Revealed: AFL boss Andrew Dillon’s SAVAGE swipe at the NRL as the battle of the codes goes ballistic

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has reportedly hit the NRL with a stunning insult after claims Aussie Rules is well on its way to becoming the biggest game in NSW.

The CEO was being interviewed on stage at a function in the lead-up to last Saturday’s Sydney vs Brisbane grand final when he delivered a cutting remark that’s sure to infuriate NRL powerbrokers like Peter V’landys and Dillon’s counterpart, Andrew Abdo.

Asked by Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown if he’d ever had a few drinks and felt like phoning Abdo to let him know how awful rugby league is to watch, the 53-year-old replied that he wouldn’t need to be drunk to know it’s an inferior game, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The report comes soon after V’landys angrily hit out at claims that the AFL is on its way to displacing rugby league as the biggest sport in NSW.

Recently sacked AFL 360 host Mark Robinson lit the fire when he made a bold prediction about the sport’s future in the premier state.

‘Right now the AFL, the sport of Australian Rules, is as healthy in NSW as it is in any other state,’ he said.

‘The SCG is a fantastic place to watch football. It’s a reminder of the giant footprint that AFL is putting into NSW.

‘Before we’re dead, AFL will take over the rugby league, I’m telling you.’

The barb has come to light just two days before stars like Penrith’s Nathan Cleary (pictured) take to the field for the NRL grand final

Collingwood great turned Channel Seven footy commentator Brian Taylor also chimed in when the Swans’ crowd for their preliminary final against Port Adelaide dwarfed the crowd for Cronulla’s finals win over the Cowboys next door at Allianz Stadium on September 20.

The Sharks match attracted just 19,124 fans while the Swans packed out the ground with 44,053 bums on seats.

‘Lovely scenes here at the SCG … next door, an NRL game looks half empty, there are about 10,000 people,’ Taylor told TV viewers.

‘The SCG absolutely packed out. Amazing. Give some attention to Aussie Rules up here, it’s going pretty well, I reckon.’

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys (pictured with his daughter at this week’s Dally M ceremony) hit back angrily at claims the AFL will be the No.1 sport in NSW  

V’landys wasn’t taking that lying down.

‘I think that’s a delusional comment,’ he said on Channel Nine.

‘Facts are facts and the AFL has not got the viewers in NSW like rugby league has. 

‘Sometimes they get 23,000 viewers on TV out of Sydney. We get a million. So it’s a bit hard to say that you’re going to take over when you’re that far behind.

‘It’s the same for us in Victoria – we’re not going to take Victoria over either. That’s fact as well. None of the facts and none of the figures could go near that statement. 

‘So it’s a ridiculous statement to make because it’s certainly ill informed.’