Australian rugby star retires at 31 declaring: “Unfortunately it’s no longer the 1960s where a warm-up was a cigarette and training was 10 beers in the pub. Now the time has come for surfing!”

It’s so cute when foreigners try to decipher the ‘rugby’ models. You are on the right track Chas, Aussie Rules is the correct choice. Although the game young Blair plays is the secondary game to ‘rugby league’ in Australia. In New Zealand and the UK, ‘rugby union’ is the more popular of the rugbys. Rugby Union in Australia is floundering after years of pandering to the top end and ignoring the grass roots. The game is not available on free to air tv and pay tv does not have enough market to provide interest. Of all the codes in Australia, it has been by far the hardest hit. Although, they seem to have struck a deal overnight to get some (pay) tv coverage, not that it will help their cause much.

Rugby Union in Australia for a long time the last amateur hold out ‘big’ sport. It relied on private school toffs for its playing ranks. Occasionally snaffling a few talented ‘leaguies’, who took to the verdant playing fields of the classy schools via scholarships and then returned to their roots when school finished. Kalyn Ponga being one of these. Kalyn is a transplanted Kiwi who took his school to (rugby union) premiership glory and then went to play league as soon as he was finished there. Currently he is the most watchable player in the league comp by virtue of his speed, elusiveness and guts in defence*. Also interesting is that despite being a Kiwi who plays for a NSW team, he plays for Queensland in State of Origin.

The State of Origin series is the most watchable rugby league of the year. Not always for great play. Usually the first two games are a bit defence oriented with most attack coming from kicks and both teams more focused on avoiding losing (through conceding points) than trying to win. But the third game can be compelling.

Rugby Union on the other hand is highly officiated game with rule changes so complex most players can barely keep up, let alone the spectators and/or referees. At its best, it is a great game to watch, but anything less is a tedium of turgid miasma that would make watching the Lemoore Wave Pool Comp, while strapped to the Clockwork Orange chair with eyes propped open with toothpicks for 3 days, preferable.

The big advantage the rugbys have over Aussie Rules is that the main action can be contained within the confines of the tv screen. Aussie Rules is best explained by actually being at the ground and being able to take in the bigger picture of the 360 nature of the game. League and Union only need to focus on where the ball is with the occasional wider shot to show where the attack is heading.

The bigger concern is, as has been stated before, is your preference for Collingwood, and your second choice Carlton. Probably the two most hated teams in the AFL. Both carry an air of superiority not commensurate with their results. Collngwood at least have some background with the working class, while Carlton are most famous for running a salary cap scam for a length of time that would make the Donald green with envy, and have the same amount of remorse.

St. Kilda would be a better choice. A history of disappointment, tragedy and inadvertent comedy would be a
more sympathetic choice. But no, Chas heads straight for the sharks every time.

* One of the main differences with US sports being the lack of substitutes. You are either on the field, and expected to attack or defend depending on need, or a spectator.