Aussie Rules

[tyroneman]

For a novice can anyone give me a little insight into the Aussie Rules?

Who are the big teams? Who are the underdogs? Corporate giants? Team of the people? Storied franchises? New money? Etc etc

Is there any team associated with the Irish (for good reasons rather than poaching talented GAA players)

[Aerlik]

Tyroneman,
I've been in Oz for thirteen years and am a huge fan of Aussie Rules and a member and season ticket holder of the Fremantle Dockers.

The big guns as far as history goes are (in no particular order) Collingwood, Carlton, Sydney (South Melbourne FC), Western Bulldogs (Fitzroy Football Club) and Richmond.  Many of the other clubs only joined the AFL in the 80s and 90s with the two newest teams, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney in the league less than 6 years.

As regards to supporting the clubs, well take your pick if you live in Melbourne but in the other states pretty much every local goes for his or her local team.  In Western Australia (the size of Western Europe with the population of 2.5 million) Fremantle lag behind West Coast (spit spit - hate that club with an effin passion) in terms of popularity (and trophies too, before anyone accuses me of outright bias - but then Freo is not a club whose name is sullied by rampant drug use...nuff said).

South Australia has two clubs, Adelaide and Port Adelaide, the latter being my preferred team as the former's fans are to be "experienced" especially in Adelaide).

Queensland has two clubs, Brisbane and Gold Coast, as does New South Wales (Sydney and GWS).

In terms of who the Irish support, well that depends where you live.  I detest Collingwood (although just a bit less than West Coast) - it's the Liverpool of the AFL...yeah we won shit loads....years ago, and so should be handed everything now...kind of club. But it has strong links to the Irish workers and ghettoes in Melbourne at the start of the 20th. Century.

Fremantle, Port Adelaide and, I suppose, Western Bulldogs are the traditional people's clubs.  From humble origins and supported by honest (if not one-eyed), forthright fans.

There, hope that is a wee start.  Hope you can participate in the Season 2014 thread which I have just started today.

[johnpower]

Tyroneman,
I've been in Oz for thirteen years and am a huge fan of Aussie Rules and a member and season ticket holder of the Fremantle Dockers.

The big guns as far as history goes are (in no particular order) Collingwood, Carlton, Sydney (South Melbourne FC), Western Bulldogs (Fitzroy Football Club) and Richmond.  Many of the other clubs only joined the AFL in the 80s and 90s with the two newest teams, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney in the league less than 6 years.

As regards to supporting the clubs, well take your pick if you live in Melbourne but in the other states pretty much every local goes for his or her local team.  In Western Australia (the size of Western Europe with the population of 2.5 million) Fremantle lag behind West Coast (spit spit - hate that club with an effin passion) in terms of popularity (and trophies too, before anyone accuses me of outright bias - but then Freo is not a club whose name is sullied by rampant drug use...nuff said).

South Australia has two clubs, Adelaide and Port Adelaide, the latter being my preferred team as the former's fans are to be "experienced" especially in Adelaide).

Queensland has two clubs, Brisbane and Gold Coast, as does New South Wales (Sydney and GWS).

In terms of who the Irish support, well that depends where you live.  I detest Collingwood (although just a bit less than West Coast) - it's the Liverpool of the AFL...yeah we won shit loads....years ago, and so should be handed everything now...kind of club. But it has strong links to the Irish workers and ghettoes in Melbourne at the start of the 20th. Century.

Fremantle, Port Adelaide and, I suppose, Western Bulldogs are the traditional people's clubs.  From humble origins and supported by honest (if not one-eyed), forthright fans.

There, hope that is a wee start.  Hope you can participate in the Season 2014 thread which I have just started today.

Good summary I miss been in Oz catching the games live

[tyroneman]

Many thanks Aerlik. Decent starter info