One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => View from the Outer => Topic started by: one-eyed on February 28, 2007, 11:36:55 PM
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Kangaroos' Gold Coast move a step closer
The Age
February 28, 2007 - 9:24PM
A permanent move to the Gold Coast for the Kangaroos AFL club appears a step closer after members Thursday night voted in a three-person ticket which has expressed support for the concept.
Former club powerbroker Ron Joseph and brothers Mark and James Brayshaw were elected to the three newly-created member-elected positions.
There was also resounding support for president Graham Duff, whose six-member ticket won a clean sweep of the shareholder-elected board positions.
Rival board member Peter de Rauch, who was involved in a bitter battle with Duff during the election campaign, was voted out, along with his supporters
Full article at: http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Kangaroos-Gold-Coast-move-a-step-closer/2007/02/28/1172338709743.html
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AFL draws plan for Roos' move
Caroline Wilson | April 27, 2007
The Age
THE AFL Commission has issued a six-month deadline to put together a definite plan to establish a second team in southern Queensland in the hope that the Kangaroos take up the relocation offer.
As AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and his key strategists were today to meet the Kangaroos board in a bid to clarify the future of the club's complicated share structure, The Age understands that the game's governing body is rapidly losing patience with the club.
It is believed AFL executives Andrew Caterall and Gillon McLachlan have been charged with putting together a relocation plan which in turn will be transferred into a package.
While the commission has not ruled out a 17th licence — nor has it firmly settled upon Carrara as the definite home ground for a Gold Coast-based team — the preference is to relocate an existing team.
The decisions resting with the AFL include whether to place a relocation offer on the open market and include all clubs in Victoria.
A relocation package could include significant draft advantages in a bid to beef up a list such as the Kangaroos', along with a sustainable stadium deal, signage and other marketing advantages.
Rest of article at: http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/afl-draws-plan-for-roos-move/2007/04/26/1177459879435.html
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Noticed on the front page of today's Gold Coast Bulletin, it shows a picture of a catamaran with a big Roos sail on it. They did a good tv ad, although at first you think it is for surf life savers. They really need to sell the game to the Coast, especially as we now have the Gold Coast Titans.
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AFL pressures Roos over Gold Coast
Caroline Wilson | October 11, 2007 | The Age
PRESSURE is mounting on the Kangaroos to commit to a permanent move to the Gold Coast with the AFL having virtually completed its radical, multimillion-dollar relocation package to include priority draft picks and exclusive access to a local zone and uncontracted players.
The unprecedented list of incentives would — according to the AFL — ensure the club's on- and off-field long-term success with guaranteed funding, state-of-the-art facilities and massive draft and zone concessions sure to raise the ire of other clubs in the competition.
But the AFL, which will continue to lay the foundation for its 2010 deadline at tomorrow's commission meeting in Melbourne, is losing patience with the club, which remains undecided and divided over whether to commit to the move the league regards as inevitable and crucial to the club's survival.
The Age believes there is no guarantee the competition will continue to fund the club beyond its present agreement, which expires in 2009, should the Kangaroos vote to remain in Melbourne.
Should the club choose to remain in Melbourne, the commission is steadfast it will move to plan B and hold talks with other clubs or investigate the formation of a 17th club.
http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/kangaroos-a-coast-priority/2007/10/10/1191695990902.html
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I heard the Roos got $600K for having 3 games (home games?) up on the Coast. But due to renovations at Arden Street, any talk of a permanent move was not on.
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Brayshaw said on the footy show that the Roos needed 28,000 members at least to survive in Melbourne long term. They may get a boost in membership after making the top 4 this year but after being the most successful side of the 90's they haven't gain any flow on effect off-field from the Pagan-Carey era.
We better get our act together on-field soon too. How ripped off we will feel if we miss out on a first pick again because of this Gold Coast package after this year missing out because of Carlton's priority pick.
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Roos draft allowances a no-go zone, say Pies
Caroline Wilson | October 23, 2007
COLLINGWOOD has threatened to take the AFL to court should it proceed with a plan to grant the Kangaroos a Gold Coast zone as part of a relocation package.
With further negotiations between the AFL and the Kangaroos board scheduled over the coming days on the sensitive subject of a permanent move to Queensland by 2010, Magpies president Eddie McGuire said his club would challenge the prospective inducements on offer at the highest legal level.
"Collingwood would fight as hard as is humanly possible and take all actions as is required to fight any more compromises to the draft," McGuire told The Age.
"To give North a free kick as big as their own zone taints the integrity of the competition in the same way as drug cheating."
The AFL has suggested the Kangaroos could stand on their own by 2014, a fact disputed by the club that has demanded its own zone in its first years and also priority draft picks, demands the AFL has not refused.
http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/roos-draft-allowances-a-nogo-zone-say-pies/2007/10/22/1192940985127.html
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Kangaroos leap final hurdle on way to Gold Coast
Chip Le Grand | October 27, 2007 | The Australian
THE North Melbourne Football Club is expected to commit before Christmas to a permanent move to the Gold Coast in 2010, with one of the few remaining obstacles to relocation now in the hands of club lawyers.
Bob Ansett, a former club president and architect of the club's unique corporate structure, confirmed a constitutional debate had emerged over whether a simple majority or 75 per cent of shareholders would be required to ratify any decision to relocate.
Full article at: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22653992-5012432,00.html
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The Kangas are now saying they don't want to relocate to the Gold Coast. Can they survive in Melbourne though?
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22677325%255E20322,00.html
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They have struggled financially and in a supporter sense in Melbourne since entering the comp in 1925. Personally I'd pull the plug on these characterless nobodies but Gold Coast may be an acceptable location for now. They'll always be in the Lions shadow however but they'll be as close to the Lions as they possibly can after their failed or annulled merger with them in 1996.
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AFL to have Gold Coast franchise with or without Kangaroos
AAP | Guy Hand | October 31, 2007
THE Kangaroos have been given another 30 days to decide whether to permanently move to the Gold Coast after the AFL rejected the club's proposal to remain based in Melbourne but play more games in southeast Queensland.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the hybrid model proposed by the Kangaroos was unacceptable to the league, which wants a permanent presence on the Gold Coast by 2010.
Demetriou said the club could choose to remain based in Melbourne if it wanted to, but would be given the 30-day deadline to make a final decision.
Demetriou also said the AFL would have no qualms in issuing a 17th licence should the Kangaroos not move to the Gold Coast.
"The AFL is going to the Gold Coast, whether it's with the Kangaroos or anyone else we will be there," Demetriou said.
"We will have no hesitation whatsoever in issuing a 17th licence.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22680364-10389,00.html
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How's a 17th team going to survive on the Gold Coast. Where's the support going to come from? Andy D is in dreamland. It'll also make a lopsided draw even moreso.
How is North's situation going to change in 30 days ???
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Andrew D is just making it more difficult from a feasibility point of view by issuing a 17th license should the Roos decide on staying put here. Perhaps a 17th license on the Gold Coast may soon be followed by an 18th in Tassie. Either way this is becoming more and more farcical from the AFL and Vladimir and Adrian are just screwing around with things that are working well. Hey guys if it aint broke don't fix it. ::)
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You're right about the AFL wanting a 18th club HT74.
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AFL in ultimatum to Kangas
Extra teams AFL's plan B
Martin Boulton and Caroline Wilson | November 1, 2007
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou last night vowed to establish not only a 17th club on the Gold Coast but did not rule out an 18th club in Sydney beyond 2010 should the Kangaroos refuse to relocate to Queensland.
While North will make a small profit after the $2.6 million AFL 2007 injection, it still boasts a $4 million debt and has failed to put forward a business plan to the AFL nor kept the key financial executive Ian Anderson regularly informed of the club's finances.
It is that oversight that has empowered Demetriou to deliver the AFL's threat to cut the annual $1.4 million special funding to the club at the end of 2008. According to the commission, the Kangaroos have been negligent in meeting the criteria of that funding.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/afls-plan-b-on-extra-teams/2007/10/31/1193618974559.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
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Demetrious is an egotistical bully
:help :help :help :help :help :help :help :help :help :help
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Yes I was going to say the same thing. Where does the AFL get off bullying clubs? Whatever happened to tradition?
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Demetrious is an egotistical bully
:help :help :help :help :help :help :help :help :help :help
:yep
The sooner Demetriou and Anderson nick off the better for Aussie Rules' sake. 18 clubs is fantasy stuff. Where's the $$$ and 88 extra players going to come from?!
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I really think they should push to another team in Sydney, or Western Australia (or relocate a team there) instead of fighting an uphill battle to try to get a team into the GC.
Even Rugby is struggling in that market.
I also have a gripe about McGuire bleating about unfair draft compromises... pft... cannot see a difference between that and draw compromises...
tosser.
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I really think they should push to another team in Sydney, or Western Australia (or relocate a team there) instead of fighting an uphill battle to try to get a team into the GC.
Even Rugby is struggling in that market.
I also have a gripe about McGuire bleating about unfair draft compromises... pft... cannot see a difference between that and draw compromises...
tosser.
if i were eddy i'd keep my trap shut, we all know he is in bed with demetriou :yep
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How did the Roos get away with paying less than the 92.5% minimum of the salary cap ???.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/roos-short-on-cap/2007/11/02/1193619148330.html
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The AFL has offered the Roos $100 million to shift north. On top of that they would get draft concessions, including priority access to local players as well as two uncontracted players.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22773512%255E20322,00.html
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The AFL has offered the Roos $100 million to shift north. On top of that they would get draft concessions, including priority access to local players as well as two uncontracted players.
Let's hope we have all our cubs signed up so they can't be poached like Maxfield was by Sydney.
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$10m bolsters Roos rescue
Rohan Connolly | November 22, 2007
FIVE "white knights" have pledged loans of $2 million each to enable the Kangaroos to stay in Melbourne as part of the plan released yesterday to keep the club from relocating to the Gold Coast.
Four unnamed investors would contribute the money next year, with a fifth in 2009, giving the club a total of $10 million of non-football revenue to invest, generating up to $700,000 per year, and at the end of a 10-year arrangement, capital growth of up to $10 million.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/10m-bolsters-roos-rescue/2007/11/21/1195321867613.html
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Pies launch bid for coast deal
Caroline Wilson | November 22, 2007
COLLINGWOOD has launched a radical plan to become the AFL's team on the Gold Coast with a proposal to play up to six games at Carrara as early as next season.
Should the, albeit left-field, offer by Collingwood be considered, the Magpies only interstate games would most likely take place at Carrara or the Gabba. Should the Kangaroos, on the other hand, convince their shareholders to relinquish their stake in the club or vote for relocation, the Magpies are understood to have put forward a second proposal to play an equally significant package of games in Sydney's west.
Collingwood has its own travel agency and has already invested significant resources researching viable business opportunities in southern Queensland.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/pies-launch-bid-for-coast-deal/2007/11/21/1195321871543.html
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We should offer to play 5 away games in Queensland in return for some draft concessions. Maybe 1 priority pick at the start of the 1st round for 2 years, if we agree to play 5 away games on the Gold Coast for say 4 years.
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We should offer to play 5 away games in Queensland in return for some draft concessions. Maybe 1 priority pick at the start of the 1st round for 2 years, if we agree to play 5 away games on the Gold Coast for say 4 years.
Julz would love that idea :yep
The AFL would only give us draft concessions if it lead to a permanent move. With the mood the AFL is in I wouldn't give them a sniff that we are interested. Unlike Collingwood they see us as smallfry (look at the draw) and a relocation option ::). The Pies are only suggesting this so can avoid any interstate trips to Perth, Adelaide and Sydney ::).
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Kangaroos stay to fight
24 November 2007 Herald Sun
Damian Barrett
THE Kangaroos' board has unanimously agreed to give James Brayshaw the opportunity to put his Keep North at Arden St vision into practice.
The board decided on Wednesday night that the AFL-applied urgency on making a decision about Gold Coast relocation needed to be deferred until next year.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22812210%255E20322,00.html
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I wish the Roos would just pack their bags and get on the first Jetstar flight to the GC.
Quite simply, they are unsustainable in Melbourne, and the national competition needs to be national.
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Brayshaw will learn the hardway and if the Roos have a crap year on field they are gawn to Queensland. They have no hope in Melb compared to other clubs they cultureless and characterless hence no fans. Do yourselves a favour and pull the pin to the Gold Coast or to oblivion.
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It must be gutwrenching for the loyal supporters they do have but when you get hardly anyone turning up to your home finals then the writing is on the wall. The only problem I see is the AFL will go out of its way to make sure a Gold Coast team is up the top of the ladder nearly every year which affects every other club.
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The Kanga's would be making a mistake if they rejected the AFLs offer to relocate. Regardless of the short terms financial rewards they can gain or membership increases they can inspire the reality is for North is that they just do not have the supporter base. If they decide to stay they will recieve a win-fall of sympathy and motivated stake-holders for a handful of years but this will simply be a band-aid over an ever increasing wound.
The Kanga's can not avoid the fact that they will never be able to compete off field with the financial powerhouses of the competition. It is becoming increasingly obvious that Melbourne can not support 10 teams who are all fighting for supporters, media focus, sponsorship and general interest.
On the Goldcoast they have an opportunity to carve out a large following, untapped sponsors and players. All of this coupled with the financial incentives that every other team in the competition would be jealous of and draft/uncontracted players rewards.
The Kangaroo supporters would still be able to see their team at live games just as many times as they do now but now with the added security and positive outlook of knowing that their team has not only survived but flourished. They would have a club that has the currency to invest in their football department, facilities and players. They would have additional media exposure and never have to concern themselves with the threat of losing their club altogether.
If the Kanga's just look beyond the moment, look beyond the past and look at what could be then they will realize that they have a real opportunity hear to make their club the envy of every other club in the competition.
But...time is quickly running out....Andrew will soon lose patience.
Stripes
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The Roos finishing top 4 this year is making it harder for the AFL to get them to move. They're not yet like Fitzroy dying slowly on and off-field.
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D-Day for the Roos is 11am this morning.
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Eddie offering to do the AFL a "favour" by extending the season to 24 rounds with the Pies getting to play 18 games in Melbourne plus 6 neutral away games on the Gold Coast against all the interstate sides. Meaning Collingwood would have no more interstate away games and avoid travelling to Perth, Adelaide and Sydney ::).
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22877648-11088,00.html
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THE AFL today rejected the Kangaroos' proposal for a 12-month stay on committing to a Gold Coast move.
The league said today it had to act now to establish a presence on the Gold Coast and had offered a multi-million dollar incentive package to the Kangaroos.
But unless the Kangaroos now agree to accept the package and base themselves in the region by 2010, the AFL's offer could be withdrawn.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22877727-11088,00.html
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According to BF, the Roos have decided to remain in Melbourne and James Brayshaw is their new president.
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9619461&postcount=1
A big call as the AFL are unlikely to do them any favours. It's now make or extinction for North now if this is true. What's worse is the AFL will now go ahead with their 17th team. So we'll have a bye and the new club will be given every concession known to man. I hope we have all our young cubs safely under contract so any new club can't get its grubby little hands on them like Sydney did with Maxfield >:(.
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Dillusional
Good luck to them but they wont survive in Melb long term
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I have said it before and I'll say it again.
Pull the pin on that characterless passionless footy club altogether and do the competition a favour.
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I've lost count of the number of times this club has told it's supporters it is facing extinction and they rally for a few months and disappear.
Note how I say supporters - they dont have enough members. Their supporters will wail and carry on but when it's needed they don't put their money where they need to and that menas putting hands in their pockets
I am sick of it.
Struth they are stupid - this is a fanstastic offer the AFL has put forward. Whether it is 100 mill or 45 mill it doesn't matter they are going to get so many concession if they move it aint funny. Priority access to un-contracted players, an extra 10% allowance in the salary cap, funding so they can pay the extra salary cap, it goes on and on for crying out loud.
Seriously, they are being offered a golden egg for being unable to stand on their feet while Clubs like ours fought their way out of financial problems.
And now they say we want to stay in Melb but I guarantee you they will still want their annual handout.
Now I am not an Andy D & Co fan but I'd be telling them fine you want to stay in Melbourne, you can but your annual prop up is over
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Well said WP. The AFL will grant a 17th licence for the Gold Coast and North will have missed the dangling carrot and we will be back to 16 teams again.
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Expect a 18th team in Western Sydney by 2015.
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Andy D saying he wants a Gold Coast team by 2010. He also apparently said 9 Victorian clubs can survive. The odd one out is North.
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Hello Southport Sharks; goodbye North!
Southport wear black & white. Eddie will be happy sharing the colours with them and Port :D.
http://www.southportsharks.com.au/
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Mixed feelings up here. The other day, the back page of the Gold Coast Bulletin showed the 3 Kangaroos player who had just been in trouble with the headline along the lines of not wanting them here. Today it shows a shark wearing Southport Shark colours taking a big bite out of a kangaroo wearing Kangaroo colours.
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This 17th team better keep its hands off any of our cubs in particular ex-Queenslanders Rainesy and McGuane.
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They get 2000 odd people to a meeting about sums up the predicament the Roos have.
They are going to regret not taking the golden egg
As for a 17th team ... 12 of the 16 clubs have to agree to it. Can't see it happening as it will cut into how much clubs get from the AFL (annual distribution all clubs get)
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They get 2000 odd people to a meeting about sums up the predicament the Roos have.
They are going to regret not taking the golden egg
As for a 17th team ... 12 of the 16 clubs have to agree to it. Can't see it happening as it will cut into how much clubs get from the AFL (annual distribution all clubs get)
They'll regret it big time if they are forced to merge with this 17th club in 2-3 years time when they could have go it alone and at least kept their club traditions (colours, moniker, theme song, etc..).
When does the current tv rights deal finish. Is it the end of 2011?
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When does the current tv rights deal finish. Is it the end of 2011?
Yep 2011
Now on the news Andy D is talking about an 18th team ::)
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Not only does Demetriou want 18 teams, he also wants to split the league into two 9 team conferences.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/demetriou-flags-18team-league/2007/12/07/1196813025633.html
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Yes that will Americanise the structure of the season much in the same way that the NFL in the States goes about it with the NFC and AFC. Perhaps two conferences here may shorten the season also. Andy D I have said it before and I will say it again IF IT AINT BROKE DO NOT FIX IT YOU FOOL. :banghead
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They get 2000 odd people to a meeting about sums up the predicament the Roos have.
They are going to regret not taking the golden egg
As for a 17th team ... 12 of the 16 clubs have to agree to it. Can't see it happening as it will cut into how much clubs get from the AFL (annual distribution all clubs get)
They'll regret it big time if they are forced to merge with this 17th club in 2-3 years time when they could have go it alone and at least kept their club traditions (colours, moniker, theme song, etc..).
When does the current tv rights deal finish. Is it the end of 2011?
My cousin is a Roos supporter and I admire him for it cos he has stuck thru thick & thin. When North pioneered the Friday night matches in the late 80's, he was there in the old Southern Stand in the wet & cold in the middle of winter. When the Roos sold games to Sydney & Canberra, he still bought his annual membership. He still goes to the AGM's even though his membership does not entitled him to a direct voting input into a board controlled by a handful of self-interested investors.
But last night, he mentioned that his kids would not have the opportunity to support the club he loves because some vocal people are only concerned about the way they feel now and cannot look past their own self interest for the next 2 to 4 years.
He reckons that his club will not be there in any form for his kids to enjoy and that they will starve & die on their knees. He thinks that seeing the Northern Kangaroos with a bit of gold around the arm bands or a gold vee on the old style jumper is a sacrifice (afterall they did wear an orange jumper) that he is prepared to have so that the club he loves is around for another 140 years and not just to 2011.
He likes the idea of having access to a club that has sunshine in the winter so he can take his kids to the Gold Coast, have a family holiday, watch the Roos at their new home and go to the club rooms to see the history and honour boards preserved and strangely reinvigorated with a sense of direction for the clubs future as once again it will be a pioneer club with focus and supportive AFL draft measures & cash.
He figures the home ground is not Arden St, it is either the Docklands or MCG as it has been for 20 years. He figures that he will still get an opportunity to see 6 or 7 games live in Melbounre and thinks it would be an opportunity for the Kangaroos to become Australia's team a bit like the Dallas Cowboys (I know, but he said it) because the Kangaroo is representative of the nation and also has alliance with the Rugby League national side.
He cannot understand how some people can see that even if the Roos double their revenue base in the next 5 years the will only then be catching up to Collingwood, Crows & Eagles. If those clubs double their revenue base the Roos will be 50 million, yes 50 million behind annually.
It is not about money for him it is about a legacy, and he does not see that a North or a Kanga legacy will be their for his kids. He will be absolutely gutted that it appears that it is either make or break and there will be no club at all if the shareholders do not accept a need for evolvement to a new location & destiny.
Me, I really feel for him, cos I would not want to imagine a future without the Tigers. However, I am not based in Victoria any more, and that insulates me from a lot of the angst. The RFC looks like it getting a solid financial foundation in place under the management of Steve Wright and leadership of Gary March and that a bright sustained future is closer than it is further away. I know that I would be distressed if RFC relocated, but I dont know what I would be like if it folded.
Is death worse than genesis ?
It seems that the North Melbourne Kangaroos will find out sooner rather than later.
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Genesis 4 sure.
Unless it is a Fitzroy type scenario (As good as death imo)
If North got to keep 6 or 7 home games in Melbourne, they would be able to maintain some of their roots and history.
I think the decision they have made has sealed their fate. They have been a reasonably successful club that has been constantly pushing the pooh up the hill at the same time.
If they Couldn't/Haven't generated the means to survive by now it aint gunna happen.
They may kick for 3 or 4 years, but the wheel turns and they will get their time in the dark where we have been the last 25 years - Then it is RIP.
I thank something every year that there are that many Richmond supporters that stick through thick and THIN that we can survive and because of us the AFL need the Tigers alive and well in Melbourne. We must continue on our resurrection and start to play finals at the same time, but the AFL knows either way they need Richmond.
The AFL is a different monster to the old VFL, it's all about getting bums on seats & $$$ from TV etc - Can't do that your in trouble.
Doggies and Saints have been going ok last 10 years and they can thank their lucky rsez they are not in the same possie. If they slide back down as will happen lookout.
Maybe the saving grace for the dogs is they are based in the western suburbs, the AFL will not let any potetial market slip (SYDNEY SWANS), which all makes it what the huge fuggen joke it is, but that is what it is !
Thank god for the Tigers and as I have said before and will say again ANYTHING happens to Richmond and the AFL will be dead in the water to me in the blink of an eye.
Just remember that when we win a flag, we have done it from our own bat and from our diehard supporters backs.
Not like all these new "Franchises" that get huge markets handed to them on a platter or are constantly held up until they win a flag to generate support.
Fremantle don't count they are a basket case. :rollin
All quite sad really but I don't support North I support Richmond, so f evryone bar us as far as I am concerned
Tiger supporters can hold their heads high in my book.
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Sheeds says today in the Herald-Sun he would give the following concessions to the 17th club:
* GIVE them the first 10 draft choices.
* INCREASE the list size to 50.
* OFFER reduced contracts for say 12-15 games.
* NO salary cap.
:o
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Talk in the Sunday Mail that Sheeds wants to coach the 17th team.
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High Profile coach for a team that will have all the handouts of success issued to them and Sheeds will lap it all up in his last hurrah while the media project him to be the supercoach. :whistle
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Talk in the Sunday Mail that Sheeds wants to coach the 17th team.
I thought he wanted to coach Richmond ... or was that Melbourne or anyone who'll have him :whistle.
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Is death worse than genesis ?
I don't honestly know what I would do if god-forbid it ever came to relocating. I can't imagine myself following a club no longer called Richmond and based outside Victoria :(. We almost came to relocating to Queensland in the mid-80's but thankfully KB, Jack Dyer and our supporters quickly knocked it on the head. Like the Roos now, it was make or break for us and we did face death 4-5 years later but we rallied to survive through our large supporter base. The Roos don't have that large supporter base and finding the revenue to survive is harder now with all these competing markets from other sports.
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Talk in the Sunday Mail that Sheeds wants to coach the 17th team.
I thought he wanted to coach Richmond ... or was that Melbourne or anyone who'll have him :whistle.
:thatsgold
He will love the Gold COast Sheeds ;D
Actually the AFL would be rapted to have Sheeds coaching their new team :yep :chuck
I actually heard Gillon Mc on 3AW yesterday and he said that the league doesn't need a 75% FOR vote to grant anew license. He said they needed a 75% NO vote for it not to happen. He said the league only needs 5 Clubs to vote YEAH and we will have a 17th team - now that folks is a disgrace.
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Well North's survival mode is off to a great start. Their CEO has walked out.
I actually heard Gillon Mc on 3AW yesterday and he said that the league doesn't need a 75% FOR vote to grant anew license. He said they needed a 75% NO vote for it not to happen. He said the league only needs 5 Clubs to vote YEAH and we will have a 17th team - now that folks is a disgrace.
WTF ???
And people have a nerve to call the AFL commission a dictatorship :inquisition
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Is Demetriou trying to get rid of the Roos? A journo reckons so.
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Breakfast reignites Kangaroo fears
18 December 2007 Herald Sun
Damian Barrett
A BREAKFAST meeting at a South Melbourne cafe has reignited concerns over the AFL's plans for North Melbourne.
The meeting between AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and players' boss Brendon Gale was held last Thursday, and alleged conversations within it were yesterday published on the internet by highly respected journalist Charles Happell.
Happell, a former sports editor of The Age newspaper, wrote on subscription news service Crikey.com that Demetriou was overheard at the Montague Park cafe telling Gale that North, in rejecting the league's attempts to relocate it to the Gold Coast, had "played into our hands".
Happell also said Demetriou told Gale he expected the Roos to be out of business "within six months".
Demetriou was contacted by the Herald Sun last night but used a spokesman to deny the report.
"The only thing the correspondent got right is that Andrew had breakfast in a South Melbourne cafe with Brendon Gale. Andrew certainly didn't talk about the Kangaroos in those terms and any suggestion he did is complete rubbish."
Happell stood by his article when contacted last night and while admitting "it is not the most conventional way to garner a story", he said it was newsworthy because the cafe conversation differed to public comments made by the AFL.
Full article at: http://heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22940540%255E19742,00.html
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Sounds a bit far fetched but often the truth seems that way. :-\
I couldn't imagine Demetriou being so unprofessional especially to Gale of all people! He may well be thinking that but I'm guessing it is more than likely just a story generated to sell papers.
In the unlikely senerio that it is true I think 6 months is well off the mark. 5 years is more believable especially considering the initail emotion and profile the club will experience which will generate a rush of temporary members, sponsors and exposure. Once this dies down after 3 years the real assessment needs to be made.
I hope they are successful on field during this time for their sakes
Stripes
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Agree Stripes, we'll know if North will survive in 3-5 years.
The story itself doesn't have any credibility as the journo even admitted he heard the info 2nd hand. Even so the AFL has moved quickly to punish the Roos for saying no to the Gold Coast.
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Demetriou is starting to sound more like Hitler every day.
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Agree Stripes, we'll know if North will survive in 3-5 years.
The story itself doesn't have any credibility as the journo even admitted he heard the info 2nd hand. Even so the AFL has moved quickly to punish the Roos for saying no to the Gold Coast.
What's your thoughts about the extent of the 'punishment'? Do you believe they will strip them of all assistance eventually?
Stripes
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Demetriou is starting to sound more like Hitler every day.
So that's why I can't work him out lately. I don't speak german. 8) :D
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north should have moved on the condition the new club be called "Northern Kangaroos" and wear the same traditional North jumper/s. theyll be gone eventually...you see the shinboner spirit is worth a truckload of poo, its not worth jack...shinboner spirit doesnt generate cash...supporters do and the kangas dont have enough.
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Agree Stripes, we'll know if North will survive in 3-5 years.
The story itself doesn't have any credibility as the journo even admitted he heard the info 2nd hand. Even so the AFL has moved quickly to punish the Roos for saying no to the Gold Coast.
What's your thoughts about the extent of the 'punishment'? Do you believe they will strip them of all assistance eventually?
Stripes
I guess it depends on how they survive from here on. If Brayshaw's plan works then the Roos will probably still get AFL assistance in the form of compensation for a poor stadium deal (as a number of Vic clubs do). Part of continuing to receive AFL assistance is North moving from a shareholder controlled club to a traditional membership-based one. However if Brayshaw's plan falls over and the Roos keep making heavy financial losses then it won't surprise me if the AFL revisits relocating North (or forcing a merger with a new 17th club a la Fitzroy) by pulling the legs from underneath then.
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I guess it depends on how they survive from here on. If Brayshaw's plan works then the Roos will probably still get AFL assistance in the form of compensation for a poor stadium deal (as a number of Vic clubs do). Part of continuing to receive AFL assistance is North moving from a shareholder controlled club to a traditional membership-based one. However if Brayshaw's plan falls over and the Roos keep making heavy financial losses then it won't surprise me if the AFL revisits relocating North (or forcing a merger with a new 17th club a la Fitzroy) by pulling the legs from underneath then.
Personally I cannot see them surviving in Melb longer than 2 years. I reckon they will be on the Gold Coast by 2010 or 2011
I've said this all along that their biggest problem is the one they've been facing for what seems like forever now and that is the support is always short term. Their fans and supporters get complacent and think everything is Oki Doki and they just drop off again. I have no doubt they will have record membership in 2008 but what about 2009 and beyond? That's their problem.
The other problem is the guaratee under the TV rights that there must be 16 teams - some clubs have seen this as their indirect saviour which IMHo is foolish. There is massive money in the game but the likes of North still struggle.
Look at the Bulldogs they are boasting about making a 500k profit but take out the AFL CBF money ($1.5mil approx) and they have again made a loss. The Bulldogs will survive in Melbounre because fortunately for them they service a region that is solely theirs = the Western region
North on the other hand don't have that. Although they could have if they had said yep to the Gold Coast
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I have no doubt they will have record membership in 2008 but what about 2009 and beyond? That's their problem.
True WP. It's unrealistic to think those fans of other clubs who have bought a Roos membership as a sign of solidarity will do so again in 2009.
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Mark Fine on SEN last night was going off about the AFL creating a super 17th club at the expense of well-supported traditional Victorian clubs like Richmond. He actually said the AFL treats Tiger supporters as fools because we still join up in large numbers to watch us lose :P whereas the AFL only thinks people on the Gold Coast will be interested in footy if this new 17th club is successful from scratch and has a flag within 5 years. Fine rattled off 5 Vic clubs (including us, Pies, Dees, Dogs and Saints) where combined you just get 3 flags won over 250 years. No other major sporting administration creates a new team that is superior to its existing teams. Fine then mentioned Richmond again saying just at the time we'll see all our cubs hit their peak together after 25 years without a flag, we are going to have to compete with this new AFL-made super team.
He must be off his poor old Sainters bandwagon and onto ours ???
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the AFL only thinks people on the Gold Coast will be interested in footy if this new 17th club is successful from scratch and has a flag within 5 years.
Dunno about that. People got right behind the Titans before they had even played a game.
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the AFL only thinks people on the Gold Coast will be interested in footy if this new 17th club is successful from scratch and has a flag within 5 years.
Dunno about that. People got right behind the Titans before they had even played a game.
You don't need big crowds to run a NRL club though as it's such a tv sport. If they get 10-15k to a game they're estatic. Even if the AFL gets a renovated and upgraded Carrara stadium deal done (which doesn't sound likely at this stage), the Gold Coast club will need Kardinia Park size crowds (22k+) every week, arguably that many members and a Kardinia Park-like stadium deal where they have control over all revenue/profit streams. Are there that many hardcore AFL fans up there who will support and barrack for a new club week in week out?
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Hard to say. It took a while for the Lions to get a good supporter base. I know plenty of people who changed from their old Victorian team to the Lions - not this little black duck of course. And it helped the Lions winning 3 premierships in a row. Re the titans - everywhere you go you see people wearing Titans gear. Very hard to buy AFL stuff up here - unless it's the Lions.
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Hard to say. It took a while for the Lions to get a good supporter base. I know plenty of people who changed from their old Victorian team to the Lions - not this little black duck of course. And it helped the Lions winning 3 premierships in a row. Re the titans - everywhere you go you see people wearing Titans gear. Very hard to buy AFL stuff up here - unless it's the Lions.
Perhaps the AFL has missed the boat already as the VFL did in Canberra 20-25 years ago when they sent the Swans to Sydney and left Canberra to the Raiders and later on the Brumbies. Very much a rugby town when I was there albeit 12 years ago.
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Fitzpatrick: Two more clubs by 2012
| February 16, 2008 12:00am
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick has hinted the league could become an 18-team competition by 2012, with new clubs established on the Gold Coast and in western Sydney.
It was reported last night that Fitzpatrick confirmed he had held talks with all three AFL television broadcasters – Ten, Seven and Foxtel – along with Channel 9, to signal the AFL's intention to expand by 2012.
It was reported that the league had been packaging a nine-game per round, home-and-away season to be sold as the "linchpin" of AFL broadcast rights beyond 2011. Fitzpatrick was said to have conceded that it would be "virtually impossible" to tempt Victorian clubs to move, particularly after the failure to lure the financially strapped Kangaroos to the Gold Coast.
"We've got to go flat chat now," Fitzpatrick was reported as saying. "We've spoken to the networks and they are very keen to get more content.
"It's quite clear the Melbourne clubs have emotional attachments and infrastructures they are not prepared to relinquish.
"It is an enormous task that lies ahead . . .
"We did a lot of work on the Kangaroos (North Melbourne) option last year but that wasn't all we were working on."
He also said: "If you can't get a team to relocate on the basis that North was offered, then I don't think it's ever going to happen.
"In a sense it has solved a problem for us.
"If we are looking at establishing a 17th team on the Gold Coast by 2010-2011, the 18th team out of Sydney could follow within a year."
A west Sydney club would take on the Swans in the battle to win fans, sponsorship dollars and grounds, and would be a rival to Sydney's rugby league teams, the three NSW-based A-League soccer clubs and rugby's Waratahs.
Blacktown was earmarked as the home base for the new Sydney outfit, although the Olympic Stadium at Homebush would be the venue for most of its games.
A spokesman for Blacktown Mayor Leo Kelly confirmed last night that he had been in talks with the AFL.
Kelly had been earlier reported as saying: "There is plenty of support for a second club in Sydney's west.
"This is the second fastest growing region in Australia after the Gold Coast."
There has been a proposal to build a new sporting complex on the old 2000 Sydney Olympic baseball complex at Blacktown.
Outlined in the proposal is a the inclusion of softball and baseball venues with an athletics track and two new ovals for football and cricket.
There has been speculation that a bidding process for the new Gold Coast team is to be placed on the market later this year.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23223219-19742,00.html
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So the AFL are going to find 60,000 new club members from scratch in development states within 4 years. Dreaming :yep.
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They have to be joking MT. In Northern States like Qld membership has dropped off b/c Brisbane are not winning premierships and the teams performances have been on the wane in the last 2-3 years. Same will happen in NSW if the Swans have a couple of years of toil for little reward outside the top 8. That's the problem with QLD NSW once success has gone people jump off the bandwagon and will continue to follow the primary sport there eg Union and League.
Same with us here if the Storm were like the Bears and won 5 games a season crowds here would be mediocre at best. Another Vladimir, Anderson pipedream to waste money resources and time at the expense of the Victorian footy fan.
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Another Vladimir, Anderson pipedream to waste money resources and time at the expense of the Victorian footy fan.
Yep twiddledee and twiddledum have no idea HT74. Like the AFL wanting to take control of all levels of Victorian football (hence the stupid name change to "AFL Victoria") and run football in Victoria like they do in NSW/QLD. So now the way to run a sport according to these idiots is to use the same strategies you use in development states to run and overrule football in the 150 year old heartland. It's a freaking joke.
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Demetriou is in dreamland if he thinks finding and adding 88 new players will only have a small minimal effect on the player pool.
Although he said 2012 was only when they would offer new licences and not introduce the two teams I still hope the RFC will watch carefully to have our best kids signed up.
On the positive side, the contribution slice we get from the new licence fees should wipe out any debts we have. IIRC Port payed $5-6m in 1997. The new fees should be daylight bigger than that figure in 4 years time going by the increases in other areas such as the tv rights, sponsorships, memberships, etc.
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The next TV Rights deal with 18 clubs would be worth $1 billion.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/afl-1-billion-from-new-competition/2008/02/18/1203190740414.html
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Our Prez's view on expanding to 18 clubs
Richmond president Gary March said he was troubled by "the significant lack of data about the sustainability of AFL sides in either of those markets".
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/clubs-draw-battle-lines-on-afl/2008/02/19/1203190824811.html
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I think that if these dopes are serious about making it a national competition.
they should be looking at placing or making a team in Tasmania first of and then the NT. and this would make it a national comp.
I would love to see a team arise from both these places. Even if we moved over there we could be called the Tasmanian Tigers.
Just a real thought I had.
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This expansion is not though about making the comp a truly national league in terms of having teams in every state/territory. This is more about increasing exposure in new markets whether that be crowds, tv ratings, etc to attract more and larger sponsorships and more $$$ for the sport to keep growing and maintain its No 1 position. Tassie is already a Aussie Rules following state even without its own team in the AFL so the grow potential is limited in the eyes of the AFL.
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Thank MT. But I would love to see a team from Tassie in the comp. I really think that it would be viable over there. But I do understand what you have said.
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Here's an article from the Age today bushranger putting forward Tassie's case for their own team
The forgotten state
Peter Hanlon | February 23, 2008
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/the-forgotten-state/2008/02/22/1203467388110.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
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Thank MT. But I would love to see a team from Tassie in the comp. I really think that it would be viable over there. But I do understand what you have said.
I would love them to have a team too and I agree with Tim Lane that the AFL's reasons for choosing West Sydney over Tassie is taking Tassie for granted and a state the AFL can fall back on.
I guess the concerns about a Tassie team is the North-South divide and modernising the infrastructure. The team would need to play out of the more populated Hobart (would Launcestonians accept that and travel down to Hobart?). Tassie would also have to build a new ground which may even have to be a Dome with a roof given the cold wintery weather as someone mentioned on 3aw today. If Tassie can solve those issues then say if you have a Vic team relocate then you'd think with say 10k Vic members and 25k Tassie members plus sponsorships from the Tassie Government (they put $16m into the Hawks over 5 years so why not a Tassie side) and maybe a brewery like Cascade the money would be there to sustain an AFL club. It can be done but it would need the support of all parties (AFL, Tassie government, putting local rivalries aside) involved and right now the AFL themselves aren't interested and the Tassie Government are in bed with Hawthorn until 2012.
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It's doesn't say what the concern is but Richmond has put a question to the AFL about the league expansion....
All club presidents are invited to view a "sealed section" of the AFL's expansion blueprint at the league's Docklands headquarters at 1.30pm tomorrow. This is believed to contain commercially sensitive broadcast and revenue projections.
A meeting between the presidents and AFL hierarchy is scheduled to follow at 2.30pm, with the itinerary devoted almost entirely to national expansion.
At the meeting, McGuire will present questions to the AFL on behalf of the clubs. The list is understood to include questions from Collingwood, Melbourne, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Sydney and Richmond and Brisbane.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23359479-5012432,00.html
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The news says the existing clubs have given the go ahead for 2 new clubs.
Ch 10 said there's already a Gold Coast consortium based around Southport Football Club.
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Clubs back plan to create new teams in Gold Coast and Sydney
March 13, 2008 06:27pm
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick says plans to create new teams in NSW and on the Gold Coast have won the unanimous support of the 16 clubs.
AFL bosses met with presidents of the 16 clubs today to set out the league's case for the two expansion clubs, on what Fitzpatrick said was an "historic day" for the competition.
"The clear message from the 16 clubs was to get going ... don't waste any time, do it," Fitzpatrick said.
He said there was also a strong push by the clubs to have both new teams introduced at the same time rather than have a temporary period as a 17-team competition.
He said the AFL had put forward 2012 as the timetable for the two new clubs to come into the AFL but the clubs had urged the league to move more quickly.
"We had quite a debate abo ut that," Fitzpatrick said.
"I think the view from the meeting was we might not be aggressive enough.
"We've suggested 2012 and I don't think we'd move away from that but there was a feeling in the room we could be more aggressive."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou also revealed that the league was already well advanced in discussions with a Gold Coast-based consortium, who he said included local club the Southport Sharks.
He said the AFL would be dealing exclusively with that group for the next few months.
Demetriou said the AFL had been able to convince the clubs that the cost to the competition of not moving into the proposed areas would be greater than the cost of setting up the new teams.
He said the way the new teams would sign their players was yet to be worked out, but the AFL had put forward some proposals involving draft selections and priority access to players.
Geelong president Frank Costa said the clubs had backed the plan because they realised a national competition needed new teams in those states and they could not afford to lose ground to other football codes.
"If we want to truly be national, which we do in the AFL ... then we have got to have two clubs in NSW and Queensland and play football every weekend in those states," Costa said.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23369475-19742,00.html
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I still reckon it's a pipedream without relocating Melbourne-based clubs north. Where are the 30,000 supporters/members going to come from especially in Sydney?! The AFL will have to use $25-30m out of the tv rights to prop up each new club. I can see another Bears-Fitzroy merger down the track when one or two of the Melbourne-based clubs falls over without AFL assistance.
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The AFL will have to use $25-30m out of the tv rights to prop up each new club.
I'd say this is why 2012 is the mark - the current TV rights deal finishes in 2011.
At least it gets rid of a gripe I had, that the current TV rights would be split between more clubs than when the deal was done.
I know market forces are the major determining factor in locating new clubs but I can't help wishing if the AFL are taking the game to the people that they take it to the people who really want it.
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I know market forces are the major determining factor in locating new clubs but I can't help wishing if the AFL are taking the game to the people that they take it to the people who really want it.
Which is what Tassie folk are saying.
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eventually the will go to 20 clubs with a 3rd club in WA probably Mandurah and maybe a club in Tassie. Tassie will get a shot if the state government ever decides to become an annual "major sponsor" and benefactor and sink in 8 to 10 million on an annual basis. IMHO a 2 conference AFL and NFL with 10 teams in each. a final 5 in each and an eventual superbowl type night grand final is what will happen. The TV companies will go nuts and the AFL will rake in more and more dough.
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20 pro teams is a lot for a country with the small population of Australia. That would be almost 1 team for every million. The US has 32 teams for 300m people (roughly 1 team for every 10 million).
I think you're right Ramps about a conference system coming in fudged in a way as to keep the current "blockbuster" games like ANZAC Day as is. If it was 20 teams then you'd have to have 4 conferences of 5 where you play the team in your conference twice and everyone else once = 23 rounds. For 18 teams 3 conferences of 6 based on the same idea (22 rounds).
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Even so MT , sounds good but even in the NFL you don't play everyone in the same season let alone everyone in the same conference in the NFL.
Of course the NFL would make plenty of dough but the inequities we face in the draw now will be magnified in an even greater fashion using the conference system.
Collingwood would be in the same Division as Essendon and Carlton to reap the benefits of a mostly full MCG with less travel than they have now.
Still on paper I don't disagree with those ideas its just that if the comp eventually expands to 20 then divisions of 5 will be based on money rather than geographical proximity as is with the NFL.
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If a conference system is introduced then fudged sounds very close to what I'd think of it.
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Even so MT , sounds good but even in the NFL you don't play everyone in the same season let alone everyone in the same conference in the NFL.
Of course the NFL would make plenty of dough but the inequities we face in the draw now will be magnified in an even greater fashion using the conference system.
Collingwood would be in the same Division as Essendon and Carlton to reap the benefits of a mostly full MCG with less travel than they have now.
Still on paper I don't disagree with those ideas its just that if the comp eventually expands to 20 then divisions of 5 will be based on money rather than geographical proximity as is with the NFL.
True HT74. I think though we would also be chucked into the same division/conference as the Pies, Bombers and Blues. We may be crap in a lot of areas but in crowd numbers we are still top 3 or 4 every year :thumbsup. As for the NFL yes it's true they don't play everyone in the same conference but they do in the same division twice IIRC.
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You would hope so MT that we would be in the same division as those clubs, instead of these so called Mickey Mouse clubs like St Kilda or Hawthorn going in at our expense.
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The Age today has a bit more info on the new Gold Coast club and how they'll recruit players...
Southport supports new Gold Coast club
Andrew Stafford | March 17, 2008
The reason for an immediate entry to the AFLQ is to ensure that, by 2011, the Gold Coast Football Club will not be full of 18 and 19-year-olds readied for slaughter in the big league. Nor will it be a cobbled-together transplant operation, as the Brisbane Bears were in 1987.
Rather, the best talent on the coast — along with whoever else might be lured by dollars and the temptation to be a part of AFL history — will be given time to find their feet in a lower grade.
Full article at:
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/southport-supports-gold-coast-club/2008/03/16/1205602196718.html
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they can have McGuane and Raines for a decent pick down the track lol
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Gold Coast to play in 2009
Carley Jellett | March 23, 2008
THE foundations for the AFL's new Gold Coast club should be up and running next season, with league chief Andrew Demetriou confirming the AFL's desire for the new franchise to be playing in the AFL Queensland State League in 2009.
Demetriou said the league is hoping to establish a "home-grown" team on the Gold Coast that will have a two-year development period before joining the league in 2011 — possibly alongside an 18th club based in western Sydney.
"By the end of the year this club will have a structure and this club will start identifying players, maybe even out of this year's draft or rookie list," Demetriou told radio SEN yesterday.
"And we want this club to have a team playing in the QAFL (AFL Queensland state league) next year to get this club to be building over 2009 and (20)10. There will be young kids running around so they get experience and get coaches and start to build the culture of the club."
Richard Griffiths, chief executive of AFL Queensland, said the league supported the move, which would expand the competition to 10 clubs. The new club will be built from scratch and will not be aligned with an existing Queensland club.
"It will be a new entity that will be managed by AFL Queensland, Griffiths said. "Obviously Gold Coast-based, it would be the pre-cursor to the AFL team in 2011.
Earlier this month, the 16 AFL presidents gave unanimous support to the AFL to introduce two new teams. One of their primary concerns, however, was where players for the clubs would be sourced.
Griffiths said he and the commission are discussing options but, at this stage, it is not known if existing AFL clubs would be required to give their listed players to the new franchise. Exclusive access to Queensland players and draft concessions are being considered.
"We are currently working through what the player rules might be in terms of who can in fact play in this team. Obviously we don't know exactly at this point in time, but clearly there will be some sort of priority access to Queensland kids or Gold Coast kids in particular.
"But I mean how many and what-have-you, we just haven't quite resolved. Surely we will need to top up the state league team with players from elsewhere.
"There's quite a variety of scenarios being considered to piece together a list. And it may well be that through the draft Queensland kids are given the opportunity of being pre-listed by this Gold Coast entity and therefore avoid the draft."
Demetriou said the league has received widespread support and has been "inundated" with requests from people wanting to join the new Gold Coast side.
"We will not have any issue whatsoever procuring a top-notch CEO for that club," he said. "I say that because I can't believe how inundated we've been by people, whether they're coaches, football managers, CEOs, all interested in going up to the Gold Coast."
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/gold-coast-to-play-in-2009/2008/03/22/1205602735993.html
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Contract clause bans team playing at Carrara until 2016
Damian Barrett | March 27, 2008
THE AFL's ambitious plans to have a team based on the Gold Coast by 2011 have hit a major problem, with the team banned from playing there until 2016.
In a serious setback to the AFL's recently adopted full-speed approach to issuing a 17th licence to a consortium based in the region, a contract with the Queensland Government stipulates the Gabba, 80km away in Brisbane, must be used for all season matches until the end of 2015.
The Herald Sun has learned the contract was struck before the Government agreed to the $40 million final stage of the Gabba redevelopment.
The arrangement, struck via Queensland government body Major Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), says a second AFL team being based in south-east Queensland must "play one half of its AFL premiership season matches at the Gabba".
That clause expires in September 2015.
In the AFL-MSFA deal, it is clear the AFL is under no obligation to introduce a second team to south-east Queensland, but should it decide to do so before 2016 it must schedule it to play at least 11 games at the Gabba if the home-and-away season remains at 22 rounds.
AFL chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLachlan confirmed the new team on the Gold Coast would not be able to play matches in the region until 2016.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23437603-19742,00.html
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I lol'd. :lol
What a joke that they talked all that up but knew they couldnt play games at the GC anyway for another 8 years. ::)
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Who can blame North Melb for asking to see the detail on the stadium deal and therein another an extra 12 months before committing to any relocation to the GC.
What a balls up from the AFL and particularly the commercial manager - Skully (yes, a new nickname - Gillion Anderson)
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AFL prepared to help Victorian clubs relocate north
March 27, 2008
THE AFL is still prepared to offer a lucrative package to Victorian clubs if they relocate to western Sydney or the Gold Coast.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said yesterday that the commission had agreed to once more offer the package or packages, and they would also be available if any clubs agreed to merge as the league seeks to foil the expansion ambitions of rugby league and soccer.
"There are one or two clubs in Victoria that are struggling and we are concerned about them. At the recent meeting between the commission and the presidents we were asked if we would place the package back on the table. And we did," Demetriou said.
"It is there for any club or clubs that come to us and say they can't make their finances work in Melbourne. The package would be tailored to their financial position."
Demetriou said the AFL was unaware of any club planning to relocate at the moment but several are desperately trying to secure their futures.
It is believed the club push to have the commission reintroduce the relocation packages has the strong support of the wealthier clubs who are wary of the inclusion of 17th and 18th teams. They fear they will lose players to any new franchises and priority picks will once more corrupt the draft.
Read the full story by Patrick Smith here.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23436745-2722,00.html
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Relocation, no relocations, relocation back on again...... make up your mind Andy D :wallywink. Melbourne must be in dire straits for such a sudden backflip.
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:rollin :rollin :rollin
Andy D
Little Adrian A
and now Gillion McFudd
The AFL's own 3 stooges
:clapping :clapping
:help
:jump
:stupid = their motto
:eyebrow
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AFL blockbuster sweetener for Gabba
Andrew Hamilton | March 28, 2008 12:00am
THE AFL will offer the Gabba an extra four crowd-pulling blockbusters each season in exchange for a release from the Queensland Government's clause.
The clause states the Gold Coast Football Club must play its home games in Brisbane until the end of 2015.
The AFL proposal would offer scheduling concessions to the Queensland Government so the Gabba would host Gold Coast v Collingwood, Gold Coast v Essendon, plus both derbies against the Lions when the new team was introduced in 2011.
Premier Geelong plays its biggest games in Melbourne and the Titans use Suncorp in Brisbane for blockbusters.
The draw would not preclude Collingwood or Essendon travelling twice to Brisbane in a season to also play the Lions.
In exchange the league will seek a release from the existing contract struck when the Gabba was re-developed, which states any side based in south-east Queensland must play its home games there until 2015.
That would allow the new club to play its remaining eight home games at the rebuilt Carrara Stadium. As a sweetener the AFL has the capacity to send more neutral games to the Gabba each season.
When the 17th side starts, the league will have to find venues for extra games to ensure no side gets more home games than another. That would mean the formation of some neutral-venue games which could also be offered to the Gabba.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23443600-19742,00.html
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Western Sydney team to get time
Roger Vaughan
afl.com.au
6:29 PM Mon 07 April, 2008
Demetriou said 2011 is the right time for the Gold Coast. Western Sydney at the same time or shortly thereafter, not two or three years after. Meaning there could be a year with byes in the fixture.
The league has also put together a draw for an 18-team competition, which features Saturday 5pm games and Monday night football.
Demetriou said the AFL was having "ongoing dialogue" on several options, including the construction of a 22-24,000 seat stadium on the Gold Coast, "a bit like the Geelong model". Some of the Gold Coast team's bigger-drawing games will be played at the `Gabba.
Full article at:
http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=57517
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Any early draft picks could be under threat in this year's draft ....
The AFL could give the Gold Coast franchise access to young talent as early as this year's national draft, with those selected standing out of elite competition and playing in an establishment team in the Brisbane or Victorian state league. The league is also considering giving the new teams access to one uncontracted player from each club.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/demetriou-sells-the-west-to-roos/2008/04/07/1207420304061.html?page=2
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Michael Voss firms in deal to coach Gold Coast
Mark Robinson | April 09, 2008
MICHAEL Voss remains the white-hot favourite to coach the new Gold Coast franchise and an unprecedented seven-year contract could await him. The Brisbane Lions triple premiership skipper has not held formal talks with the Gold Coast bid team.
But a source close to Voss yesterday told the Herald Sun that if Voss was to sign with the Gold Coast, it would be for "five years minimum, I mean bare minimum".
He argued that 2009-10 would be development years in AFL Queensland State League and that a five-year deal would then be requested to build and develop the new southeast Queensland team from 2011.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23509473-19742,00.html
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1. Crazy for an untried coach at that level the length of contract.
2. We cannot get it right with 5 years alot can happen that can sway players fans board on retaining him.
3. He may be the right man but 3 years would seem a more sensible duration.
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Watson went straight from the media into senior coaching and we know what happened there. A massive ask for Voss given he'll start with a mixture kids and other clubs' offcuts.
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Taswegians are getting a petition going...
The Hawks will make their 2008 official season debut against Adelaide there on Sunday where locals reportedly will petition for the introduction of a Tasmanian club.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/tassie-cool-on-afl-push/2008/04/09/1207420487740.html
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Good on whoever got the petition going for Tassie.
The AFL seems to ignore them in any expansion talk when there is a ready made and passionate Aussie Rules base there already.
Sydney's West and the Gold Coast may be prospectively better from a business sense but I reckon the local populations in general of each probably wouldn't give a stuff about a team there.
If the AFL brand is all about business at the expense of taking it to where it's really wanted, then I think that's pretty sad.
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Gold Coast franchise must find $5 million
Andrew Hamilton | April 23, 2008
THE Gold Coast Football Club must find $5 million in sponsorship and 20,000 prospective members in six months before the AFL will grant the 17th licence to the region. The AFL handed control over to the Coast bid team yesterday - and in the process asked it to scale a mountain.
The bid team, led by prominent local lawyer John Witheriff, ex-Lions chairman Graeme Downie and Southport Sharks president Dr Alan MacKenzie, must deliver 111 sponsors, including a naming rights sponsor, 10 second-tier sponsors and 100 business supporters.
The AFL standard for naming rights sponsorship starts at $1 million, while the going rate for second tier sponsorships, which include jumper, ball and coaches' sponsors, is $250,000-$350,000.
Full article at:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23584229-19742,00.html
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2010 draft jackpot for new Queensland team
Mark Robinson | April 23, 2008
The Gold Coast team would be given up to eight of the first 24 selections and the first two selections in the pre-season draft in 2010.
They would also have priority access to five Queensland and Northern Territory players.
As expected, the Gold Coast team would also have access to up to 15 players from Queensland in the 2008 and 2009 national drafts to "warehouse" them before the club's AFL debut in 2011.
It's anticipated, because the oldest player on its list would be about 20, that the Gold Coast team would use its raft of draft selections in 2010 to trade for senior players.
For example, the Gold Coast could offer picks three, five, and a player to St Kilda for Nick Riewoldt.
If West Sydney is up and running, it, too, would be given access to New South Wales players as well as receiving a significant amount of draft selections in the 2010 draft.
That would mean up to 18 of the top 30 selections could be off limits to the other 16 AFL clubs.
It points to a furious trade period as both Gold Coast and West Sydney would need to trade some of those picks for experienced players immediately.
Full article at:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23584071-19742,00.html
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All the smart clubs will trade out players in 2008 and 2009 and load up in those drafts. RFC should follow this route.
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All the smart clubs will trade out players in 2008 and 2009 and load up in those drafts. RFC should follow this route.
Not necessarily. If you're a top side in 2010 then Gold Coast, chasing after senior players, may pay in terms of draft picks over the top for contracted 'good ordinary players' as Jack use to say. It would be a good year to finish up the top given the chance to buy top picks off the Gold Coast club. I remember Port overpaying for duds like Brewer from Geelong and Downsborough from the Eagles when they came in. Same with Freo missing out on Lloyd and Macleod chasing recycled duds.
Agree we need to make the most of the 2008 and 2009 drafts so we are near the top by 2010. It depends though on where we finish on the ladder. We don't want another stuff up like in 2005 by overachieving and finishing ninth and then being stuck with only 3 draft picks.
The main thing is by 2010 to have your required list contracted until 2011 and beyond so they just can't walk out for nothing.
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Vossy has put his hand up for the Gold Coast coaching job. He was a great player but it's a big risk giving someone with little coaching experience the senior coaching job. Timmy Watson was the last one at St Kilda and he failed miserably.
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Mero from footyjumpers.com has done his own design for the new Gold Coast team.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/rmered/Gold-Coast-Sharks-1.gif)
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/05/07/10824_gold-coast-sport.html
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TAC Cup to help blood new team
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/tac-cup-to-help-blood-new-team/2008/06/04/1212258909342.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Michael Gleeson | June 5, 2008
A NEW Gold Coast team will play in the under-18 TAC Cup next year, with the best Queensland teenagers offered contracts to step out of this year's national draft in favour of playing for the new team until it joins the expanded AFL in 2011.
The AFL will today announce the decision after last night informing the parents of Queensland's best under-18 players of the option to potentially play AFL football, yet be certain of remaining in their home state.
The team, which is yet to have a name or jumper, will play for two seasons in the TAC Cup, potentially coached by Michael Voss, which could serve as the triple premiership-winning captain's coaching apprenticeship. The choice of a home ground is also yet to be determined, but the side will play its home games on the Gold Coast next year, with the AFL underwriting the cost of all TAC Cup teams travelling to Queensland to play.
There are two Queenslanders in the Australian Institute of Sport squad — Jesse Haberfield and Declan Bevan — who would be most obviously considered of draftable quality.
The certainty of being drafted and being able to stay in their home state would be also of appeal. Equally, Haberfield, who is available in this year's draft, could decide to take his chance in the draft for the possibility that he could be playing AFL as soon as next year.
The Gold Coast club will not participate in this year's national draft, but Queensland players could choose to pre-sign to it — as occurs with NSW scholarship players — and opt out of the draft.
Now that the decision has been made by the working party of the AFL and GC17 members that a team will play in the TAC Cup next year, staffing appointments will be made, including the coach and recruiting manager.
Initially the decision on who to offer contracts to for the TAC Cup team and bypass the draft will be made by AFL Queensland's game development team, headed by Mark Browning. Prospective players would be signed to the AFL but that contract would fold over to the new club when a consortium wins the licence to play in the AFL.
It is yet to be determined by the AFL commission if the players would be offered standard player contracts despite playing at a level below AFL or VFL. The desire to ensure the offers are attractive would likely mean this is the case.
The league will work with the chief executive of Football Victoria, Peter Schwab, to manage the TAC competition, given a large number of mature-aged players would be playing in an essentially under-age competition.
Presently, some 19-year-olds are permitted to play in the under-18 competition.
"We think developing generations of Queensland talent will be best done by having them play in the TAC Cup, which traditionally produces more than 50% of players drafted," AFL game development manager David Matthews said.
"This fits our philosophy to not only fast-track talent, but to deepen the overall talent pool so that we not only find players for the new Gold Coast team, but for every team in the AFL."
To that end, the AFL also announced the creation of a form of football academy in Queensland, whereeducational help would be provided for promising athletes, which would allow them to be given increased and regular intensive football instruction.
The academy system is an enhancement of the Voss scholarship program and will see students placed at a range of schools in Queensland.
"We have had some significant gains in recent years with the program and we believe now it warrants further investment and the development of an elite intensive football academy," Matthews said.
Collingwood made a detailed submission to the AFL last Friday on the new teams and suggested forming a more elaborate football academy there. Under that model, players aged 15 and 14 would be accepted at a elite private boarding school and be available as a large group to be coached in football on a daily basis.
The Magpies plan, loosely costed at up to $1.6 million, involved aggressively chasing talented athletes from other sports and offering them the scholarships.
The Gold Coast team would have had exclusive access to the best players for the first three years before being given priority access under a bidding system similar to the father-son system.
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Joining the TAC Cup is the sensible option. At least it'll attempt to push their youngsters up to Division 1 level before the Gold Coast team enters the big league. With Queensland getting knocked out in the earlier U18 Champ games and the Qld U16s being smashed by NSW/ACT they're going to need to raise the level of junior Qld footy again.
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Gold Coast to join VFL in 2010
Martin Boulton | June 6, 2008
A GOLD Coast development team will join the VFL in 2010, expanding the competition to 15 teams, before entering the AFL the following year as the league's 17th team.
AFL game development manager David Matthews said the team, which will enter the TAC Cup competition next year, would spend one year playing at VFL level.
As reported in The Age yesterday, the team, yet to be given a name, will play home games on the Gold Coast in 2009 as part of the under-18 TAC Cup contest.
"The fast-tracking of the young talent who will join the Gold Coast list is best served by playing in the TAC Cup in 2009, with a mix of matches in Victoria," Matthews said.
"This step in 2009 will allow Queensland players to develop quickly through an AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) Academy style program."
AFL Victoria chief Peter Schwab said including the Gold Coast in next year's TAC Cup would add "an exciting extra dimension" to the competition. "The players will gain an understanding of the preparation and commitments required to travel interstate and play at an elite level," Schwab said.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/gold-coast-to-join-vfl-in-2010/2008/06/05/1212259009336.html
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The moniker for the new Gold Coast club has come down to this final 5:
Ironmen
Marlins
Guards
Rays
Stringrays
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The moniker for the new Gold Coast club has come down to this final 5:
Ironmen
Marlins
Guards
Rays
Stringrays
Not too bad a choice.
My marine-themed short list didn't make the cut.
Aholeholes
Cods
Red herrings
Megamouth sharks
Yellow clownfish
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Was that you or the swear filter with the first suggestion FF? ;D
If that's the best 5 names the community survey could come up with then they should have forgotten about the community survey lol. They're all shockers.
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It's an actual type of fish. ;D I like it. The Gold Coast should use it.
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It's an actual type of fish. ;D I like it. The Gold Coast should use it.
;D
Ah clever one - Flagtails or pygmy perches.
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Gold Coast begins with three 17-year-olds
July 30, 2008
THE AFL's Gold Coast franchise has signed its first players, recruiting three Queensland teenagers.
Charlie Dixon from Cairns and Gold Coast pair Jesse Haberfield and Jack Stanlake, all aged 17, are the first players to commit to the team that will make its debut in the TAC Cup Under-18 competition next year.
"This is a very important milestone and, in years to come, we will be able to look back and say these guys were the foundations of the building of the Gold Coast Football Club," said GC17 chairman John Witheriff.
"I'd like to thank Jesse, Charlie and Jack for agreeing to join us on the journey to become the most exciting sporting club in Australia." The Gold Coast team is scheduled to play in the TAC Cup next year, then move into the VFL in 2010 and join the AFL in 2011.
The AFL has allowed the GC17 franchise to pre-sign up to 20 Queensland players of draft eligible age in 2009-10.
"We still have a long way to go," Witheriff said.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/gold-coast-begins-with-three-17yearolds/2008/07/29/1217097241997.html
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The moniker for the new Gold Coast club has come down to this final 5:
Ironmen
Marlins
Guards
Rays
Stringrays
You have to think what the media will use if this team loses. EG Ironmen are a bit rusty. Gay rays. Guards not so guarded etc. Stingrays get stung.
My favourite is Marlins. The marlin is a big, powerful fish that puts up a lot of fight. And it's bill can inflict a lot of damage ( you can put your own connotations on that). Sharks was also a good name but lots up here don't like the Southport Sharks.
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So much for an economic crisis and tightening belts at AFL HQ...
AFL'S $100mill plan for Sydney Showground
Jano Gibson and Jacquelin Magnay | November 15, 2008
THE AFL has intensified its raid into the rugby league heartland of western Sydney with plans to redevelop the Sydney Showground at Olympic Park into a $100 million "boutique stadium" for its proposed second Sydney team.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/afls-100mill-plan-in-sydney/2008/11/14/1226318938930.html
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That'll be handy. People can go to the footy and get their hair done at the same time.
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Should only take about a hundred years or so to break even on that outlay
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THE AFL has intensified its raid into the rugby league heartland of western Sydney with plans to redevelop the Sydney Showground at Olympic Park into a $100 million "boutique stadium" for its proposed second Sydney team.
This wont be just any white elephant, this will be a "boutique" white elephant.
How special.
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THE AFL has intensified its raid into the rugby league heartland of western Sydney with plans to redevelop the Sydney Showground at Olympic Park into a $100 million "boutique stadium" for its proposed second Sydney team.
This wont be just any white elephant, this will be a "boutique" white elephant.
How special.
They should design it like Subi so it'll be a guaranteed win for us ;D
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They should design it like Subi so it'll be a guaranteed win for us ;D
Yeh right we will probably get SCG version 2
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AFL's bid for western Sydney team hits a snag — little interest
Caroline Wilson | December 3, 2008
THE AFL has placed on hold the formation date for its projected 18th team, conceding more work must be done to develop and market the game in western Sydney.
Although 2012 remains the AFL Commission's preferred launch date for a second team in Sydney, the prevailing view is that a fledgling team will not be formed before 2011.
The Age understands the commission's talks in Sydney last month considered a range of scenarios for the problematic frontier, including putting off the starting date beyond 2012 — the timing placed on the public agenda by chairman Mike Fitzpatrick in February.
However, the AFL's NSW boss, Dale Holmes, said 2012 remained the commission's preferred deadline, mindful of the preference for an even-numbered competition with no byes.
The commission meeting in Sydney, which included a tour of the western region, was the first indication that the AFL had become increasingly mindful of the world economic crisis and its impact on the AFL's Victorian clubs, and the potential spin-off problems created by an expensive expansion program.
Instead of pushing to create an under-18 team by 2010 and follow the Gold Coast model, the AFL looks certain to spend the next two years investing in extra development and marketing in the non-traditional football region, which Fitzpatrick noted at last week's AFL Future Directions conference had provided a disappointing return on its investment.
The commission has put off a final decision on the western Sydney team until the end of next year.
Not only did the 2008 AFL draft fail to provide one registered NSW footballer, but the Sydney Swans' television ratings, attendances and memberships dropped dramatically.
The AFL has accepted much of the blame for the dismal crowd of less than 20,000 which attended the Sydney-North Melbourne second elimination final at ANZ Stadium in September, and has taken on board advice from Swans executives to lift its game in terms of promoting the club and the AFL in Sydney.
Next season the AFL will design an advertising campaign specifically aimed at luring Sydneysiders to Swans games, and has for the first time appointed a Sydney-based advertising firm — the local arm of its contracted advertising company George Patterson — to promote the Sydney Swans.
The AFL also looks certain to schedule the second Sydney team a significant number of home-and-away fixtures at Manuka Oval in Canberra once it is launched, with the Sydney Showgrounds venue the preferred site for the bulk of the yet-to-be-formed side's home games.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and Holmes reiterated that the AFL had never specified that it would create an 18th team in the image of the 17th.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/bid-for-18th-team-hits-snag/2008/12/02/1227980017883.html
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Well Hurray they have woken up and smelt the roses.
Local footy out in the West is struggling, inner city and immediate surroundings are strong but in the Greater West teams are doing it tough. Sponsorship (if achieved) is the local pub/club for a few thousand per year and playing numbers have been decreasing over the last five years.
The AFL (NSW/ACT) has recently changed the AFL structure for the Sydney comp in that it has moved to a divisionalised system instead of the traditional firsts and reserves set up. This should make the playing field more even and competitive but there is still a huge problem of support in the West for AFL, ie at the moment it is near non existant.
I am not saying that another team couldn't be successful but IMO there needs to be a lot of ground work done first to avoid a money draining white elephant.
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Hello Tassie FC :eyebrow
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AFL's bid for western Sydney team hits a snag — little interest
Really :gobdrop :gobdrop
I find that staggering...really I do....
This is the most amazing, earth shattering, shock horror piece of news since.... well I think last week when it was reported that the MCG makes most of its money from Football as opposed to cricket :wallywink
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West Sydney still in AFL's sights
AAP | March 17, 2009 07:02pm
THE AFL will forge ahead with planning for its western Sydney expansion team, despite the failing economy.
League chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan acknowledges the enormity of the project, but the AFL insist it is a battle it must win.
Full article at:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25201689-19742,00.html
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West Sydney is AFL's Vietnam
James Phelps | April 29, 2009
RUGBY league boss Geoff Carr has warned the AFL its push into western Sydney could be its Vietnam War.
The warning came as the AFL's plan for a second Sydney team hit a major hurdle with the New South Wales Government withdrawing financial backing for the expansion.
The Government has told the AFL it will not help fund the $100 million redevelopment of the Sydney Showground at Homebush, where a second AFL side was set to be based from 2012.
NSW Premier Nathan Rees met AFL boss Andrew Demetriou three weeks ago to tell him of the decision.
With NSW in a parlous financial state, it is understood the Government decided pumping big money into AFL's expansion - in the heartland of rugby league - would risk a voter backlash.
Related LinksVideo: Ralph, Edmund discuss breaking news
Australian Rugby League chief executive Carr told the Herald Sun the AFL was wasting its money trying to win the hearts and minds of Sydney's "westies".
"It is a huge risk for them and a lot of people say it will be their Vietnam," Carr said. "If they want to fight out there, that is their call."
As rugby league bosses met yesterday in Penrith in Sydney's west and discussed strategies to combat AFL's push, an investigation has found:
RUGBY league is outspending the AFL by $6.5 million in Sydney's west.
RUGBY league boasts 20,204 registered club players in the area compared to AFL's 2929.
AFL club registrations in NSW dropped between 2005 and 2008, but school figures have risen by 30,000 in three years because of AusKick.
The AFL's ambition to spread the game into Sydney's west, largely at a junior level, has stirred plenty of debate.
Carr's strong comments came after he criticised the AFL for inflating the numbers of people playing the game in NSW to secure funding from the government and local councils.
Carr accused the AFL of counting all youngsters who come into contact with the game through the AusKick program at schools as "registered" players.
Forced to abandon its ambitious Homebush project, the AFL will now have to spend at least $33 million to set up the Showground as a no-frills home ground, something officials and key stakeholders are not prepared to do.
The addition of a Gold Coast side in 2011 was approved by the AFL only when it was given a $60 million grant by the Queensland Government.
The AFL's NSW/ACT general manager Dale Holmes said last night there was no other proposals before the NSW Government about venues for a western Sydney side.
Holmes said playing at ANZ Stadium was an option.
A spokesman for AFL boss Andrew Demetriou was last night adamant the league was on track for the proposed launch in 2012.
"The AFL Commission reiterated again yesterday its support for a team in western Sydney starting in the AFL in season 2012," he said.
While the Showground plans have been canned, the $30 million redevelopment of Blacktown's Olympic Park into a 10,000-capacity venue and training base was on schedule to be completed by June.
But the ground will be unsuitable for AFL matches unless there is a further multi-million dollar investment, something the NSW Government is reluctant to fund based on the AFL's current expansion case.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25402601-19742,00.html
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Warning on west Sydney
Michael Cowley and Richard Hinds, Sydney | April 30, 2009
SWANS chairman Richard Colless says he does not believe a team will be entrenched in western Sydney "in my lifetime", even as the AFL moved to reassure local clubs that plans to implant a team in the region as early as 2012 remained on track.
"I'm not saying it's the wrong thing to do, but I think it would be unwise for clubs to assume this is sort of a licence to print money," said Colless, who is the longest-serving chairman of an AFL club.
"It's going to be a long, hard battle and I don't think the winning of the west is going to occur in my lifetime."
The NSW Government and AFL yesterday denied reports that promised funding for a $100 million redevelopment of the Homebush Bay showgrounds had been withdrawn and the establishment of the new franchise imperiled.
Full article at:
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/warning-on-west-sydney/2009/04/29/1240982277568.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
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http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/missing-fans-mar-swans-big-night/2009/06/21/1245522734330.html?page=fullpage
The Swans might get more people to their games up there if they didn't play such shocking dull grinding footy but with the AFL expanding to two teams in Sydney it looks like the AFL will now have to prop up both teams :help rather than just the new West Sydney club. The Swans list is aging from continually topping up their premiership side and they don't appear to have many outstanding kids coming through. They only have themselves to blame and now that their premiership players are starting to retire it's looking like a long period of pain is going to hit them hard.
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http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/missing-fans-mar-swans-big-night/2009/06/21/1245522734330.html?page=fullpage
The Swans might get more people to their games up there if they didn't play such shocking dull grinding footy but with the AFL expanding to two teams in Sydney it looks like the AFL will now have to prop up both teams :help rather than just the new West Sydney club. The Swans list is aging from continually topping up their premiership side and they don't appear to have many outstanding kids coming through. They only have themselves to blame and now that their premiership players are starting to retire it's looking like a long period of pain is going to hit them hard.
Actually MT they have a new way to draw in the crowds.
I got an Email from the NSW/ACT AFL earlier this week advertising a buy one ticket get one free for the Swans vs North Melbourne match.
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Actually MT they have a new way to draw in the crowds.
I got an Email from the NSW/ACT AFL earlier this week advertising a buy one ticket get one free for the Swans vs North Melbourne match.
Well there's a crowd puller :rollin
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Western Sydney 'insurmountable' for AFL
Paul Carter
June 25, 2009 - 7:14PM
The AFL faces insurmountable barriers to establishing a second Sydney team, says a Senate committee formed to examine Tasmania's bid for a league licence.
The committee, which supports Tasmania's bid for an AFL team, says the weakness of the sport's market in Sydney only underlines the risks in the decision to prioritise that city over Tasmania.
The AFL will have a second Sydney team in 2012, after expanding to the Gold Coast in 2011.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has said Tasmania was next in line if the competition ever expanded beyond the planned 18-team format or a Victorian club relocated.
A Senate committee was formed earlier this year to examine matters relating to the establishment of an AFL team in Tasmania as the league declined the island's state bid for inclusion.
Its report, recognising Tasmania's strong support for Australian Rules football for more than 100 years, was tabled in federal parliament on Thursday.
"There appears to be a growing consensus that Tasmania would have the necessary supporter base to sustain a financially viable AFL club," the report said.
The committee has asked the AFL to outline the circumstances under which Tasmania could get a team if the sport withdrew financial support from an existing club in dire financial straits.
"The committee would encourage the AFL to be upfront about the trigger for a Tasmanian licence to come about under these circumstances," the report said.
The committee was also of the view that the AFL's plans for a western Sydney team were "very ambitious".
"There are cultural barriers facing a western Sydney-based AFL team that appear to be insurmountable," the report said.
Children participating in modified Australia Rules games via school programs will not necessarily translate into meaningful support for the code, it said.
Australian Rules football was barely played at club level in the area, it added.
The weakness of the Sydney competition was most forcefully demonstrated by the fact that the Sydney Swans could not find a suitable competition for its reserves team to play in greater Sydney.
They chose to send the team to play in the Canberra competition.
"The committee believes this fact highlights the weakness of the market for AFL in the Sydney basin, and underlines the risks being taken by the AFL in its decision to prioritise this market over Tasmania."
http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-sport/western-sydney-insurmountable-for-afl-20090625-cy2l.html
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Tassie call won't alter League's expansion plans
afl.com.au
By David Reed 7:45 PM Thu 25 June, 2009
THE AFL will disregard a senate committee finding that the League’s 18th team should be based in Tasmania.
The senate committee, formed to examine Tassie's bid for a league licence, tabled its report in parliament on Thursday. It found that the AFL faced insurmountable barriers to establishing a second Sydney team.
The committee supported Tasmania's bid for an AFL team and said the weakness of the sport's market in Sydney underlined the risks in the decision to prioritise that city over Tasmania.
But AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou says the League had no intention of altering its plans.
“The decision of the senate has no influence on our decision. The AFL Commission has prioritised the Gold Coast for its 17th licence and western Sydney for its 18th licence,” Demetriou said.
“The decision handed down by the senate in no way will influence the AFL’s commitment to western Sydney.
“We are working with the Tasmanian Government – to their eternal credit they didn’t even provide a submission to the Senate Committee.
“We know where we are at with the Tasmanian Government, we have got a good relationship with them and are working closely on what we can do further in Tasmania.”
Demetriou said the League would support Hawthorn’s plan to play more games in Launceston once the new teams were introduced.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/79423/default.aspx