Michael Gall - Internet Marketing and SEO Consultant - Melbourne » sport

The dodgy AFL website – part 1

Michael Gall — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:03:53 +0000

For a long time I have had problems with the AFL website, over the years it has progressively been getting worse and worse. First of all they did a web distribution deal with Bigpond a few years ago who then proceeded to put a completely non-functional 55px high bar on not only afl.com.au but also on each of the club websites. First of all, I’m not convinced this is in the best interest of the AFL, nor the clubs. Why is some random brand plastered in some of the most important real-estate on the page, and secondly why is the AFL diminishing it’s brand. Presumably, the AFL believes that selling the Internet distribution of it’s games is a better deal than dealing with this itself.

Sure, the Internet is tricky, making 24 hours of video available every week to x number of subscribers isn’t going to be an easy thing to do, (a task that Bigpond should have the expertise to pull off.) However the benefits of doing it could be awesome, not only as a money maker for the AFL but also to provide a great experience for the club members and AFL supporters in general. Imagine being able to grab any of the highlights packages (with advertising) for free, or a club Internet membership level where I can watch all 22 home and away games of my club.

This is a case of the AFL being stuck in the past as far as distribution of it’s assets goes, and really isn’t buying into the future of the game. The Internet is the way forward and could be used as an amazing marketing tool in the push for AFL to move across the globe, instead it is being used to push people to subscribe to Telstra’s Bigpond service. This is definitely something the AFL should have considered more carefully, and possibly invested in it’s future rather than it’s bottom line. It is definitely conceivable that the $20 million dollars it made in 2007 might look very small in 2011.

Perception training

Michael Gall — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 06:53:52 +0000

A great Wired article talking about training athletes to be more perceptive. Mainly focused on some really cool research happening at the AIS. Interestingly enough, I played Beach Volleyball against Will Thwaite this summer.

Sweat

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 08:00:00 +0000

It doesn’t happen normally, whether it’s the air pushing back the tide, or just keeping you cool. It always happens when you stop, the sun beating down and your body temperature rises. Then you feel it, it starts as a stinging in the corner of your eyes, but by the time the light turns green you can hardly see. You push off and halfway across the intersection you are thinking about how to wipe your eyes but you know your arms are covered in sweat too.

Australian University Games

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 08:00:00 +0000

Last week I travelled to Perth with USQ to play Volleyball at Australian University Games. While our position (9th) wasn’t as good as we felt we could have gone, the week was a blast and I’m sure that every person on the team had a good time. We played well and the younger less experienced players will have taken alot away from the week.

Perth is a beautiful city, it seems clean and friendly. There is very little graffiti (except in the McDonalds toilet) and there is a huge police presence. This could have been because of the Uni Games and the warship in town but I suppose I will never know.