Revealed: AFL boss Andrew Dillon’s SAVAGE swipe at the NRL as the battle of the codes goes ballistic
- Commentary has come to light just before the NRL grand final
- Comes after ‘ridiculous’ statements about AFL’s popularity
AFL boss Andrew Dillon has reportedly hit the NRL with a stunning insult after claiming Aussie Rules is on track to become the biggest game in NSW.
The CEO was being interviewed on stage during a meeting ahead of the Sydney versus Brisbane grand final last Saturday when he made a cutting comment that is sure to infuriate NRL powerbrokers like Peter V’landys and Dillon’s counterpart, Andrew Abdo .
When asked by Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown if he’d ever had a few drinks and felt like calling Abdo to let him know how awful rugby league is to watch, the 53-year-old said he didn’t need to get drunk to be aware that it is an inferior game, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The report comes shortly after V’landys hit out angrily over claims the AFL is on track to supplant rugby league as the biggest sport in NSW.
Recently sacked AFL 360 presenter Mark Robinson ignited the fire when he made a bold prediction about the future of the sport in the premier state.
“Right now the AFL, the sport of Australian Rules, is as healthy in NSW as in any other state,” he said.
‘The SCG is a fantastic place to watch football. It’s a reminder of the massive footprint the AFL is laying in NSW.
“Before we’re dead, AFL will take over rugby league, I’m telling you.”
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon (pictured with Katy Perry at a grand final) has reportedly directed a scathing insult at the NRL
The barb has come to light just two days before stars including Penrith’s Nathan Cleary (pictured) take the field for the NRL grand final
Collingwood great Channel Seven footy commentator Brian Taylor also chimed in as the Swans’ crowd for their preliminary final against Port Adelaide dwarfed the crowd for Cronulla’s finals win over the neighboring Cowboys at Allianz Stadium on September 20 .
The Sharks match attracted just 19,124 fans, while the Swans stormed the ground with 44,053 bums in seats.
“Beautiful scenes here at the SCG… next door an NRL game looks half empty, there’s about 10,000 people there,” Taylor told TV viewers.
‘The SCG was completely full. Amazing. Pay some attention to the Aussie Rules here, it’s going quite well I think.’
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys (pictured with his daughter at this week’s Dally M ceremony) angrily hit back at claims the AFL will be the No. 1 sport in NSW
V’landys didn’t take that lying down.
“I think this is a misleading comment,” he said on Channel Nine.
“Facts are facts and the AFL doesn’t have as many viewers in NSW as rugby league.
‘Sometimes they attract 23,000 viewers on TV from Sydney. We get a million. So it’s a bit difficult to say you’re going to take over when you’re so far behind.
‘The same applies to us in Victoria: we are not going to take over Victoria. That is also a fact. None of the facts and none of the figures could come close to that statement.
“So it’s a ridiculous statement because it’s definitely ill-informed.”