Ballarat right for AFL, says Richmond boss Gary March (Ballarat Courier)

[one-eyed]

Ballarat right for AFL, says Richmond boss
BY MELANIE WHELAN
Ballarat Courier
19 Jul, 2010


RICHMOND president Gary March has backed a push to make Ballarat a regional AFL base.
Mr March said the Tigers would be happy to play in Ballarat should the chance arise.

Richmond Football Club hosted its third annual Eureka Game against North Melbourne at the MCG yesterday, promoting the core values of the 1854 Eureka Rebellion and the Australian workforce.

The City of Ballarat backs the match to showcase everything the region has to offer.

"It's been a fantastic event to be involved in the past three years and to highlight Ballarat's push to playing an AFL game as a second regional area (after Geelong)," Mr March said.

"Ballarat is a great growth area.

"It's good to have that association Ballarat has with North Melbourne and for us to be involved in that."

Ballarat mayor Judy Verlin, a guest at the Richmond president's function yesterday, said it was a big step to have support of the Tigers' president in bringing AFL to Ballarat.

She said the potential economic spin-off for the city could be huge.

"It's about us taking little steps in the right direction," Cr Verlin said.

"If at some stage a small AFL game, like a pre-season match, comes to Ballarat it will be a good boost across the economy with accommodation, food, catering, laundering required."

Victorian Football League premier North Ballarat Roosters has a partial alignment with North Melbourne.

North Melbourne has been working to strengthen community ties with the city as its regional base, holding summer training and an AFL pre-season challenge match at the Roosters' Eureka Stadium home base.

Cr Verlin said a chance to promote Ballarat at the Eureka Game was two-fold - raise awareness of a potential relationship between the AFL and Ballarat; and, to tell the story of Eureka.

"It's a chance to promote Ballarat to an audience that wouldn't normally be exposed," Cr Verlin said.

"Tell the story of Eureka, but also show Ballarat is a great place to live and visit."

Bringing AFL to Ballarat might be a long-term prospect, but Cr Verlin said a healthy partnership with North Melbourne and another successful Eureka Game were steps in the right direction.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-right-for-afl-says-richmond-boss/1888670.aspx

[Francois Jackson]

Ballarat right for AFL, says Richmond boss
BY MELANIE WHELAN
Ballarat Courier
19 Jul, 2010


RICHMOND president Gary March has backed a push to make Ballarat a regional AFL base.
Mr March said the Tigers would be happy to play in Ballarat should the chance arise.

Richmond Football Club hosted its third annual Eureka Game against North Melbourne at the MCG yesterday, promoting the core values of the 1854 Eureka Rebellion and the Australian workforce.

The City of Ballarat backs the match to showcase everything the region has to offer.

"It's been a fantastic event to be involved in the past three years and to highlight Ballarat's push to playing an AFL game as a second regional area (after Geelong)," Mr March said.

"Ballarat is a great growth area.

"It's good to have that association Ballarat has with North Melbourne and for us to be involved in that."

Ballarat mayor Judy Verlin, a guest at the Richmond president's function yesterday, said it was a big step to have support of the Tigers' president in bringing AFL to Ballarat.

She said the potential economic spin-off for the city could be huge.

"It's about us taking little steps in the right direction," Cr Verlin said.

"If at some stage a small AFL game, like a pre-season match, comes to Ballarat it will be a good boost across the economy with accommodation, food, catering, laundering required."

Victorian Football League premier North Ballarat Roosters has a partial alignment with North Melbourne.

North Melbourne has been working to strengthen community ties with the city as its regional base, holding summer training and an AFL pre-season challenge match at the Roosters' Eureka Stadium home base.
Cr Verlin said a chance to promote Ballarat at the Eureka Game was two-fold - raise awareness of a potential relationship between the AFL and Ballarat; and, to tell the story of Eureka.

"It's a chance to promote Ballarat to an audience that wouldn't normally be exposed," Cr Verlin said.

"Tell the story of Eureka, but also show Ballarat is a great place to live and visit."

Bringing AFL to Ballarat might be a long-term prospect, but Cr Verlin said a healthy partnership with North Melbourne and another successful Eureka Game were steps in the right direction.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-right-for-afl-says-richmond-boss/1888670.aspx

Hobart i can handle 1 or 2 games but Ballarat thats a big no for me.

Leave that to the Gypys's.

Love the line about "North ahs been working to strengthen community ties" lol What they really mean to say is North is a s l u t and is trying to sleep with all parts of the country because they have no money and everywhere they go they screw up. Canbera, Sydney, Gold Coast, et etc

Sick to death of those pricks

[Infamy]

I didn't read it as March saying that we'd consider moving home games there, just that they'd be happy to play in games fixtured there with North Melbourne making a push to play games there

[the_boy_jake]

Ballarat has what, 1/3 the people of Geelong?

Maybe one game in Ballarat every few years.

[Go Richo 12]

Ballarat has what, 1/3 the people of Geelong?

Maybe one game in Ballarat every few years.

For what it is worth- Ballarat pop, 78,221
Geelong, 160,991
Source- good ole wiki!

[camboon]

I read it - if North wants sabatoge our bid for Hobart we will undermine them in Ballarat

[WilliamPowell]

We are not looking at playing games in Ballarat 

If got picked as they away team - yeah we'd do it but we aint going to be playing home games in ballarat - so deep breath everyone

North want to and they can have it because at least then it will look like they've got a decent crowd 

The chances of games for premiership points being played in Ballarat are practically ZERO in the short to medium term.

[smasha]

Ballarat right for AFL, says Richmond boss
BY MELANIE WHELAN
Ballarat Courier
19 Jul, 2010


RICHMOND president Gary March has backed a push to make Ballarat a regional AFL base.
Mr March said the Tigers would be happy to play in Ballarat should the chance arise.

Richmond Football Club hosted its third annual Eureka Game against North Melbourne at the MCG yesterday, promoting the core values of the 1854 Eureka Rebellion and the Australian workforce.

The City of Ballarat backs the match to showcase everything the region has to offer.

"It's been a fantastic event to be involved in the past three years and to highlight Ballarat's push to playing an AFL game as a second regional area (after Geelong)," Mr March said.

"Ballarat is a great growth area.

"It's good to have that association Ballarat has with North Melbourne and for us to be involved in that."

Ballarat mayor Judy Verlin, a guest at the Richmond president's function yesterday, said it was a big step to have support of the Tigers' president in bringing AFL to Ballarat.

She said the potential economic spin-off for the city could be huge.

"It's about us taking little steps in the right direction," Cr Verlin said.

"If at some stage a small AFL game, like a pre-season match, comes to Ballarat it will be a good boost across the economy with accommodation, food, catering, laundering required."

Victorian Football League premier North Ballarat Roosters has a partial alignment with North Melbourne.

North Melbourne has been working to strengthen community ties with the city as its regional base, holding summer training and an AFL pre-season challenge match at the Roosters' Eureka Stadium home base.
Cr Verlin said a chance to promote Ballarat at the Eureka Game was two-fold - raise awareness of a potential relationship between the AFL and Ballarat; and, to tell the story of Eureka.

"It's a chance to promote Ballarat to an audience that wouldn't normally be exposed," Cr Verlin said.

"Tell the story of Eureka, but also show Ballarat is a great place to live and visit."

Bringing AFL to Ballarat might be a long-term prospect, but Cr Verlin said a healthy partnership with North Melbourne and another successful Eureka Game were steps in the right direction.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-right-for-afl-says-richmond-boss/1888670.aspx

Hobart i can handle 1 or 2 games but Ballarat thats a big no for me.

Leave that to the Gypys's.

Love the line about "North ahs been working to strengthen community ties" lol What they really mean to say is North is a s l u t and is trying to sleep with all parts of the country because they have no money and everywhere they go they screw up. Canbera, Sydney, Gold Coast, et etc

Sick to death of those pricks

hahaha gold mate.

[peggles]

We are not looking at playing games in Ballarat 

If got picked as they away team - yeah we'd do it but we aint going to be playing home games in ballarat - so deep breath everyone

North want to and they can have it because at least then it will look like they've got a decent crowd 

The chances of games for premiership points being played in Ballarat are practically ZERO in the short to medium term.

correct, that's how i read it as well.  we have no intentions of moving home games to ballarat.  more we're happy to play away games there when Nth Melbourne are the home team. 

pump them up for hosting games in ballarat and back off on hobart, cos that belongs to us.