice to enjoy it.

It’s also great to see that this isn’t a “footy-nazi” site or something, saying that all footballers should be impaled or something. Congratulations on founding a good-willed, good-fun organisation that knocks footy in unique, harmless and humerous way.

This is what it truely means to be an Aussie…not a fanatic footy fan Josh, elliot and others.

All the best,
Jordan Smith
Jordy Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
P.S. Are you guys similar to the Freemasons(organisational wise)? If so, that is so cool.
Jordan Smith
Grumpy Old Man Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 10:10 am
You think AFL is bad? Come to Newcastle where the Knights and Rugby League are king. How can we ever hope to convince people that there is more to life than football?
Kelvyn Wiggins Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 11:39 am
another weekend of V8 supercars this time at Sandown, a major event, ch7 gives it the barest coverage. Let’s hope that whomever was responsible for taking the event from ch10 gets what he/she deserves.

heraldsun reports that afl stars are overseas behaving badly ? what’s new ??
Humphrey Clinker Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I am hoping that this Movement includes all the various forms of rugby
football or whatever its called, (the distictions between which I am
unclear- it is very vague and hazy, but my understanding is that there exist
various forms of this game). So I hope this is not just a website for
opposition to one manifestation of Gross National Stupidity, in support of
some other weird form of the idiot game. I am hoping that this site opposes
ALL forms of this jaqueoph waste of time! I am so completely uninterested in
this pathetic phenomenon. Having said all of that I must confess to watching
some of the matches (sp?) of the World Cup Soccer game a year or so ago…
it was, fortunately, a passing daliance, but intertesting at the time,
nonetheless. But the hideous spectacul of a neighbourhood dividing against
itself for a game is onanism in the most manifest!
Kelvyn W. Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
peter costello looks like being the best liberal “premier” victoria has had in years.

todays heraldsun reports that he (p.c.) is going to upgrade geelong football club grounds.

i always thought that the position of prime minister (at least in the liberal party) was decided by the party, not the outgoing pm ?
Yamum Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Whatya got against football?
Dino Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
I can under stand woman watching.
But men watching other men running around in short shorts they should be hung up
A. O'Leary Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
if football stopped tomorrow it would only increase the joy in my life.
KG Lang Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
With an absence of Football what would be left would be a powerful celebration of the ARTS.

Inspiring and aspiring to a higher pursuit, and appreciating, as Richard Wagner said;
“The highest purpose of mankind is artistic.”

I wonder how far will Football suck and continue to attract to the lowest common denominator of Australia?

Will the Mozart’s of 2007 compose an Opera heralding the beauty, the divine, the romantic, or the comic of Football?

Why bother?

I might think of going to a Match if Football was considered to be an accepted form of “Therapy” - safe and holistic, with a Medicare Rebate.

HANG ON A MINUTE

NO I WOULDN”T!!

Silly Me, what was I thinking??

God gave people the gifts of Art to lift people up, out of the ordinary into the extraordinary.

No one has to win, and no one has to lose.

Imagine that!?
Sharyl Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
I found out about this place by “chance”. Wish I’d known about it before - At one time I was fairly tolerant of AFL football until it reached saturation level and then it became intolerable. Football seems to take precendence over every other piece of news happening anywhere in the world. Religion is said to be the opiate of the masses - I tend to think football has replaced it - or maybe not after all AFL has so many devotees
Mark Cook-Adelaide Says:
September 17th, 2007 at 12:13 am
I was a member in the back in the 1990’s and I will gladly be a member a again!
A football free media is Nivana!
All hail the AFL!
Maryellen Says:
September 17th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
You say at the top of the screen that there are only “12 more days until the end of the Australian Rules football season”. Are you sure? The football season never ends? ITs continuous, all year long!!!

And if its not footy, its full-on fanatic sport on all free-to-air TV, all year long. Am I treading on dangerous ground here mentioning that I’m not too fond of cricket or tennis either. If people like all these sports so much why not just go and watch them live, not inflicting the torture on the rest of the population who have higher interests.

Its so good to hear that the Anti-Footie League is alive and well. Lets hear more the AFL exploits. Shall we also start an ACL?
David G Westaway Says:
September 19th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Hi Jack,
Feel free to include my letter to The Courier in your comments section. It may encourage others to have a go at the media too.
Sam Ross Says:
September 20th, 2007 at 11:41 am
How refreshing to find out that my family are not the only ones who couldn’t give two hoots about football. We will gladly join you with the rebirth of the AFL!!
mary from hamilton Says:
September 20th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
While everyone’s looking at the football they may not notice the erosion of our quality of life issues and our civil rights. ‘Bread and Circuses’ from the Roman days, thigs don’t seem to have changed. Are human beings still that shallow.
Ian Taylor Says:
September 20th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I applaud you for being the voice of all of us football haters.
I would like to submit that the
leage should extend to holding bloody rugby league football in it’s contempt as well.
Living in NSW and not following (or even being remotely interested in) this pathetic “sport” is horrible. It seems to dominate television etc… without end.
Kate Says:
September 20th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
In this ‘More sport, more often’ country anything that gives relief from the never ending banal braying of anything to do with sport is to be encouraged.

Count me in - x 10
kate
Bored out of my brain Says:
September 20th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
As a child I was forced to attend football matches with the family every Saturday. I was supposedly kept amused with colouring-in books. Suffice to say I grew into an adult with a passionate distate for football,its machoistic, misogynist culture and colouring-in books. Subsequently, I determined never to give a child of mine a colouring-in book or to marry someone who liked watching football. I was successful with my fisrt determination, but failed on the second, my husband lied - he’s nuts about football…

P.S. As I don’t live in Vic.(S.A. is even worse) so can’t attend your luncheon and have been forced into hosting a finals b-b-q any suggestions on how to cope with the excrutiating tedium of the whole thing?
JAN Says:
September 21st, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I would like to, if not nominate, then applaud all those mothers like me. Mothers who (wo)manfully, against all odds, tried to bring up sons to play non invasive, hardly mentioned sports. Mothers who NEVER bought football paraphernalia, who NEVER encouraged watching/listening to all that dribble on radio and television..hey, I actually now have grown sons who can speak intelligently…and who encouraged them to have other role models.
3 cheers for us!!
Pamela Says:
September 21st, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I was a member back in the 1980s and am so glad to see the square again !!!!!
My husband follows Collingwood so the AFL was such a breath of fresh air for me back then and will be again.
Thanks
stewart Says:
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:20 pm
i just found you site as a teenager i was forced to get belted up each week on the football field in the name of sport and also belted by the pe teacher for not being interested in ball games..softball which hurt when it hit me… basket ball gravel rash… squash black eye…ban the ball thats what i say
Juanita Otto Says:
September 24th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Watched a segment on ‘Can We Help’. Thought, so glad there’s others so not interested in football. Even more excited to find a website. I’m tired of feeling like a freak. Keep up the good work.
Juanita Otto Says:
September 24th, 2007 at 1:18 am
I just read the ’scandals comment’. I hate football because of scandals??? Hello????
Lynette Says:
September 24th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Help! I live a stone’s throw from Alberton Oval in Adelaide. This is the home ground of a team playing in next weekend’s final. Why do I pay such attention to these details? Because last time they were in a final the whole weekend here was absolute hell. Mind blasting, throbbing noise was broadcast through loadspeakers from early in the morning on the Saturday until the early hours of the morning then again on the Sunday. This is for the fans who come to watch the game on big screens. Today I have phoned the local council inquiring the terms of the permit required. Guess what. They are quite free to do what they like “just like a having a party” - “its football and only happens once a year”. I pointed out that I don’t use an obscure interest of mine to keep the broader neighbourhood awake and prevent them from studying or just enjoying their lives… Apparently this year they aren’t starting till 10am and will finish at midnight!!

Somebody help!!!
Paul Reeve Says:
September 24th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
How long will it take Australia to evolve into a mature society and take a great as interest in all aspects of our culture as it does in sport?
Especially the dumbest, crudest and least intellectual of all games - football!
Judy Rogers Says:
September 24th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Hi, was wondering if there is an event in Adelaide on Grand Final Day to celebrate life without football??

I suggest you find your nearest bomb shelter…..(Ed)
Eric Says:
September 25th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Had to travel into Melbourne CBD on the night of one of these silly finals (don’t know which, don’t care) at the MCG. The traffic was dreadful for kilometers out, parking nearly impossible (CBD pay car parks full).
I finally found a spot to park the car in a multi level car park, parked the car and found myself traveling down in the lift with a number of fanatics of the “the dreaded game”.
I was wearing my anti football badge the whole time and not one of them noticed.
Does your organization hand out bravery awards for services to the AFL?

I think you’ve just won one of them Eric. I will devise something shortly, -Ed
Naz Says:
September 26th, 2007 at 10:56 am
After growing up with a love of local (country) footy, meat pies, and Chryslers, I’m saddened at the way footy has gone, with all the gutter tripe analysis by BOYS in men’s skin! It’s painful to watch and this banter plus the fact it’s turned into a complete money sport has driven me away from “the game” and onto this website!
Lynette Says:
September 26th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Today I received a flyer in my mailbox from Alberton(Owbn)Oval stating that as “a resident” of the area, the Power would like to inform me of the Grand Final celebrations for the coming weekend. I know they will be living at the oval for the weekend..but “a resident”?
Lucas Says:
September 26th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
your all ******* pompous losers! get a life you ****** sad *****! go and relax in the australina equivalent of buckingham palace you filthy *********!

The original transcript is available on request- Ed.
Ted Badger Says:
September 26th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
theatre and fine wine for me - rah rah
Matt Says:
September 26th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
FOOTBALL IS THE GREATEST THING EVER!
James Says:
September 27th, 2007 at 12:23 am
JAN, I grew up loving football, and still do. I have two university degrees, am about to finish my postgraduate qualification, speak two languages, have lived on three continents, and of course could have an intelligent conversation with you and your sons. Actually, I bet they’re not as smart as you make out… we all know what mothers are like when they talk about their sons.
Enjoy Saturday folks, and could I suggest that some of you try to lose the bitterness.
And, by the way JAN, don’t you mean ‘drivel’ rather than ‘dribble’?. You don’t need me to point out how embarrassing that mistake is…
James Says:
September 27th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Why did you delete my post? I thought i raised a valid point. Once again, enjoy Saturday.

G’day James, we have to moderate our comments as we get some strong language. Regrettably, this may take a few days. Your full comment can be found above. Thank you for your contribution. I hope your Saturday is a hoot as well. -Ed.
Sue Says:
September 27th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Talk about the stolen generations, my whole family have been stolen and sadly afflicted by the Collingwood virus. A deadly hereditary and terminal disease. I tried to save my youngest born, by innoculation with the shopping and lunching virus administered every Saturday. But alas, in the prime of her life, she has been gripped by the deadly fingers and drawn into the vortex.
Emma Patten Says:
September 27th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
WOW I am thrilled to bits that there are others like me out there!!!! I feel like I am at home at last! I can not stand the domination of the football culture in our lives. There are so many people out there that would appreciate half the time & effort that goes into footbal. YAY for the come-back of a great part of history.
Eva Says:
September 28th, 2007 at 11:40 am
I’m totally with you guys! I was listening to one of the local (Brizzy) radios this morning when I heard about The Anti-Football League and must tell you: it made my day! I’m not alone Thanks heaps!
Andreas Says:
September 28th, 2007 at 11:55 am
There should be a law against activities that every other day creates massive traffic problems like the football does. Is there an organisation against cricket as well?
Eric Says:
September 28th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Are my ears deceiving me or did I just hear that the State Government is offering our taxes to upgrade an Australian Rules Football Ground at Geelong?
I don’t know about others, but I consider that a gross waste of my taxes, taxes paid through hard work on my part.
Let the Australian Football League fund their own silly pursuits, after all they generate millions of dollars as a business, why should a government support them with our money. Perhaps the Anti Football League should apply for funds to support our cause, you never know.
Eulyce Says:
September 28th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
In reply to Maryellen. I could not agree more. Let’s just make it and A S S L.(Anti spectator Sports League) If people played sport instead of watching it we would not have the obesity problem that we have now, but of course it suits governments to encourage this hysteria about sport to take our minds off what they are doing.
Thank god the overpaid thugs are finished for the year Says:
September 28th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
I so agree with Derryn Hinch - footbrawl and thugby. Why do these highly overpaid THUGS - they are no longer sportsmen - think that that they are above the law, footbrawl ceased to be SPORT when they started paying big amounts of money.
David Schutz Says:
September 28th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
No, Sue, it’s not a virus, it’s a “meme”. This is what Richard Dawkins could have called “The Football Delusion”…
L MARSHALL Says:
September 28th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
NO MORE F’ING FOOTBALL!!
dougy Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 2:17 am
Why does everyone persist in spelling the name of the ’sport’ incorrectly. Its quite obvious that the word should be spelled ‘footbrawl’, especially in this era of political correctness . Please use the correct spelling.
dougy Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 2:21 am
In reply to Matt September 26th, 2007 at 9:47 pm who claims ‘
FOOTBALL IS THE GREATEST THING EVER!’

the only response possible has to be ‘yawn’
Mikey Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Thank you so much for coming back, how I detest this ’sport’. Sending in my membership immediately.

Does anyone find it amusing how almost invariably the pro football comments here are so poorly spelled and written?
Ireadbooks Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 10:03 am
I just want to hibernate. I hate football and the parochialism is ridiculous. I have just bought two AFL lapel pins. I hope my brother in Geelong appreciates his! Thanks for this site!
Note to media: not all of us think a footballer’s ankle injury, lost jersey, new baby or girlfriend are front page news: I’m looking at you, S.A Sunday Mail…
Paula Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 10:13 am
I’m with Eva (132) who is a work colleague. We had a sweet moment, a slo-mo, of recognition across the corridor after simultaneously hearing your broadcast on 4KQ. We knew we had something in common, but it wasn’t until this happened that I felt that I could share my secret, that little red cube attached shyly to my lapel (it’s a tough place Brisbane). I wish I could be at your lunch, I’ll do my bit, turn my back, and head off to buy a bike.
Geoff Frith Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Re: All comments will be forwarded to Sam Newman.

Sam who?

It’s nearly over and then it’s cricket…. ho hum
Lance Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 11:31 am
So glad to hear this is back. Can’t wait for the cricket. Can’t get to Coldstream today, but have a good one …
t Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
i turned on the news monday night to see if there was a war or disaster or similar thing in the headlines. What they were wearing at the brownlow was on every channel. Cripes! how is that newsworthy?

the best thing about the grand final?

having the roads all to myself heheh
Janine Chugg Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I cannot tell you how sick to death I am of having to hear about football! Yesterday, to avoid having to do so, I must have tried every radio station on the dial, and finaly found one. ONE! And this on a day when people were being killed in Burma for standing up for basic human rights! So many other things were happening in the local political arena as well. Where is the balance and perspective in the media in Victoria? ABC 774 was saturated with references to this abhorant “sport” all week. I think this is indicative of the “dumbing down” of the general population - keep up the fever-pitch interest in this subject, keep people distracted, and in the meantime they will not notice what other things are going on around them. There are so many other more constructive things in life to become involved in, that also have a little semblance of culture!
Anita Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
I just read in The Age today that the AFL has been re-established. THANK YOU!! I often say that a person could almost be stoned to death if they live in Melbourne and hate football, as I do. I’m in heated agreement with all those who have posted comments about the ridiculous hype given to the meatheads who play this game. Don’t even get me started on the Footy Show, the so-called news and other attempts to persuade us that this stupid game is important. As to those who follow football but have felt the need to post offensive comments on this site, I ask “why so threatened?” Cheers to the AFL for reminding me there are like-minded people out there. Only a couple of hours to go till the end of the season! Yippee!
Trish Pike Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
What football! It is no longer a sport but a showcase for badly behaved overpaid, over-sexed bullies. The sooner we have sports free news the better.
Kath Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I was thrilled to read of this site in today’s Age. I was a member of the early AFL, and thought it had lapsed. I will certainly be renewing membership now I live in a retirement village full of footy freaks!
Rosemary Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Thank God I am not alone!!! I can’t believe how much time on the “news” is devoted to this ridiculous affair, when there is so much of real importance going on in the world.
Anne Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
For too many years now I have felt very, very alone. The only football hater in the world! Now I KNOW I have kindrid souls…. especially needed during those dark days nearing the grandfinal!!
lynn Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I cant tell you how relieved I was when I heard you talkind about the league on 3RRR the other day. Thanks so much for flying the little red box of sanity ….. have to leave it as is, cos my various endings aren’t quite so polite!
Neil Barnett Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
To avoid “the GF” I watched a DVD of “The Dinner Game” a french film whose main protagonist amuses himself by inviting an ‘idiot’ to a dinner to drone on about some obsession.

It struck me that in France this is a classic comedy, with a moral, while in Australia it would be a weekly TV show with Dave Hughes or Eddie Macguire.
Joy Martin Says:
September 29th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Thank you for leading me to the (all too brief) moments of respite @ Stones of the Yarra Valley this afternoon. It was delightful.

Never before have I seen a better use for the leather of a Sherrin; as worn by members of the Dunstan clan.

I shall wear my newly purchased AFL lapel pin with pride - secure in the knowledge, that I am not alone.

All we need now is a “New Inventor” to develop a humane anti ***** (insert “F” word here) tool. It would be bliss to censor the tirade of ***** comments from those devices/people around us without an OFF switch!

Glad to support such worthy causes.

Yours, (forever united in mutual AFL understanding). See you at the next gathering……
Joy Martin of Lower Plenty
Marie Says:
September 30th, 2007 at 12:53 am
I was made aware of this organisation after listening to a very intelligent guest speaker on 96fm radio (Perth)prior to the ‘Grand final’and I have to say, what a breath of fresh air! Obviously there is intelligent life on our planet after all as I’m sure members of the Anti-FL will attest to. It’s comforting to know I am no longer alone in my opinion of football, I hope this organisation recieves more publicity in future.
Joe Says:
September 30th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Footbrawl fans are Gormless Morons this is a fantastic site keep up the good work glad its over for another year & its followers will disappear into their caves.
Kelvyn W. Says:
September 30th, 2007 at 11:33 am
another grand final “ho-hum” now for the never ending post mortems by all the would be’s, could be’s & never was’s.

every second rate radio jock will give his/her version of why & why not. the season never ends. port adelaide will go back to SA and no doubt cop it off their own moronic radio stars for the drubbing they received.

it wouldn’t so bad if we could have a break from fumble ball until after the cricket season but the afl needs to keep the brain washing current.
Nigel Sinnott Says:
September 30th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
I am very pleased to see that the Anti-Football League has been revived. I was a member in the 1990s and have disliked the sight of hooray Henrys kicking a lump of inflated leather around for more than half a century. Very best wishes, Nigel S.
Jocelyn Says:
September 30th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
I only wish I had discovered this group before yesterday! Ah well, there’s still next year, and the year after, and the year after that…
*sigh*
Have you considered t-shirts?

PS: I found you from the ‘Age’ article
Ben Says:
September 30th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Finally! Conclusive evidence that I am NOT the only under 12 that HATES “footie”. Well maybe not the bit about under 12 but at least I know there are other intelligent humans out there. I thought our family was the only family that was not obsessed within a 100 km radius. Finally I am am proved wrong! Why does Elliot whats-his-name even bother? I mean if he wants to express his opinion he should go to some chat room devoted to the “beloved sport”. There should be one or two considering it’s a “National sport”.

Ben

P.S:Is there an anti-”The Simpsons” league(No offense to Matt Groening)?

P.S.S: What about flags? I can think of a couple already…
liberator Says:
September 30th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
So the footy is “over” for another six months - nope, don’t think so. The NEWS - ha - thats an oxymoron this time of year, took 15 minutes last night just to tell us that Geelong won. Five minutes then of “real” news and then back to sport for ten minutes to basically tell us that Geelong won - really? I didn’t get that the first time. They wonder why there are people out there that are not footbrawl fans. Australia wide 2.6 million people watched the game - let’s be fair 3 million to count those in pubs and such. Which means 18 million didn’t bother. Or for Victoria lets say 1.5 (1.2 by the ratings)3.5 million didn’t bother… News tonight Sunday, 10+ minutes telling us Geelong won - really? I didn’t get that last night! And its OK to act like yobbos, hanging out of car windows, no seat belt, jumping on the bonnet of cars etc etc etc - all because their team won. It’s nice to know we have the right priorities in life. Good to see you back - I was a paid up member all those years ago.
Eric Says:
October 1st, 2007 at 11:08 am
Make no mistake, the dreaded game hasn’t gone away yet.
We still have to endure the postmortem, what went wrong, who should have done this, who should have done that, it takes a week or more for the nonsense to drain away.
I will say one thing in favor of the GF, it sure is easy to get a seat in the picture theatres in Melbourne, and the traffic on the day is reduced to the way it was 20 years ago. Could be a great saving on CO2 emissions – then again with all those television sets, the saving may well cancel out.
Confirmation – just heard that they are about to issue a postage stamp with the “winning” team on it – see what I mean -it still goes on, and on, and on and on.
Keep your badges at the ready.
melissa Says:
October 1st, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Marie, Perhaps this organisation will receive more publcity when it makes a contribution to society beyond it’s original purpose. Contributions such as community development programmes, support for indigenous and homeless youth, and employing tens of thousaands of people young and old, are a few sugestions to start with.
WYSIWYG Says:
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:23 am
At long last! I heard about your organisation many years ago when living in Adelaide. Having since (in a rash moment) decided to move to Melbourne I have long searched for some respite from the dreaded Aussie Rules. I am appalled at the way this ludicrous ‘game’ can take precedence in our news bulletins over more important issues and am delighted to find your organisation has been resurrected.

A pity I found out AFTER this year’s season had concluded (will they ever shut up about the Grand Final?) but better late than never.

Sign me up; my cheque is in the mail!!

PS: This year, assuming that my local shopping centre would be deserted and I’d have the place more or less to myself, I took myself shopping while the Grand Final was on. I was suprised to find it was far from deserted. There seemed to be just as many people there as on any other Saturday. Dare I suggest that more and more people are seeing the light…
Huw Says:
October 5th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
At the risk of being ‘in poor taste’, may I nominate Chris Mainwaring for the 2008 Wilkie Award (assuming the Wilkie can be given posthumously)? He’ll also have a good shot at the 2008 Darwin awards I would imagine.
jay Says:
October 8th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
you ppl r all sick hoo does this sort of thing if u dont like it dont watch it. y would u dedicate a site to baggin something. it’s unproductive. your just blaming all your problems on football.
Jules Says:
October 9th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Hey, i love the idea, but don’t u think it’s hipocritical to talk about footballs faults by saying it’s too violent. Most injuries of players occur because they try and mark a ball in the air, whilst doing this another person tries to mark it they collide and someones got a broken arm. There. One person here made a reference that ice hockey is a kinder sport. HA! a lot of people on this site probably play computer games, they are more violent and do not punish the player for violent acts.
Kelvyn W. Says:
October 11th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
weeks ago i saw an article in the h/s that stated the the aboriginees invented victorian football, last week while going over the car radio i heard one of 3aw footie clowns claiming afl ’s 150 years of the game. what a load of cobblers !!!
Triffick! Nice to know it's been restarted, Badge? $? Says:
October 21st, 2007 at 9:51 am
NB I’m NOT ackcherly anti-football not even strools.

I’m kind of drawn back from the whole SPORTS thing in this country.

Proud though I am of our general prowess, there ARE still better things to discuss.

AFL makes a wonderful spectacle mind, almost as good as a great football (soccer) game can be.

Rugby League (which I KNOW and love) is something I made myself play at co-ed high school (yr 10 through 12 in the ‘under10stone group’ - we WON each year!). A working-class district school!!!!

Having someone BIGGER than you only slowly get up in your first ever game is VERY good for the boyish self-esteem. ……
I was at the time also still a soprano in NCL’es Anglican Cathedral, and fenced (foil!) - via Legacy - for NSW!

And, girls DID pay me more attention after we won that first year. ;-)!

NB getting selected was only after some intensive coaching from my 3 other brothers, two of whom later played weekend NSWRLeague in the Ncle & Sydney comps.

Perhaps we need an ASL??? perhaps called DASL! As in the Doubtful About Sport League!

A GOOD acronym is vital!

Tim Bailey
Ben Says:
October 25th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
GO GEELONG!!!!!
There is no greater sport on earth than AUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL!!!
Veronica Gribble Says:
November 4th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I have just received my anti-football league badge!! Thank you very much!! I feel everything is all right with the world again! I am now prepared for next years onslaught of THE DREADED FOOTBALL SEASON!! It has pride of place on my mantlepiece.Thank you once again for restoring my sanity. Veronica
Nathaniel Chapman Says:
November 5th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
This is the greatest league I have found!!!! How many Aussie Rules players went on to become Nobel Laureates? Was it Ben Cousins that created the Bionic Ear? Is it true that Rex Mossep was behind the 1966 implerial/metric change over?
Go the AFL.

N
Minette Says:
November 17th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Oh come on! How can Barry Jones be the winner - I refuse to even acknowledge ‘it’ exists - so where is my reward??
Kelvyn W. Says:
November 26th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
can someone please explain where the afl/vfl gets the idea that this game ?? is 150 years old next may ?????????
footyrulez Says:
December 6th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
go afl
Les Bennett Says:
December 14th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Merry Xmas ,,,,,, and a Square Football New Year !!!!!
Ryan Says:
December 14th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I visit this website due to a radio interview I heard on 3AW a while ago, hearing your Anti-Football leader talking about ‘there’s more to life than footy’. That’s true and many strong supporters of footy do frequent such aspects of life, but for the many poor souls out there footy is the only thing which gives them pleasure, enjoyment, and a release from their day to day lives.

If you don’t like football then that’s perfectly fine, don’t watch the sports report on the telly, flick passed the sports section in the paper. The fact that you spend so much time obsessing about the obsession that many have for footy makes you a rather unfortunate group.

Go about your business, do all the things you say life is about, enjoy yourselves, but don’t be so pety as to try and ruin the fun of footy for the rest of us who get such great joy from the game.

Get a life, the one which you so often talk about.
Grant Says:
December 21st, 2007 at 12:09 am
How about an junior anti-football league for parents who don’t want their kids playing footy and for kids who don’t want to play footy either?

C2C test page

April 1st, 2007

Shopppie shoppie shop
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Guestbook

March 30th, 2007

Please feel free to sign our guestbook!
All remarks will be forwarded to Eddie McGuire regardless of content.

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March 22nd, 2007

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March 22nd, 2007

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Transaction Results

March 22nd, 2007

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Membership

March 4th, 2007

Membership to the Anti-Football League has always been simple.
By purchasing one of the our lapel badges, and proudly displaying their loyalty,
noble citizens can ‘Kick the Footy Habit’ and join the AFL.

Made from sterling nickel, these fashionable items will render the wearer impervious to the contents of overpriced meat pies at the Telstra Dome. AFL Badges are also the ideal Christmas gift all year round.

Badges are now available for purchase for AUD$6.50 (plus postage) each

Purchases can be made by credit card, through the secure Paypal website.

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Alternatively, by personal cheque or money order.

Note: When you place your order, you will be asked for your email address, which we will use to contact you throughout the year. This way, you will be kept up to date with Anti-Football League activity and events. If purchasing badges for friends and fellow football sufferers, please ask them to send through their email address to us, so that we can keep them posted also.

Of course, if you wish to be removed from our mailing list, please let us know.

antifootballleague@gmail.com

Profits from all AFL merchandise are donated to Villa Maria’s new residential care facility in Alphington. This new service aims to provide a specialised living facility to young people with complex needs who are currently living in aged care facilities. More information can be found at Villa Maria’s Website.

Contact us

March 4th, 2007

The proprietors of this Webular Resource are eager to hear from football unenthusiasts.

antifootballleague@gmail.com

or postal address

P.O. Box 127, Brunswick, Victoria, 3056.

We are keen to publish* tales of abuse by the football going public upon AFL members. Stories of a wasted youth blighted by football, and experiences stuck in Punt Road on a Saturday night whilst barricaded by hordes of gambrinous scarf wavers will also be readily accepted.

*The editors reserve the right to edit letters to ensure current sedition legislation is adhered to.

2007 Douglas Wilkie Medal

March 4th, 2007

The 2007 Douglas Wilkie Medal was awarded to…

Barry Jones, AO

Dr Jones, former politician, social activist, author, teacher, quiz champion and all-round polymath has won the coveted medal. His remarks made on the ABC TV program ‘The Einstein factor‘ lead to his nomination. He admitted to taking books to read during Aussie Rules Football matches.

Australian politicians often associate themselves with sporting codes in order to popularise themselves with the masses. But in this event, Mr Jones admitted on national TV that like his Labor colleague, former NSW premier Bob Carr, he preferred other recreational pursuits during his ‘parliamentary duty’. It is with this frank admission, and strong support from members that Barry Jones won the 2007 Douglas Wilkie Medal.

The initial nomination, came from founding secretary Keith Dunstan. “Barry has done a number of wonderful things, it’s surprising we haven’t given it to him before.” Keith went on to remark “Barry’s the first politician to win it since 1967 when Harold Holt confessed he’d never been to an ‘ocker rules’ footy match. We had to warn Barry about swimming because Mr Holt had an unfortunate accident two months after his presentation.”

At the presentation, Barry kept good form avoiding the dreaded ‘f’ topic, extolling the virtues of a new translation of Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’. At 1296 pages, it’s the sort of tome one could make last an entire footy season.

Get it here

In recognition of other noble souls who came close, they will be honoured with runner up status. They are:

David Hicks - For doing nothing for football in the last five years.

Ben Cousins - An Aussie rules star that has concentrated his life on other things.

David Stratton - For his services to other forms of drama (and melodrama)

Emma Macdonald - For her services in encouraging an AFL stronghold in Canberra, through her columns in The Canberra Times

Greg Hill - For his insightful blog into bad behaviours of Aussie Rules players and their respective employers.

A big thank you to all contributors and commentators.

39 Comments

Dennis Walsh Says:
April 8th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Surely Ben Cousins deserves a nomination.
Whitey Says:
April 22nd, 2007 at 4:16 pm
May I suggest one of my three cats, who in their short lifespans have done absolutely nothing for football. I am also fairly confident that they have no plans, in the near or distant future, to undertake any activity that is in any way football related.
Drew Greenland Says:
April 24th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Tony Martin.
Were you looking for an explanation?
Rev D A Nichols Says:
April 25th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Eddie McGuire. If ever there was a man committed to turning people from the fine game, or the game of fines, twas him.
Ross Smith Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I nominate myself for having to put up with at workplaces, seemingly normal people who can only talk in a strange language they call “Footy Talk” and “Footy Tipping Comps”. Then at home when friends visit they want to turn on the television at MY house to watch the game - I mean why did they even bother to visit !!!!. I was a proud member of the A.F.L. last time and greatful to become a member again.
Jos Vandersman Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I would like to nominate David Hicks for the Douglas Wilkie medal.
Peter Crawford Says:
May 13th, 2007 at 12:28 am
I would like to nominate the entire Richmond Football Club for not only forgetting how to play the game, sacking their only star player of the year, but also urging their fans to either start following soccer or the Melbourne Storm (NRL).
I like Football Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 10:05 am
What is your peoples problem here?

I have no problem with those who don’t like football, but to make a club thats anti-football, well Come on you guys are not serious are you?

Can’t you just let people enjoy footy without you guys having a sook about ‘oh they talk about it in the office’ - how dare people socialise in the workplace and make friendships based on something they like. ‘I don’t want my little boy playing sport’ (mind you there is an obesity epidemic happening at the moment and he probably should) or my favorite ‘AFL players are a bad influence’ - Yes a small minority are but hey people in things like the rock music scene or the finacal sector aren’t on the powder?

Don’t you think football might give some people a little happiness in their lives but you guys think of nothing better to do then burn the ball. You people need a football kicked in your head then you’ll get some real perspective on life.’

Sincerley,
CEO - PFL - Pro Football League
Darren Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Jeremy Hayes for referring to ‘Aussie Rules’ as ‘ROCKBUN’ a game that is played by ‘ROCK-APES’ for the past 20 years. Also for religiously spending Grand Final day in his boat at sea, in a deliberate effort to distance himself from any details of the ‘biggest game of the year’.
Rock Bun - Bun of Rock
Nick K Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I would also like to nominate myself, and I have the email threads to prove my contempt for “aussie rules”. Nothing quite as fun as being stuck in traffic or on a train with the barbarians before or after a match.
Kevin Hughes Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I would like to nominate Graham Geraghy, GAA footballer and Co. Meath thug - who as a result of a ‘fair go’ tackle was knocked unconcious in the most recent Intenational Rules fiasco. As a result the GAA annouced they werent going to play anymore, thus reducing the influence of the AFL on Irish sporting life and the GAA. I urge not underestimate the importance of this. It is essential that Aussie Rules be geographically contained, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that it could being to grow on a limited basis in Ireland and then infect the rest of Europe. Dear God, it could easily become an international phenonmenon, just imagine an Aussie Rules World Cup every four years.
Eric Says:
May 14th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
I have heard that Jack Dunstan was at the last AFL Grand Final. Is this correct?

I’m afraid not mate, I was holidaying in Queensland - It was the only way to escape that dreaded ‘one day in September’
Danos Says:
May 15th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
How about Peter Wilkins? He has justified the ABC’s use of the term “News, Sport, Weather” for that nightly programme at 7.00pm on Channel 2, rather than what it’s correct title should have been under Angela Pippos. News, Weather, AFL Propaganda.
Eric Says:
May 16th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Sorry Jack must have heard wrong - well done for holidaying in Queensland during that dreaded “one day in September”. I hope you were far north, as the curse has also infected Brisbane nowdays. Keep up the good work - will be purchasing badges soon.
Lincoln Echo 8 Says:
May 17th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
I nominate myself for surviving the CULT . I’m still in long term therapy after being grabbed by a group of cult busters. During my first year I was strapped in a frame and forced to watch TV as they convinced me that the little flickering screen was not invented to transmit football and the lives of those who play it. They went too far when they insisted newspapers informed readers about the world and what’s happening in it - I thought globe breaking news was about skinned knee’s and being drunk at nightclubs. My biggest triumph, I now believe an oblong leather ball is just an air bladder and not a symbol of all existance. I’m starting my next level of therapy soon, standing in a group of people without matching scarfs and beanies. I think I will be ok…… only…..I still hear the “Fosters” jingle in my head and have dreams of drowning in tomatoe sauce and hot meat pie filling.
Lincoln Echo 8 Says:
May 17th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
In reply to the CEO - PFL - Pro Football League.

Deep in Aussie Rules……….NO-ONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM.

Sincerley Lincoln Echo 8
Michael Says:
May 18th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
How about the owner of http://afl.mollyzine.com? Running a podcast on footy is just about the ultimate way to bring down footy!
Michael
Troy Says:
May 18th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
How about the Melbourne Victory for raising the profile of football, and making AFL become inferior during the summer? No one thought a football team in AFL territory will work, but more and more people have ‘come out of the football closet’
Carolyn Says:
May 23rd, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I also nominate myself. Last year I moved to China in late August to avoid everything football in September, and stayed for 6 months so also avoid any follow-up. Back in Aus I always volunteer to work on Saturday afternoons/evenings so no TV, radio on a non-football station and workmates in the same situation. I am due to go back to China in October this year so might go a bit earlier to again avoid September. I also don’t like beer and pies.
Valerie Ludeman Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I’d like to vote for myself, for all the pain and suffering I had to endure from the mid 50’s to the mid 60’s when I was dragged along with my father, mother, their two friends and their son to the good old footy. Parents being mad St.Kilda fans we travelled far and wide, only to watch people behaving badly and most of the inebriated enjoying the game, with a few punch ups in between, and one heart attack, the guy turned blue !!!! They are my fondest memories of the game!!! Thank goodness for the Anti-Football League, and I’m glad it’s back!!!

Regards Val.
Chris Howie Says:
May 27th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Love the Ben Cousins nomination. It’s ironic to think that if footy is the opium of the masses (and it is) that a nation full of opium addicts would so judgemental about Ben’s drug use.
David Dunstan Says:
June 9th, 2007 at 9:10 am
I would like to nominate the ABC television film critic David Stratton for the 2007 Wilkie Medal. I well remember last year when David announced on live national television that he had no interest in football codes of any kind and could think of better ways to spend his time. Naturally, he was pooh-poohed by his co-presenter and fellow critic, Margaret Pomerantz, and I have no doubt spoken to severely by ABC bias and ratings analysts afterwards. But this man’s courageous and heartfelt declaration is worthy of encouragement and our support. Besides, going to the movies is one sure way of escaping the footy brouhaha at this time of year and now we know we have leadership from our best film critics as well. While it seems that David may have been prevented from making any more anti-football declarations there has been no public recanting on his part. I do hope that he hasn’t been, ahem, “counselled” or otherwise tortured as a consequence of his beliefs.

I would like to nominate David Stratton for the Wilkie Medal for 2007.

David Dunstan
Lily Hirsch Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 12:06 am
I would like to nominate my mother, for teaching me as a child that the real name for football was ‘footbrawl’. I used to correct people whenever they got the name wrong…
Douglas Wilkie Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
With all due humility… I would like to nominate myself! I have since the 1960s had to contend with a multitude of enquirers who would ask “Are you THE Douglas Wilkie? Surely I thought you would be older!” To which I would always have to reply “No, sorry, I am THE OTHER Douglas Wilkie!” Nevertheless, I have lived up to my namesake’s reputation and with true AFL un-enthusiasm, I have NEVER, EVER, been to a football match.
Eric Says:
June 29th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
If David Stratton did criticise football on ABC Television then I am with David Dunstan.
This is indeed a very brave move, given the football culture within the National Broadcaster. My nomination goes to David Stratton.
Greg Says:
July 26th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
In keeping with the above, I’d like to nominate myself too. I’ve been publishing an invective-filled and wildly-popular AFL player hate blog for two and half years (as linked by Crikey and others).

http://the-speccy.blogspot.com/

All that criminality and indecency painstakingly and lovingly collated and dissected across nearly 100 articles. Mockery, ridicule and scorn are my weapons. Drug-addled overpaid thugs and their handlers and mouth-breathing fans are my targets. The threat of defamation and contempt of court proceedings my only constraint.

Highlights include: Australia’s first betting market for AFL player court appearances; an online store specialising in protection from AFL players; publishing AFL Player Threat Index updates; and the Hall of Shame for worst offenders.

Winning this prestigious award will propel me to greater heights of moral outrage and self-righteous indignation.
Mick Says:
August 16th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I would also like to nominate David Stratton for the 2007 Wilkie Medal. He would be just perfect. He sure he would wear his medal every week on national TV.
Sue Trotter Says:
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:36 am
I would like to nominate Sam Newman and the entire panel of hosts on The Footy Show, as anyone who can behave in that fashion does nothing for anything!
James Sutcliffe Says:
September 4th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I’m going to say Timothey Peut. He hasn’t done anything for any type of sport let alone football. Only thing football related he did was try to get it not compolsary at my school
Brendan James Says:
September 5th, 2007 at 7:39 am
I’d like to nominate Andrew Johns for his recent drug revelations. He has certainly done little positive for the sport.
Ben Says:
September 10th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I nominate our Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon for spending $15 million dollars to sponsor the hawthorn football club while our Department of health and Human Services is chronically underfunded. He answered criticisms in parliament by saying he dared those criticising to say they were against football displaying to all wiht a capacity for reason and critical thought what selfrighteous, selfish, foul vermin football supporters are.
Lindsay Hocking Says:
September 10th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I want to nominate myself.

I’ve never been to a footbrawl match of any sort and I was one of the first to sign up for the original AFL (and I’ve signed up here, of course!)

I don’t know who the teams are, which particular neanderthal’s knee is presently trashed, and I don’t know who won any of the games that have ever been played, let alone who won any Grand Finals.

And who the hell was Cazaly?

I have spent an entire lifetine either studiously ignoring or taking the piss out of footbrawl.

Some years ago, to prove a point about the complete waste of time it was to indulge in “footy tipping”, I entered the competition at my office by filling out ALL the results up to the finals series in one hit… then tossed coins to determine the selections for the finals… I came second and I won $350 from the suckers!

Mark you, I was nearly lynched as well, but that would have been a small price to pay.

Finally, I believe that Keith Dunstan should be canonised… I’m sure that what he’s done for us all is nothing short of a miracle.

Yours in utter grass-roots anti-footyness…

Lindsay Hocking
katlyn schrape Says:
September 12th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Horray I’ve finally found an anti football site. Good work guys! Trying to avoid football in Melbourne is difficult, but no where near as difficult as avoiding country football when you live in a country town. Surrounded by football heroes, congratulating themselves with cerimonies such as jersy night, coaches awards, umpires awards, players awards, presentation night, team selection night, numerous photos in local paper, including mug shots and player profile for each team, grand final night celabration, day after grand final night celebration, week long celebration, footy trip and few weeks later pre season training starts again.
In no other sport do they congradulate themselves so many times.
Wolfie! Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I find this amusing, not just about football, but by most other sports too.

If you live a fairly sedate lifestyle, it’s a terrible sin, you’ll get fat, you’ll have diabetes… but if you play sport then you’ll be healthy for the rest of your life.

Well it’s all a great con.

Have you seen the list of injuries people who play sport get? broken bones, fractures skull, gouged eyeballs, pulled groins, kneecaps displaced and other bits misplaced and bruised and bleeding.

And parents still force their kids into this, it’s insane!

I have known of the real AFL since I was a kid, I’m 41 now.

I’ll join as soon as I can.

Wolfie!
AFL RULES!!!! Says:
September 14th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
You guys seriously make me sick. Have you really got nothing better to do than slag on the single greatest game in australia, if not the world. A true australian icon, a part of aussie culture, a symbol of evrything great about this nation. The Anit-football League is one of the most un-australian things i’ve ever come across and is simply a ****** discrase. Go kill yourselves all you low life pricks.
Cathryn Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 5:26 am
My vote is for David Hicks (or me). Either of us would be great recipients. David for being sensible and living outside this pigskin ridden county for five years and me for living here but still managing to ignore (and publically denigrate where possible)the “game” for all of my 53 years!
Purple Says:
September 15th, 2007 at 9:54 am
I would like to nominate Michael Leunig, referring to his poem book “A bunch of Poesy, page 68″ Have a look, it’s great.
Jacqui Edgecombe Says:
September 18th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Hi - I would like to nominate myself! I grew up in an “ethnic” household, where football was never seen, mentioned or recognized in any way. I once saw an AFL game at the Telstra Dome because I was given free tickets and a free meeal - the meal was great.

As one half of husband-wife entertainment duo ‘String Fever’ I am now a proud co-performer of one of my husband’s songs “Planet Sports” which does much to promote anti AFL sentiment.

Click on this link to download your (free) copy of the song from You Send It

http://download.yousendit.com/6668108A3492D961
eric Says:
September 20th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Would not the awarding of the Douglas Wilkie Medal on the same day as the “dreaded game” so called highest award (something with low in it), have more impact? We are after all supposed to be “anti”.

Previous Wilkie Winners

March 4th, 2007

The award is named in honour of Douglas Wilkie, co-founder of the Anti-Football League. Mr Wilkie was a respected columnist for the Melbourne Sun newspaper.

The medal is presented to an individual who has done the least for Australian Rules football throught out the year, and is presented on Anti-Football Day.

In the tradition of the presentation of the award, It is the recipient’s duty put a football to a use that is an improvement on its intended purpose. Over the years footballs have been eaten, exploded, chainsawed, drowned, buried, boiled, turned into dainty lingerie and even given a full sea burial, complete with pallbearers.

1967 – Harold Holt - former Australian Prime Minister
1968 – Bob Skilton - former VFL Footballer and double Brownlow winner
1969 – Ron Frazer (Fraser) – actor and comedian
1970 - Barry Oakley - author and playwright
1972 - Cyril Pearl - author and columnist
1973 - Douglas McClelland - Former Labor Party Senator and Minister
1974 - Leon Hill - former General Manager GTV-9
1975 - Barry Humphries - comedian, satirist

1977 - Kate Baillieu - former GTV-9 personality
1979 - Pete Smith - television announcer
1980 - Jack Elliot - racing writer
1981 - Lindsay Thompson - Former Premier of Victoria
1983 - Julie Clarke - a suffering housewife
1985 - Shelley Dye - another suffering housewife
1986 - Sir Les Patterson - alter ego of Barry Humphries
1987 - Peter Russell-Clarke - television chef and author

1988 - Terry Lane - ABC radio broadcaster
1989 - Raelene Boyle - Olympic and Commonweath champion runner
1990 - Tim Bowden - ABC broadcaster and author
1992 - Wendy Harmer - broadcaster and comedian
1993 - Tim Bowden - again
1994 - Dennis Pryor - Columnist and former classics Professor
2007 - Barry Jones -Politician, social activist, author

The Douglas Wilkie Medal

March 4th, 2007

The Anti-Football League had many members by the middle of 1967. Sales of badges were strong and the football going public were both bemused and riled by the new organisation. But to give the AFL real strength, it needed an accolade – a way to honour its heroes. And so, the Douglas Wilkie medal was conceived.

The ‘Wilkie’ was to be awarded annually to whoever in any given calendar year did the least for football in the best and fairest manner. It didn’t matter that Douglas Wilkie wasn’t exactly a household name. The Victorian Football League (as it was known then) had its Brownlow Medal and nobody knew anything about Charles Brownlow. The Wilkie Medal could be awarded at the same time, just before the Grand Final, when anti-footballing Melburnians most needed a football anti-hero to emulate.

Through his daily column, ‘A Place in the Sun’, Keith Dunstan received suggestions on who should win the first Wilkie Award. One reader, Mrs Ivy Thacker, exclaimed “Why must a Wilkie Medal go to a man? Why not to one of the real martyrs of football – a footballer’s wife?” Another suggestion was Chairman Mao Zedong. Remembering this was the sixties, Mr Lee Ryan’s nomination was encouraged because Mao “didn’t want to play ball with anyone.” All worthy suggestions, but cheekily, the first Wilkie award was going to make a gentle remark on both sport and politics.

Politicians, then as now, have been known to ingratiate themselves with popular sports to curry favour with the voters. Admittedly, enthusiasm may have been genuine in some instances. Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, was the number one ticket holder for Carlton Football Club, and conspicuously seen at games. But the presence of political leaders at football matches if they came from Sydney was a dead give-away. Interest in the game north of the border was virtually non-existent in 1967.

One politician who stood out was the Prime Minister, Mr Harold Holt. Dunstan had done his research; Holt had never been seen at the football whilst he had been a politician. His leisure interests lay elsewhere, in scuba diving, tennis and swimming. The League felt that anyone who braved the waters of Portsea in frigid September, as Holt did, certainly deserved a medal. And so it was announced, in the Sun, and by mail directly to Holt himself. Two weeks passed and there was no response. Dunstan called Holt’s press secretary, Tony Eggleton, to find out why. Eggleton said that Mr Holt welcomed the tribute but thought it best not to make a fuss.

“The trouble is he has an election coming up, and if word gets around it might be his downfall. I’ll tell you what; he would be delighted to receive the award privately, with no photographs”

And so, the award was presented, with no photographs, on 11th September 1967. Holt talked of his youth when he did play football, winning colours for Wesley College and breaking a collar bone in a game for Queens College at the University of Melbourne. The Prime Minister was certainly more of a ”doer” than a spectator. Tragically, it was Holt’s adventurous disposition as a swimmer that was to bring about his demise. The Prime Minister disappeared only three months later whilst swimming at Portsea, presumed drowned.

In subsequent years many worthy souls from politics, stage, television, radio and even Australian Rules Football, have won Wilkie medals. The award is traditionally presented on Anti-Football Day, in September, not long before another big event that need not be mentioned.

Award winners are expected to destroy a Football in a unique and creative manner, in a tradition established by Wilkie medal winning author, Cyril Pearl, in 1972.

Links:
For a complete list of winners since 1967.
To make a nomination for this year’s Douglas Wilkie medal winner.
Sources: Keith Dunstan, No Brains at All: an Autobiography (1990) p.197.

The Badge

March 4th, 2007

Members of Anti-Football League were always going to be outnumbered by the football-going hordes. So, it was important that they should be able to recognise each other. Founding Secretary and Sun columnist, Keith Dunstan, suggested the idea of a badge, so that when passing one another in the street they might know that that they could have a conversation about the weather, or foreign affairs, or anything else that would be a welcome respite to football, football and more football.

And so, a small badge was conceived. Similar to a Legion of Honour rosette, it too, would be red, referencing the colour of protest. The shape was of a small square football, symbolic of an object that would not bounce. The idea of a badge was a sound one, and the wearing of it was a simple way to gain membership to the AFL.

Not long after Dunstan mentioned the badge in his daily column, He received a phone call from Alf Philips. ’Who are you, Mister Philips?’, Dunstan asked. ‘We’re in the business of making and designing badges. I work for K.G. Luke and Company.’ It was ironic that Philips was offering to design and produce badges for the Anti- Football League as everyone knew that Sir Kenneth Luke, the proprietor, was the president of the Victorian Football League. Dunstan asked if he was having his leg pulled. Philips went on, ‘if there’s a quid in it for you and a quid in it for Sir Kenneth, it’ll be okay’. Surely, here was an instance of Karl Marx’s famous prediction that capitalism contained the seeds of its own destruction. Football, like capitalism, might just destroy itself and with any luck a vanguard organisation like the Anti-Football League might just help kick things along, so to speak.

Sir Kenneth’s company set out to make the first batch, with an initial run of 1250. Walter O’Donoghue, Advertising Manager from the Myer Emporium had got wind of the idea and offered to finance and sell them. He also suggested that the revenue from the badges should go to a local charity, as this would bring respectability to the cause. And so, the badges were made – five hundred dollars worth, and with page in Saturday’s Sun to promote them made up and sent to the printers. The ball was rolling, so to speak..

A few days passed before O’Donoghue called again. He had bad news. Apologetically, he relayed an expensive message. He told Dunstan that the Myer directors felt that association with the AFL would bring bad publicity, and that they could not give it their backing. Dunstan was in a spot. He had 1250 badges on the way, and he was going to have to foot the bill himself. ‘Five hundred dollars in 1967 on a journalist’s salary seemed a great deal of money’, he would later recall.

The following Monday Dunstan sat miserably in his office, contemplating his folly. His mailbox was empty. ‘I should have known. Who would want to be anti-football in Melbourne? I have just lost 500 dollars’. It wasn’t until one pm that Dunstan received a reply. It was the post office, they called to say that they hadn’t brought his mail around earlier because there was simply too much of it. So, before the end of the day, the badges were all gone – the lot of them. Dunstan phoned Alf Phillips and placed another order, this time for 5000 badges. They were gone in less than a month.

Over the years The AFL has sold badges (over 250,000), earrings, t-shirts and sweatshirts. The proceeds from which went to a variety of charities, including the Berry Street Babies home (now Berry Street Victoria), the MS society, and St. John’s Homes foundation (now Anglicare). By 1980 the Anti-Football League had raised over $200,000 for these organisations through the sale of dissident paraphernalia.

Sources: Keith Dunstan, No Brains at All: an Autobiography (1990)

AFL Conception

March 4th, 2007

“…football, wherein is nothing but beastly fury and extreme violence; whereof proceedeth hurt, and consequently rancor and malice do remain with them that be wounded…”

The Governor

On Sunday 16th April 1967, the rooms of the Sun News-Pictorial were filled with journalists writing and talking about the previous day’s Australian Rules football games. The Sun was Melbourne’s biggest circulating newspaper and on Monday, football was a mainstay of its pages, both back and even the front, where the main news ought to be. Melbourne, then as now, was football mad. In one respect things were better. In those days Australian Rules football was played only on Saturdays. Although football was played elsewhere in Australia, the wintry second capital, Melbourne, has always been the capital Of Australian Rules Football.

Sunday in the sixties in Melbourne was a day of the week when nothing much happened. Shops were shut and the churches were supposed to be full. If you didn’t want to stay home and mow the lawn then the most exciting thing you could do if you wanted to go out would be to drive to Essendon airport (the International airport at Tullamarine had not yet been invented) and watch the planes come in.

Sunday television programs like World of Sport and especially the daily newspapers had a feast when it came to analysing the previous Saturday round of matches. There were no Sunday papers for Melburnians in those days and so the full analysis was boiled up over twenty fours hours and delivered to the public at length in newsprint on the following Monday. Douglas Wilkie, the Sun’s long-standing Foreign Affairs writer, had had enough. He made this observation to the Sun’s daily columnist, Keith Dunstan.

“I can’t stand it any longer. This is supposed to be a democracy – we should have rights – there should be something to protect us from all this in the winter” “There must be a better life than this. Couldn’t we start an anti-football organisation?”

In the next day’s column Dunstan relayed Wilkie’s sentiments, yet maintained his anonymity. He suggested the need for an Anti-Football organisation and the idea of a badge, so that members could identify each other. Over the next few days Dunstan was deluged with responses, with hundreds eager to join. The long pent-up frustrations of those whose interest in football was negligible were at last brought out into the open.

And so the Anti-Football League was born, but if it was going to compete with the cultural force that was the Victorian Football League (as it was then known), it would have to have respectability. The new society needed a patron. Douglas Wilkie had initially suggested the idea. Wilkie had written for the Sun since 1946. His insightful commentary on international affairs sometimes seemed the only antidote to the Sun’s coverage of pigskin based acrobatics. The AFL had a patron, and named an award after him, the Wilkie Medal, awarded annually to a prominent Australian who had done the least for football.

Dunstan now had a regular source of Monday columns as well with material gleaned from both supporters and detractors. The detractors saw him as some sort of heretic; after all, ‘football is religion’. A letter received at the Sun read ‘Come to the Phoenix Hotel at 5 p.m. and I’ll give you a knuckle sandwich.’ The Phoenix was a Flinders street pub, owned at the time by former Collingwood footballer and Sun football writer, Lou Richards, and frequented by both footballers and journalists. There were many letters just as strong. One suggested he just move to Alaska if he didn’t like football. Others felt he was a Communist subversive, of dubious moral proclivities, or worse -‘un-Australian’.

Regardless of the criticism, badges were sold at an alarming rate and the inaugural Douglas Wilkie medal was awarded to then Prime Minister Harold Holt. By July 1967, less than two months after the AFL was conceived, it had more members than the Collingwood Football Club, the largest in the VFL.

Since 1967

The numbers of anti-footballers grew and each year a new Anti-Football star was awarded the ‘Wilkie’ medal. The public interest was retained and Dunstan found himself hard pressed to come up with more bizarre circumstances and stunts for the awarding of the distinction. Commonly, this involved the destruction of a football by various means. One year it was cut in half and planted with flowers. Another it was placed in a coffin and buried at sea (only to float away out beyond the Heads), and on another occasion Dunstan and his supporters burnt a football on the Melbourne Cricket Ground just prior to a Grand Final. The passage of the years took a toll. The Last Wilkie was awarded in 1994 and since then the organisational head of steam has slowed. Despite this, a strong band of non-followers of football has maintained true to the credo on which the AFL was founded.

But this was before the days of the internet and spontaneous community action. The year 2006 saw the launch of this website and a new beginning for the AFL.

Anti-Football League members have now, at last, an online meeting point and a forum.

The AFL is currently staffed by a small number of volunteers and welcomes contributions, criticism and cabernet sauvignon.

Feel free to drop us a line.
antifootballleague@gmail.com
¹The Sun News Pictorial, 6th June 1970 ²Keith Dunstan, No Brains at All: an Autobiography (1990), p192

Welcome!

March 4th, 2007

Anti-Football League stickers now available!

Click on the ‘membership’ tab (above) for details.

The Anti-Football League (AFL) is an Australian organisation of individuals who are indifferent to the excessive fervour that afflicts supporters of the Australian code of football known as Australian Rules Football (”Aussie Rules”).

The AFL stands apart from the Football mania that is ever increasingly saturating our workplaces, media outlets and public spaces, and which at certain times of the year reaches excessive and epidemic proportions.

AFL members have fought hard to maintain an immunity to this unfortunate affliction which affects many tens of thousands of Australians. League members are united by the common understanding that there is more to life than the ability to kick a pigskin between two white posts.

This website is a resource for those actively uninterested in Australian Rules Football. It supports all non-footballing activities and is a forum for those who wish to express their views on a game that was most probably the cause for the collapse of the Roman Empire and remains a continuing contributor to Australia’s current account deficit.

Founding secretary Keith Dunstan burns a football at the MCG in 1972.

Join the AFL Mailing List

Mailing List

August 25th, 2006

To join our mailing list and receive updates on Anti-Football League activity and events, fill in your details in the boxes below. In the comment box section, be sure to type in ‘mailing list’.

The Anti-Football League will not give your email address out to any third party. Expect 3-4 emails throughout the year.

Webmasters

August 25th, 2006

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History

August 14th, 2006

Now in it’s 41st year, the Anti-Football League has had a rich and colourful past. At its peak, the Anti-Football League once had more members than the Collingwood Football Club, undoubtedly the most patronised in the Australian league.

Through its fund raising activities, odd-ball stunts or tireless campaigning against the saturating influence of the football machine, the ‘AFL’ is a proudly peculiar part of Australia’s cultural fabric.

The links to the right will lead you to comprehensive chapters in the AFL’s past.

Douglas Wilkie Medal

August 14th, 2006

The Douglas Wilkie Medal is annually presented by The Anti-Football League to the person who does the least for football in a given year. In many respects it is like Aussie Rules’ Brownlow medal, and named after a person that few know much about. Unlike the Brownlow, thankfully, there is no 6 hour televised dinner for the nominees, resulting in a predictable anti-climax.

Over the years, many noble souls have been presented with this coveted accolade, with backgrounds as diverse as society itself. Authors, comediennes, housewives, Prime Ministers and even footballers have been recipients. Some folk have even been awarded twice!

Cyril Pearl, a writer who won the 1972 ‘Wilkie’, insisted on burning a football to express his disaffection for the game. Since then, each winner has been encouraged to destroy a football in a new and inventive manner. Footballs over the years have been turned into lingerie, exploded, buried at sea, and eaten - the choice of 1987 Wilkie winner Peter Russell-Clarke.

To learn more about the origins of the Douglas Wilkie Medal, or view the 2007 nominations, click one of the links to your right.

Under Construction

November 30th, 1999

This website is currently under construction and will resume service in a few days.

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