Something happy to look forward to. Should be a bumper crowd and maybe even that full house Andrew Pragnell hopes for. Hopefully Football Australia announce soon date & venue of rumoured second September match between the two teams.
International farewells for all/some of Mikey Boxall & Winnie (both 33), Tommy Smith, & Kosta (both 32)?
Last time the Socceroos visited NZ? 2002 OFC Nations Cup, 14th July 2002, New Zealand 1–0 winners. Nellie's back post winner at Mt Smart (then called Ericsson Stadium), crowd 6,000
Twenty years ago. So sort of game that comes around in about every 3rd player's career! Helen Clark was in charge. She loves a big occasion in Mt Eden.
How do you guys feel about this game being played at Eden Park? I personally would've preferred Sky Stadium or another Auckland stadium like Mt Smart.
Mt Smart no way. This game is far bigger than that. I guess Eden Park is a bit bigger than the ROF capacity wise, and Auckland is NZ's largest city. The ABs playing the Wallabies the day before also at EP, likely was the clincher for also taking Trans Tasman football there the day after.
This is literally the biggest AWs game played in NZ in 5 years (since Peru 2017), and who knows it could be the biggest (men's) game here for another 5 years. If the crowd gets near to it's 50,000 capacity it will be a great atmosphere. If AWs had made Qatar I'd say a definite sell out, now those on the fence will wait on the weather. Being part of a double header weekend (ABs v Wallabies) lots of sports nuts will make a weekend of it - incl a fair few Aussies travelling over.
Pragnell is talking bullish re getting the AWs to play at home in the future, but he's going to find it very very tough to lure anyone to NZ, near as big a drawcard as the Socceroos, in the next few years. And Australia have such a busy schedule in AFC, they are unlikely to return to NZ anytime soon.
Get along if you can. Games like this are rare, and will stay rare. Likely last time to see Reid, M Boxall & Smith in the flesh. And who knows when we will see Wood, Cacace, Bell, Tuiloma, etc etc, and maybe even Sail again live.
ROF is an atrocious stadium for anything other than cricket, Eden Park offers you a much better experience with better access to pre/post match fun + transport links than anywhere else in Auckland.
ROF is an atrocious stadium for anything other than cricket, Eden Park offers you a much better experience with better access to pre/post match fun + transport links than anywhere else in Auckland.
Bit harsh on the ROF, but yes in hindsight it should never have been built as an oval for only 1-3 ODIs/T20s per year. Dumb decision.
I actually find EP has a pretty good rectangular feel for rugby & football. Sidelines feel natural, whereas with the ROF forever looking for where the sidelines are. And yeah the Sandringham Rd precinct is great.
Any future Auckland ALM club has to be based in Mt Eden. You just close off areas of the ground, so that any small crowds still look okay on the telly.
ROF is an atrocious stadium for anything other than cricket, Eden Park offers you a much better experience with better access to pre/post match fun + transport links than anywhere else in Auckland.
Bit harsh on the ROF, but yes in hindsight it should never have been built as an oval for only 1-3 ODIs/T20s per year. Dumb decision.
I actually find EP has a pretty good rectangular feel for rugby & football. Sidelines feel natural, whereas with the ROF forever looking for where the sidelines are. And yeah the Sandringham Rd precinct is great.
Any future Auckland ALM club has to be based in Mt Eden. You just close off areas of the ground, so that any small crowds still look okay on the telly.
coochiee
brumbys
ROF is an atrocious stadium for anything other than cricket, Eden Park offers you a much better experience with better access to pre/post match fun + transport links than anywhere else in Auckland.
Bit harsh on the ROF, but yes in hindsight it should never have been built as an oval for only 1-3 ODIs/T20s per year. Dumb decision.
I actually find EP has a pretty good rectangular feel for rugby & football. Sidelines feel natural, whereas with the ROF forever looking for where the sidelines are. And yeah the Sandringham Rd precinct is great.
Any future Auckland ALM club has to be based in Mt Eden. You just close off areas of the ground, so that any small crowds still look okay on the telly.
When designed (the RoF) the Back Craps were riding particularly high as a 50 over team, so the Trust thought they'd cash in on them, hence the oval shape. Sadly for too many years after construction, the Black craps have disappointed more than achieved and attendance's at those games and t20 have not ben great over all.
But with every "great decision" there is a price to pay. Sadly it was at Rugby, Rugby League and Footballs expense. a Rectangular stadium with rounded corners would have allow fans to be a lot closer to the action and probably would have resulted in a roof too, just like Forsythe Stadium in Dunedin (Which in my humble opinion is the best in the country).
You can imagine the awesome atmosphere with the fans being closer and the roof or near roof keeping the voices inside instead of lifting to the sky. Currently with Nix games it's quite loud but it would have been multiplied 10 fold if the Rectangular design had happened.
So in the name of greed, ego's and not forward thinking, we have what we have.
ROF is an atrocious stadium for anything other than cricket, Eden Park offers you a much better experience with better access to pre/post match fun + transport links than anywhere else in Auckland.
Bit harsh on the ROF, but yes in hindsight it should never have been built as an oval for only 1-3 ODIs/T20s per year. Dumb decision.
I actually find EP has a pretty good rectangular feel for rugby & football. Sidelines feel natural, whereas with the ROF forever looking for where the sidelines are. And yeah the Sandringham Rd precinct is great.
Any future Auckland ALM club has to be based in Mt Eden. You just close off areas of the ground, so that any small crowds still look okay on the telly.
coochiee
brumbys
ROF is an atrocious stadium for anything other than cricket, Eden Park offers you a much better experience with better access to pre/post match fun + transport links than anywhere else in Auckland.
Bit harsh on the ROF, but yes in hindsight it should never have been built as an oval for only 1-3 ODIs/T20s per year. Dumb decision.
I actually find EP has a pretty good rectangular feel for rugby & football. Sidelines feel natural, whereas with the ROF forever looking for where the sidelines are. And yeah the Sandringham Rd precinct is great.
Any future Auckland ALM club has to be based in Mt Eden. You just close off areas of the ground, so that any small crowds still look okay on the telly.
When designed (the RoF) the Back Craps were riding particularly high as a 50 over team, so the Trust thought they'd cash in on them, hence the oval shape. Sadly for too many years after construction, the Black craps have disappointed more than achieved and attendance's at those games and t20 have not ben great over all.
But with every "great decision" there is a price to pay. Sadly it was at Rugby, Rugby League and Footballs expense. a Rectangular stadium with rounded corners would have allow fans to be a lot closer to the action and probably would have resulted in a roof too, just like Forsythe Stadium in Dunedin (Which in my humble opinion is the best in the country).
You can imagine the awesome atmosphere with the fans being closer and the roof or near roof keeping the voices inside instead of lifting to the sky. Currently with Nix games it's quite loud but it would have been multiplied 10 fold if the Rectangular design had happened.
So in the name of greed, ego's and not forward thinking, we have what we have.
How mentally deficient must you be to use that pathetically sharke nickname?
Let's all remember that there was also the idea that we'd have an AFL franchise in Wellington
AFL in NZ is surely a dream, someone's fairytale.
Even in Australia, it is a sport only popular in a couple of states. It has to be the down right oddest game I've ever been to and I've watched some weird ones in the flesh over the years.
Let's all remember that there was also the idea that we'd have an AFL franchise in Wellington
AFL in NZ is surely a dream, someone's fairytale.
Even in Australia, it is a sport only popular in a couple of states. It has to be the down right oddest game I've ever been to and I've watched some weird ones in the flesh over the years.
Wellington got AFL games for a few years before it was given up on, also used to get league games.
It’s actually very popular in most states bar Queensland, the Sydney Swans are one of the biggest sports club in Australia and get on average 35,000 a game… Marto
Doloras
Let's all remember that there was also the idea that we'd have an AFL franchise in Wellington
AFL in NZ is surely a dream, someone's fairytale.
Even in Australia, it is a sport only popular in a couple of states. It has to be the down right oddest game I've ever been to and I've watched some weird ones in the flesh over the years.
It’s actually very popular in most states bar Queensland, the Sydney Swans are one of the biggest sports club in Australia and get on average 35,000 a game… Marto
Doloras
Let's all remember that there was also the idea that we'd have an AFL franchise in Wellington
AFL in NZ is surely a dream, someone's fairytale.
Even in Australia, it is a sport only popular in a couple of states. It has to be the down right oddest game I've ever been to and I've watched some weird ones in the flesh over the years.
Marto you have obviously never lived in Aus. I resided in Melbs for 6 years. AFL is all consuming in VIC, Tassie, SA & WA. Probably main sport in Darwin/NT. Strong footholds in ACT, NSW & QLD.
Yeah the Swans get big crowds. AFL is a lot bigger than the NRL. Teams in all the 5 biggest states. NRL's only team outside NSW & QLD, the Storm have won countless premierships had some of league's absolute superstars, and still struggle to more than 15,000 to their home games. Millions of News Ltd dollars, and still no big footprint on the Melbourne sporting scene. Virtually all their players are bought in from interstate.
Personally I'd rather sit down and watch the AFL grand final over the NRL version. I was lucky in that about 5 of GFs in my Melb time (2005-2011) were cliff hangers. Including a very rare draw St Kilda vs Collingwood. Though I never understood the rules well, the game itself has high skill, the ball is in play almost continuously, and the players are super fit. Also unlike pretty much every leaguie (mate, mate) many AFL players are intelligent, articulate, and can string a sentence or two together. Though not the Kiwi boy Dusty Martin.
What I did hate is the sport is all consuming/insular in Melbs, and other codes ain't welcome to most Victorians. Even worse than rugby in NZ.
Anyway back to the ROF. I wonder if they would ever demolish half the ground and then rebuild it as a more a rectangle shape? No idea if that would even be possible. I'm no engineer.
Is just that the Sydney Football Stadium (built 1988), has been completely demolished and rebuilt from scratch after only existing for 31 years. Yes was a controversial decision and NSW State Govt has a lot more cash than Wellington Regional Stadium Trust (Wellington Regional Council). But might be on the cards in another 20 years or so!! ROF was built in 1999.
There was a real push to try to build an AFL market in Wellington. I saw Swans vs Demons at the Basin pre-RoF, then Hawks vs Kangaroos (I think) at the RoF when Kiwi Trent Croad was playing for the Hawks. Those were all pre-season games, but of course they had a regular-season match there later, featuring St Kilda I think. It didn't work but they gave it a damn good go, and that was one of the reasons the RoF is the size and shape it is.
The AFL are desperate to expand worldwide. They were trying to promote it in South Africa as a "non-racial" sport (where the whites tend to play rugby and the blacks football). They've even had regular-season matches in Shanghai for God's sake.
Yes they are trying. I think there are even full time AFL development officers employed in NZ. And pre Covid there was a AFL World Cup, for non Australian countries. One thing the AFL ain't short of is cash. Got easily the biggest TV rights deal in Australian sport.
But it's never gonna catch on outside of Aus, and if it's true that it's mere existence played in a part in the ROF being built as an oval, that was stupidity of a high degree. The games in Shanghai have just been piss ups for the Aus expat popn there.
They can't even make the financial modelling work for a team in Tassie, despite big incentives from the Tas State Govt, a popn of over 500,000 and a real proper love of AFL.
Do they still do the annual AFL v Irish Gaelic Football side game?
We lived in Queensland for a few years with a primary school aged kid and of all the codes AFL looked after the kids the best with top coaching and freebies like balls, hats, bags etc. i thought the game was big in Queensland (that was mid naughties) went to a Brisbane Bears game v the Dockers and the GABBA was sold out
Nah stopped it ages ago.. however aflw is growing by the day and the. VFL (like the second division of afl) now compromises of 3 Queensland teams.. Napier Phoenix
Do they still do the annual AFL v Irish Gaelic Football side game?
We lived in Queensland for a few years with a primary school aged kid and of all the codes AFL looked after the kids the best with top coaching and freebies like balls, hats, bags etc. i thought the game was big in Queensland (that was mid naughties) went to a Brisbane Bears game v the Dockers and the GABBA was sold out
Yes they are trying. I think there are even full time AFL development officers employed in NZ. And pre Covid there was a AFL World Cup, for non Australian countries. One thing the AFL ain't short of is cash. Got easily the biggest TV rights deal in Australian sport.
But it's never gonna catch on outside of Aus, and if it's true that it's mere existence played in a part in the ROF being built as an oval, that was stupidity of a high degree. The games in Shanghai have just been piss ups for the Aus expat popn there.
They can't even make the financial modelling work for a team in Tassie, despite big incentives from the Tas State Govt, a popn of over 500,000 and a real proper love of AFL.
Aren't North Melbourne meant to be going to Tassie?
They might as well, but I think they’re that terrible Tasmania would not want them hahah Buffon II
coochiee
Yes they are trying. I think there are even full time AFL development officers employed in NZ. And pre Covid there was a AFL World Cup, for non Australian countries. One thing the AFL ain't short of is cash. Got easily the biggest TV rights deal in Australian sport.
But it's never gonna catch on outside of Aus, and if it's true that it's mere existence played in a part in the ROF being built as an oval, that was stupidity of a high degree. The games in Shanghai have just been piss ups for the Aus expat popn there.
They can't even make the financial modelling work for a team in Tassie, despite big incentives from the Tas State Govt, a popn of over 500,000 and a real proper love of AFL.
Aren't North Melbourne meant to be going to Tassie?
Nah stopped it ages ago.. however aflw is growing by the day and the. VFL (like the second division of afl) now compromises of 3 Queensland teams.. Napier Phoenix
Do they still do the annual AFL v Irish Gaelic Football side game?
We lived in Queensland for a few years with a primary school aged kid and of all the codes AFL looked after the kids the best with top coaching and freebies like balls, hats, bags etc. i thought the game was big in Queensland (that was mid naughties) went to a Brisbane Bears game v the Dockers and the GABBA was sold out
The International Rules series was put on hold due to COVID but I don't think they've given up in principle. In practice, it's always been something of a shambles because AFL-style tackling rules are just physically eliminating the GAA fellas.
Nah stopped it ages ago.. however aflw is growing by the day and the. VFL (like the second division of afl) now compromises of 3 Queensland teams.. Napier Phoenix
Do they still do the annual AFL v Irish Gaelic Football side game?
We lived in Queensland for a few years with a primary school aged kid and of all the codes AFL looked after the kids the best with top coaching and freebies like balls, hats, bags etc. i thought the game was big in Queensland (that was mid naughties) went to a Brisbane Bears game v the Dockers and the GABBA was sold out
The International Rules series was put on hold due to COVID but I don't think they've given up in principle. In practice, it's always been something of a shambles because AFL-style tackling rules are just physically eliminating the GAA fellas.
The two codes are more dissimilar then league and rugby and the impression I’ve got from my Irish mates who are into the GAA is that those games are a bit of a joke in Ireland. Just an excuse for a piss up like the London 7s.
Doloras will remember the gae at the Basin, one of the Demons players was Jim Stynes. He was an Irish footballer and if memory serves me right, he and a couple of others made the switch to AFL after playing in those crossover games
Doloras will remember the gae at the Basin, one of the Demons players was Jim Stynes. He was an Irish footballer and if memory serves me right, he and a couple of others made the switch to AFL after playing in those crossover games
“I remember speaking to Andrew Pragnell [CEO, New Zealand Football] and just saying ‘get this at Eden Park, it will be absolutely fantastic’…
“To sell Eden Park out, you’ll have no better occasion than Australia at home… it will just be a dream come true.”
- Chris Wood, England
For many, the game will mark the first time they have been able to come home after COVID-19 stopped international travel.
“I’m beyond excited and I know the rest of the boys feel the same. Playing in front of your home fans is what it’s all about.
“I haven’t been able to come back to New Zealand since turning professional nearly three years ago so to finally come home, and to play against Australia at Eden Park, is going to be a really special moment.”
- Joe Bell, Denmark
The game marks the first time the team have played in Aotearoa New Zealand in five years and the first game against Australia in over 10 years.
“It’s been 10 years since I last played in Auckland. I can’t wait to walk out at Eden Park for the first time back in my hometown.”
- Winston Reid, UAE
“I haven’t played at home for more than two years now. I cannot wait to play against the Aussies at Eden Park in front of our home fans”
Lots of excitement there among the players. Great to read.
Smacks a bit of a NZF promotion/press release. But alot of it would be genuine for sure.
Reid hasn't visited Auckland (his place of birth and where he still likely has family) for 10 years! Lots of other guys having not been home for 2-3 years because of Covid.
First AWs game in NZ for nearly 5 years! Insane really.
There would have to be genuine excitement, especially being Socceroos and a big crowd at EP. Could be years before it happens again.
All just unfortunately tempered by not making Qatar.
I have a horrible feeling the surface will be a mess no matter how hard the groundskeepers work. Bad bad decision. Seems to be quite an unpopular call on twitter.
Given how poor we've been with egg shaped balls, will anyone even bother turning up for those games?
Am really surprised there's nothing in the NZF contract with Eden Park that prevents anything else happening that close. Would 2 football games be allowed on the turf the day before an All Blacks test??
Australian forums are pretty scathing about NZ football and the two rugby games, the day before this match. Obvious concerns about injuries to players leading into the world cup. Understandably so. NZF have got this one wrong I think. If they have injuries due to the pitch, it will likely be the last game we play against Australia for another 10 years, they will use this an an excuse.
The scheduled rugby fixtures the day before are a complete joke. How that is allowed baffles me.
The second game being added is a bit unnecessary, but the All Blacks' game was scheduled before the All Whites'. That's why on announcement a few people were saying it should be in Wellington, ignoring the fact Sky Stadium also has rugby on the day before. It is what it is though.
The scheduled rugby fixtures the day before are a complete joke. How that is allowed baffles me.
The second game being added is a bit unnecessary, but the All Blacks' game was scheduled before the All Whites'. That's why on announcement a few people were saying it should be in Wellington, ignoring the fact Sky Stadium also has rugby on the day before. It is what it is though.
You will also likely increase the crowd for the AWs game. For sure some sports fans are going to go to both ABs & AWs games, and make a weekend of it in Auckland.
Even more some some Aussie sports fans, who will travel across.
It's usually rugby scrums that can cut up a ground, potentially creating a wobbly surface for football.
Don't think that slippery surface at Eden Park for Nix verus WSW game earlier this year, had anything to do with rugby.
