the comment regarding the AFL is so true...the AFL marketed themselves towards women and families, and cleaned their image up so much.
i follow all 3 codes, and this what i've noticed...
union - generally all ex-grammarians, well dressed, educated, well behaved
afl - family atmosphere, very tame crowds
league - let's all turn up, smash as many beers within 80 minutes as possible, start fights. when i had an alcohol addiction, i was part of the feral crowd. i was part of the mob starting brawls. i'm no saint.
it ain't called grubby league for nothing.
yes, i'm a snob. so what.