Its About Time the Afl.....

[dinglinga]

i think its about time the afl made some hard decisions... the afl should now tell clubs that require financial assistance that if we( afl) are going to give u money that u either relocate, merge with another club or if u dont do that u can try and survive urself.

it might seem abit harsh but y keep propping up clubs that always need cash ....

[Blue Boy]

i think its about time the afl made some hard decisions... the afl should now tell clubs that require financial assistance that if we( afl) are going to give u money that u either relocate, merge with another club or if u dont do that u can try and survive urself.

it might seem abit harsh but y keep propping up clubs that always need cash ....

They need 16 teams ding or no 780 million dollars.

[doggies4eva]

i think its about time the afl made some hard decisions... the afl should now tell clubs that require financial assistance that if we( afl) are going to give u money that u either relocate, merge with another club or if u dont do that u can try and survive urself.

it might seem abit harsh but y keep propping up clubs that always need cash ....

They need 16 teams ding or no 780 million dollars.

Yeah, but they don't need 9 of them in Melbourne.

[Magpiespower]

Strike Canberra and Tassie off the list of relocation destinations - they can't support an AFL club.

Leaves only Western Sydney and Queensland.

Reakon they're still ten years off...

[Mr66]

Canberra Kangaroos & Gold Coast Bulldogs?
West Sydney Bulldogs??
Hmm.. eh..?

[stan]

Canberra Kangaroos & Gold Coast Bulldogs?
West Sydney Bulldogs??
Hmm.. eh..?

No.

The Southport blues. Or something which has been discussed before : North Carlton.

[Magpiespower]

Telling ya people - Canberra will never have an AFL team, at least not in our lifetime.

The Brumbies are looking to relocate within the next five years and they're the second most successful Super 14 side in history behind the all-conquering Crusaders.

[PhilG]

..

[stan]

I disagree about Canberra. I think it can work there. They like their AFL enough - heck the local league marches all over the league in Sydney!

Sydney doesn't have the market for a second team. Thugby is still in charge, and the only place a second Sydney team can draw from is the Swan's base. And that isn't happening!

The Gold Coast could support a team. Southport FC is one of the strongest clubs financially in the country - even stronger than a lot of AFL clubs. There was a rumour that they could make the jump themselves, but there would have to be a collapse in Victoria first.

I agree that nine clubs in Melbourne is way too much.

Did you say collaspe in Vic....Carlton......................................

[Magpiespower]

I disagree about Canberra. I think it can work there. They like their AFL enough - heck the local league marches all over the league in Sydney!

Sorry Phil, but it won't work there.

Most Canberrans couldn't give two sh!ts about AFL, as evidenced by the crap crowds at Manuka.

And those that do already barrack for other clubs and won't change alliegances to support the Kangaroos or any other blow-ins.

Just have to look at the Raiders to see that.

And the only reason the Raiders are still around is because of the league's clubs - three in fact.

[Punk Rooster]

"We are the Southport Blues..."

[PhilG]

..

[dinglinga]

PhilG u might find that magpiespower lived in act also ....and now lives in sydney ......

u might get a team in canberra with a adult book shop as a major sponser

[Magpiespower]

The Raiders are a bad example, which in fact backs my point up - because Canberrans are getting sick of thugby (both varieties). The AFL should strike while the iron is hot. Before the advent of the Raiders, the biggest drawing local activity was the ACTAFL. And the fans are still there. I wouldn't go on the current crowds at Manuka. There are only three or four games a year there, so there's no way a proper following could be established. Now if a team actually moved there - that would alter matters entirely.

I lived in Canberra for two years. I umpired locally. Believe me I know. The only thing that would stop it is the lack of lighting at Manuka. But I'm sure the ACT government would fund it in a heartbeat if someone announced they were moving there. And it could be used for cricket as well (I know the ACB were keen on that).

Canberra was an AFL city twenty years ago but you could hardly call it that anymore.

The city itself is a mixed bag - a transient city in the sense that a hell of a lot of people pass through Canberra but don't stay there. Of those that do, most have already pledged their alliegences elsewhere.

Banking on refugees from SA/Vic/WA for support is fraught with danger. Why? Because they wouldn't give a damn about the Canberroos or whatever incarnation that would take foot there.

Manuka is too small for a permanent club - the capacity is what, approx. 15,000? Would need a major redevelopment.

Then - and this is the biggest mark against it - is the fact that there's not enough corporate dollars in the ACT to support an AFL club.

Without the league's clubs, the Raiders would go under and were on the verge of doing just that until a rescue package saved their @rses a few years back.

And the operating costs of an AFL club is significantly more than an NRL club.

RIP Canberra Cannons and the Canberra Cosmos. And soon, farewell the ACT Brumbies.

[Rik E Boy]

Papua New Guinea Power. Deport the lot of em

regards,

REB

[PhilG]

..

[Magpiespower]

For a truly national comp, it would be great to have both Canberra and Tassie in the AFL, but I can't see it happening.

If it were to happen, both teams would need to be heavily subsidised by the AFL.

And we're talking a Sydney/Brisbane style subsidy here.

The AFL were obviously prepared to bite the bullet one those teams because they played in such big markets.

But Canberra and Hobart? Hmmm...

Alex Jesaulenko and James Hird (both from Eastlake if I recall correctly).

Not sure about Jezza, but Hird definitely played at Ainslie, as did Buckley for one year in his junior days.

Actually, pretty sure Hird and Buckley played in the same team at Ainslie.

There's two massive photo's of them in the Ainslie clubrooms (at least there was the last time I was there.)

[doggies4eva]

For a truly national comp, it would be great to have both Canberra and Tassie in the AFL, but I can't see it happening.

If it were to happen, both teams would need to be heavily subsidised by the AFL.

And we're talking a Sydney/Brisbane style subsidy here.

The AFL were obviously prepared to bite the bullet one those teams because they played in such big markets.

But Canberra and Hobart? Hmmm...

But thats the point Magpiespower. It would have to be subsidised probably for a fair while (say 10 years) but they are subsidising Melbourne teams now and there's no future in it. The Sydney/Brisbane scenarios show that if the plan is stuck to and the new cities develop watchable teams then the support builds. But the fact is the real $s for the game come from TV. Selling a product that is a "National Game" without representation from Tassie and ACT is a bit questionable.

[Magpiespower]

But thats the point Magpiespower. It would have to be subsidised probably for a fair while (say 10 years) but they are subsidising Melbourne teams now and there's no future in it. The Sydney/Brisbane scenarios show that if the plan is stuck to and the new cities develop watchable teams then the support builds. But the fact is the real $s for the game come from TV. Selling a product that is a "National Game" without representation from Tassie and ACT is a bit questionable.

You're looking at a lot longer than ten years.

Canberra and Hobart are such small markets, chances are the AFL would have to prop them up indefinately.

Unless the Kangaroos etc can raise enough capital to purchase a league's club.

[Booney]

The Sydney and Brisbane markets are saturated with one team.The Melbourne market is at its limit with 10 teams(perhaps beyond its limit).Traditional strong holds of Perth and Adelaide are at their limit with the two newest teams (Port and Freo) struggling to pull* big crowds.Tasmania,Canberra and the Gold Coast would only be pouring money into the sides relocated there,as they do now with them in Melbourne.No need to move any one.Will cost the AFL less to keep Kangaroos and Bulldogs where they are.