by mighty_tiger_79 » Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:55 pm
RUCCI
OH, if only it was possible to be a fly on the walls at AFL House.
The dialogue between the SANFL and AFL chiefs may go along this path during the week:
AFL Commission chairman MIKE FITZPATRICK enters the office of chief executive ANDREW DEMETRIOU.
FITZPATRICK: Andrew. How was north Queensland?
DEMETRIOU: More fish than Collingwood supporters in a dentist's waiting room.
FITZPATRICK: Speaking of fish, have we got a couple rotting in SA? What are we going to do with that Port Adelaide mob? I read your notes on the flight back from London ... we are going to have them coming from all directions, the SANFL, the Crows and that Port lot.
DEMETRIOU: It is perfect Mike. They are divided. They are on different pages. We've got them now. As Wayne Jackson's ghost keeps saying in the hallways here, "What's 20 years in the big picture of 150 years of football?" It has taken 20 years, but we're about to finish off the work 'Schwaby' started when he first divided SA football in 1990.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
.End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
FITZPATRICK: Okay, so where are we?
DEMETRIOU: They are all here on Thursday with the Hall of Fame dinner. In Adelaide, the debate is raging. It is filled with emotion - you should read these transcripts with Graham Cornes on FIVEaa - so that will keep them divided and confused and in our hands. Like I said Mike, it is perfect for us.
FITZPATRICK: What about this push in The Advertiser for the independence of the Crows and Power licences to be factored into development programs in SA football? They want us to fund the SANFL programs - with an annual increase - to release those licences. Can we afford to now bankroll the SANFL like we do with Victorian football?
DEMETRIOU: We can do anything now.
Hey, look at these photographs on my iPad - the fish were unbelievable.
AT SANFL HOUSE
SANFL president JOHN OLSEN meets league chief executive LEIGH WHICKER.
OLSEN: Leigh, the Liberal Party in my day was more united than SA football is today. I'm never sure who is with us and who isn't. And in that commission room you know Phil Gallagher is upset he is not president and Jamie Coppins wants to revisit 1995 when we handed the second AFL licence to Port Adelaide. Not sure where the rest are from day to day.
Politics was a breeze compared to this.
WHICKER: Don't worry about that. As long as you and I stick together, we will be fine.
OLSEN: We going to meet with Caroline Wilson when we go to Melbourne? Those lines she wrote that we are holding the Power and Crows to ransom here at AAMI Stadium and bleeding the AFL clubs dry are getting some currency here.
WHICKER: Don't worry about her. I've got Chris Doudle working some more spin for us - and Cornesy and Rowey are on side. Cornesy is telling everyone that Port Adelaide has the third-best stadium deal in the AFL. He doesn't ask which two clubs are ahead of Port - and which are behind. He is even counting that $9 million we say we have given to the Power as part of the stadium return. And he is fudging that quote I made at Alberton last year that we would make $12 million profit from the Power in the next three years. Have to love Cornesy. He thinks there is no statute of limitations on 1990.
OLSEN: Take it from me Leigh. That will not be enough. The Port boys have a few mates in the media. And I am getting worried about (Crows chairman) Rob Chapman making it known he has spent more money on buying coffees for media people than on new pillows for his club's players.
And as for spin. The media has hit on your line about no footballer making it to the highest level, the AFL, without the assistance of a school, club or talent pathway system. Pity those PR blokes did not think about Karmichael Hunt, Kurt Tippett, Austin Wonaeamirri, Liam Jurrah, Tadgh Kennelly, Mike Pyke - and even Jim Stynes.
WHICKER: We still hold the best cards, John. We have the licences. And with them we can buy some time until we get settled at Adelaide Oval.
OLSEN: We thought that in 1990 when you guys left Wirrina thinking you had bought three years. Take it from my time in government. Let's flog these AFL licences while we can get something for them - and not a one-off cheque. I like this idea that we get the AFL to fund our development programs - let's make them carry the can as they do in Victoria.
WHICKER: It will be okay JO. Trust me.
AT ALBERTON
Port Adelaide president BRETT DUNCANSON enters the office of chief executive MARK HAYSMAN.
DUNCANSON: Mark, you can unpack those boxes. John Lyons is not coming in here - I can promise you that.
HAYSMAN: Did you read in The Tiser last week that beer sales are down in SA? I might have a Plan B.
DUNCANSON: Forget that Mark. We're in this together.
HAYSMAN: When you seeing Andy?
DUNCANSON: Thursday. Hall of Fame dinner mate. I now get that saying, "No such thing as a free lunch".
HAYSMAN: What do you think the AFL wants?
DUNCANSON: It's pretty much all out there, isn't it?
HAYSMAN: What about our mates at West Lakes. When are they going to say anything? Have you read the blogs that are going on about us doing the heavy lifting again and then the Crows get all the benefits for us putting our necks out?
DUNCANSON: Don't worry the Crows. Rob Chapman hasn't spoken to any of the big wigs at the SANFL since December when they rode roughshod over his board elections. If he keeps drinking all that coffee with all the Press, he will explode - and when he does!
HAYSMAN: Can't wait for that. Be interesting how Cornesy and Rowey deal with the callers when they are Crows fans demanding answers as how their clubs could possibly make losses in consecutive years considering their membership and attendance numbers at AAMI Stadium.
DUNCANSON: Did you hear Cornesy when he read our 25-man squad the other night? He doesn't make it easy for Chad does he?
AT WEST LAKES
Adelaide chief executive STEVEN TRIGG answers the telephone after being told chairman ROB CHAPMAN is calling from his Sydney office.
TRIGG: Hi Rob.
CHAPMAN: How is Craigy?
TRIGG: Great. He is copping it on the blogging sites and on talkback, but it is minor compared to all the drama that gets airplay from Alberton.
CHAPMAN: Yeah. How is that going?
TRIGG: Got to feel for those guys.
CHAPMAN: When should we get involved in the debate?
TRIGG: Hey it is easy for you. You're there in Sydney and can get you PA to say you are in meetings when Leigh Whicker rings. I have him just across the other side of the oval.
CHAPMAN: Yeah. Let's wait to see what Demetriou does on Thursday. I'll see him at the Hall of Fame dinner. We'll take it from there.
TRIGG: Okay Rob.
AT GLENELG
Glenelg president GARY METCALF gets on the telephone to his SANFL presidential colleagues.
METCALF: Guys, it is the Emperor here. It is time for another barbecue.
Matty Wade is a star and deserves more respect from the forum family!
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