League Gets Screwed Again In Victoria

[Stormwarning[c]]

To continue the blow to Rugby League in Victoria the Brack's Labor Government has released details of compensation that will be paid to the AFL due to Melbourne holding the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

In it's state budget handed down yesterday (Tuesday 4th May) tucked away from everything is this little kicker.

"agreement for compensation to the Australia Football League (AFL as a result of the holding of the Commonwealth Games in 2006. The amount of compensation will be finalised following the completion of the 2006 AFL draw".......

......"The base compensation has been agreed at $5.7 million and will be paid in equal instalments on 30 November 2003 and 2004........agreement has been reached to provide additional compensation as a pro-rata amount in accordance with the compensation forumla".

League and Storm have it tough in Melbourne and are fighting against Government and media and this just confirms it. What makes matters worst we don't go to an election until November 2006.

And they say there is no money to upgrade O.P.........Please

 

[CouldaBeenAnything]

Election won't change anything there as it wouldn't here in Adelaide.

The AFL has an amazing stranglehold on a large majority of the people here, and even those that don't like the game find themselves subjected to endless news about it...I mean in mid summer it was headline news here because Andrew McLeod had a stomach virus and missed training one morning, thankfully he was backm in the afternoon or there may have been a premiers enquiry

 

[Hoggy]

Fair point Scott, but the thing is that the first 6 rounds of the AFL will be stuffed because there are no games gonna be there (including Anzac Day!!!).

Doesn't affect the NRL in that way.

 

[Surandy]

Not entirely true CouldaBeenAnything, the previous State Premier of Victoria actually had a Minister of Sports, unlike the present premier who has a Minister for AFL. The previous Vic government had actually earmarked money for the upgrade to Olympic Park.

The present government prefers to rip up the old greyhound track and part of the carpark and put in yet another AFL training ground, like they really need another one.

As much as I feel it'll be wasted time I will pay a visit to my local member of parliament on Friday, I was going to do it tomorrow but it's the Storm's day on SEN.

 

[Stormwarning[c]]

Hoggy it will effect us, where do you think (like 1956) the athletics will warm up.

With the games being in March (15-26) it stuff's League up more.

Yes they wont be able to use it for the Anzac Day game but why should they get $5.7 million, christ they got a stadium that was meant to be built for League, Union and Soccer.

And i quote our state pratt (oops sorry, Premier) "we will govern for all Victorian's with open transparenace and honesty"........

I guest by the time that happens, Christ will make a come back.

 

[Surandy]

]And i quote our state pratt (oops sorry, Premier) "we will govern for all Victorian's with open transparenace and honesty"........

I guest by the time that happens, Christ will make a come back.

I'll look into that. ;-)

 

[Hoggy]

]Hoggy it will effect us, where do you think (like 1956) the athletics will warm up.

With the games being in March (15-26) it stuff's League up more.

Ah yes but and there is a but....

We could just do what Newcastle did this year and play our first 4 games away or something like that. There are ways around it.

I reckon we should get some sort of compensation for that but nothing like 5.7 mill.

 

[Hoggy]

I'll send the article to SEN to see if Francis Leach brings something up about it.

 

[Stormwarning[c]]

Yes we could play away Hoggy, but I can't see that happening.

Since their will only be one soccer team in the new comp from Melbourne and it wont be South Melbourne the State Government should compensate Storm by buying and giving what is currently know as Bob Jane Stadium to the Club.

That way we could have our own Social Club, training rooms, plenty of park and a ground to call our own.

Eddie can call what ever Eddie wants to at O.P. and the Brack's Labor Government can do something right for once in their pitiful existence

We could be called the Honda Mick Moore Stadium.....for a fee

 

[Hoggy]

Marcus Bai Stadium. :twisted:

 

[Hoggy]

I emailed the article to SEN and they replied saying they are going to look into it.

I guess it's a start.

 

[Surandy]

I emailed the article to SEN and they replied saying they are going to look into it.

I guess it's a start.

Damn, is SEN somehow connected to the Vic govt?

 

[chemicalbrother]

I emailed the article to SEN and they replied saying they are going to look into it.

I guess it's a start.

Damn, is SEN somehow connected to the Vic govt?

at least SEN promises you while the Vic Govt shaftes it

 

[Surandy]

True ChemicalBrother, I have heard callers ring up SEN with rumours or issues and often they say they'll look into it and regularly reply within an hour or two.

 

[Surandy]

Well, I finally got around to doing it. I went into Steve Bracks office yesterday and spoke to one of his staffers, John Pearson.

I asked him:

1. A few years back there was some money earmarked for the upgrade of Olympic Park, I was looking over the budget this week (a lie, I'm relying on SW for my facts in these questions) and there's no mention of any money for any upgrade. Two things I'd like to know are what happened to that money and when will the upgrade occur?

2. In the budget papers there's been an allocation of money set aside for the AFL to recompense AFL clubs affected by the 2006 Commonwealth Games. What money has been set aside for other sporting clubs/competitions that are affected as much, or even more, than the AFL?

John tried ringing the Minister for AFL's office but there was no answer, he left a message regarding my questions and assures me he will email me once he has a response. I don't expect anything to come of this but I'll post the reply if I get one.

 

[Beaussie]

Just out of interest, how many new members did the Storm sign up as a result of being on SEN all day?

 

[Stormwarning[c]]

Beaussie

It wasn't all day, it was 8 spots during the day and a the membership was being promoted all day.

Having said that, the target was about 500. I understand we got around 500 - 600 NEW members from that promotion, mostly AFL supporters.

It was good to see on Saturday night so many people at the game wearing their AFL stuff as well. The little kid near me in his St Kilda gear seemed to love it, he kept saying to his dad "Why aren't I allowed to tackle like that in AusKick".

 

[DIEHARD]

Yea its great how at Olympic Park there are so many people wearing AFL jerseys. There is a market for the Storm, as a neutral 2nd team everyone can support.

 

[Stormwarning[c]]

Diehard

I would guess that about 700 people would have been in their AFL gear in the Eastern Stand which was great to see.

This is the start of a long process that in the next three to four years will see Storm build it's membership base and the crowds coming to the games to sustianble levels.

WITH NO HELP FROM THE BRACKS GOVERNMENT

 

[Surandy]

I saw more AFL gear worn at that game than Sharks gear.