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This isn't even debatable, what else can you come up with JJ?Comment -
You will have to do better than that hahahComment -
how would TE's like Gonzalez, Gronk, Vernon Davis, Graham ect do?
how bout Calvin Johnson, could he be an all-star there?
I guess we will find out a bit more if that basketball guy Wallace gets to playComment -
stupid.....u can be the best athlete in the world but without years of practice learning the skills of aussie rules (marking, kicking, reading the play, hand balling etc) you don't stand a chance at the highest level.
with the exception of ruckmen as stated in previous threadsComment -
Only another several weeks before preseason begins :dance:Comment -
No.Comment -
How about the Yankees vs Australian Cricket team 20/20
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how did Eric Wallace fare in the AFL?
is he still there?Comment -
He plays a the equivalent of AAA level over here.
Guy only has a 2 seasons under his belt but looking as though he may get a start with the big boys next season although North melbourne are a strong team so he's gonna have to be on the ball (figuratively speaking) if he wants that 1st grade spot.
What about Jarrad Hayne though?Comment -
Lol, the best athletes in the world aren't the white guys playing Rugby. They're in the NFL. Pick a team of the best Rugby players and a team of the best NFL players SUITED FOR Rugby, it wouldn't even be close.Comment -
The Australian cricket team would destroy a mlb team at cricket It would be an enormous mismatch.
If they played baseball though it would be competitive but a convincing win to the mlb.Comment -
AFL will win. These guys have no teeth from the hits. And all bones are reinforced with titanium.Comment -
There's a reason there aren't many white running backs/receivers in the NFL... That's also the reason why they are playing Rugby. They are slower and less athletic.Comment -
Blacks would dominate Rugby/Australian rules football
Can you imagine trying to tackle these guys on an Australian rules football field??
LolComment -
AFL isn't rugby you ignorant yankee.
Also, rugby isn't a white only sport as Americans seem to believe. Polynesians feature quite prominently in a number of international teams, just like the NFL-where a Polynesian American is more likely to make the NFL than any other ethnic group in the US.Comment -
I find it interesting that those of us from Australia and New Zealand are debating from a position of knowing the rules of NFL, while the Americans are starting their arguments with "I don't know any of the rules for rugby/Aussie rules, but....."Comment -
Im from Australia Love my NFL..actually my Fav sport over AFL, you cant compare the 2 at all.. AFL is more exhausting..its about quickness and speed and running around bouncing an oval shaped ball.. give the Giants 3yrs to practice and they will still get their ass kicked!!Comment -
Conditioning edge to Aussies. Aussies would win easily. USA would struggle to score. Aussies, 150-14.Where's the fuckin power box, Carol?Comment -
More like 300 to 2.Comment -
AFL has more in common with NBA/Basketball than Gridiron if you think about it.
Hard to transfer AFL skills to NFL. That punter for Utah that came from an AFL upbringing played a huge part in their win today though with some great punts.
Rugby League would be the closest comparison to NFL/Gridiron.
Jarryd Hayne is heading over no?Comment -
Just found this thread. As an Australian who has watched almost every NFL game for the last 5 years I find the whole premise kind of hilarious. Do some of you think Australian Rules is like rugby or rugby league? Because it's really not at all. NFL and either rugby code are much closer to each other than AFL is to any of them. If this question was could you build a roster of NFL players that could challenge Australia or an NRL team at Rugby League than I think it would be far more interesting.
However, if you want to stick with AFL than there are 2 major problems that any American is going to have with the game:
1. Kicking skills. Handballing can probably be learnt, but in AFL every player on the field has to be able to kick like a directional punter. If you run with the ball and then get tackled it is a free kick to the opposition, you can't just go down like you would in the NFL, you have to kick it away. If you cannot hit a teammate on the chest 50m away with a punt kick then you are completely useless as a player in any position. Now could this be learned over several years? Sure but since I imagine most NFL players have never really kicked in their life it is going to be a huge challenge to make up that time on Australian players who have been doing this since they were 5.
2. Endurance running. Especially over the last 10 years or so, AFL has become more and more about who can run the furthest. The MCG, which is not the biggest AFL venue (AFL has non-uniform field size in common with cricket and baseball, can't think of any other major sports that do) is approximately 4 times the area of an NFL field so there is a lot of ground to cover. Not only is the ground bigger, you have to cover more of it. I get that WRs and DBs run down the field on a lot of plays, but most players, especially midfielders are expected to cover almost the length of the field regularly, and at near full pace. Also, you have 18 on field with bench of 3 players, so everyone plays almost the whole game. As opposed to 11 men on the field out of a 46 man roster.
Of all football codes, AFL is by far the most taxing aerobically and nothing else is even close. Rugby league and soccer players will sometimes play midweek games, this could never happen in AFL because there is too much running. (I also know you couldn't play 3 NFL games in a week but I think its for a different reason). Also, there is no OT for tied games in the AFL regular season (ties are rare anyway). The most recent OT game happened in the playoffs in 2007 and most players were literally out on their feet aerobically. AFL players are built to run for the normal game time and that expends all their energy. That isn't true for any other sport that I know.
Are there skill position NFL players that could train to be endurance athletes? Obviously, but they would have to train specifically for it, rather than the power running needed in the NFL. Endurance >> Speed for the most part in AFL.
Lastly, do I think Calvin Johnson has some skills that could help in the AFL? Lol. Jumping and ball skills are important and if he could learn to run and kick he would be a dominant key position forward. The closest player we have to him is Buddy Franklin who is 6'6, 225 and very athletic.
If I had to make a line for say New York Giants vs Hawthorn Hawks after 2 weeks of NYG training it would be something like 200 points. The NFL team could not move the ball effectively at all and running up the score isn't as frowned upon in Australia as it is in the States.Comment -
You inferred it with this comment: "Lol, the best athletes in the world aren't the white guys playing Rugby." You felt the need to point out ethnicity for a reason.
Also, I'd be more inclined to say that the best athletes in the world play in the NBA, so your presumptions are wrong again.Comment -
Jesus, are you kidding me? There is no way Americans ever learn how to bounce an oval ballComment -
Australia would be scared to death of those black American killer athlete
USA could put together a team aussie is best all-star team couldn't beat themComment -
JJ strikes again
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