AFL pressures Kangaroos to move!
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:40 amAFL 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!
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!
) the chant going up before the game
) 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:
Hey lets get another team up there ASAP 