AFL Is Better Than NRL and Here’s Why: A Student Makes Their Case

With the dust of the grand finals settled, we asked our members: What’s better, AFL or NRL? Here’s one response.

From the mighty MCG to the immense crowds, it’s pretty clear which game is superior when it comes to the battle between AFL and NRL.

It’s made evident by the attendance of each game, with the AFL achieving an average crowd of 34,010 during the home and away season, compared to an average crowd of 15,704 in NRL’s home and away season.

The bigger the crowd, the better the atmosphere. It also makes for more passionate fans.

Another aspect that boosts the AFL is the dedication of fans to their club. One’s love for a club might start with being born and growing up in a family that has a beaming enthusiasm for a certain team; at least that’s my case. (GO TIGES.)

From there, you gain a sort of emotional connection to the club. You suffer when they are going through hard times and are over the moon every time there’s a win. Eager fans help make the AFL what it is, and although you could argue a similar case for any sport, I feel it’s the most prominent theme in AFL in Australia.

With a quality history behind it, the MCG prides itself on being the home of sport in Australia. The ‘G’ also takes the cake for being the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere and the tenth largest stadium in the world. It’s not hard to see why followers love going each week.

The AFL makes up a big chunk of Australian sporting history. It’s one of the only games played in Australia that was actually made by Australians. In 1857, Tom Wills, along with his cousins, created this game to keep cricketers fit during off-season in winter. It took off from there, expanding to include more states and cities, making it a truly national sport.

Within the AFL there are also grand traditions. This includes awards such as the Brownlow. Thousands tune in that night to see which champion takes out the prize for the best and fairest player of the season, as voted by the official umpires. Again, many passionate fans flood social media with their support for their preferred winner, creating much conversation that could end both positively and negatively.

So, ‘what’s better’, AFL or NRL? In my mind, the AFL easily takes out that title.

Let us know if you agree or disagree below!

Congratulations to Bridget for winning this week's writing challenge: What’s Better, AFL or NRL? Bridget wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Competitions section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!

Photo: iStock.com/davidf