The AFL still remains the king of Australian sports

COMMENT: Debate has once again kicked off surrounding what is Australia’s national sport, but it’s blatantly evident that one sport sits above the rest.

Charlie Curnow of the Blues celebrates a goal during the round 16 AFL match between Hawthorn Hawks and Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on July 02, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

COMMENT

Over the past week we’ve sat back and listened to the other sports try and stake their claim for the throne of being the king Down Under.

And while some arguments are valid and some competitors are worthy, at the end of the day the fact remains … the AFL is and always will be Australia’s national sport.

From fans flocking to games to those tuning in from home, the AFL drawfs its competitions in almost every single category.

Unlike the NRL, the AFL isn’t confined to one Australian coast. It’s spread and appeal reaches as far as the land goes.

It might sound cocky and obnoxious, but when you’re the top dog with no immediate challenger in sight then you’re allowed to be.

No champion in their sport who was at the top of their game was humble, you don’t get to the top by being that way.

Just look at Michael Jordan and Muhammah Ali, absolute killers with their physical traits but even more damaging with their mental state.

That is what the AFL is, the king of kings and a sport that knows it’s place is rightfully at the top of the pile.

That’s not to say the league is resting on its laurels, the AFL is changing and adding more to its mix to attract an even wider audience in coming years.

They’ve thrown down the gauntlet by adding in their own Gather Round, a festival of football that will only grow as the years roll on.

And while the Melbourne Cup has long been touted as the race that stops the nation, a recent survey concluded that the AFL Grand Final is the most significant sporting event Down Under.

The AFL continues to dominate the Australian sporting landscape. Picture by Michael Klein

As the official attendance numbers soar year on year, the viewership numbers have followed suit with a total average audience of 125.5 million across the 2022 season including finals (every game’s audience figure added up).

The facts and figures can go on for days supporting why the AFL is clear atop the rankings for what is the number one sport in Australia.

Even NRL icon Laurie Daley knows the truth, recently stating no other sport in Australia can hold a candle to the AFL.

“It’s the AFL (that’s Australia’s biggest sport). There’s 18 teams, they play in every state around the country. They fill the MCG when there’s a big game, 100,000 people ... we can’t do that in the NRL,” Daley said on The Back Page.

“They don’t have a national team, but what they have got is great support around the country.”

Plain and simple, it’s the AFL’s nation and we’re just living in it.

The AFL just flexing on their rivals. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

While a BBQ and beers on a sunny afternoon is arguably the most Australian thing you can do, a close second is sitting around the TV on a Friday night eating fish and chips with the family while watching AFL footy.

The AFL has produced countless iconic moments that will live long on in the history books of this great land.

From Leo Barry you star, to fans storming the field after Lance Franklin’s 1000th goal and even Meat Loaf’s butchery.

Off the field the drama may not come close to that of the NRL, that matters little in the grand scheme of the debate.

Every other sport in the land is doing all that they can to dismantle the king of sport, but as of right now they’re all playing second fiddle and battling it out for a distant silver.

Originally published as The AFL still remains the king of Australian sports