10 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Strangely enough the WA teams are perhaps probably the best placed to spearhead a push into Asia.

WA is in the same timezone as Beijing and by air it is 2-3 hours closer

I have always thought it strange that WA supporters have for years been willing to accept their game start times based to suit Eastern Sates TV times

The Eagles provide some level of support to the national amateur expat team in Cambodia (I think as an equipment sponsor and providing jumpers) and their players have gone over to help out with some volunteer projects in the past. More of a community outreach thing I think than through some misguided expectation they'll ever see a return.

On 2017-5-3 at 2:23 PM, hardtack said:

I don't know... there are a number of Australians in the NFL in the US... just how much interest has that generated here? I'd argue, not much.

That is completely different. And it generated quite a bit of interest in NFL...but that's beside the point. Nationalism is stronger in China. Just look at how crazy NBA is there now after Yao Ming.

4 minutes ago, praha said:

That is completely different. And it generated quite a bit of interest in NFL...but that's beside the point. Nationalism is stronger in China. Just look at how crazy NBA is there now after Yao Ming.

NBA. AFL

NBA .,AFL

No disparity there.

Chalk cheese

actually

Cheese Chalk.

China plays Bball....very well. They have intrinsic interest therefore.

Footy. Yeah even i now understand thats a dud there.

I'll be attending the Shanghai game as i live there and have a big involvement with the local Shanghai Tigers AFL team. A few here are underestimating how popular afl is going to be in China. There are already multiple Chinese teams in Guangzhou, and the programs from there are rapidly expanding into other areas. I have personally been involved in numerous auskick clinics at Shanghai schools, and the kids are loving it. The dollars are being spent and the game is growing. The buzz around Shanghai about the game is amazing. I think the afl are onto a winner here.

10 minutes ago, wonnabeeri said:

I'll be attending the Shanghai game as i live there and have a big involvement with the local Shanghai Tigers AFL team. A few here are underestimating how popular afl is going to be in China. There are already multiple Chinese teams in Guangzhou, and the programs from there are rapidly expanding into other areas. I have personally been involved in numerous auskick clinics at Shanghai schools, and the kids are loving it. The dollars are being spent and the game is growing. The buzz around Shanghai about the game is amazing. I think the afl are onto a winner here.

Have no doubt there's some interest. Personally i feel it will only have a curiosity factor to it.  Bit like Baseball here.

Basketball and Soccer have world stages and $ to go with it. Still ... there are black sheep everywhere.

Enjoy the game and your continued participation. 

30 minutes ago, wonnabeeri said:

I'll be attending the Shanghai game as i live there and have a big involvement with the local Shanghai Tigers AFL team. A few here are underestimating how popular afl is going to be in China. There are already multiple Chinese teams in Guangzhou, and the programs from there are rapidly expanding into other areas. I have personally been involved in numerous auskick clinics at Shanghai schools, and the kids are loving it. The dollars are being spent and the game is growing. The buzz around Shanghai about the game is amazing. I think the afl are onto a winner here.

That's very interesting. Thankyou. 

Opens the possibility for the day when AFL will be taken over by China like with all our industries. They will whip our arse in international games and Aussie clubs that haven't been sold to them will become minor league feeder clubs. They will rewrite the history of the game and say it was introduced to Australia by Chinese miners.?

Edited May 5, 20178 yr by america de cali

30 minutes ago, wonnabeeri said:

I'll be attending the Shanghai game as i live there and have a big involvement with the local Shanghai Tigers AFL team. A few here are underestimating how popular afl is going to be in China. There are already multiple Chinese teams in Guangzhou, and the programs from there are rapidly expanding into other areas. I have personally been involved in numerous auskick clinics at Shanghai schools, and the kids are loving it. The dollars are being spent and the game is growing. The buzz around Shanghai about the game is amazing. I think the afl are onto a winner here.

Participation does not always equal following

Basketball is the classic example.... one of the highest participation sports among youngsters but following is almost non existent

Soccer is the one that will take off if anything ever does

Soccer is the perfect sport in that it can be played by almost any number of people at varying skill levels with minimal facilities required

Just think of the park leagues with a few backpacks as the goals

Edited May 5, 20178 yr by Diamond_Jim

Just now, Diamond_Jim said:

Participation does not always equal following

Basketball is the classic example.... one of the highest participation sports among youngsters but following is almost non existent

Likewise netball and volleyball... I believe netball has (or did have) the highest number of registered players on the planet (and volleyball not far behind), yet it is afforded very very little coverage.

1 hour ago, praha said:

That is completely different. And it generated quite a bit of interest in NFL...but that's beside the point. Nationalism is stronger in China. Just look at how crazy NBA is there now after Yao Ming.

There are some interesting answers to the question as to why the NBA is so popular in China, and few of them seem to be centred around Yao Ming's popularity... in fact most seem to think it became popular long before he came onto the scene.

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-NBA-so-popular-in-China

23 minutes ago, hardtack said:

There are some interesting answers to the question as to why the NBA is so popular in China, and few of them seem to be centred around Yao Ming's popularity... in fact most seem to think it became popular long before he came onto the scene.

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-NBA-so-popular-in-China

Basketball is HUGE in Asia

last year i was in Thailand and Philippines

basketball was on in every Sports Bar and offered in all hotels...

they love it

Just a quick question...

Will the trophy issued to the winner of the Port vs. Suns game be called the 'China Plate'?

On 05/05/2017 at 1:39 PM, wonnabeeri said:

I'll be attending the Shanghai game as i live there and have a big involvement with the local Shanghai Tigers AFL team. A few here are underestimating how popular afl is going to be in China. There are already multiple Chinese teams in Guangzhou, and the programs from there are rapidly expanding into other areas. I have personally been involved in numerous auskick clinics at Shanghai schools, and the kids are loving it. The dollars are being spent and the game is growing. The buzz around Shanghai about the game is amazing. I think the afl are onto a winner here.

Thanks Woona.

will be pleased to see your report and hope the Dees admin are watching and reminding the AFL who our sponsor is.

Although they then might recommend the they sponsor Port..... hmmm

11 hours ago, dpositive said:

Thanks Woona.

will be pleased to see your report and hope the Dees admin are watching and reminding the AFL who our sponsor is.

Although they then might recommend the they sponsor Port..... hmmm

I looked into my crystal ball and asked it "who might the AFL favour in this instance?"

And, being a mystical artifact, it gave a cryptic answer requiring much meditation and lateral thinking: (*deep spooky voice here*) "follow the money."

As someone who has been in hk for over a decade - whilst it's great there is a game expats can go to and aus kick is massive in hk with expat kids of all origins that traditionally (and also do) play other sports (including Europe / us / Australasia) - I don't believe china will ever be a market we should bother with. Yep great for little kids - aus kick is an amazing program and the constant feedback from all parents i know from around the world is how well run it is and how much the kids love it. I however do not believe for a second other than a very fringe following (think NFL in Australia as a good analogy) that any of the local Chinese kids will play it post that or that it will lead to any quality footy. Other than as a semi expat supported league.

The china game will be great as a spectacle and excellent for footy fans that life aboard but otherwise - prefer to go chasing rainbows or hunting unicorns. 

 

Edited May 7, 20178 yr by Stingray

4 hours ago, Stingray said:

As someone who has been in hk for over a decade - whilst it's great there is a game expats can go to and aus kick is massive in hk with expat kids of all origins that traditionally (and also do) play other sports (including Europe / us / Australasia) - I don't believe china will ever be a market we should bother with. Yep great for little kids - aus kick is an amazing program and the constant feedback from all parents i know from around the world is how well run it is and how much the kids love it. I however do not believe for a second other than a very fringe following (think NFL in Australia as a good analogy) that any of the local Chinese kids will play it post that or that it will lead to any quality footy. Other than as a semi expat supported league.

The china game will be great as a spectacle and excellent for footy fans that life aboard but otherwise - prefer to go chasing rainbows or hunting unicorns. 

 

Ah.. but unicorn food is the latest trend

http://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/unicorn-food-has-gone-too-far-20170317-gv0pu4

6 hours ago, Stingray said:

As someone who has been in hk for over a decade - whilst it's great there is a game expats can go to and aus kick is massive in hk with expat kids of all origins that traditionally (and also do) play other sports (including Europe / us / Australasia) - I don't believe china will ever be a market we should bother with. Yep great for little kids - aus kick is an amazing program and the constant feedback from all parents i know from around the world is how well run it is and how much the kids love it. I however do not believe for a second other than a very fringe following (think NFL in Australia as a good analogy) that any of the local Chinese kids will play it post that or that it will lead to any quality footy. Other than as a semi expat supported league.

The china game will be great as a spectacle and excellent for footy fans that life aboard but otherwise - prefer to go chasing rainbows or hunting unicorns. 

 

Yeah thanks Stingray.

I don't think I would ever trust the China market  which is grounded in control

but maybe the pure chance and enjoyment that AFL was based on can provide some stimulation and diversion.

sort of opposed to the requirement to win the 4 points

maybe ok as an end of season diversion. After winning the GF

 

On 5/7/2017 at 0:40 PM, Stingray said:

As someone who has been in hk for over a decade - whilst it's great there is a game expats can go to and aus kick is massive in hk with expat kids of all origins that traditionally (and also do) play other sports (including Europe / us / Australasia) - I don't believe china will ever be a market we should bother with. Yep great for little kids - aus kick is an amazing program and the constant feedback from all parents i know from around the world is how well run it is and how much the kids love it. I however do not believe for a second other than a very fringe following (think NFL in Australia as a good analogy) that any of the local Chinese kids will play it post that or that it will lead to any quality footy. Other than as a semi expat supported league.

The china game will be great as a spectacle and excellent for footy fans that life aboard but otherwise - prefer to go chasing rainbows or hunting unicorns. 

 

I totally agree about the nfl analogy, however China is such a massive market you only need to have a small interest and the game will be successful. On that note the NFL are also doing some really good work here in Shanghai at least. They have auskick style sessions at Luwan Stadium every other week, with kids fitted out in the full kit. Looks cool.

Cannot get over the fact that Port get the money but it is at the cost of a Gold Coast home game (OK ... GC get money as well)

Apparently GC only agreed to one year but Port's China deal is for five years. Will be interesting to see who if anyone steps up next year to be Port's "patsy".

GC cannot get direct flights from Qld so they are flying somewhere else and then on to Shanghai... total flight time (including layover) was reported this morning on SEN at 20 hours and only part of their team can be accomodated in business class.

25 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Cannot get over the fact that Port get the money but it is at the cost of a Gold Coast home game (OK ... GC get money as well)

Apparently GC only agreed to one year but Port's China deal is for five years. Will be interesting to see who if anyone steps up next year to be Port's "patsy".

GC cannot get direct flights from Qld so they are flying somewhere else and then on to Shanghai... total flight time (including layover) was reported this morning on SEN at 20 hours and only part of their team can be accomodated in business class.

Surprised they haven't chartered a flight.

17 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Surprised they haven't chartered a flight.

Sounds sensible doesn't it but not many spare big planes around the world these days given the utilisation levels of all the major airlines.

Mind you Malaysian Airlines have a couple of A 380's that they have been looking to lease out for the last 2-3 years. They are looking to use them now in the charter business to Mecca after no takers for all that time. Probably cost prohibitive for a one off flight over and back plus re-positioning costs etc.

5 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Sounds sensible doesn't it but not many spare big planes around the world these days given the utilisation levels of all the major airlines.

Mind you Malaysian Airlines have a couple of A 380's that they have been looking to lease out for the last 2-3 years. They are looking to use them now in the charter business to Mecca after no takers for all that time. Probably cost prohibitive for a one off flight over and back plus re-positioning costs etc.

There are jets around . 737 size ( long hall) enough for the team, all staff and selected 'premium' paying coterie.

Really wouldn't have seen this as hard with lead time avail. 

 

54 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Sounds sensible doesn't it but not many spare big planes around the world these days given the utilisation levels of all the major airlines.

Mind you Malaysian Airlines have a couple of A 380's that they have been looking to lease out for the last 2-3 years. They are looking to use them now in the charter business to Mecca after no takers for all that time. Probably cost prohibitive for a one off flight over and back plus re-positioning costs etc.

They should try that good Bolivian charter airline that specialises in moving football teams around. Service is out of this world I hear.

I think that the better option would have been to initially properly promote the game to the approximate 900,000 Chinese who live here in Australia.  Advertise on the AFL website in Chinese. Maybe a pre-game talk in Mandarin with Cantonese subtitles explaining the rules then broadcast of the game with Chinese commentary. Generate some local interest first. Perhaps a Melbourne -v- Sydney game given the large Chinese communities in both cities. Gotta be a cheaper at least. (Plus the air in Shanghai is terrible. Descending into the city a few months ago some of the layers of cloud were khaki green.)

Ni mingbai wo ma.

27 minutes ago, ProperDee said:

I think that the better option would have been to initially properly promote the game to the approximate 900,000 Chinese who live here in Australia.  Advertise on the AFL website in Chinese. Maybe a pre-game talk in Mandarin with Cantonese subtitles explaining the rules then broadcast of the game with Chinese commentary. Generate some local interest first.

I know in the past Melbourne already had a program to get Chinese university students to games in Melbourne. One of the guys here in Shanghai was involved as a mentor type person. He said it was quite a success.

 

13 hours ago, wonnabeeri said:

I know in the past Melbourne already had a program to get Chinese university students to games in Melbourne. One of the guys here in Shanghai was involved as a mentor type person. He said it was quite a success.

Hope that feedback went back to the club. It's more valuable comment than most of the uninformed opinions i and others may have