Andrew Voss | Across the Divide! (28.07.26)
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How does Tony Cochrane's critique fuel AFL vs NRL tensions?
Look, the AFL have always looked down their nose at rugby league. They treat us as second class citizens. It's obvious we've got them rattled. And the figures and the facts speak for themselves.
We measure ourselves on traditional metrics like people turning up to games, people watching, how long they watch for.
They can huff, they can puff, but they won't blow our house down. It's solid brick. We're going to get stronger and we're going to take some of their fans. Hello to you, Vossie. Yeah, g'day, Gerard. Wow, our opener is very relevant today. We have relayed to our audience on the front office here some of what Tony Cochran has had to say. Have you been eavesdropping? We have been, and without your permission, we have played that. And there's a lot of, I must say this, there's an awful lot of respect for Tony Cochran. So he's not seen as a headline grabber. So I would say the grab that we run is a bit of a bombshell there. How have the Victorian faithful handed that on a day where you're without a Premier?
It's anarchy. It's one of the states being run at all at the moment.
Well, I guess we're just handing over the Premiership today, aren't we? That's not really for us. Although it was pointed out that Tuesday's his sacking day. That's so true. Coaches go on Tuesdays and as it turns out, Premiers go on Tuesday as well. What was your question again?
No, so you've got this situation.
No, I'm having trouble hearing, Bossy. I don't know whether the line's no good.
Well, where would the vote stand? Would people there, like there's respect for Tony Cochran here, but the majority of your audience, would they take that with a grain of salt or would they seriously listen and say, hey, we probably need to do something?
I think there's a percentage of people who understand what's been going on across the course of a couple of years. And then there's a vast majority who still see the natural superiority that the AFL has always exercised over the NRL. That's been ingrained. It's been institutional. It's been generations long. The idea that the NRL is 20 years behind. And the fact that we can turn on your game on Thursday, Friday night is the storm game and there's nobody there. And so we default to our crowds. You'll never get near our crowds. Our membership models are by far and away superior. Just don't mention the TV numbers.
No. So, okay. I'm going to make this up. I'm going to speak on behalf, okay? This is right of reply. I'm going to say that we actually don't get bogged down. Barely a day. The tourist had backed me up. My sidekick here. There's barely a day where we would have that sort of banter on the text line with the listener. Yeah. that it's AFL versus... They just don't get bogged down in it. Valandes almost does the heavy lifting for the code, but the rest of people just take a stance, well, I don't like AFL, so I don't care. I'm not even going there. We've got so many other things on their plate. If it's rugby league that they love, rugby league delivers for them on a daily basis, that they just don't get mixed up in it.
It takes a... To promote, say, Swans-Giants, the biggest reaction we got leading up to the game is nothing current.
What is Victorian reaction to political upheaval and sporting commentary?
It's Kingsley's speech from the docker. That got everyone talking again last week. I felt obliged to play that just to remind people of what the rivalry means. But I don't know whether the AFL... I will say this to you. I'll pass this advice on the back of Tony Cochran. I don't think you're attracting any new fans, and I don't know when you have recently. Okay. Okay? And, you know, take that what you will, but I don't think you are attracting any new fans with whatever you're doing at the moment. Tasmania will come in, but they're already AFL fans. You tell me what's the strategy to attract new fans. I don't think you're attracting any.
So I'm – Membership numbers grow year on year. So the sense of connection grows. Now, whether those are new fans or not, I think that the idea of belonging to your football club is a very AFL thing. And I've read, there's been really interesting think pieces.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
How does Tony Cochrane's critique fuel AFL vs NRL tensions?
0:05–3:18
2
What is Victorian reaction to political upheaval and sporting commentary?
3:18–7:04
3
How do AFL and NRL compare on crowds, TV ratings and membership?
7:04–15:15
4
Why is Tasmania considered crucial to the AFL’s national footprint?
15:15–17:11
5
Where is the AFL winning new fans in Queensland and Western Sydney?
17:11–17:48
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Whateley
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