One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on April 23, 2010, 02:14:53 AM
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Hope still for Hobart AFL
SEAN STEVENSON
April 22, 2010 09:16am
AN AFL club boss believes Melbourne clubs would consider a proposal to transfer home games to Hobart.
Richmond chief executive and former Tasmanian Brendon Gale said yesterday: "If the opportunity presented itself you would certainly have a look at it."
"Our home ground is the MCG but having said that we are a big club with a national footprint."
Gale said clubs had a responsibility to develop their national following.
"One of our greatest ever players [800-goal legend Matthew Richardson], who retired last year, was Tasmanian," he said.
Former premier Paul Lennon, who masterminded Hawthorn's current $15 million deal to play four games a season in Launceston in 2007, believes the Hawks' penetration of the Tasmanian market had reached saturation point and a second club playing games out of Hobart was the only possible way of expanding AFL in Tasmania in the short term.
Mr Lennon said this week that Hawthorn had a firm hand over Aurora Stadium, and it was unlikely it would be able to play more than four games in Tasmania in the forseeable future.
He said there was a large unmet demand for AFL in the south of the state.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has poured scorn on the suggestion.
Kennett said Hawthorn was much more than a fly-in, fly-out club and he would hate to see Tasmania become a dumping ground for broke AFL clubs merely seeking a financial windfall.
Gale, who also serves as a voluntary director on the board of AFL Tasmania, said the Tasmanian Government had made the point very clear that it regarded Launceston as the home of AFL in the state.
But he saw positives in games being played in Hobart.
"If there is an opportunity to take AFL football to the whole of Tasmania that would be great for the state," Gale said.
He said any move for Richmond to play games in Hobart would require the support of the Tiger's board, members, the Tasmanian Government and the AFL.
Richmond, which boasts a huge fan base despite its modest success on the field in recent times, does not have a history of selling games interstate like other clubs such as the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.
Gale said while he could not speak for other clubs, selling games interstate was not as attractive an option as it was a couple of years ago.
"The AFL has worked hard on stadium deals [at the MCG and Etihad Stadium]," Gale said.
"That probably reduces the likelihood [of teams wanting to move home games]."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/04/22/141455_afl.html
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why would u wanna play in hobart when Aurora is a better ground and the government isnt backing afl in hobart so they wont help fix up the stadium for more people to go.
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Ist mistake by Benny Gale :banghead
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Ist mistake by Benny Gale :banghead
What was the mistake Ramps?
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Ist mistake by Benny Gale :banghead
What was the mistake Ramps?
Richmond shouldnt play any games in tassie IMHO
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Richmond shouldnt play any games in tassie IMHO
Where did he say we are, or even looking at it?
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while on the surface it has more appeal than playing in NT, the telling point is the renegotiated deals with MCG and Etihad that would wear pretty thin if we looked to take games from those venues, something tells me they would have closed the loop on that prospect ::)
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Tassie has always had a great tiger connection and to reestablish a link with tigers fans down there would be great for the club. Go to any game involving us down in Tassie and you will see plenty of tiger fans there, they should be looked after a bit too, they have stuck fat with little incentive. Rewarding them with the odd game doesn't seem to be too much. The other issue with Hobart versus Launceston is interesting. Could be interesting, could be an absolute bonanza where we create a whole new market for ourselves. Bout time Tassie stopped getting treated like lepers in there own native sport whilst we spend tons of cash on converting thugby fans with second teams ffs.
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Great story from Benny.
Promoted the club in a footy heartland. Pertinent when the Mars sponsorship that was going to the Tassie AFL club finished with Carlscum.
Put the heat on the AFL over:
- stadium deals
- interstate games
- the fixturing of home games
Came off like a caring Tassie hometown boy, who volunteers his time,
"If there is an opportunity to take AFL football to the whole of Tasmania that would be great for the state," Gale said
and made Kennet look like the aggressive loudmouth he is.
"Kennett said Hawthorn was much more than a fly-in, fly-out club and he would hate to see Tasmania become a dumping ground for broke AFL clubs merely seeking a financial windfall."
Keep shouting that line Jeff, but people still ask "Why do you play games in Tassie?"
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apparently Richmond are thinking of playing home matches in Tasmania?
>:(
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Something about this coming up on the Ch 10's Fifth Quarter
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Rfc should concentrate on winning games of football and developing the players.
With winning games we won't need to go to tAssy.
Craigieburn, tassy, punt roAd do we even know where we are
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Benny Gale keen and club is crunching the numbers. Games at Bellerive in Hobart.
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Im against this move. Its unnecessary!
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B.Gale is looking into Hobat - Bel. Oval playing matches there - according to John Ralph.
John also said Richmond could or should look into Billy Slater!
???
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Benny Gale keen and club is crunching the numbers. Games at Bellerive in Hobart.
Bad idea to have it at Bellerive Launceston is a great place hour and half from north-west to travel to and roughly about the same from hobart. people from north-west wont travel to hobart to watch football so they wont get the same amount of crowds.
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I couldn't find this on the web so I scanned it....
Tigers eye Tassie games
By BRETT STUBBS
Sunday Herald-Sun, 25 APR 2010, Page 47
HOBART'S Bellerive Oval could host two Richmond home games as early as next year.
A proposal to play two AFL games at Tasmania's home of cricket has gone before the Tigers' board after being raised by Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale.
Cricket Tasmania supplied stadium figures to Gale -- also a member of AFL Tasmania's board -- outlining the return Richmond would make from hosting games in Hobart.
"If the opportunity presented itself, I think it would be incumbent upon a responsible administration to have a look at playing games in Hobart at Bellerive,'' Gale said of the board meeting.
"We are a club with a strong national footprint, with a lot of financial members in Tassie and, importantly, as a Tasmanian, seeing the success of Hawthorn in driving participation and promoting the game, I think it would be great to have AFL for the whole state.
"But there is a lot of water that needs to go under the bridge obviously with the Government and the AFL. They control the fixture.''
CT chairman Tony Harrison and CT chief executive David Johnston met AFL Tasmania chairman Dominic Baker and AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade in Salamanca this week to discuss increasing the ground's use.
If the proposal is successful, it could be announced within the next two months but it is believed Richmond has not been the only club approached.
Games scheduled for Hobart would not come at the detriment of Hawthorn's deal with Launceston, with the plan for the Hawks -- in Tasmania for today's game against North Melbourne -- to continue their four-game a year deal after it expires at the end of this year.
An AFL source said the sport's governing body would look favourably at the proposal.
Baker would not confirm or deny the approach to Richmond but said any more games for Tasmania would only help the state's cause for inclusion.
"The current Government has supported Hawthorn to play in the north and we are very comfortable with that. It has done great things for participation in the north,'' Baker said.
"If Tasmania harbours any thought of getting it's own team in the future, it will need to prove an ability to consume more than four games of football.''
Hawthorn's frequent visits to Launceston have been a great boost for the economy, with accommodation and flights almost completely booked out every game, and it is hoped games in Hobart would bring a similar boost to the southern economy.
A commitment to host AFL games would also help CT's push for further expansion of Bellerive Oval.
CT is hoping to cash in on this year's Federal election to gain further funding for the boutique stadium.
The issue of Bellerive's expansion was raised with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd earlier this year when he attended the Australia-Pakistan Test match in Hobart.
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Bartlett thumbs nose at Tigers
BRETT STUBBS
April 27, 2010
THE Tasmanian Government will not financially support an AFL club to play home matches in Hobart.
Richmond is looking at playing home games at Bellerive Oval, but with no State Government support the task of luring a team to Hobart, while not impossible, makes it considerably harder.
Premier David Bartlett said yesterday Hawthorn, which gets $3.4 million of Government money a year to play four home games in Launceston, would be the only Government-backed side in Tasmania.
"The Government won't be entering into any arrangements of sponsorship or underwriting of games at Bellerive so therefore any clubs who made arrangements with AFL Tasmania and the TCA [Cricket Tasmania] to play games there would effectively be doing so without Government involvement," he said.
"Having said that, I wouldn't actively stand in the way of it either."
Hawthorn's five-year contract expires at the end of 2012 but, significantly, is due for renegotiation this year.
Cricket Tasmania is keen to see its boutique Bellerive stadium host AFL games, and has sent stadium economic figures to Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale just last week.
While no Government financial support would be a massive blow, an AFL club may look at the Hobart option by the lure of a "clean" stadium and large, untapped football-mad population starved of local AFL content or attempt to attract support from a private entity.
The architect of the Hawks-Tasmania contract, former premier Paul Lennon, has been pushing for more AFL games in Hobart and said Richmond was the logical fit.
"I think it is a very good idea," Mr Lennon said yesterday.
"I think it is time that AFL football was played live in Hobart. I think the Richmond Tigers would be a very good fit given they have had a long-time association with Tasmania.
"Some of Richmond's greatest players have come from Tasmania, Royce Hart and Paul Sproule amongst them."
what is this?
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/04/27/142441_afl.html
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So we are supposed to be playing a home game in Darwin in 2011
Now they say they are looking at 2 home games in Tassie from 2011
That means only 8 home games in Melb
Dead against this idea....
Don't they think the members of this club are suffering enough? Now they want to strip away 3 home games? Don't take too many home games away
Don't do it RFC we deserve better
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It's another opportunistic play by the club that penalizes the members. The only circumstance where this would be acceptable is if this came off the Etihad home/reserve seat games. If we went from 9 to 7 reserved seat games at the 'g then I would seriously re-consider my reserved seat x 4 membership. Getting tired of this crap.
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It's another opportunistic play by the club that penalizes the members. The only circumstance where this would be acceptable is if this came off the Etihad home/reserve seat games. If we went from 9 to 7 reserved seat games at the 'g then I would seriously re-consider my reserved seat x 4 membership. Getting tired of this crap.
Same - I allready have MCC, so don't bite the hand that feeds Tigers! Only so much we can put up with :banghead
I am allready peeed off enough with games at etihad - MCC tiger supporter membership coming up if you pull this one on me Richmond.
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One game in Hobart would be a good thing. make a weekend of it and have a ball. Great for the local supporters too. I went to the game on the GC last year and had a great time, met some posters from up there and loved it. if we get some cash then thats good too!
bring it on!
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Switch 1 etihad "Home" game no worries - I would go regardless - Went to gold coast 'Cold night twas'
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Switch 1 etihad "Home" game no worries - I would go regardless - Went to gold coast 'Cold night twas'
It was a really mild night. Wore shorts and thongs. Our footy was 'cold'
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Looks to me like some are trying to prepare members for a future relocation of the club. Supporters and members will pay the price for the actions of failed administrators in the past and its not fair or right that that happens.
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Looks to me like some are trying to prepare members for a future relocation of the club. Supporters and members will pay the price for the actions of failed administrators in the past and its not fair or right that that happens.
nah, it doesn't look like that at all. I can't see any connection.
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Looks to me like some are trying to prepare members for a future relocation of the club. Supporters and members will pay the price for the actions of failed administrators in the past and its not fair or right that that happens.
More likely the board think our current on-field performance will hurt us in the Melbourne market and that for the next 5 years we need to look at every opportunity to expand our supporter base and shore up the bottom line. Hawthorn were innovators and deserve the windfall. If our profits start to fall and we pick up another 2-3 spoons make no mistake the knives will be out for us as an AFL footy club.
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Looks to me like some are trying to prepare members for a future relocation of the club. Supporters and members will pay the price for the actions of failed administrators in the past and its not fair or right that that happens.
yeah that makes alot of sense ramps ::), have you driven past Punt rd lately, so that would be another sure indicator of a club considering relocation :lol
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9 MCG Home games
2 Tasmania Home games or 1 Tas / 1 Darwin.
0 Etihad Home games.
Win-Win-Win.
Get it done RFC.
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9 MCG Home games
2 Tasmania Home games or 1 Tas / 1 Darwin.
0 Etihad Home games.
Win-Win-Win.
Get it done RFC.
9 MCG home games
Can't see it in the short term
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9 MCG Home games
2 Tasmania Home games or 1 Tas / 1 Darwin.
0 Etihad Home games.
Win-Win-Win.
Get it done RFC.
9 MCG home games
Can't see it in the short term
This condition was the same that Hawthorn used for playing home games at Launceston.
They aso negotiated that they would have all away games against MCG tenants at the MCG also, as its not uncommon for two teams who have the MCG as their home ground have the game moved to Etihad
No reason why we can't move our home Etihad games against interstate sides which are low drawing crowds anyway and pocket the cash.
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We're just hanging our @rses our there hoping that the Tas government want to jump on board.
There's no other markets other than Tas and Darwin really now that GC17 and GWS are on the scene.
Sunny Coast, Central Qld, North Qld don't have the facilities. Canberra has been tried, no point pushing it further. Nowhere else in SA. Nowhere else in WA. Newcastle, Wollongong no chance. Wellington has a great facility (with yellow seats) but no chance of gaining any sort of appeal in NZ.
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Tasmania would welcome second AFL team
The Age
June 12, 2010 - 3:55PM
Tasmania will welcome a second AFL team playing home games in the state, but any newcomer would not receive government financial support.
While the state remains committed to the long-term goal of its own AFL side, Tasmania is set to host more games as the code expands to 18 teams over the next two years.
Tasmania is about to start renegotiating its successful multi-million dollar deal with Hawthorn, which expires at the end of next year.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou met on Friday with Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett.
While neither party would go into specifics about what was discussed in the meeting, the AFL have made it clear the state is likely to host more games.
Hawthorn's current five-year deal involves one pre-season match and four home-and-away matches at Launceston.
They are hosting Adelaide on Saturday at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
"Anything else entered into would not be requiring any financial assistance from the state to encourage other teams to come down and play," Tasmanian tourism minister Michelle O'Byrne said before Saturday's game.
"Our relationship is with Hawthorn ... (they) have delivered a huge benefit for us."
There is speculation that Richmond are looking into playing two home games at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.
AFL chief operating officer Gil McLachlan confirmed Bellerive had come up in Friday's discussions with the state government.
"I can't talk specifics about that, it was more just broadly discussion around football in Tasmania, the success story that has been Hawthorn in Launceston," he said.
"There was a contemplation about playing more football in Tasmania whether Bellerive was appropriate.
"Certainly it has some appeal for us, it's a new concept.
"Really, in the end, it's a question for the government of the day ... whether they support that.
"There's been a different view historically, but if that's changing, we'd welcome that."
McLachlan strongly implied that Bellerive would need upgrading before it would be suitable for hosting home-and-away matches.
"It's the right balance between first-class public seating and the right level of corporate imagery," he said.
"I know money has been spent on that, but there are certainly are areas (where) I think cricket and others are looking to improve.
"If I leave Bellerive out of this - if you want to attract first-class content, whether it's Test matches, one dayers, Twenty20, AFL matches, it has to be the venue that attracts people and delivers the right outcome for everyone, including the people who are playing there."
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tasmania-would-welcome-second-afl-team-20100612-y4c4.html
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Home games in Hobart: three Victorian clubs are interested
JON PIERIK
June 13, 2010
THREE Victorian AFL clubs have expressed interest in shifting home games to Hobart's Bellerive Oval as the push into Tasmania gathers pace.
As Hawthorn and the Tasmanian government prepare to begin discussions about extending their multimillion-dollar agreement at Launceston's Aurora Stadium, The Sunday Age can reveal two more Melbourne clubs have joined Richmond in approaching officials at Bellerive Oval, the home of Tasmanian cricket.
Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison yesterday said the financial upside for clubs to shift games to Hobart was enormous, while the state's southern economy would be boosted if games were held there.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''We have been approached by three Victorian clubs,'' he said. ''We are open for business.
''I am very confident we will get football down at Bellerive because the economics just add up.
''My brief obviously is for cricket, but I want the ground utilised.
''We are prepared to talk to anyone and we are talking to anyone who approaches.''
Harrison said the Tigers were still deliberating whether to shift two games in time for the 2011 season.
''We have provided information to them in regards to facilities and costs and our future development plans. I understand they have considered it and they are still keen on it,'' he said.
The Tigers have a strong connection with Tasmania.
Chief executive Brendon Gale, also a member of AFL Tasmania's board, retired champion Matthew Richardson and exciting forward Jack Riewoldt all hail from the state.
Harrison said Cricket Tasmania had also had discussions with the National Rugby League and Australian Rugby Union about hosting matches at the picturesque stadium.
The venue has a capacity of about 17,000 and is used for state league football during winter.
''The economics are very good because we are a low-cost venue,'' Harrison said. ''The return would be very good for those clubs, particularly those clubs that struggle to get a return from some of the grounds in Melbourne and the cost of operating those venues.
''There have been games in Melbourne this season that haven't got the crowds we could get at Bellerive.''
Harrison said there were plans to lift the ground's capacity to more than 20,000 - on par with Aurora Stadium.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou met with Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett on Friday to discuss the state hosting more matches. Before then, Demetriou said with the league expanding to 18 teams, Tasmania would be the ideal place to host more games.
Speaking yesterday at a pre-match function ahead of Hawthorn's victory over Adelaide at Aurora Stadium, Tasmania's Minister for Tourism, Michelle O'Byrne, said the government would not help provide ''financial assistance'' to lure more teams, other than the Hawks, across Bass Strait.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan confirmed Bellerive had been discussed on Friday. ''Certainly it has some appeal for us, it's a new concept,'' he said.
''Really, in the end, it's a question for the government of the day, whether they support that. There's been a different view historically, but if that's changing, we'd welcome that.''
McLachlan suggested Bellerive would need upgrading before it would be suitable to host home-and-away matches.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/home-games-in-hobart-three-victorian-clubs-are-interested-20100612-y4pg.html
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I know we're after extra revenue for the Club and playing interstate home games for $$$ maybe only temporary but once we start having winning seasons in a couple of years we should be getting big crowds most weeks and put pressure on the AFL to only have MCG home games.
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I know we're after extra revenue for the Club and playing interstate home games for $$$ maybe only temporary but once we start having winning seasons in a couple of years we should be getting big crowds most weeks and put pressure on the AFL to only have MCG home games.
I must admit to coming around to the idea of having 2 or 3 games in Hobart if:-
We have it to ourselves
Home games rights to Melb based members for MCG games (without the reserved seat access if fine with me which is what Hawk members currently get)
An overall return that nets out to a profit figure that is triple the return of playing in Melbourne
as a city, Hobart is roughly triple the size of Launceston in population and similar to that of the bellarine in greater Geelong.
No reason why they couldn't attract low 20s if the capacity of the ground was expanded
great city and well worth a visit mixed in with a game of footy
Richmond has a decent following in Tassie, can be expanded and help membership
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sorry but i just cant see this happening.
hawks arent happy about it and end of the day tassie labor government love the hawks so when push comes to shove from hawks it will all fall over i rkn.
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sorry but i just cant see this happening.
hawks arent happy about it and end of the day tassie labor government love the hawks so when push comes to shove from hawks it will all fall over i rkn.
But I thought the Tassie Cricket assocaition are making the push for the Hobart games without the Government?
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sorry but i just cant see this happening.
hawks arent happy about it and end of the day tassie labor government love the hawks so when push comes to shove from hawks it will all fall over i rkn.
But I thought the Tassie Cricket assocaition are making the push for the Hobart games without the Government?
I have heard that talks are well progressed
I have also heard that if Richmond play games at Bellerive Oval that Cricket Tas will have the funds to upgrade the oval
[seating capacity] A win win situation.
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If we are to restore RFC to a formidable Vic club, we must add sme serious $$$$ to our revenue streams....Tell me how profitable have the hawks and cats been in recent years...is no co-incidence the wealthy clubs are running away from the pack...we'd be fools to ignore this opportunity if it were to add 1mn a year
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sorry but i just cant see this happening.
hawks arent happy about it and end of the day tassie labor government love the hawks so when push comes to shove from hawks it will all fall over i rkn.
The tassie goverment would welcome anything football and the hawks can go suck on my gonads. stuff them who do they think theyr are.
They got Waverley for a dollar a year or whatever the lease was now they think they own Tassie as well. stuff them.
I was not keen on any games outside Vic when it was first mentioned but a few games every year wont hurt, espeicllay if it ties in with the Hobart Tigers. We could seriously clean up and increase out membership base and damage the Hawks while we are it it..
More membership means more money on developing and recruiting.
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We're too popular and not financially struggling enough to play in Hobart apparently...
North a chance to play home games in Hobart
JAKE NIALL
June 18, 2010
NORTH Melbourne has held ''very preliminary'' discussions with the AFL about playing home games in Hobart.
North Melbourne is open to the idea of playing games at Hobart's Bellerive Oval - Tasmania's Test cricket venue - but the club's interest in Tasmania would be conditional upon there being no suggestion of a permanent relocation.
Cricket Tasmania has also approached Melbourne about the prospect of playing games at Bellerive. The topic, however, has not yet been considered by the Melbourne board.
North Melbourne is understood to be interested in a Hawthorn-like deal, which could conceivably involve three or four home games in Hobart - the Hawks play four at Launceston under their lucrative deal with the Tasmanian government - but sources said yesterday that talks were still ''very preliminary''.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and his offsider Gillon McLachlan met a week ago with the Tasmanian government and the possibility of Hobart games - involving North or another club - was among a number of topics discussed. The AFL is receptive to the idea of a club joining Hawthorn in Tasmania but, at this stage, there is no detailed, concrete proposal from either Cricket Tasmania or the Tasmanian government, which has already committed heavily to the Hawthorn presence in Launceston.
While Richmond has also discussed a proposal to play two home games at Bellerive - its chief executive Brendon Gale is on the board of AFL Tasmania - it is unclear whether the AFL would permit a club with Richmond's large supporter base to play in the Apple Isle when those games could be of greater benefit to a less financially robust club such as North or the Demons.
North's hierarchy is understood to have spoken about the Hobart possibility with McLachlan. North's board is yet to formally consider any proposal.
North Melbourne's chairman James Brayshaw and chief executive Eugene Arocca could not be contacted last night, when Brayshaw was hosting The Footy Show. McLachlan would not comment on the Hobart issue.
The emergence of Hobart as a prospective venue for Victorian clubs is part of a push by Cricket Tasmania to develop Bellerive, as reported in The Sunday Age last weekend.
The AFL, North and Richmond are well aware of southern Tasmania's desire for a slice of the AFL pie, given that Hawthorn's four-game deal with the Tasmanian government is exclusive to Launceston in the state's north. Rivalry between the south and north of the state has been a feature of Tasmanian football history.
The Western Bulldogs have not been approached or had discussions with either Cricket Tasmania or the AFL about Hobart games.
Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose said: ''It doesn't mean we wouldn't consider it at some stage. [But] we haven't discussed Tassie at all.''
Rose said the Dogs were focused on ''consolidating'' in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
Bellerive can accommodate about 17,000 spectators, and Cricket Tasmania said there were plans to lift that capacity to about 20,000, the same as Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
Cricket Tasmania said that Bellerive would provide a low-cost stadium for modest crowds. Speaking before the Hawthorn-Adelaide game last Saturday, Tasmania's Minister for Tourism Michelle O'Byrne said the government would not provide financial assistance to encourage teams to play in Tasmania, besides Hawthorn.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/north-a-chance-to-play-home-games-in-hobart-20100617-yjqv.html
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We're too popular and not financially struggling enough to play in Hobart apparently...
North a chance to play home games in Hobart
JAKE NIALL
June 18, 2010
NORTH Melbourne has held ''very preliminary'' discussions with the AFL about playing home games in Hobart.
North Melbourne is open to the idea of playing games at Hobart's Bellerive Oval - Tasmania's Test cricket venue - but the club's interest in Tasmania would be conditional upon there being no suggestion of a permanent relocation.
Cricket Tasmania has also approached Melbourne about the prospect of playing games at Bellerive. The topic, however, has not yet been considered by the Melbourne board.
North Melbourne is understood to be interested in a Hawthorn-like deal, which could conceivably involve three or four home games in Hobart - the Hawks play four at Launceston under their lucrative deal with the Tasmanian government - but sources said yesterday that talks were still ''very preliminary''.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and his offsider Gillon McLachlan met a week ago with the Tasmanian government and the possibility of Hobart games - involving North or another club - was among a number of topics discussed. The AFL is receptive to the idea of a club joining Hawthorn in Tasmania but, at this stage, there is no detailed, concrete proposal from either Cricket Tasmania or the Tasmanian government, which has already committed heavily to the Hawthorn presence in Launceston.
While Richmond has also discussed a proposal to play two home games at Bellerive - its chief executive Brendon Gale is on the board of AFL Tasmania - it is unclear whether the AFL would permit a club with Richmond's large supporter base to play in the Apple Isle when those games could be of greater benefit to a less financially robust club such as North or the Demons.
North's hierarchy is understood to have spoken about the Hobart possibility with McLachlan. North's board is yet to formally consider any proposal.
North Melbourne's chairman James Brayshaw and chief executive Eugene Arocca could not be contacted last night, when Brayshaw was hosting The Footy Show. McLachlan would not comment on the Hobart issue.
The emergence of Hobart as a prospective venue for Victorian clubs is part of a push by Cricket Tasmania to develop Bellerive, as reported in The Sunday Age last weekend.
The AFL, North and Richmond are well aware of southern Tasmania's desire for a slice of the AFL pie, given that Hawthorn's four-game deal with the Tasmanian government is exclusive to Launceston in the state's north. Rivalry between the south and north of the state has been a feature of Tasmanian football history.
The Western Bulldogs have not been approached or had discussions with either Cricket Tasmania or the AFL about Hobart games.
Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose said: ''It doesn't mean we wouldn't consider it at some stage. [But] we haven't discussed Tassie at all.''
Rose said the Dogs were focused on ''consolidating'' in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
Bellerive can accommodate about 17,000 spectators, and Cricket Tasmania said there were plans to lift that capacity to about 20,000, the same as Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
Cricket Tasmania said that Bellerive would provide a low-cost stadium for modest crowds. Speaking before the Hawthorn-Adelaide game last Saturday, Tasmania's Minister for Tourism Michelle O'Byrne said the government would not provide financial assistance to encourage teams to play in Tasmania, besides Hawthorn.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/north-a-chance-to-play-home-games-in-hobart-20100617-yjqv.html
with gale on the afl tassie board, i'm sure he would be pushing our case regardless.
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What is North Melbourne still doing in the national competition? That club is a complete joke! A gypsy organisation going from one town to the next looking for games and cash. What a brothel of a club!
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What is North Melbourne still doing in the national competition? That club is a complete joke! A gypsy organisation going from one town to the next looking for games and cash. What a brothel of a club!
Agreed. They refuse the Gold Coast option and know that means they won't get the big payday for games up there, claim to want to stay in Melbourne but now want another interstate handout cause they made a mistake in judgement.
Only clubs with poor membership and finances need apply - and just how does Hawthorn fit that criteria.
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What is North Melbourne still doing in the national competition? That club is a complete joke! A gypsy organisation going from one town to the next looking for games and cash. What a brothel of a club!
Agreed. They refuse the Gold Coast option and know that means they won't get the big payday for games up there, claim to want to stay in Melbourne but now want another interstate handout cause they made a mistake in judgement.
Only clubs with poor membership and finances need apply - and just how does Hawthorn fit that criteria.
I heard rumours these clowns wanted to play games in Ballarat ffs!
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At the risk of sounding like the morons who say,"i suggested this months ago",
......i suggested this months ago.
RFC would take over Tasmania.
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The state has a population of 500,000
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What is North Melbourne still doing in the national competition? That club is a complete joke! A gypsy organisation going from one town to the next looking for games and cash. What a brothel of a club!
Agreed. They refuse the Gold Coast option and know that means they won't get the big payday for games up there, claim to want to stay in Melbourne but now want another interstate handout cause they made a mistake in judgement.
Only clubs with poor membership and finances need apply - and just how does Hawthorn fit that criteria.
I heard rumours these clowns wanted to play games in Ballarat ffs!
Not a rumour
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4 games for $3m offered to three AFL clubs. Would Richmond be one of the three?
Four games for $3m?
MICHAEL GLEESON
June 21, 2010
NORTH Melbourne yesterday drew the year's smallest crowd for a Melbourne game with just 15,109 at Etihad Stadium to see the side play Port Adelaide, which on a wet winter Sunday was about as many as to be expected. It was precisely the type of game the club may end up playing in Hobart.
A multimillion-dollar proposal is being discussed between the AFL and the Hobart City Council to play four games a season at Bellerive Oval and the Roos are one of three clubs that could potentially play one or all of those games.
The deal, believed to be worth about $3 million for four matches, has yet to be put officially to the club, according to North chief executive Eugene Arocca who said the club would look at any proposal that did not require relocation.
''Like any proposal put to an AFL club if it doesn't involve relocation and it is an opportunity for us to grow our brand and continue to grow our supporter base, whether it is Ballarat, whether it is Wyndham, or whether it is Hobart, we will look at it,'' Arocca said.
''We would always have 11 home games in Melbourne. I think most clubs like the Hawthorn model.
''But we are not entertaining anything because nothing has been put to us yet. We would be derelict in our duties if we didn't look at a proposal that involved additional money and playing the lower drawing games in another market where there was potential for growth.''
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/four-games-for-3m-20100620-yp92.html
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thats alot of coin. Richmond playing say 2 games would be extremely worthwhile. I was against this before, but the coin on offer is to hard to refuse IMHO.
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im sorry but enough already with North. im sick of these fools trying to get a hold off every market because they are a useless bunch of fukwits who cant make a dollar anywhere. Andy D should tell them to shove it up their arse.
Like the Gypys's in Europe with the green eyes, who just slut around trying to make a dollar, thats the North Melbourne Football Club.
We need to grab these games over there and try everything in our power to get it
It would be massive especially with the Hobart Tigers having a strong supporter base.
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Tigers eye Hobart
ADAM SMITH
July 02, 2010
RICHMOND's Brendon Gale will today meet Premier David Bartlett and Cricket officials with AFL matches at Bellerive on the agenda.
All three parties yesterday confirmed the meetings but gave no further details.
The push for AFL action in the south of the state is gathering momentum, with Bartlett and AFL boss Andrew Demetriou meeting a few weeks ago to discuss the prospects of football at Bellerive.
In April, Cricket Tasmania sent stadium figures to Gale outlining the return the Tigers would make from AFL games in Hobart.
Games scheduled at Bellerive would not clash with Hawthorn's deal in Launceston, with the Hawks and the State Government soon to start re-negotiating the deal that sees the Hawks play four matches at Aurora Stadium. The deal expires at the end of next year.
It is believed the AFL would look favourably on more games in Tasmania as it would help the state's push for the eventual inclusion of its own teamby increasing the number of games played.
Gale confirmed to the Mercury yesterday he would be meeting Bartlett but would not go into details.
"Yes I am [meeting the Premier]," Gale said yesterday.
"That is about a range of matters, football related matters, but I wouldn't want to comment further than that."
The AFL has become involved in negotiations to get more clubs playing home games in Tasmania, more than likely at Bellerive, with Richmond, North Melbourne and Melbourne in the mix.
While Gale will meet with the Premier and Cricket Tasmania today, it is believed North Melbourne is the favourite to play home games in Hobart, possibly as soon as 2012.
The AFL is believed to favour the Kangaroos the club Bartlett supports because of its ongoing struggle to attract decent crowds at home games in Melbourne.
Despite its on-field battles, Richmond can still attract much bigger crowds as it retains a huge supporter base.
The Tigers would be reluctant to commit to four home games in Hobart, while four North Melbourne games in Hobart is a distinct possibility.
Harrison said his meeting with Gale was a follow-up to the figures sent two months ago.
"I might be having lunch with him, I'm always happy to talk to Brendon," Harrison said. "I guess it is indicative of the interest [of playing AFL at Bellerive].
"The approaches are coming to us, we haven't approached anyone.
"We have just said Bellerive is open for business."
A spokesperson for Bartlett confirmed Gale had requested a meeting with the Premier, but would not comment on the items for discussion.
However, Bartlett told parliament on June 15 that although re-negotiating the Hawthorn deal was the priority, it was not the only option for AFL football in Tasmania.
"We will go in with leverage and a fallback plan and I want to make that very clear, because that is important in getting value for money for Tasmanian taxpayers."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/02/156091_sport-news.html
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I don't mind this idea for us, but can we just move the Kangaroos to Tasmania. 6 games in Launceston. 6 games in Hobart. Basket case club gets a new life.
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Tigers eye Hobart
ADAM SMITH
July 02, 2010
The Tigers would be reluctant to commit to four home games in Hobart, while four North Melbourne games in Hobart is a distinct possibility.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/02/156091_sport-news.html
We would only need 1 game and we would outdraw Norf :rollin
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I don't mind this idea for us, but can we just move the Kangaroos to Tasmania. 6 games in Launceston. 6 games in Hobart. Basket case club gets a new life.
They don't deserve another chance. They had their crack at the title with the Gold Coast and they arrogantly told the AFL to shove it. Stuff 'em I say.
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I don't mind this idea for us, but can we just move the Kangaroos to Tasmania. 6 games in Launceston. 6 games in Hobart. Basket case club gets a new life.
They don't deserve another chance. They had their crack at the title with the Gold Coast and they arrogantly told the AFL to shove it. Stuff 'em I say.
I'm of the same opinion, but I think Tassie deserves a team and North should be told that is their last chance. Poor old Tassie - since its not a battleground region they've got really got SFA in the way of attention. Realistically for North there is nowhere else to go.
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Enzed?
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The Tigers have an enormous amount of support and goodwill in Tassie — we'd be crazy not to make the most of that by playing games there. And we might weaken the Hawks while we do it! :cheers
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tassie better not get kangaroo's no one wants them. no doubt moving to tasmania will help richmond membership.
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(http://www.terrortube.com/gallery/files/1/8/basket_case.jpg)
Norths new mascot
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Richmond Tigers looking at Hobart games
* From: AAP
* July 02, 2010 1:13PM
TASMANIAN Premier David Bartlett has confirmed holding talks with Richmond about hosting Tigers matches in Hobart.
The Tasmanian government currently has a multi-million dollar deal with Hawthorn, which includes sponsorship and the club playing games at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
In a statement released on Friday, Mr Bartlett confirmed he and Richmond CEO Brendan Gale had talks about the possibility of Tigers games at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.
"It is clear that other clubs are interested in playing games in Tasmania and the AFL supports that," he said.
"We welcome that interest but the Government has made no commitments nor had any formal proposals put to it.
"If the AFL or other clubs want to stage games at Bellerive we are not opposed to that.
"My talks today with Mr Gale were of a general nature and I expect there will be more discussions in the future."
The deal with the Hawks is currently being renegotiated, but Mr Bartlett said the Tasmanian government's priority was to have the arrangement continued.
At Hawthorn's most recent home game in Launceston two weeks ago, Tasmanian Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne said the government was not looking at underwriting any other teams to play in the state.
"Anything else entered into would not be requiring any financial assistance from the state to encourage other teams to come down and play," Ms O'Byrne said.
"Our relationship is with Hawthorn ... (they) have delivered a huge benefit for us."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-tigers-looking-at-hobart-games/story-e6frf9jf-1225887127057
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Bellerive's 'ready' for AFL fixtures
abc.net.au
Updated July 2, 2010 18:16:00
Cricket Tasmania (CT) says Bellerive Oval is ready to host major sports other than cricket, including AFL.
CT chairman Tony Harrison met Richmond Football Club chief executive Brendon Gale on Friday to discuss the possibility of the Tigers playing in Hobart.
Harrison says the negotiations are in the early stages.
"All we've done is said that Bellerive Oval is ready for business and we've attracted interest from AFL football clubs, as has been reported," he said.
"Also we're talking to the Football Federation [Australia], soccer, and rugby league and rugby union as well."
But Harrison says Bellerive may have to provide more seating and new broadcasting facilities.
"We have a venue that's capable of hosting other major sport and we're saying that we're prepared and ready to honour that," he said.
The Tasmanian government says while its priorities remain with Hawthorn playing in Launceston, it is open to the idea of teams playing in Hobart, although it is yet to commit any practical support to the proposal.
Melbourne and North Melbourne have also expressed an interest.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/02/2943624.htm?site=sport§ion=afl
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Richmond talks on 'Tassie Tigers' link
July 3, 2010
RICHMOND has stressed the need for an ''attractive commercial proposition'' if it is to host AFL matches in Hobart.
Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett met with Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale yesterday and their discussions included the possibility of Hobart's Bellerive Oval becoming an AFL venue.
The government is currently renegotiating its successful agreement with Hawthorn, which has a long-term deal to host matches at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
It is understood Richmond is among three AFL clubs looking at Hobart.
Last month, Tasmanian Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne said the government was not looking at underwriting any other teams to play in the state.
Gale would not respond directly to Ms O'Byrne's comments, but stressed any club would only want to host Hobart games if the project had local and AFL support.
''There was no proposal, there was no assurances sought or given,'' Gale said of his meeting with the premier.
''I certainly indicated that clubs would not consider the opportunity unless there was the support of the AFL through the fixture and also the government, that's where I left it.
''From our point of view, it would have to be an attractive commercial proposition.''
Gale acknowledged that the government wants to renegotiate the Hawthorn deal before looking more seriously at the Hobart idea.
As a Tasmanian native himself, Gale said it was important to have AFL matches in the south of the state.
''The Hawthorn experience is pretty much confined to the north of the state, that's the way it works down here.''
The Tigers have around 1500 members in the state, while key forward Jack Riewoldt hails from Tasmania.
Club greats such as Matthew Richardson, Royce Hart, Ian Stewart and Michael Roach also have strong Tasmanian connections.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-talks-on-tassie-tigers-link-20100702-zu4l.html
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Tasmanian Tigers
* Michael Warner
* Herald Sun
* July 03, 2010
RICHMOND has officially registered its interest in staging home games in Hobart.
Chief executive Brendon Gale yesterday met Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett to discuss the prospect of AFL matches being played at a revamped Bellerive Oval as early as 2012.
But Gale - also a member of AFL Tasmania's board - said details of how many games would be played or how much it would be worth to the Tigers had not been discussed.
"It's really speculative. All we did today was to formally register our interest as a football club. I have been given authority by the board to continue those discussions," Gale said.
"Hobart is an attractive market and we have a great historical association with the state. But we couldn't consider it without the support of the (Tasmanian) Government and the AFL, because they control the fixture."
North Melbourne and Melbourne are also in the mix to play at Bellerive, while Hawthorn is set to begin renegotiating its own lucrative deal to play games at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the league had held its own discussions with the Government regarding Bellerive matches.
"It has also had preliminary discussions with several of our clubs," Keane said.
"These talks are in the early stages, and will proceed in the coming weeks. Any announcement on whether some games may be played at Bellerive in the future is not expected before the latter part of the season."
Bartlett said it was clear other AFL clubs were interested in playing games in Tasmania. "We welcome that interest but the Government has made no commitments nor had any formal proposals put to it," he said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tasmanian-tigers/story-e6frf9if-1225887311711
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this would be a big win for the RFC.
why should those Hawks control the market down there. They got VFL park for donuts now Tassy too. stuff em
With the whole Tassy Tigers Theme going on all it needs is for us to play finals regulary and the RFC would be smash that 75k members in no time. I have no doubt this is a real possibility when not if it happens.
Think about it we have been poo for 30 years yet still manage 40k. 2 games down there less games at the dome i can handle that.
Gales is a smart operator he will make this happen no question.
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Tigers keen to claim Bellerive
* BRETT STUBBS
* The Mercury
* July 13, 2010
MORE Richmond officials are heading to Bellerive as the Tigers further investigate playing home games in Hobart.
Earlier this month, Richmond chief executive officer Brendon Gale met with Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison about using Bellerive as the Tigers' home away from home.
Yesterday Harrison confirmed discussions were continuing and members of Richmond's management team would be heading to Bellerive in the next few weeks.
"We are still progressing it. It is just one of these things we need to work through so we are going through the process," Harrison said.
But interest in Bellerive is not limited to Richmond, with North Melbourne and Melbourne also keeping in contact with CT. "We are still talking to all three of them," Harrison said.
"At the end of the day the decision is going to be made by the AFL so we are just keeping the lines of communication open.
"We'll talk to anyone who wants to talk to us about it."
The Government's five-year deal with Hawthorn, worth $16.4 million to the Hawks for four home games in Launceston, will expire at the end of next season. The Government has consistently said the renewal of the contract for Hawthorn games at Aurora Stadium was the No.1 priority.
A deal will be renegotiated this year but a spokesman for Tasmanian Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne said discussions had not started yet.
At the meeting with Bartlett on July 2, Gale officially announced Richmond's interest in playing games in Tasmania.
"We talked about AFL in Tasmania; that has been a successful experience so far, but there is a view in the Government that they would like to bring more AFL games to the state," Gale said.
"That is a good thing and I think Bellerive Oval is being contemplated and we think that is a good thing.
"That brings AFL football to the whole state and today I registered our club's interest in being part of those discussions."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/13/158491_sport-news.html
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Mike on 3aw just before said Hobart people would want games down there at Bellerive as there still is the north-south divide in Tassie so Launceston games aren't consider "local" but the Tassie pollies are less keen. The AFL is saying "build it and we will come" but the Government doesn't want to fork out the money to "build it".
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Interesting developments, i thought we had stepped back from this
i believe the monkeys at AFL house want a more needy club to go down there.
perhaps its the goverment pushing for a certain club, i suppose if you are
going to fork out money you would want to least have say in which club
plants it seed so to speak.
BG on the case it seems.
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War of words erupts over Bellerive games
HOBART
July 14, 2010 - 3:31PM
The prospect of AFL games being played at Hobart's Bellerive Oval has reignited old divisions between Tasmania's north and south.
The Tasmanian government has a long-term agreement with Hawthorn to play at Aurora Stadium in Launceston in a multi-million dollar deal which includes the state being the Hawks' major sponsor.
But Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has met with Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale, discussing the possibility of Bellerive Oval becoming an AFL venue.
It is understood that two other AFL clubs are looking at playing in Hobart.
Tasmanian Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne has stated the government would not underwrite any other teams to play in the state, but the discussions with Richmond have reopened the old north-south rivalry.
Launceston City Council Mayor Albert van Zetten said Aurora Stadium should remain the only AFL venue in Tasmania.
"The former premier Jim Bacon made the commitment that Tasmania would have one football ground and one cricket ground," he said.
"It makes sense to continue that so each can be an elite, highly-specialised ground for the appropriate sport."
But Clarence acting Mayor Doug Chipman, whose council includes Bellerive Oval, said the venue was not trying to steal games from Launceston.
"It is time for the parochial whinging to stop," Mr Chipman said on Wednesday.
"This is not about undermining the Hawthorn deal at Aurora Stadium, but building on its success to see AFL matches played elsewhere in Tasmania."
Mr Chipman said the bickering needed to stop if the state ever wanted to have an AFL team of its own.
"If we are to ever get serious about a local team in the AFL, we need to demonstrate the breadth and success of the sport throughout the state," he said.
"An eventual state team to Tasmania will need to embrace all of the State and will not survive by disenfranchising southern Tasmania."
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/war-of-words-erupts-over-bellerive-games-20100714-10ana.html
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Tigers push ahead with Tassie deal
SAMANTHA LANE
July 15, 2010
RICHMOND moving games to Hobart would enhance, rather than inhibit, the creation of a Tasmanian team, Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale believes. And while Gale would rather his team played all its home games at the MCG, semi-regular trips to the Apple Isle, in a deal similar to Hawthorn's, could be financially advantageous for Richmond, which has a debt of about $4 million.
Of the three clubs linked to the push for a second AFL side to make Tasmania a home away from home, the Tigers are pursing it most actively.
North Melbourne, by contrast, is almost distancing itself from the notion given its sensitivity to even the slightest suggestion of relocation.
North chief executive Eugene Arocca said yesterday: ''We hear this chatter that's coming out of the AFL and around town. We haven't sat down with anyone. We are not chasing it. Unlike Richmond who are all over it like a rash.
''We have two non-negotiables: we're a Melbourne club and we ain't leaving Arden Street. It's as simple as that.''
Gale met Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison 13 days ago to officially lodge interest in playing home games at Bellerive Oval as soon as the 2012 season.
The Premier has indicated there will be no negotiations with a second AFL club until the state's arrangement with Hawthorn - a five-year deal worth about $16.4 million to play four times a year in Launceston - is renewed.
Melbourne's board has also discussed the prospect of moving home games to Bellerive, which is planning to expand its seating capacity of 17,000.
''I think it could potentially further enhance Tasmania's ambitions to have their own side,'' said Gale, who is also an AFL Tasmania board member.
''At the moment the AFL experience in Tasmania is four games a year. If they're going to have a team of their own they're going to be looking at playing 11 home games a year. That's a massive jump. I think the staging of more AFL games, involving the whole of the state, will cultivate support which will be required eventually to sustain a team of their own.''
If Tasmania did have its own AFL team - which Gale, a Tasmanian, supports - the Richmond boss believes any arrangements with other AFL clubs would cease. Asked whether Hawthorn had any issues with Richmond's exploration of Tasmania as a second home, Gale said: ''I wouldn't have the faintest idea and I don't care, to be honest.''
The Tigers, who are playing one ''home'' game in Darwin next season and another in 2012, have strong support in Tasmania - almost 1500 financial members this year, the club's largest interstate supporter group - as well as a historical connection.
''It goes without saying we wouldn't make a decision lightly,'' Gale said, ''But we can't sit back and expect to play 11 games at the MCG. I wish we could, but I don't think we can. So it's incumbent on us, as managers of football clubs, to look at opportunities like this.''
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-push-ahead-with-tassie-deal-20100714-10b36.html
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Mayors unite for AFL push
ADAM SMITH
The Mercury
July 15, 2010
TASMANIA'S southern councils have banded together in support of AFL matches being played at Bellerive Oval.
And they have rubbished suggestions it is a betrayal of deals done by past governments.
The AFL's decision to look at getting games into Hobart has again polarised the north and south of the state.
Richmond, North Melbourne and Melbourne have registered interest with Cricket Tasmania and Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale recently met Premier David Bartlett.
The State Government will soon begin re-negotiating the $16.4 million deal under which Hawthorn plays four matches each year at Aurora Stadium.
The deal expires at the end of next year but Mr Bartlett has stated the No. 1 priority is securing at least four Hawks games in Launceston.
However, Launceston MLC Don Wing and Aurora Stadium chiefs have labelled the southern push as a betrayal of both the northern half of the state and of former premier Jim Bacon.
Acting Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman yesterday urged his northern counterparts to stop playing the parochialism card and instead unite to ultimately deliver Tasmania more of the AFL product.
Ald Chipman had support from Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, Huon Valley Mayor Robert Armstrong, Southern Midlands Mayor Tony Bisdee, Brighton general manager Ron Sanderson, Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans and acting Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass.
"AFL football might not come to Bellerive Oval in the near future but I would hate to see any case undermined because of perceived parochialism from the North," Ald Chipman said.
"We are not trying to take what they have got and what Jim Bacon gave them. We are trying to build a case for more AFL in Tasmania, with additional games on top of what Hawthorn are willing to put into Launceston.
"An eventual state team will need to embrace all of Tasmania and it won't survive by disenfranchising people in the South."
Ald Valentine said with the population base in the state's capital, it was only logical for games to played at Bellerive.
"You have got half the population down this end, and to think they are basically being alienated by not having games to go to is just a nonsense when you are trying to come up with a statewide team in the long run," he said.
Cr Bisdee said more games would help Tasmania's push for its own AFL team.
"This is an expansion of the AFL playing rostered games in Tasmania, not only for the benefit of the team that is contracted but for the Tasmanian community," he said.
"Tasmania deserves it and Bellerive is an ideal venue considering the investment that's been made there."
Cr Evans said: "We need to work together to get the best deal for the whole state."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/15/158851_tasmania-news.html
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Kangas eye Bellerive
BRETT STUBBS
The Mercury
July 16, 2010
NORTH Melbourne last night officially joined the race to play home games at Bellerive Oval.
Kangaroos president James Brayshaw said AFL matches in Hobart were inevitable and every club should look at the prospect, before he declared North Melbourne's interest.
"It will happen in the next couple of years," Brayshaw said last night on Channel 9's The Footy Show about games at Bellerive.
"It will be a success. Look how successful Hawthorn has been in the north."
He said the Hawks had increased membership and revenue through their deal with the State Government and any club looking to play games in Hobart would like to emulate Hawthorn's success.
Brayshaw's interest was supported by co-host Garry Lyon, who endorsed the concept.
Former Melbourne champion Lyon mentioned three games being played at Bellerive, but Brayshaw said no details had been discussed.
North Melbourne has long been believed to be interested in Tasmania's home of cricket, but last night was the first time the club has officially declared its hand.
Brayshaw's announcement follows the meeting by Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale with Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison earlier this month.
Melbourne is the third club interested in using the venue and tapping into the AFL-starved south of the state.
The push to play games at Bellerive has already been supported by the AFL.
But no matches can be played in Hobart before 2012 because of an exclusivity clause in Hawthorn's $16.4 million, five-year contract that expires at the end of next season.
Hawthorn plays four premiership home games in Launceston under the contract, which is due to be renegotiated this season.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/16/159181_afl.html
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Seems like the north are getting a bit shirty because the south might get the Mighty Tiges and they're stuck with the wees and poos.
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Seems like the north are getting a bit shirty because the south might get the Mighty Tiges and they're stuck with the wees and poos.
No wonder they lose members every year.
North play games with their supporters one minute its Sydney, then Canberra, then Gold Coast, then Ballarat, now Hobart.
Just eff off somewhere, anywhere North and put everyone out of their misery.
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Time for North Melbourne to change from the North Melbourne Kangaroos to the Flip Flops
Bloody make up your mind, didn't you commit to your members to not play home games interstate?
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so long as it means we play less games at that stupid Etihad Stadium, i'm for the idea. perhaps having 9 or 10 home games at the 'G with the other 1 or 2 in Tassie could work well.
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so long as it means we play less games at that stupid Etihad Stadium, i'm for the idea. perhaps having 9 or 10 home games at the 'G with the other 1 or 2 in Tassie could work well.
This is the agreement Hawthorn have. They play only 7 home games at the G, play 4 home games against low drawing teams in Tasmania and they play all away games against MCG tennants at the MCG. I think they may also get 4 reciprical matches at the G with their 11 game memberships.
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north are in a sticky situation, dont wanna p.ss off what supporters they have left. :lol
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Yep both of them ;D
Seriously as Infamy said North can't make up their minds because everywhere they go it ends up a failure - Sydney, Canberra, Gold Coast, back to staying in Melbourne, and now they want to try Hobart. Nomad clubs don't last long-term. Just look at Fitzroy. Ironically they played a few games in Hobart in the early 90s. It didn't save them.
As for us I'd prefer we play all our home games in Melbourne. Start winning and the large crowds, tv ratings, sponsors, etc will come and hopefully with large crowds we force Andy D's hand to play more games especially our home games at the 'G. I could tolerate one home game in Hobart to replace a Docklands home game (especially the St Kilda one ::) ) but 4 in Hobart is too many. Our home is the 'G and Punt Road.
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1 NOT 4 No No No (http://www.smileyhut.com/yes_no/uhhuh.gif)
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I could tolerate one home game in Hobart to replace a Docklands home game (especially the St Kilda one ::) ) but 4 in Hobart is too many. Our home is the 'G and Punt Road.
Yep, what MT said. Become successful and the money will come without the need to go interstate.
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It's time Tassie had a seat at AFL table
TIM LANE
July 18, 2010
HAVING lately resisted the temptation to maintain the rage on Tasmania's indefinite exclusion from the quasi-national football competition, this columnist has finally succumbed.
Perhaps it's the talk of a second Victorian club looking to feed off the island state's lush pastures?
Or perhaps it's pride in the fact that an Australian XI comprising 27 per cent Tasmanian personnel has helped beat Pakistan at Lord's?
Whichever way you look at it, a state of 2.5 per cent of the national population providing 27 per cent of the members of an elite national sports team is a significant effort. It's made even more so by the fact that cricket was once a poor relation among Tasmanian sports. It was only a courageous and far-sighted decision of the Australian Cricket Board in the mid-1970s, to give the island state a chance in the Sheffield Shield, which turned Tasmania's fortunes for the better.
It's hard to discuss the state's football case without going over some old ground. Fifty years old to be precise, for it was that long ago in June that Tasmania had its greatest day in football, beating a strong Victorian team without the benefit of state-of-origin rules.
In the manner of interstate contests of the time, this match was played on the same day as the No. 1 Victorian team played South Australia, but that's not to say the team that lost in Launceston wasn't worthy. Some of those who wore the Big V that day were Hall of Fame members Ken Fraser, Murray Weideman, Bill Goggin, and Frank Johnson; while John Birt, Verdun Howell, Hugh Mitchell, Hassa Mann, John Peck, and Bruce Comben won Brownlows, Colemans, or club best and fairests.
Were a game to be played today pitting a second AFL team against the best of those currently playing senior football in Tasmania, it would be less than a no-contest. The AFL second XVIII would win by upward of 200 points. That's a measure of how far football in Tasmania has been allowed to fall.
The cold, hard reality is football in Tasmania has been devastated by nationalisation. Still, there is no commitment beyond weasel words to it being given representation in the AFL.
Now there's a contest between some Melbourne-based clubs to play as many as four games a year in Hobart. This is not necessarily all bad for Tasmania, but it's not necessarily good either. I see something obscene in the probability that Tasmanian taxpayers will soon be underwriting the financial fortunes of two Victorian football clubs.
How long can an Australian state be expected to go on paying its dues - in terms of players and dollars - without being given full membership? The crude unfairness is manifest.
As for what it would mean if Richmond (for example) plays games in Hobart, so that the south and the north of the state provide separate, second homes for two Victorian clubs, I have mixed feelings. The notion that such an arrangement offers Tasmania the chance to show it can sustain up to eight AFL matches per year, thus strengthening its case for inclusion, has some validity. One can but hope it's not a convenient justification for the AFL and its clubs to increase their level of parasitic occupation of the island without genuine commitment to granting ultimate inclusion. The Tasmanian government and AFL Tasmania should push all parties hard on this to seek to establish their bona fides.
The fact that Richmond's CEO, Brendon Gale, is also a board member of AFL Tasmania makes for another of football's disturbing conflicts of interest. When he joined the Tasmanian board, Gale wasn't associated with Richmond. Now that he is, and the Tigers are interested in Tassie, just whose interests does he represent in any negotiation? While it is cosy to imagine that the interests of club and state will always run in parallel, this is not necessarily the case now or in the future.
My other concern at this likely new arrangement is that it plays on Tasmania's greatest weakness: its propensity for regional warfare.
To seek to establish football bases in the state's two most populous centres flies in the face of everything the state has achieved in the past decade and has the potential to set the regions further apart than ever before.
With southern Tasmania looking for its piece of the action, Richmond looking for its, and the AFL wanting to quell the discomfort of the obvious unfairness of Tasmania's circumstances, the outlook is unclear.
What is clear is the appropriateness of Paul Keating's great truism: ''In the race of life always back self-interest; you know it's always trying.''
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/its-time-tassie-had-a-seat-at-afl-table-20100717-10f8p.html
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First to stay south, but Hawks now facing a fight
JON PIERIK
July 18, 2010
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says the incentive of growing a supporter base, rather than financial return, is paramount when clubs consider shifting home games to Hobart.
Richmond, North Melbourne and Melbourne have been linked to playing matches at Bellerive Oval, as soon as 2012, with the Kangaroos' chairman James Brayshaw intensifying his club's interest this week.
The Tigers had led the charge, having received detailed information from Cricket Tasmania, which runs Bellerive, earlier this season. Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale has subsequently met Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and CT chairman Tony Harrison.
While the Tigers have a $4 million debt, and shifting games south would be financially lucrative - the Hawks have a $16.4 million deal over five years to play at Launceston - Demetriou said there were other important factors to consider.
''I think all clubs, whether it's Richmond, North Melbourne or whoever, [should] see Tasmania as a great way of growing their supporter base,'' he said. ''I don't think it's about reducing debt, or just the money; it's about growing the supporter base, because you have to grow in this competition because it's becoming very, very competitive.''
Gale has flagged hopes of the Tigers one day having 75,000 members - they have 35,960 this season - so a healthy Tasmanian base would help fulfil this hope.
The Hawks, who have more than 7000 Tasmanian members, have yet to renew their deal with the government, with talks to begin soon. Demetriou said deals with Bellerive would not impact the Hawks.
''We will talk to all clubs, including Hawthorn, because Hawthorn has done a fantastic job in their commitment to four games and their commitment to football in Tasmania, and they have got a very good following,'' he said. ''We have always said that if there are to be games at Bellerive, they can't be to the detriment of Launceston.
''They have to be additional games to the four. That's a healthy thing for Tasmanian football and we are keen to see that.''
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett hopes his club will be playing Tasmanian games in 20 or 30 years.
''We actually see our commitment being here for the long-term,'' he said. ''It's been the position of many governments on both sides of the political persuasion that Tasmania has football to the north and cricket to the south. If that were ever to change, we're happy to review where we play.
''I just simply say this though - from our perspective, this is … the best ground we play on in the league; [of] any ground in Australia, this is the best ground.''
The Kangaroos had been reluctant to publicly express interest in Hobart for fear of sparking unnecessary speculation about their financial viability. But Brayshaw, speaking on The Footy Show, confirmed the club's strong interest.
''Absolutely, every club with a chance of playing down there should look at it,'' Brayshaw said. '' don't know [how many games] and that's the issue at the moment. We don't really know what it looks like but I think there will be footy played down there in a couple of years, and it will be really exciting. It will be a great place to play footy.''
Brayshaw said the Hawks had shown how to make it a success.
''The south of Tasmania is an enormous opportunity and any club that doesn't look at that positively has got rocks in their head,'' he said.
''You only have to look at what [Hawthorn] has done in the north, it is an enormous success story. They have increased membership, increased supporter base, increased revenue of course, increased merchandise.''
The Kangaroos' membership has fallen by 4.9 per cent to 26,953 this season.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/first-to-stay-south-but-hawks-now-facing-a-fight-20100717-10f8m.html
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Roos eye Bellerive but Tigers lead charge
JON PIERIK
July 19, 2010
CRICKET Tasmania says Richmond leads the battle to stage home AFL matches in Hobart from 2012, with negotiations to intensify with the Tigers in the next fortnight.
CT chairman Tony Harrison last night welcomed North Melbourne's greater interest in playing at Bellerive Oval, after the club's chairman, James Brayshaw, said the proposition was ''something we cannot pass up''.
But Harrison said the Tigers had led the charge. ''Brayshaw's comments are obviously welcomed and we are very happy to talk to them,'' he said. ''But at this point Richmond has been the most proactive. That's probably where we are at. We have got some more talks planned with Richmond people in the next couple of weeks, so we are just continuing to progress from our perspective.''
Melbourne is also still in the frame, but only one team is expected to be granted the opportunity by the AFL, the Tasmanian government and CT to play up to four games a season at Bellerive Oval.
''That's up to the AFL. I don't know what the AFL would want to do,'' Harrison said.
''But I guess, from a club's perspective, they would prefer to have only one club if you are going to drive memberships and all that.''
The Tigers are already scheduled to play one home match a season in Darwin in 2011-12. While parts of the cricket venue need upgrading, CT is confident all work would be ready in time for 2012.
Harrison said initial estimates were that the home club would pocket $250,000 a game plus revenue from sponsorship and signage rights.
Hawthorn has a $16.4-million deal over five years to play four matches a season at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
That deal is being renegotiated, with the Hawks considering playing an extra game there each season.
So lucrative has the deal become that Hawks president Jeff Kennett hopes the club continues to play matches in Launceston for the next 20 or 30 years.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/roos-eye-bellerive-but-tigers-lead-charge-20100718-10g6s.html
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Hobart a one-team town: Gale
* BRETT STUBBS
* The Mercury
* July 19, 2010 09.59am
THERE can be only one in the race for Bellerive Oval, according to Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale.
Richmond was the first team to officially announce its interest in playing home games at Bellerive, but has now been joined by North Melbourne with Melbourne also in the mix.
But Gale said Hobart could not be shared by more than one club if the Tigers or Kangaroos or Demons were to replicate the success of Hawthorn in Launceston.
"I agree with that," Gale said on Melbourne radio yesterday when asked if it was not possible for two clubs to share Hobart.
"I think to encourage clubs to invest and grow and develop they have got to be cut a bit of slack."
Gale said it was not up to the clubs to decide which would make Hobart its home away from home, and no decision would be made until Hawthorn renegotiated its deal with the AFL and the Tasmanian Government sometime this year.
"That really wouldn't be up to us, that would be up to the AFL," he said.
"They control the fixture which is a pretty important tool for the AFL and it would be up to the Government as well, I would have thought."
North Melbourne president James Brayshaw has gone on the Kangaroos website to talk up the positives of moving home games to Bellerive, especially with North's membership dropping by 1387 to 26,953 the second lowest in the AFL.
This is on top of several extremely low attendances that have seen the Kangaroos regularly losing money at home games.
Brayshaw said home games in Hobart could help grow membership, supporter-base, attendance, corporate partnerships, merchandise and "the most important area of all, revenue".
"The potential to explore a partnership with a city like Hobart, to expand in the areas I have mentioned and have the chance to make our business bigger, better and stronger is simply something we cannot pass up and I just think it's really exciting," Brayshaw said.
He said 2012 was the most likely season for the start of Bellerive home games, but also moved to allay fears it would result in a permanent relocation south.
"Hawthorn plays four games a year in Launceston and it is one of the best deals they have ever done," he said.
"Nine thousand extra members and a massive increase in its supporter base, which is very hard to achieve.
"The added corporate partnerships, sponsorships and merchandise sales have added millions to its bottom line which is also incredibly hard to do.
"It has been an unqualified success and no one ever talks about Hawthorn moving to Launceston."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/19/159875_afl.html
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The Kangaroos look like amateurs with Arocca saying that Richmond 'were all over it like a rash' and that they weren't playing games anywhere other than Victoria.
Now Brayshaw is out there looking as desperate as ever trying to get a slice of the action.
I'd like to see us get the Tassie games just so North misses out.
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I'd like to see us get the Tassie games just so North misses out.
I agree, get it for 3-4 years then hand it over to North as part of a relocation plan... if they can last that long
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Well March said to me last night "It is more unlikely, than likely" and "We would be crazy not to suss it out"
I made a point of it being a trade for the Etihad "Home" games and he dodged the ?
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Well March said to me last night "It is more unlikely, than likely" and "We would be crazy not to suss it out"
I made a point of it being a trade for the Etihad "Home" games and he dodged the ?
But what else can he do/say CUB?
the AFL control things, even Benny Gale said that see below:
Gale said it was not up to the clubs to decide which would make Hobart its home away from home, and no decision would be made until Hawthorn renegotiated its deal with the AFL and the Tasmanian Government sometime this year.
"That really wouldn't be up to us, that would be up to the AFL," he said.
"They control the fixture which is a pretty important tool for the AFL and it would be up to the Government as well, I would have thought."
March can't make guarantees about things because those nuffers at AFL headquarters are likely to shaft us.
What has been confirmed through all of this is that we will be playng 2 homes games in Darwin in 2011 & 2012
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Yeah I know man, I'm not stupid. Just thought I would mention it for what it's worth.
And for the record I didn't ask the ? a mate did, I don't see the point.
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North to get 4 Hobart games - 3aw is talking about this now as well. I might add the author is a North fan.
Kangaroos all set for Hobart
backpagelead.com.au
Thursday, 22 July 2010 18:11
The AFL is believed to have given North Melbourne the go-ahead to play four matches in Hobart from next season, giving the league's pauper club a massive financial fillip.
The news could be announced by Kangaroos chairman James Brayshaw as early as tonight (Thursday).
The development, if confirmed, would give the AFL an eight-match presence in the Apple Isle.
It would also be a huge boon for the perenially hard-up Roos who currently lose money on many poor-drawing home games at Etihad Stadium. If the Tasmania move is given the green light by the AFL, the club could expect to make a healthy sum from each of its Hobart appearances.
While Richmond was also bidding for the chance to play two of its home games in Hobart - and Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale is Tasmanian and on the board of AFL Tasmania - it is understood the AFL favoured the Roos' bid because it gave the club the hope of some financial relief.
The AFL felt Richmond, with its large supporter base, could stand on its own two feet in Melbourne and the Hobart move would be of far greater benefit to a smaller club.
Any Hobart matches would be played at Bellerive, home of Cricket Tasmania and venue for the state's Test cricket matches. While the ground can only accommodate about 17,000 spectators, Cricket Tasmania has said there were plans to lift that capacity to about 20,000, the same as Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
Cricket Tasmania said that Bellerive would provide a low-cost stadium for modest crowds.
Hawthorn plays at Aurora Stadium in the north of the state four times a season in a lucrative deal with the Tasmanian government.
http://www.backpagelead.com.au/afl/2001-kangaroos-set-for-hobart-move
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While Richmond was also bidding for the chance to play two of its home games in Hobart - and Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale is Tasmanian and on the board of AFL Tasmania - it is understood the AFL favoured the Roos' bid because it gave the club the hope of some financial relief.
The AFL felt Richmond, with its large supporter base, could stand on its own two feet in Melbourne and the Hobart move would be of far greater benefit to a smaller club.
Not that I'm in favour of 4 games in Hobart and I'm happy for us to remain a purely Melbourne club but for the AFL to firstly interfere and decide who plays down there when Gale was daylight ahead of North in discussions with CT and then for the AFL to use the excuse of "financial relief" for North while we have a $4m debt to clear is pathetic. North had their chance for "financial relief" on the Gold Coast and they knocked it back to in their own words to stay and play in Melbourne ::). They should have only got offer if they relocated. What next for them if and when this fails. Darwin? Cairns? NZ? :sleep
Mind you in saying all this who knows if this is true given North supporters this time last year were boasting how they poached Hardwick as their coach ahead of Richmond.
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The news could be announced by Kangaroos chairman James Brayshaw as early as tonight (Thursday).
I don't recall this being mentioned on the Footy Show last night. Perhaps it's more wishful thinking from North supporting journos just as they did with Hardwick this time last year.
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i hope so, i think this is a huge potential windfall and will be a massive loss for us if they give it to the gypsies
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North to get 4 Hobart games - 3aw is talking about this now as well. I might add the author is a North fan.
Kangaroos all set for Hobart
backpagelead.com.au
Thursday, 22 July 2010 18:11
The AFL is believed to have given North Melbourne the go-ahead to play four matches in Hobart from next season, giving the league's pauper club a massive financial fillip.
The news could be announced by Kangaroos chairman James Brayshaw as early as tonight (Thursday).
The development, if confirmed, would give the AFL an eight-match presence in the Apple Isle.
It would also be a huge boon for the perenially hard-up Roos who currently lose money on many poor-drawing home games at Etihad Stadium. If the Tasmania move is given the green light by the AFL, the club could expect to make a healthy sum from each of its Hobart appearances.
While Richmond was also bidding for the chance to play two of its home games in Hobart - and Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale is Tasmanian and on the board of AFL Tasmania - it is understood the AFL favoured the Roos' bid because it gave the club the hope of some financial relief.
The AFL felt Richmond, with its large supporter base, could stand on its own two feet in Melbourne and the Hobart move would be of far greater benefit to a smaller club.
Any Hobart matches would be played at Bellerive, home of Cricket Tasmania and venue for the state's Test cricket matches. While the ground can only accommodate about 17,000 spectators, Cricket Tasmania has said there were plans to lift that capacity to about 20,000, the same as Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
Cricket Tasmania said that Bellerive would provide a low-cost stadium for modest crowds.
Hawthorn plays at Aurora Stadium in the north of the state four times a season in a lucrative deal with the Tasmanian government.
http://www.backpagelead.com.au/afl/2001-kangaroos-set-for-hobart-move
Crap article that is impossible to believe at this stage of proceedings. The Tas Govt and Richmond are only in the initial phases of discussion and all parties have acknowledged that we are the front runners at this stage. It totally lacks credibility that the AFL have made any type of decision (or even had any meaningful discussions) before any studies have been commissioned and completed by any party, and then any proposals been made/accepted. Any call on this issue is still months away at best with a hell of a lot more consideration by all vested interests yet to come. Wanker journalism at it's best.
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If an unprofitable club wants a presence in Tassie and the AFL and Tasmanian govt want a long-term presence in Tassie it is a no-brainer.
FTO!
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very true TM. I fully support this move south for a few years till we repay our debt then like someone said previously sell it back to the gypsys and watch them screw it up again, like they do everything.
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Roos in likely lead for Hobart
JON PIERIK
July 24, 2010
NORTH Melbourne last night emerged as the front-runner to play four home matches in Hobart from 2012.
The Kangaroos, Richmond and Melbourne had all expressed interest in shifting matches to Bellerive Oval, but it appears the Kangaroos are now well placed to win the battle, with an announcement expected as early as next week.
Tony Harrison, the chairman of Cricket Tasmania, the governing body which runs the venue, said it was his understanding the Kangaroos had beaten the Tigers as favourites.
''It's a very strong rumour but we haven't heard anything official yet,'' he said yesterday.
''The word is something may be said, and it would have to be said by the AFL, over the weekend or early next week.''
Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett is in the US until early next week and it is unlikely an announcement would be made until he returns.
Harrison said he had even expected Kangaroos chairman James Brayshaw to make an announcement on The Footy Show on Thursday night, although that would have been overshadowed by the interview with sacked Western Bulldog, Jason Akermanis.
A Kangaroos spokesman yesterday denied a deal had been finalised and said he did not expect an announcement, whether successful or not, for possibly another month.
An AFL spokesman last night said no agreement had been made with any club.
Harrison said he was still in discussions with Richmond. Tigers' chief executive Brendon Gale is Tasmanian and sits on the board of AFL Tasmania.
''We are still talking to them. I think they are sending some people over next week to have a look at the ground,'' Harrison said.
Brayshaw this week outlined his intentions in a letter to members on the club's website.
He said Hawthorn's $16.4 million deal over five years with the Tasmanian government to play four home matches in Launceston per season, which is now up for renegotiation, was a model the Kangaroos hoped to emulate.
It is understood the Kangaroos have generated support for the move because it would be a major financial boost for a club whose future in Melbourne is often questioned.
The Kangaroos' membership has fallen by 4.9 per vent to 26,953 this season.
A move south could help bump this figure to the crucial 30,000 mark.
Bellerive has a capacity of 17,000 but Cricket Tasmania says it has plans to lift that to 20,000, the same as Launceston's Aurora Stadium, should it win AFL games.
The Kangaroos have also expressed an interest in developing football in the region, similar to what Hawthorn has done in the north.
It is unclear if the Kangaroos, should they be successful, would enjoy the same level of funding from the Tasmanian government as what the Hawks have been provided with.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/roos-in-likely-lead-for-hobart-20100723-10oxo.html
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"We love Ballarat. It is only a one-hour and twenty minute drive and it’s just an hour on the train,” Arocca said
From their website a month ago.
"We went up there to play some games for a variety of reasons, and we decided to stay in Melbourne. Our plans, in the end, revolved around us staying in Victoria" Arocca again on Fox sports june 2008
This club is a joke to its supporters, the AFL and each other.
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From BF but I heard this as well.....
Caro on 3AW today after midday. She said Benny Gale is heading to Hobart this week to put Richmond's case for 4 home games but she said it was just a front to gain a better deal from the AFL with next year's draw.
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Caroline Wilson should shut up
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Caroline Wilson should shut up
Agreed, she did enough damage with leaking our gain with moving the StKilda game to the MCG... that then got changed back after her article
Stupid cow
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Benny Gale should come out and tell Caro to shut her stuffin mouth and never walk through our doors again, like Clarko did with dermie.
I can guarantee he wont be bagging the Hawks any more in public.
she is a stuffin snake that old botoxed hag and someone needs to tell her to shut the stuff up
was so happy when she had to apologise when her 'sources' were wrong again re: Knighter.
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well said daniel, that sow should shut her trap and should be banned from punt rd just like shes not welcome at a few clubs
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Benny Gale should come out and tell Caro to shut her effin mouth and never walk through our doors again, like Clarko did with dermie.
I can guarantee he wont be bagging the Hawks any more in public.
she is a effin snake that old botoxed hag and someone needs to tell her to shut the eff up
was so happy when she had to apologise when her 'sources' were wrong again re: Knighter.
If she's had botox then I hate to think what she'd look like without it
Unless of course they use the wrong needle and it's paralysing her brain
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Caro is one of the worst sporting journo's about. and by does she lay the boots into richmond whenever she can even when she has to make up things like she did about cousins. i wish richmond would put her in her place.
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So North are going to play 4 games in Hobart and then more in Ballarat at the new 15k Eureka stadium against GWS, GC, Port and Freo. I wonder what happened to their promise to their supporters they'd be a purely Melbourne club and play all their home games in Melbourne ::).
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So North are going to play 4 games in Hobart and then more in Ballarat at the new 15k Eureka stadium against GWS, GC, Port and Freo. I wonder what happened to their promise to their supporters they'd be a purely Melbourne club and play all their home games in Melbourne ::).
they should change their nick from the roos to the gypsies
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Benny Gale should come out and tell Caro to shut her effin mouth and never walk through our doors again, like Clarko did with dermie.
I can guarantee he wont be bagging the Hawks any more in public.
she is a effin snake that old botoxed hag and someone needs to tell her to shut the eff up
was so happy when she had to apologise when her 'sources' were wrong again re: Knighter.
If she's had botox then I hate to think what she'd look like without it
Unless of course they use the wrong needle and it's paralysing her brain
i zone off when she is talking so im forced to concentrate on her forehead and it doesnt move. I then have to :chuck :chuck
she is a disgraceful Journo and was made to look like the fool that she is last week. I cant wait for the day Benny Gale or Dimma does a Clarko and puts her in place in front of a wider audience like he did with Dermie. I love how he did that it shows Dermie who is boss. You want to talk negatively about our club go for it but dont expect any favours from us in the future. Gold.
When things turn around she will come knocking i can see it already. "I love Richmond, I love Punt Road bla bla bla' at which we should say get stuffed and tell her to shove the botox needle up her .............................Please insert word
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This is actually quite funny. The 'roos are buggered again.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/govt-wont-fund-bellerive-games-20100726-10rs7.html
Govt won't fund Bellerive games
Hobart
July 26, 2010 - 12:24PM
Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett says his government will not pay an AFL team to play at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.
North Melbourne and Richmond are currently looking at playing home games at Bellerive Oval, and both have spoken to Mr Bartlett about the prospect.
Hawthorn currently plays four games a season at Launceston's Aurora Stadium, in a multi-million dollar deal which makes Tasmania the club's major sponsor.
The deal with the Hawks is currently being renegotiated and Mr Bartlett said his government would not be paying any other clubs to play in Hobart.
"I'm not opposed to AFL football being played at Bellerive but it will not ever come at the expense of football at Aurora Stadium, and the state government will not be funding those games," Mr Bartlett told ABC Radio on Monday.
"The Hawthorn deal is great for Tasmania and I want to ensure that deal continues.
"Our number one priority is to resecure the deal with Hawthorn to play four or more, preferable more, games at Aurora Stadium."
AAP
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Pretty sure this was always the case and it was the local councils and Bellerive oval that were funding it
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Kangaroos off to Tasmania
Brett Stubbs in Hobart
Herald Sun
July 27, 2010
NORTH Melbourne has won the race for Bellerive. It is believed the club and the AFL have agreed that the Kangaroos will be the next club to make Tasmania a home away from home.
The deal is believed to involve four games a year from 2012 at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.
Richmond was in the hunt, but the AFL was slow to move the Tigers from Melbourne and their big crowds.
Is it a good move for the Kangaroos to be playing in Hobart without government backing?
North Melbourne president James Brayshaw would not comment yesterday, but recently met Tasmanian premier David Bartlett - a North Melbourne supporter.
However, the Tasmanian Government has refused to pledge money for Bellerive games, saying Hawthorn games at Launceston were its priority.
"I'm not opposed to AFL football at Bellerive, but it will not ever come at the expense of football at Aurora Stadium (Launceston)," Bartlett said on radio yesterday.
"The State Government will not fund Bellerive games.
Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim, who is a Cabinet member in the Labor-Green government, backed Bartlett.
"We have no problem at all with AFL games being played at Bellerive, but our view is that government money should not be used to directly support those games," McKim said.
Hawthorn has a five-year, $16.4 million deal to play four games a year at Aurora Stadium.
Playing home games in Hobart would provide a boost to the Kangaroos, who struggle financially when they attract small crowds to games at Etihad Stadium.
AFL Tasmania chairman Dominic Baker was a guest of Brayshaw and North Melbourne chief executive Eugene Arocca at the Round 16 Kangaroos-Richmond game at the MCG. He went into the rooms and met the players.
AFL at Bellerive could become a federal election issue, with Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz and Franklin Liberal candidate Jane Howlett backing the move.
"Right or wrong, we have invested a lot in Aurora," Abetz said.
"I must say I would not have done the Hawthorn deal myself. I think Hawthorn ripped off the State Government like you would not believe."
He supports federal funding for Bellerive.
Bellerive custodian, Cricket Tasmania, has a $21 million plan to make it more football friendly and increase its capacity from 16,500 to more than 20,000.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/kangaroos-off-to-tasmania/story-e6frf9jf-1225897238777
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Eugene Arocca is on SEN now.
Says that there is no deal yet, but they are front runners.
They didn't meet with Dominic Baker either.
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they can have it. I dont understand why we let the AFL intervene with our stuff after the gypsys came out last year and said all games to be played in Melbourne " we wont move from here"
i cant understand why they have to help them all the time. They made their decision to stay but now everyone has to bend over and help the gypsys roam the country side looking for their next s l u t to pound.
I personally hope this is now another faulure for them. They and the AFL can get stuffed.
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Eugene Arocca is on SEN now.
Says that there is no deal yet, but they are front runners.
They didn't meet with Dominic Baker either.
Arocca's comments are up on North's website
http://www.kangaroos.com.au/news/blogarticle/tabid/9795/newsid/99065/default.aspx
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Eugene Arocca is on SEN now.
Says that there is no deal yet, but they are front runners.
They didn't meet with Dominic Baker either.
this idiot is playing with fire. Hope he buggers this up
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Abetz might be just jumping on the band wagon to win some votes in hobart this election by saying his not against it i dont think he would be back it and giving millions into it when liberals do nothing but whinge about spending money.
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Roos can play dumb, but Hobart looms large
CAROLINE WILSON
July 28, 2010
THERE has been an aching familiarity about the mixed messages emanating from Arden Street where the club's fourth interstate move in little more than a decade is concerned.
North Melbourne and the AFL deny the club has signed an agreement to play four games a year at Hobart's Bellerive Oval and help lead a push to revitalise the game in Tasmania from 2012, but it will almost certainly happen. North can say all it likes about avoiding the ''R'' word, but talk of relocation to a state that ultimately wants its own team will, in reality, haunt the club in the manner the Gold Coast did.
That will certainly be the case in the short-term, given the club's perilous position, its broken promises and the AFL commission's relative disappointment in North's progress since 2008.
Two Richmond executives held talks in Hobart yesterday with Tasmania's cricket authority, but the Tigers could not sell more than two games a season to its members and the AFL's view is that a cocktail of funding could earn North Melbourne $3 million annually.
North certainly needs something. It has achieved little of what it promised and even its new facility at Arden Street - something every Victorian club has achieved or is on schedule to largely through public money - could become a shared facility with the Melbourne Tigers Basketball Club, with the Kangaroos confirming last night that negotiations were under way.
Sharing a facility is not ideal in the AFL's high-stakes environment and will surely further compromise a club that has walked away from deals in Sydney, Canberra and the Gold Coast, leaving an image of a club chasing quick cash with no real interest in community or lasting relationships. North is not popular in any of those towns and will hopefully learn from past mistakes in Hobart.
This is not about the players who have, by and large, performed above themselves for years and never once shown anything but public love for their guernsey. It is not even about chief executive Eugene Arocca, despite the fact he declared in 2008 the club would no longer be the ''travelling Kangaroos''.
Arocca could choose his words more carefully at times - talk of games at Ballarat has confused the landscape for a start - but all he was doing was reflecting the platform laid down by James Brayshaw's emotional and successful campaign for president, which ended the Gold Coast relocation plan for many key Kangaroos.
And it has been impossible to ignore the symbolism of recent days. Amid a flurry of reports that the North Melbourne-Hobart agreement was a done deal, the Gold Coast Suns were launched in the late afternoon shadow of an emerging new Carrara Stadium - a stadium the Kangaroos said they could not bank on.
Two days later, with a place in the eight at stake, North Melbourne put its bank balance ahead of potential victory when it played an unprepared David Hale for his second match in a day rather than risk a $20,000 fine by fielding a player not named as an emergency.
The AFL should be ashamed of its incompetence too over this incident, but that doesn't change the fact that North Melbourne was forced into submission when its wealthy opponent - Essendon - would have put winning first. And the Bombers won narrowly.
The following day, Melbourne president Jim Stynes held court at the MCG promoting his third annual corporate tin rattle - a move that has virtually eradicated the club's once crippling debt. The club finally has a new home and an exciting young team.
Stynes and his board have delivered what they promised and it should be remembered that when he took over the Demons - six months after Brayshaw's group - Melbourne's problems were seen as significantly worse than the Kangaroos.
Richmond, another critically stricken club with on-field stocks and equally debt stricken, has drawn average home attendances of 40,000 this season - 42,000 if you remove its Etihad games - while North's corresponding figure is 25,000. And its membership has dropped.
Having rejected a move north that would have swelled its playing stocks, its bank account, eradicated its debts and ensured free-to-air prime-time games, North Melbourne said it would make things happen full-time in Victoria. But it is now looking south.
The club can deny all it likes that this will prove a hybrid relocation. It can point to Hawthorn and the manner in which that club has engaged with the people of Launceston while remaining a Melbourne-based club. It can say that this time will be different.
But the truth is North Melbourne is pushing to move part-time to Tasmania because it cannot afford to sustain itself at Arden Street and Etihad Stadium - when it assured its members and fans that it could and would. It has taken less than three seasons of the new board to break that promise.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/roos-can-play-dumb-but-hobart-looms-large-20100727-10ub6.html
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It wouldn't be a Caro article without the cheap snipe at Richmond. "Critically stricken"? She couldn't be further from reality if she tried, despite her very best efforts at undermining and destabilizing by peddling half truths and opinions as fact.
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Arocca's turn
CAROLINE WILSON
July 29, 2010
NORTH Melbourne chief executive Eugene Arocca was today due to make his first official foray into exploring the Hobart frontier for his club.
Arocca, who has insisted no deal has been struck with Bellerive Oval, where North could play four games a year from 2012, was scheduled for talks with Cricket Tasmania, two days after Richmond's visit to Bellerive.
The Kangaroos are the only club to have indicated strong interest in a four-game deal, with the Tigers and Melbourne looking at a smaller package and having been told by the AFL that North is the frontrunner.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/aroccas-turn-20100728-10w3o.html
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When your clubs mission statement reads "will drop pants for food" you end up withering on the vine. North have no soul, let alone shinboner spirit.
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Tigers in hunt for Bellerive
The Mercury
ADAM SMITH
July 29, 2010
RICHMOND appears unfazed by speculation rival Victorian club North Melbourne is in pole position to secure AFL matches in Hobart, with club officials continuing to gather information about playing games at Bellerive Oval.
Two Richmond executives held talks with Cricket Tasmania on Tuesday, despite Kangaroos chief executive Eugene Arocca admitting the same day his club is the "front runner" to land home games in the south of the state.
However, an interstate newspaper report yesterday said the Tigers could sell no more than two games to its members given the huge supporter base in Melbourne.
The AFL is understood to be more in favour of seeing North Melbourne set up a second home in Hobart given its battling financial position.
North's membership of 26,953 is the second lowest in the AFL, has dropped 1387 from 2009 and the club has played a number of home games at Etihad Stadium with extremely low attendances that has hit its bottom line hard.
Richmond was the first club to register official interest in hosting matches at Bellerive, with CEO Brendon Gale meeting Premier David Bartlett and CT chairman Tony Harrison last month.
The Kangaroos and Melbourne have joined the mix since then.
Harrison has also spoken to representatives of the AFL, with more meetings planned soon.
"We haven't had any detailed discussions with North Melbourne just yet and Richmond is still interested, there is no doubt about that," Harrison said.
"Basically he [Gale] sent down a couple of his people to have a look at Bellerive. It was an exchange of information, they gave us some information about what is required and we told them what we could do.
"It was quite valuable for us to know what an AFL game would need.
"I've spoken to the AFL, I've talked to AFL people and am planning to talk to them in the next week."
Amid all the speculation, Sport and Recreation Minister David O'Byrne yesterday re-affirmed the Government's No.1 priority was tying Hawthorn up to at least four matches a season at Aurora Stadium.
With Premier David Bartlett back from the US, negotiations are on the verge of proceeding - but a deadline has not been put in place.
The current $16.4 million, five-year deal expires at the end of 2011.
"We are about to commence negotiations, we will sit down with the club very soon. We've got this year to run on the deal and we want to sit down and make sure we can get the best outcome for all Tasmanians by bringing Hawthorn to Tasmania," O'Byrne said.
"We are hopeful we can get extra games, we think that's important, the more games we can get into Tasmania the better.
"We will conclude negotiations when we have got the best deal for Tasmania.'
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/07/29/162041_afl.html
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Brayshaw said on the Footy Show nothing has been signed or confirmed yet. Just that North were frontrunners and it'd be a great opportunity for North. It would be funny if as with Hardwick last year when the media went early and said North had beaten us to the punch getting Dimma as coach :wallywink, that they were wrong again going early. Not that I'm keen on us playing home games interstate but why would we waste our time with further meetings if North have a Hobart deal practically sewn up
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If North move 4 home games to Hobart and a few to Ballarat their supporters have every right to jump off as members. They've been lied to by the board. It is also cheating the people of Tasmania - they'll be lucky to get 5k to games involving North and GC or Western Sydney.
Richmond actually have a decent support base in Tassie along with the Saints and Hawks. It will be Canberra, Gold Coast and Sydney again for the Kangas.
And it will probably spell the end for the club with a full relocation the only viable option for them.
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It is also cheating the people of Tasmania - they'll be lucky to get 5k to games involving North and GC or Western Sydney.
LOL. I've been thinking this too. AFL really don't take the Tassie people seriously.
AFL : "Hey Tasmainia, here's a rubbish team that you can throw money at because your desperate for football games and they're desperate for a crowd. You're both pathetic so we think it would be a perfect match."
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If North move 4 home games to Hobart and a few to Ballarat their supporters have every right to jump off as members. They've been lied to by the board. It is also cheating the people of Tasmania - they'll be lucky to get 5k to games involving North and GC or Western Sydney.
Richmond actually have a decent support base in Tassie along with the Saints and Hawks. It will be Canberra, Gold Coast and Sydney again for the Kangas.
And it will probably spell the end for the club with a full relocation the only viable option for them.
100% correct
to be honest they have no one to blame but themselves.
there are no winners when you porn yourself off to the highest bidder as this slut of a club has done.
Nobody likes gypsys
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(http://www.stanford.edu/group/ccr/blog/prostitute.JPG)
the North Melbourne Football club at work.
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It is also cheating the people of Tasmania - they'll be lucky to get 5k to games involving North and GC or Western Sydney.
LOL. I've been thinking this too. AFL really don't take the Tassie people seriously.
AFL : "Hey Tasmainia, here's a rubbish team that you can throw money at because your desperate for football games and they're desperate for a crowd. You're both pathetic so we think it would be a perfect match."
A lot of truth in jest. Time for Tassie to have their own side if the AFL are going to be force feeding the likes of North vs GWS and expect the Tassie taxpayer to pay millions of dollars for the privilege :-X. Small supporter base clubs don't attract crowds nor a decent footy travel market to add to Tassie's economy.
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Nothing we haven't heard but Caro said earlier tonight that Hobart wants for 4 games. Richmond was willing to play 2 games down there as we didn't believe we could sell more to our members. Melbourne likewise. It looks like we were hoping to share the 4 games (two each) with Melbourne but Hobart wants just the one club which leaves North who are willing to play all 4. The AFL want North to play down as well.
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Demetriou mentioned today talk about more games at Aurora as well as games at Bellerive. Maybe with North being favoured for Hobart, Richmond could look at a game or two in Launceston?
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/99813/default.aspx
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Tassie government backs a full relocation to Apple Isle
August 6, 2010 - 4:55PM
Tasmania will consider a 20-year AFL deal with Hawthorn - but only if the Hawks relocate there.
Tasmanian premier David Bartlett and Hawks president Jeff Kennett have engaged in some public sabre-rattling ahead of re-negotiating the club's successful deal to play home games at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
The contract seems set to continue, especially given the AFL will play extra games when the league expands to 18 teams over the next two years.
Hawthorn and the Tasmanian Government are due to sit down early next week, but publicly at least their relationship has become testy.
On Wednesday, Bartlett questioned Hawthorn's long-term commitment to Tasmania and this prompted Kennett to say the Hawks were prepared to commit to a Launceston deal for 20 years.
"Any 20-year deal with Hawthorn or any other football club would necessarily include full relocation," Bartlett said today.
"I'm not sure what the Hawthorn president or the Melbourne-based fans of Hawthorn think about that, but I'm open to discussions about a full relocation of Hawthorn if there is a 20-year deal on the table."
The premier met with AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou in Melbourne today to gauge the league's support for extra games in Tasmania.
North Melbourne and Richmond have also expressed interest in playing home games at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, but the government first want to negotiate the new deal with Hawthorn.
"We want to see more football played in Tasmania, Aurora Stadium remains the home of football in Tasmania in the north," the premier said.
"But we are not opposed to seeing a few games played in the south as well.
"We didn't explicitly discuss the south option, but I have said very clearly to Andrew we're not opposed to that."
Hawthorn currently plays four home games and one pre-season match every year at Aurora Stadium.
Bartlett said he took "great comfort" from Friday's discussions with the league.
"They have clearly indicated a willingness to discuss and negotiate on extra games coming to Tasmania and that informs our negotiations with Hawthorn significantly," he said.
Demetriou is encouraged by the level of interest for games in Tasmania, but said there were several obstacles before Hobart would host matches.
"The government has put its hand up for additional games, Hawthorn have indicated maybe they might play an extra game in Launceston - I think it's all positive," he said.
"(Hobart) is not our decision - ultimately if Bellerive is a suitable venue for AFL football and the government is not opposed to it and we can find a club who can come up with an arrangement with the Tasmanian Cricket Association, then we wouldn't stand in the way, we would support it."
Demetriou said "two or three" clubs had expressed interest in Hobart, with the Western Bulldogs understood to be the other team.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tassie-government-backs-a-full-relocation-to-apple-isle-20100806-11o66.html
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hmm, caro might just be on the money, the RFC only want to put two H/A chips on the table, Aurora might be the go..as Hawhtorn wouldn't be inclined to extend themselves and North have walked into our honeytrap and committed to FOUR...ooooohhhhhh Benny, You've done it again :shh :gotigers
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Bellerive bid off agenda
BRETT STUBBS
August 09, 2010
RICHMOND has conceded to North Melbourne and the AFL in the push to play home games at Bellerive Oval.
Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale - who is also an AFL Tasmania board member - had been in discussions with Premier David Bartlett and Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison about playing some home games in Hobart but Richmond president Gary March said yesterday his club was out of the running.
"We spoke to Brendon about investigating the opportunity and having a look at it," March said on radio yesterday.
"It was always a remote chance from our point of view.
"We want to play all our games at the MCG but we would be negligent if we didn't look at the opportunity.
"It had to be a really compelling, financial case for us to consider going to Tasmania.
'The AFL is keen to assist North Melbourne going there and if that's the case, that's great for the competition."
Because of Richmond's resistance to changing four home matches and its huge Melbourne following, the AFL is giving North Melbourne first crack at the untapped southern Tasmanian market should a deal come to fruition.
Another factor was the Kangaroos' inability to attract home crowds, as shown by just 14,891 turning up to Etihad Stadium on Saturday to see North belt Fremantle.
After meeting AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou on Friday, Mr Bartlett also met North Melbourne president James Brayshaw to discuss the Roos playing home games at Bellerive, possibly from 2012.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/08/09/164581_tasmania-news.html
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No wonder North got the nod to play in Hobart. Southern Cross News reckons North are prepared to play 7 games down there if the Hawks deal is not renewed.
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=19047966&postcount=1
On Southern Cross news last night, Hawthorn have completed negotiations with the State Government on an extension to the current deal at the end of 2011. It is now up to the Government if they accept it. The Government say they want to accept it but with the Greens having a lot of power it is possible it will get blocked. If no deal is done North are prepared to replace Hawthorn and play upto seven games a season in the State from 2012.
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I obviously prefer us to have all our home games at the 'G but the more I think about this it's a disgrace how given we need extra funds by playing home games interstate we got screwed out of playing in Hobart by North and the AFL in the end for nothing. Unlike playing a token one-off game in Darwin or Cairns, playing say both games in Hobart would at least be following on our natural Tassie connection given how many great players from Tassie have played for us. It's also Aussie Rules heartland and based on the Launceston games us and Hawthorn would have two of the largest supporter bases down there. A way to gain more memberships and additional dollars. Thanks AFL and your North nomads! ::)
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Thank **** this never eventuated !
We are a big Melbourne club and don't need to ever play any home games anywhere but Melbourne. I wouldn't have renewed my membership if this happened.
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Melbourne should just bite the bullet and relocate.
The Tassie Demons works perfectly.
The dawks lose 10,000 members
And the NoMads are left to try and find another place in Australia to find some supporters.
....It writes itself. :thumbsup
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makes perfect sense :thumbsup
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Tassie Devils :shh