- The comment came to light just before the NRL grand final
- Comes after ‘ridiculous’ claims about AFL popularity
AFL boss Andrew Dillon has reportedly hit the NRL with a shocking insult after claiming Aussie Rules is on track to become the biggest game in New South Wales.
The CEO was being interviewed on stage at a function ahead of last Saturday’s Sydney vs Brisbane grand final when he made a cutting comment that is sure to enrage NRL powerbrokers such as Peter V’landys and Dillon’s counterpart Andrew Abdo .
When asked by Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown if he had ever had a few drinks and felt like calling Abdo to let him know how horrible it is to watch rugby league, the 53-year-old said he wouldn’t need to be drunk to know that it is an inferior game, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The report comes shortly after V’landys angrily criticized claims the AFL is on track to displace rugby league as the biggest sport in New South Wales.
Recently sacked AFL 360 presenter Mark Robinson lit the fire when he made a bold prediction about the future of the sport in the premier state.
“At the moment, AFL, the Australian rules sport, is as healthy in New South Wales as it is in any other state,” he said.
‘The SCG is a fantastic place to watch football. It’s a reminder of the huge footprint the AFL is leaving in New South Wales.
“Before we die, the AFL will take over rugby league, I assure you.”
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon (pictured with Katy Perry at a grand finale function) has reportedly leveled a crushing insult at the NRL.
The pick came to light just two days before stars like Penrith’s Nathan Cleary (pictured) take to the field for the NRL grand final.
Collingwood great turned Channel Seven football commentator Brian Taylor also weighed in when the Swans’ crowd for their preliminary final against Port Adelaide dwarfed the crowd for Cronulla’s finals win over the Cowboys, neighboring Allianz Stadium on September 20.
The Sharks game attracted only 19,124 fans, while the Swans packed the ground with 44,053 bums in the seats.
“Lovely scenes here at the SCG…next door, an NRL match looks half empty, there’s about 10,000 people,” Taylor told viewers.
‘The SCG was absolutely packed. Amazing. Pay a little attention to the Aussie rules here, I think it’s going pretty well.
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys (pictured with his daughter at this week’s Dally M ceremony) has responded angrily to claims the AFL will be the number one sport in New South Wales.
V’landys was not going to take it easy.
“I think it’s a delusional comment,” he said on Channel Nine.
‘Facts are facts and the AFL doesn’t have spectators in New South Wales like rugby league.
‘Sometimes they get 23,000 viewers on television from Sydney. We get a million. So it’s a little hard to say you’re going to take control when you’re so far behind.
‘The same thing happens to us in Victoria: we are not going to take over Victoria either. That is also a fact. None of the facts nor any of the figures come close to that claim.
“So it’s a ridiculous statement because it’s certainly misinformed.”
