Crows in the SANFL - Q & A with the AFC

[adelaidefc]

Was the unanimous vote required by your CEO a core promise or non-core promise?

It will need to be unanimous. There's no point going in if a club or a couple of clubs are dead against it.

[adelaidefc]

Rob Chapman stated that SANFL fans needed to be educated on the benefits of the Crows entering the SANFL League competition. Do you feel as though we have received enough of this education?

If so, why do you think there is still so much opposition to the proposal?

If not, what are the main benefits we are not yet aware of?

Since the Commission endorsed the proposal, the Club has spent a lot of time talking to the Clubs about the proposal any issues plus has tried to provide answers to any questions direct to the Clubs. There is some opposition to the proposal and was always going to be but we will have to see how your Clubs vote. There are also people who think it should happen - safooty.net is not going to be a refection of the views of everyone associated with SA footy. David

[Ecky]

I have actually answered this sort of question a few times. We believe we will get crowds of between 2000 to 6000 at the games. Why would you base it on VFL figures, a completely different comp with different history. The SANFL has strong support. And so does the AFC. The SANFL clubs will be better off, financially, even if no-one turns up. But when the Crows play Glenelg under lights at Brighton Road next March ....

....the atmosphere will be like a family fun day, not a serious game of football. I'm sure the highlight for the Crows fans attending will be the autograph session with Paddy D on the hill, not what is going on out on the ground.

[saintal]

Not in the SANFL, no, it;s not an option. The Club did look at perhaps creating a four team comp with West Coast, freo and Port, or playing Port every week. But being a part of the league competition became the Club's preferred option. David

Hi David,

I think most would agree that the SANFL Premiership is the second most prestigious team based award in Australian Football (behind the AFL Premiership), you could argue a WAFL premiership is of similar standing. For some clubs (ie the current SANFL clubs) this is the highest possible prize they can attain, due to the fact they do not have the opportunity to participate in the AFL. In effect, winning an SANFL Premiership is to Glenelg, Central District or Norwood, just as important to them as winning the AFL Premiership is important to the Adelaide FC.

As you have indicated, Adelaide's preferred option is to participate in the SANFL League competition along with the AFL competition. What I would like to ask is how important is winning the SANFL Premiership to the AFC?

Would it be comparable to qualifying for AFL Finals, but not winning the Premiership? Would it be comparable to winning a NAB Cup?
Where would an SANFL Premiership rank on the list of possible achievements that the AFC could win in any one season?

Lets look at this season, Adelaide are now unlikely to play finals in the AFL, with 4 games to go they are 4 games and percentage out of the eight, a massive task. If Adelaide's SANFL League team were currently sitting in the 5 in the SANFL League competition, would Adelaide now re-adjust its priorities to maximise its opportunity to win that Premiership, a significant prize in itself? Or would it continue to field its strongest team in the AFL competition in a series of dead-rubbers to the detriment of its SANFL League team?

Thanks David for your efforts to engage with us

Any thoughts on this question/hypothetical raised by "Look Good In Leather"?

[maccad]

how can you the suggest the SANFL clubs are still going to be off under your proposal financialy when SANFL supporters stop buying memberships and stop going to games because they do not like your so called win win proposal? Do you think your $40000 injection per club is going to cover that loss of revenue?

[SABRE]

Hi David,
Please answer my questions as soon as you can. I simply can't sleep at night for excitement. Here's my Top 10 !

1 When will Crows Reserves memberships be released?
2 What are the m/ship levels and prices? Will there be memberships for pets and inanimate onjects?
3 How many interstate and overseas fans will be flocking to Crows Reserves games each week? 10k, 20k, or more?
4 How many grandstands will those horrid & selfish SANFL clubs have to build to keep us all safe from the elements?
5 How long will it take before opposition 'best players' are transferred to Crows Reserves. Can it be during the game?
6 Has a venue been booked for after match presentations? Is it big enough? Will SANFL scumbags be banned?
7 What does the Reserve's guernsey look like? Granny wants to get cracking on her knitting a.s.a.p. !
8 Grandad asks if there's a chance of bringing Fizer Pharmeceuticals on board as a player sponsor?
Apparently he's got some great idea involving one of their products and the return of Graham Johncock.
9 Granny says to forget question 8 ...... she doesn't want Grandad getting anywhere near Viagra again!
And finally,
10 Can you get rid of a few SANFL clubs? We don't like to travel too much, but the bye gives us a chance to get to Victor Harbor.

Isn't it all so thrilling ?!!!

[rod_rooster]

And for the billionth time can u please answer the easiest question you will ever be asked.

"How did the AFC come up with the figure of 4000 per game to a Crows reserves game"

This is a highly questionable figure

BUT

I'm 100% certain you know what research was done to come to this answer

Did you base on it VFL figures
Did you run polls on your website
Did you ask fans at a Crows game

Your refusal to answer this question makes myself and a few SANFL club board members question whether any research was done or it was a make believe figure

Thanks for your answer in advance

Ben Whalan

I have actually answered this sort of question a few times. We believe we will get crowds of between 2000 to 6000 at the games. Why would you base it on VFL figures, a completely different comp with different history. The SANFL has strong support. And so does the AFC. The SANFL clubs will be better off, financially, even if no-one turns up. But when the Crows play Glenelg under lights at Brighton Road next March ....

You still fail to answer the question. I and many others have asked it several times but you keep skirting around the issue. You keep saying that "we believe" or "we expect" but what is this based on? Wouldn't it be easier for you just to admit that there has been no research done and you are just guessing?

[cennals05]

I have a memo from the SANFL in front of me that says under the cons column for the Crows proposal “Potential to lose commercial revenue through lost sponsorship, membership and attendances from those that are resistant to the idea of the AFL Clubs existing in the SANFL competition”.

Nowhere in this memo under Pros does it state an increase in crowds to the SANFL. Why do you keep blindly stating you are going to increase crowds when the clubs and SANFL themselves think you won’t?

[Aerie]

I have a memo from the SANFL in front of me that says under the cons column for the Crows proposal “Potential to lose commercial revenue through lost sponsorship, membership and attendances from those that are resistant to the idea of the AFL Clubs existing in the SANFL competition”.

Nowhere in this memo under Pros does it state an increase in crowds to the SANFL. Why do you keep blindly stating you are going to increase crowds when the clubs and SANFL themselves think you won’t?

Can you list all those pros and cons cennals05?

[JK]

As I understand it, there are some current sponsors within the SANFL that will not be at all impressed, if the proposal doesn't go ahead.

[topsywaldron]

David,

What were the projected costs for the Crows reserves to play in the VFL?

Thanks.

[Booney]

Was the unanimous vote required by your CEO a core promise or non-core promise?

It will need to be unanimous. There's no point going in if a club or a couple of clubs are dead against it.

I think the thread could just about end here then.

So contrary to the Tippett saga, we must assume the CEO is telling the truth on this point.

This comment could be of interest when (not if) push comes to shove.

How are talks progressing with the SAAFL then?

[smac]

Was the unanimous vote required by your CEO a core promise or non-core promise?

It will need to be unanimous. There's no point going in if a club or a couple of clubs are dead against it.

That's contrary to his conversation with a SANFL director. My follow up questions are:

Why would anyone trust your CEO? His track record isn't great on issues of integrity, is it?

[Aerie]

Was the unanimous vote required by your CEO a core promise or non-core promise?

It will need to be unanimous. There's no point going in if a club or a couple of clubs are dead against it.

That's contrary to his conversation with a SANFL director. My follow up questions are:

Why would anyone trust your CEO? His track record isn't great on issues of integrity, is it?

Perhaps more along the lines of "appear unanimous".

[Ecky]

Was the unanimous vote required by your CEO a core promise or non-core promise?

It will need to be unanimous. There's no point going in if a club or a couple of clubs are dead against it.

I think the thread could just about end here then.

So contrary to the Tippett saga, we must assume the CEO is telling the truth on this point.

This comment could be of interest when (not if) push comes to shove.

How are talks progressing with the SAAFL then?

But David gave himself a (weak) get out clause by saying "dead against it" - a club may vote no but not be "dead against it".

[whufc]

Hey David, did you find out what research your bosses did to come up with the magic crowd figure??

I BELIEVE your club didnt do any

[Gravel]

Hi David

David Koch has been quoted saying that the AFL and Rob Chapman have no issue with the Port proposal which retains the Magpies in their current format. Is that a personal view of Rob Chapman or the AFC view?

Thanks

[tipper]

Ok, I know I said I would stay away, but I found out some interesting info today that I thought I would ask about (however I doubt I'll get an answer)

Is it true that the reason the afc believe that the sanfl clubs will be better off with your proposal because the sanfl will be able to expect more income from sponsorships due to the commercial free to air tv deal?

I was told today that the entry of an afc reserves side will guarantee the tv deal, and that then the clubs can "charge" more for sponsorships thereby negating any loss of members/match day attendees.

If that is the case, do you view a successful entry of your club into the sanfl as one that attracts fans to the games, and helps increase the attendees, and popularity of the competition, or will it still be viewed as a success if the sanfl clubs make money but don't attract crowds?

Is that why you believe that the clubs will still make money even if no one goes to the games? Sponsors will pick up the shortfall despite no one watching live? If so, why the big deal over your own clubs failing crowds? Why the move to Adelaide oval? Why the big deal over the "poor" stadium deal?

If it is true, I now understand why you don't care if the proposal lowers crowds, to you it is all about dollars, and with your back door deal of guaranteeing the free to air deal, it supposedly gives the clubs more sponsorship money, without costing you a cent. Who cares about the competition when everyone is making money, who cares about the fans when the clubs have cash.

To me the competition is about more than money. **** your crows, **** your afl, I follow the sanfl not because it is the biggest league, but because I love it. I don't love corporations, I don't love money. I really hope this proposal doesn't go ahead and you have to play in the ammos as a laughing stock of the country. Once again I'm out.

[Mic]

How can a club that is playing in front of increasingly smaller crowds claim that it will help promote football?

[UK Fan]

Hi David Have you been geniunely surprised by the reaction/questions you have received or is it what you expected ??

http://mobile.news.com.au/sport/adelaid ... 6696575928

So your 4000 crowd prediction was a guess. Did you know that and not want to admit gm of communications ??? We're you told not to answer the question ???

Which lie is it ???