AFL to expand to 18 clubs

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[julzqld]

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.

[one-eyed]

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

[julzqld]

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.

[mightytiges]

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.

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[Hellenic Tiger]

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.

[one-eyed]

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

[mightytiges]

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  ???

[Hellenic Tiger]

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.

[one-eyed]

You're right about the AFL wanting a 18th club HT74.

-------------------------------------
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

[bluey_21]

Demetrious is an egotistical bully