Source :- THE AGE NEWS
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has shrugged off a jibe from Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys that rugby league leads his code “like you lead a horse”, maintaining that Australian Rules remains the No.1 sport in the country.
In an interview on Triple M last week, V’Landys mocked the AFL’s State of Origin game and accused the AFL of copying rugby league’s Magic Round concept for its Gather Round.
Speaking in Sydney on Monday ahead of the AFL’s Opening Round, Dillon admitted he had briefly tuned into the NRL’s season-opener in Las Vegas on Sunday, but remained focused on his own code – which he maintained was the pre-eminent sport in the country.
“Australian Rules is the most attended, played and watched sport in Australia,” Dillon said. “We’re a national game and we focus on events all around the country. Only a couple of weeks back we had 60,000 people, or just over 60,000 people, watching Origin in Perth.
“We’ll continue to evolve our future as we go, but at the moment we feel that Opening Round is doing its job, particularly with those record attendances and viewership for our clubs in New South Wales and around the country.”
Dillon confirmed that the AFL’s State of Origin game will return, but would remain a pre-season fixture despite some calls for it to be played mid-season.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon with Sydney mayor Clover Moore at Town Hall for the Opening Round launch on Monday.Credit: via Getty Images
“We were really, really happy with the way Origin went over a couple of weeks ago,” Dillon said. “Our plan now is to set a plan for the next three to five years, I think. Our players bought into representative football and when the players do that, we know that the fans follow and the clubs follow.
“You don’t want to curtail yourself, but I found with the All-Stars last year and Origin this year that pre-season seems to work best for it at the moment.”
Dillon also revealed he was keen to see the AFL represented in the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. The sport was demonstrated with an exhibition match at the Melbourne Games in 1956, when just over 30,000 turned out to see the Victorian Amateur Football Association defeat the Victorian Football League.
“We’ve spoken at a high level about that [Australian Rules at the Olympics] and the reality is there’s a precedent for that back in 1956 in Melbourne, where Australian rules football was the exhibition sport,” Dillon said.
“So I think our sport is a sport that should be on that stage, and we’ll work closely with the Olympic Committee on what form that takes.”
Florent, Hayward raring to go against old Swans mates
Carlton’s Nick Haynes will miss Thursday’s Opening Round clash against Sydney due to an ankle injury, but reported that his new teammates, former Swans Oli Florent and Will Hayward, had been providing some motivation to the squad.
“They’re revving the boys up” Hayne said. “They’re excited, and they’re pretty outgoing boys so they’re just so excited to start the season like everyone else.
“They’re both haven’t missed a beat this pre-season and it’s been really valuable for us as a team [to have them], so I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do against the Swans.”
Blue skies: Swans recruit Charlie Curnow will face his former teammates for the first time on Thursday.Credit: Sam Mooy
While Florent and Hayward are looking facing their old team, Swans forward Logan McDonald believes his club’s acquisition of former Carlton full forward Charlie Curnow is already making a difference.
McDonald kicked two goals in the Swans’ final pre-season hit-out against the Giants last week and says that he is “in awe” of Curnow.
“I’m just trying to work in synergy with him,” McDonald said. “[We’re] trying to isolate each other and put each other in the best position to be able to succeed.
“We’re both bringing different strengths and being able to complement each other is something that we’re going to try to do. Obviously, we’ve been trying to build our connection all pre-season along with Joel [Amartey].”
Giants look to Oliver after Green blow
The Giants are adjusting to life without star midfielder Tom Green, with forward Aaron Cadman describing the wretched run injuries as “grim times.”
But Cadman is confident Clayton Oliver can step up in Green’s absence, having been impressed with the new recruit in the trial against the Swans at Henson Park last week.
“He’s [Oliver] one of a kind, the energy he brings to the club is unmatched,” Cadman said. “I’ve never seen anyone like it.
“It was pouring rain, he was doing these one-hand flick-ups, he’s one of the cleanest players I’ve ever seen, so I think he’s definitely going to help fill that void of Tom Green.”
