Q. How much of a problem do you think taking performance enhancing drugs is in these sports?

56% of respondents think taking performance enhancing drugs is a major problem in cycling, 41% think it is a major problem in athletics, 39% in AFL football and 37% in NRL rugby league.

38% of AFL football followers think it is a major problem in their sport and 26% of NRL followers think it is a major problem in their sport. 40% of AFL followers think it is a major problem in NRL.

46% of Victorian respondents think performance enhancing drugs is a major problem in the AFL.

Q. How much of a problem do you think betting on games and results is in these sports?

34% of respondents think betting is a major problem in AFL football, 33% think it is a major problem in NRL, 30% in soccer and 30% in cricket.

36% of those who mostly follow cricket think it is a major problem in their sport, compared to 32% of AFL followers and 28% of NRL followers.

Q. Which of the following upcoming sporting events are you most interested in?

Whilst 38% of respondents had no interest in any of the upcoming football finals, 32% were most interested in the AFL, 20% in the NRL and only 10% in the Rugby World Cup.

Female respondents are far more likely to state that they were not interested in any of the upcoming sport events (47%), as were respondents aged 18-24 yeas old (46%).

Respondents from NSW are far more likely to have an interest in the Rugby World Cup (15%) and the NRL Grand Final (35%).

Respondents from QLD are also far more likely to have an interest in the NRL Grand Final (32%).

Victorian respondents are the most likely to be most interested in the AFL Grand Final (67%).

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I was once called a ‘Fringe Dweller’.

I was making a rare appearance for Lindisfarne first grade in the Tasmanian Cricket Association.  We had a strong team, with several State players, and would play in the finals the following week.  But we lacked depth – which was why I managed to sneak into the first eleven every now and then.

“I can’t believe we’re getting beaten by Lindisfarne,” ‘an ignorant North Hobart supporter was overheard saying on that fateful day.

“They’ve got some good players, but Prins and Pickett are just Fringe Dwellers.”

The insult cut deep.  We lost our semi-final, and I immediately retired from grade cricket.  Sadly, no one really noticed, and my retirement went unreported in the Hobart media.

(Ironically, the Hobart Mercury did report that I was a ‘debutant’ on at least five separate occasions.  Apparently I never made much of an impression on the local cricket writer).

But now, I can finally revel in my status as a Fringe Dweller – because Fringe Dwellers are about to strike back.

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