serious14
Well-Known Member
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23153826-5006065,00.html
"Struggling for support
By Damian Barrett in Pretoria
February 04, 2008 12:00am
THE AFL continued its venture into South Africa yesterday and had to endure lightning strikes, a small ground and an equally small crowd who believed they were watching a match of "Australian rugby".
But the practice match between Carlton and Fremantle went ahead in Pretoria in front of a disappointing 3500 spectators.
So hard is it to sell the sport in South Africa that the AFL's Kevin Sheehan tried to educate the gathering by using the PA system to highlight certain rules in the first half.
Despite his best intentions, Sheehan had no impact and abandoned the microphone after halftime.
The match itself was in danger of being abandoned because of nearby lightning strikes, but eventually was reduced to four 20-minute quarters.
Because of the small size of the playing oval, teams were allowed to field just 16 players at a time.
Carlton used 32 players for the match, including all six rookies on their list. Fremantle used 25.
Fremantle took control of the game with a five-goal second quarter and looked headed for a blow-out win until the Blues rallied late in the match.
The Dockers eventually ran out winners 11.12 (78) to 9.10 (64).
Fremantle recruit Kepler Bradley lost consciousness but won the respect of his new teammates in the same piece of play in a bittersweet debut for the Dockers.
Bradley instantly won over Fremantle coach Mark Harvey when he wore a hit from Carlton ruckman Shaun Hampson in the second quarter of the match. The accidental clash may be the subject of AFL video review, to check if it is covered by the rule, introduced last season, that puts the duty of care on the player instigating contact.
Bradley's head hit the ground after the collision with Hampson and the Fremantle medicos placed him on a stretcher, waiting several min- utes for an ambulance to drive on to the ground.
Bradley was taken to a nearby hospital but returned to the ground later.
For the Blues, little went right for Matthew Kreuzer early in his first game for the club, but he worked his way into the match in the second half, kicking a long-bomb goal in the last quarter after receiving a free kick.
He shared ruck duties with Hampson, who looked impressive at times, and Cameron Cloke.
"You have to be careful with young kids, these types of trips can tax them a fair bit," Blues coach Brett Ratten said. "Even when we get back it will take us seven days to recover."
Des Headland captained Fremantle in the first half, handing the leadership to Paul Hasleby for the third and fourth quarters."
ROFLMAO!!!! What a waste of time, money, and effort. The delusions of grandeur held by particular sports never ceases to simultaneously amuse and amaze me....... the NRL isn't too far behind in these stakes as well - anyone catch Russell Crowe's whinging about their exhibition game against Leeds not being broadcast on Setanta or something or other?? Gee Russ, I wonder why??
"Struggling for support
By Damian Barrett in Pretoria
February 04, 2008 12:00am
THE AFL continued its venture into South Africa yesterday and had to endure lightning strikes, a small ground and an equally small crowd who believed they were watching a match of "Australian rugby".
But the practice match between Carlton and Fremantle went ahead in Pretoria in front of a disappointing 3500 spectators.
So hard is it to sell the sport in South Africa that the AFL's Kevin Sheehan tried to educate the gathering by using the PA system to highlight certain rules in the first half.
Despite his best intentions, Sheehan had no impact and abandoned the microphone after halftime.
The match itself was in danger of being abandoned because of nearby lightning strikes, but eventually was reduced to four 20-minute quarters.
Because of the small size of the playing oval, teams were allowed to field just 16 players at a time.
Carlton used 32 players for the match, including all six rookies on their list. Fremantle used 25.
Fremantle took control of the game with a five-goal second quarter and looked headed for a blow-out win until the Blues rallied late in the match.
The Dockers eventually ran out winners 11.12 (78) to 9.10 (64).
Fremantle recruit Kepler Bradley lost consciousness but won the respect of his new teammates in the same piece of play in a bittersweet debut for the Dockers.
Bradley instantly won over Fremantle coach Mark Harvey when he wore a hit from Carlton ruckman Shaun Hampson in the second quarter of the match. The accidental clash may be the subject of AFL video review, to check if it is covered by the rule, introduced last season, that puts the duty of care on the player instigating contact.
Bradley's head hit the ground after the collision with Hampson and the Fremantle medicos placed him on a stretcher, waiting several min- utes for an ambulance to drive on to the ground.
Bradley was taken to a nearby hospital but returned to the ground later.
For the Blues, little went right for Matthew Kreuzer early in his first game for the club, but he worked his way into the match in the second half, kicking a long-bomb goal in the last quarter after receiving a free kick.
He shared ruck duties with Hampson, who looked impressive at times, and Cameron Cloke.
"You have to be careful with young kids, these types of trips can tax them a fair bit," Blues coach Brett Ratten said. "Even when we get back it will take us seven days to recover."
Des Headland captained Fremantle in the first half, handing the leadership to Paul Hasleby for the third and fourth quarters."
ROFLMAO!!!! What a waste of time, money, and effort. The delusions of grandeur held by particular sports never ceases to simultaneously amuse and amaze me....... the NRL isn't too far behind in these stakes as well - anyone catch Russell Crowe's whinging about their exhibition game against Leeds not being broadcast on Setanta or something or other?? Gee Russ, I wonder why??
