AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon gives classy response to PVL's 'delusional' jab
ARL commissioner Peter V'landys this week declared that suggestions Aussie rules would take over as Sydney's No.1 sport were "delusional".
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has responded with nothing but facts.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Dillon wasn't drawn into a slinging match with V'landys, instead pointing out attendance and membership in both NSW and Queensland is up some 10 per cent, and viewership is at record highs.
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"And pleasingly for us, and really importantly for us, is that our community participation in both states is also at record levels, and we'll just continue to invest in community," he said.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and ARL commissioner Peter V'landys. Getty/Nine
"We know that boys, girls and men and women who are involved in our game at a community level, are six or seven times more likely to then become a fan or watch the game on TV – and that's what our focus is."
He then tipped the first non-Victorian grand final in nearly 20 years to be one of the most-watched in the sport's history.
"I think that this will be one of the highest-rating grand finals - if not the highest rating grand final we've had.
"The fact that we've got a team representative from New South Wales, a team representative from Queensland, also the historic links back to Victoria are really important."
The Swans and Lions will play the first grand final to not feature a Victorian club since the Swans missed out on back-to-back flags in a one-point thriller against the Eagles in 2006 – which was itself the third-straight grand final to not feature a local team.
Despite not having a local team to cheer on, the 2024 edition is a sellout as thousands of fans flock south.
AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson last week said the code would surpass rugby league in NSW "before we're dead".
The comments were in relation to disappointing crowd figures at the Sharks-Cowboys semi-final at Allianz Stadium last Friday night. The Swans-Power preliminary final at the SCG next door was sold out.
The first bounce in Saturday's AFL grand final is at 2.30pm AEST.
