Cats chief calls for overhaul of AFL's international agendaJon Pierik
The Age
March 4, 2015Geelong president Colin Carter has called for an overhaul of the AFL's international agenda, declaring it's time the league assiduously worked to expand a code that has a stronghold only in "a few states" of Australia.
In a letter to AFL chief Gillon McLachlan and chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, Carter says it makes sense from a financial and talent point of view to shift greater resources into developing the sport in South Africa.
While the AFL attempts to forge an imprint in New Zealand, while rejuvenating the International Rules series against the Irish, Carter believes the most productive harvest would be the African nation, with the possibility of Cape Town fielding its own AFL side by 2030.
Having twice toured the country with the AFL, Carter has outlined nine points as to why "South Africa is unique and may still be".
These include the availability of cricket grounds, English is spoken widely, the Australian dollar "goes a long, long way" against the South African rand while the population of 55 million "most of whom are young, who are poor and who have little to do with their leisure time ... love our game if asked to play. And they are good at it".
"Despite obvious problems, Africa is increasingly seen as the next frontier of great opportunity. World Bank, IMF [International Monetary Fund] and investor assessments are positive," Carter says.
As one of Australia's sharpest business minds, and having played a key role in the transformation of the then VFL into the AFL, Carter says league bosses must confront a major question.
"Our's is arguably the oldest football competition in the world and we believe that we have the 'best game' in the world. And so, the confronting question is this: if all of this is true, why is our game only played in a few states at the bottom of Australia?! What went wrong?"
Carter pointed to governance issues as the reasons for the sport losing "strongholds" in the ACT and Papua New Guinea, while also referencing the eventual death of a New Zealand competition in the early 1900s and what was once a "flourishing competition in South Africa built on the many soldiers who served there during the Boer War".
The AFL still provides an annual grant to South Africa, with AFL South Africa based in the North-West province town of Potchefstroom. AFL South Africa stages footyWild, a version of Auskick, while the country also participates in the AFL International Cup. Carlton captain Marc Murphy had until recently been a South African ambassador.
The three-year agreements that Fremantle, Carlton, West Coast and Collingwood had in providing investment and development support in South Africa expired in 2011. The Blues and Dockers had held a pre-season match in Centurion in 2008.
"I am a believer in our northern states expansion — it is crucial for our future — but for a fraction of the cost we could also, over the next 30 years, build a participation base in South Africa that is larger than our markets in WA and SA," Carter said.
"If we could spend say $2 million to $3 million per year in South Africa plus double that in sponsorships — and manage it with discipline — it would have more impact than spending $30 million to $50 million per year in our northern states.
"The point is that South Africa is a truly unique opportunity and not to be confused with the other international opportunities. Can we start to take it seriously?
"Imagine in 2030 having several million people playing our game down there and following the Cape Town team in the AFL."
Carter told Fairfax Media on Tuesday that the AFL "has never really coherently got its international strategy together because the world is a big place and we are a nickel-and-dime operation".
"If you had a long-term view of this, I am sure we would wake up in 30 year's time ... and discover we had another South Australia or Western Australia playing footy," he said.
Carter said the sport could eventually spread through northern Africa if developed in the right manner.
There have been three South-African born players who have been listed by AFL clubs: Damian Cupido (Brisbane, Essendon), Luke van Rheenen (St Kilda) and Tate Day (Brisbane).
A worldly view:AFL's current plans:Ireland: Renewed focus on the International Rules series, possibly with a warm-up match in New York.
New Zealand: St Kilda to again host an Anzac Day clash in Wellington, this time against Carlton.
Los Angeles: Annual US combine to attract local talent.
Florida: AFL academy teenagers took part in a 10-day camp in January.
Through the years:Pre-season or post-season matches have been held in London, South Africa, Shanghai, Los Angeles, New Zealand, Abu Dhabi, Canada, Japan, Greece and Singapore.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cats-chief-calls-for-overhaul-of-afls-international-agenda-20150303-13tsgj.html
