AFL pressures Kangaroos to move!

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AFL pressures Roos over Gold Coast
Caroline Wilson | October 11, 2007

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.

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.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said last night that the club was aware of the broad details but not the specifics of the relocation package, which also includes the redevelopment of the Carrara Stadium to the tune of at least $300 million.

"We've said we're going there," Demetriou said. "We've said we want 22 home-and-away games a year in Queensland by 2010 and we've committed $100 million over the next five years already to development in Queensland and NSW.

"What they (the Kangaroos) decide to do is up to them. It's their decision. Their board's aware of what would be available in general terms but we cannot make the decision for them."

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.

While Demetriou continued to insist that the AFL would not pressure the club and had no immediate deadline in mind, the prevailing view is that the league has been subtly working on the club's board via a series of unofficial talks in recent months.

Another issue facing the AFL is a legal one, given that a relocation could require a club restructure or at the very least a shareholder vote, which would further divide the club.

The board's embarrassing stand-off with coach Dean Laidley has further complicated matters.

It is understood Laidley's contractual demands for increased football resources would be easily resolved so long as the club committed to the move the commission regards as inevitable and crucial to the survival of the North Melbourne Football Club. Despite the fact that the club's coaching and playing staff have become increasingly open to the prospect of relocation, no club director has been prepared to commit to the move with fears growing that director Ron Joseph is plotting to overthrow chairman Graham Duff with the help of major shareholder Peter de Rauch, who remains anti-Gold Coast.

Another director, James Brayshaw, stated on Channel Nine last month that the club could survive in Melbourne with an annual membership of 28,000 and a 5000 increase in average attendances — a statement which indicated the club would not make up its mind regarding relocation for at least another year, despite stating earlier it would make a decision by the end of 2007, a deadline favoured by the AFL.

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.

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Sounds to me like there are some ignorant and naive directors running the Roos at the minute. It is plain obvious that the club cannot survive in Melbourne, and that there are many benefits that the Kangaroos would receive - ones which I think would far outway the costs and constant struggles that they'll have should they stay in Melbourne!

[Dirko]

The Kangaroos...I feel for them in some way...
Remember at the 99 GF (which they beat us ) the chant going up before the game
Syd...ney, Syd...ney, Syd...ney...
First Sydney, then Canberra, now Gold Coast...

[Dogwatcher]

Dutchy, you might be right, they may have to hang on to Moran as a Gold Coast local....

[Hondo]

I feel for the supporters in Melbourne (and elsewhere ) so speaking purely as an outside observer if there's an opportunity for ANY club to shore up its financial future then it should be seriously looked at. This is a pretty attractive deal, you could build a dynasty with it as Brisbane showed:

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.

I wonder if the Laidley impasse is tied in to this somehow? He might like to get some state-of-that art facilties and a much bigger football dept budget to give him the best opportunity to coach a premiership? Uncertaintly is tough for any organisaiton hopefully its resolved soon for everyone's sake.

[saintal]

Personally I don’t see why the league needs 22 games a year played out of QLD…

It will be quite ironic if the 2 clubs the AFL ‘prevented’ from merging in 1996 end up both being based out of QLD.

[redden whites]

How was Brisbanes membership this year? Queenslanders basically just dont give a rats about Australian Rules.The Lions are a team of convienience established by the AFL to claim "national status" in securing TV rights money and so are/were the Swans to claim a Sydney market in the 80's for advertising revenue. I would suggest 2nd team out of QLD is a pathway to disaster and embarrassment for our game!Keep North At North

[saintal]

How was Brisbanes membership this year? Queenslanders basically just dont give a rats about Australian Rules.The Lions are a team of convienience established by the AFL to claim "national status" in securing TV rights money and so are/were the Swans to claim a Sydney market in the 80's for advertising revenue. I would suggest 2nd team out of QLD is a pathway to disaster and embarrassment for our game!Keep North At North

Yes, spot on.

I think that Brisbane had the lowest membership figure.

1999 - 16 931
2000 - 20 295
2001 - 18 330
2002 - 22 288
2003 - 24 365
2004 - 30 941 (highest)
2005 - 28 913
2006 - 26 459
2007 - 21 976 (significant drop by 17 per cent)

Big drop off in last few years.

[Rik E Boy]

How was Brisbanes membership this year? Queenslanders basically just dont give a rats about Australian Rules.The Lions are a team of convienience established by the AFL to claim "national status" in securing TV rights money and so are/were the Swans to claim a Sydney market in the 80's for advertising revenue. I would suggest 2nd team out of QLD is a pathway to disaster and embarrassment for our game!Keep North At North

Sorry Redden but the participation rates in Australian Rules football in South East Qld (SEQ) are outstanding. My son currently plays in the Brisbane Juniors league and they have clubs all over the city. Participation rates are how you judge the growth of a code in a 'foriegn' climate not membership in the Brisbane Lions football club. There a lot of 'Mexicans' like me who do follow footy who would never bother with a Lions membership.

SEQ is the fastest growing region in Australia so you couldn't be more inaccurate here unless you faced the wrong way at a urinal.

regards,

REB

[redden whites]

1999 - 16 931
2000 - 20 295
2001 - 18 330
2002 - 22 288
2003 - 24 365
2004 - 30 941 (highest)
2005 - 28 913
2006 - 26 459
2007 - 21 976 (significant drop by 17 per cent)

Big drop off in last few years.

Thats worse than what I even thought.......Thats nearly a 1/3rd in 3 years Hey lets get another team up there ASAP

[blink]

Wasn't there talk a while back of a club on the Gold Coast - Southport Sharks or something (IIRC) that were pushing for an AFL licence, either by merging with the Kangaroos via them reallocating there, or the AFL issuing a new licence for a 17th team??

I also recall something about this club having a social club worth millions and something like 15,000 members?? Couple those with Kangaroos existing membership numbers in Melbourne - whatever that may be, then they would be looking very good.

This could be a real opportunity for the Kangas to lift from bottom dwellers (off-field wise) to becoming a real powerhouse club along the lines of Collingwood, Adelaide, WCE etc.

[Strawb]

That is true but there are many Ex pat victorians up on the old coast an they might embrace this new relocated club.

[redden whites]

REB ,how are they compared to soccer? Participation rates are a joke .If you go to the Rugby league version of Oz-kick that visits your local primary school here in Adelaide you are counted in the participation rates in NRL figures.The kids use the hand out balls as footys the next lunchtime and never give the game another seconds thought.How are YO_YO participation rates? probably booming.

[saintal]

I know it’s a different code, but does anybody know how the GC Titans fared as far as crowds, media exposure and general interest went in their first year? In other words, was it a successful first year?

[Dirko]

The Titans averaged 21489, pretty good considering the last stint up there was 9648 .
Second only to the Broncos in regard to averages...

[saintal]

yeah, 21.5K is good

Still its the major code up there.

[Rik E Boy]

REB ,how are they compared to soccer? Participation rates are a joke .If you go to the Rugby league version of Oz-kick that visits your local primary school here in Adelaide you are counted in the participation rates in NRL figures.The kids use the hand out balls as footys the next lunchtime and never give the game another seconds thought.How are YO_YO participation rates? probably booming.

Mate, I live up here, I go to the matches, I talk to the kids. Yep, you keep on looking at Brisbane Lions membership figures but I've talked to these kids and I ask them how many play Rugby and they aren't..and this is in Ipswich, home of Alan Langer.

The kids I see at the Ipswich Cats have racked up a lot of games, that is hardly 'not giving the game a second's thought' IMO. I lived in Adelaide for 30 years and I never heard of ONE kid playing Rugby League but here in BrisVegas there are LEAGUES (pardon the pun) of kids playing what they call up here 'AFL'.

You have either chosen to ignore or missed my point about us Mexicans as well. The fastest growing region in Australia is SEQ. Where do you think these people are coming from, that's right SA and Victoria (ok we've got a few Sydneysiders too but the majority is Victorians). The amount of people that are originally from SA up here is unbelievable. My next door neighbour used to live in Salisbury, you don't have too far to look. One thing we'd both agree on is that Footy is the better game and this is something that the majority of us Mexicans know. We don't stop following Geelong, Collingwood or Hawthorn just because we move to Qld...and we don't buy Brisbane Lions memberships either.

I'd suggest that applying your understanding of the characteristics of South Australian participation rates for 'imported' codes (for want of a better word) is totally irrelevant to the reality of what I see happening every winter in Qld. Ten teams is too many in Melbourne and the only way the Roos ever going to convinince anyone outside of Victoria that they are fair dinkum, they have to move their permanently. What would you rather, Gold Coast Roos or the used to be in the AFL Roos? I can't see the AFL continuing with ten Melbourne sides indefinately.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one mate.

regards,

REB

[Strawb]

Well said REB and Ron Clarke the Mayor of the Gold Coast is an ex pat Victorian also

[Sojourner]

My nephew is comming along quite nicely as a footballer now that Auskick has been introduced into Gladstone Qld. They now have a thriving junior football league as a result which is proving quite popular in the area.

I dont think that the AFL should pressure the Kangaroos to move. Southport have made their case to be admitted to the competition as the 17th team and the sooner they get the green light the better. That way you will have a team made up and based out of the existing football league which is a lot more likely to succeed rather than a team from another state being dumped there and locals being just expected to choose to follow them as a result.

Let the AFL go to 17 teams and stop the welfare payments to all clubs in general. Like the old VFL University side, any club that cant take it can always retain their club and membership by dropping back to the VFL or other state level where they can successfully compete.

[Dutchy]

Do the AFL give a shit about the NMFC or just want footy in SEQ?...thats the question I believe....they are playing their hand and the article is fully supporting their hand without a response from the Roos

I would prefer they stay in Melb but wouldnt be totally against relocation, Ive been to the Gold Coast 3 times in the past 2 1/2 years and like REB says the game is flourishing up there, it amazed me seeing kids running around footy ovals playing Aussie Rules...there is no doubt a team would be a success up there, but does this decision really need to be rushed? NRL and NBL have just launched new teams up there so we are already behind them, I cant see any other significant competitor coming in...

While on the subject AFL hurry up and get 2008 draw out I want to book my GC holiday next year around a Roos game!

[mighty_tiger_79]

While on the subject AFL hurry up and get 2008 draw out I want to book my GC holiday next year around a Roos game!

well in a couple of years when the Roos are up there you wont have to worry about waiting for the draw!