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 boofhea

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