The AFL has made a big deal of the fact the Suns and Power are playing a professional match in China...but other codes and some fans on social media have ripped into the League.
AFL will venture into China for the first time, with Port Adelaide and Gold Coast set for play for premierships points on Sunday afternoon.
A lot has been made of the historic event, with Power skipper, Travis Boak, declaring upon arriving in Shanghai that he is thrilled to be part of the first western pro sport to play for official points in China.
But that comment has not sat well with some fans, particularly with those of the round ball game.
.@PortAdelaideFC skipper Travis Boak says AFL looking forward to being 1st western pro sport to play for official pts in China @theagesport pic.twitter.com/HRRUluVvJI
— JonPierik (@Pierik_AgeSport) May 11, 2017
Riiiiiiight... 🙄 https://t.co/yf3cysPFFb
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) May 11, 2017
In Shanghai, believe it or not! pic.twitter.com/tlj5ajAH1v
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) May 11, 2017
AFL SPOKESMAN: nobody has ever played sport in China before. we are the first. *uses that memory eraser thingo from Men in Black*
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) May 11, 2017
Just checked, 2005 was the first time the V8s took an official round to China...only a lazy 12 yrs before AFL!
— Paul Williams (@PaulWilliams_85) May 11, 2017
So let's see how many western professional sports we can identify that have held events in China for points shall we?
— Brandon Clarke (@kiwibardy) May 11, 2017
Mere months after inventing the concept of women's sport, the AFL seem to have discovered a strange, previously unknown land called China.
— Nick Campton (@campo37) May 11, 2017
One thing is certain.
AFL has made sure we know about the game in Shanghai this weekend...— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) May 10, 2017
Great explorers of the New World;
Columbus
Marco Polo
Cook
de Gama
Eade
Hinkley https://t.co/PhU0QAE9Iv— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) May 11, 2017
The @AFL invented women's sports & now they're the pioneers of all sports in China. The whole of Asia are honoured. #Crisis
— Booze Hound (@Booze__Hound) May 11, 2017
Gr8 to see @PAFC v @GoldCoastSUNS getting ready for @AFL to play in China 10 years after @SydneyFC played in Shanghai in the ACL @ALeague pic.twitter.com/56WIRPvYn0
— WTF Table Soccer (@WTFtableSoccer) May 11, 2017
These AFL types are the modern day Marco Polos. Their intrepid journey is shining a light on an otherwise unknown world. https://t.co/b4p87Ovalu
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) May 10, 2017
Dudes, according to our dear PM, Aussie Rules is a global sport. @edwyatt
— Francis Awaritefe (@FrancisAwartefe) May 11, 2017
Fascinating reading these 'first impressions of Shanghai' stories. Turns out there's an area a bit like Bourke Street mall there.
— edwyatt (@edwyatt) May 10, 2017
New AFL spokesman Sean Spicer says the code are honoured to be the first sport to ever play anything in China. pic.twitter.com/Tu689CyLWH
— Jack Quigley (@Jack_Quigley) May 11, 2017
The AFL writes itself into the history books... pic.twitter.com/jXoESXH19q
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) May 11, 2017
AFL SPOKESMAN: nobody has ever played sport in China before. we are the first. *uses that memory eraser thingo from Men in Black*
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) May 11, 2017
"1st western sport to play for points" China had Olympics, also ACL, it's ignorant, shows AFL community lacks knowledge outside its game
— Billy McGee (@billymcgee93) May 11, 2017
Athletes who have so far failed to play a single #AFL game in China. pic.twitter.com/uny2tIytgR
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) May 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/DeanRosario/status/862525813467435008
