Peter V'landys - New NRL/ARLC Chairman

[Perth Red]

AFL has contributed to stadium costs previously. Usually when they want the design varied. Marvel (Docklands) like Homebush was supposed to be rectangular. And where they don’t contribute, the sort all the tenancy agreements so the governments know how much it will be used. You would not get a Souths/SFS stand-off in Melbourne or it the AFL was involved. Hopelessly mismanaged by both the NSW govt and the NRL.

That whole Marvel deal was an absolute master stroke by them! It went from a rectangular stadium for Storm and Victory to not only an AFL stadium, but one that they now own and will get a sht load of revenue from! Now thats negotiation skill!

 

[Jamberoo]

Exactly. People have got their heads in the sand

It is interesting that most on here can’t see how the AFL is growing in Sydney compared to RL. That the Swans crowd average is double the NRL’s in Sydney, and Storm is half of the AFL in Melbourne tells the story of how each code is going off field.

 

[Perth Red]

It is interesting that most on here can’t see how the AFL is growing in Sydney compared to RL. That the Swans crowd average is double the NRL’s in Sydney, and Storm is half of the AFL in Melbourne tells the story of how each code is going off field.

Thats why people who say "money isnt everything" in response to the new tv deals are so so wrong. You cant win this war without money, and lots of it. Because AFL has continually delivered greater revenue than us they have been able to shore up the heartlands AND invest in new market growth. Because NRL hasnt had the money to match them they have taken a defensive position and just spent in the heartlands, largely ignoring any growth strategy in AFL territory. Its why we are always on the back foot and ultimately destined to lose.

RL is tenacious and will always survive, but it is quickly heading to an unwinnable situation where it will be a very clear #2 to AFL in Australia. What that means long term for the game who knows. Its clear TV would be very happy if there was only one main winter footy code in Australia.

Vlandys could have been the Bull we needed to drag the game out of its stupor and self interest (the first chance since Dave Smith really) but sadly he is too heartland centric and lacks any real vision for growing the sport. Worse than that his day job means he is happy to use his NRL platform to damage growth market relationships. His abilities have not matched his bluster which is incredibly disappointing yet again.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Gil said they will spend 10% of broadcast cash on grassroots, much of it in NSW/Qld, including building/upgrading one ground a week.

At least the AFL is trying to grow their game. The NRL clearly isn’t.

That's because unlike the AFL, development in rugby league is handled by its clubs. The head body has never been responsible for junior development.

Also "building/upgrading one ground a week"? Where are all these grounds in NSW and Qld the AFL owns?

 

[Colk]

That's because unlike the AFL, development in rugby league is handled by its clubs. The head body has never been responsible for junior development.

Also "building/upgrading one ground a week"? Where are all these grounds in NSW and Qld the AFL owns?

Building would suggest that they are going to buy land and develop grounds. They have money to unfortunately

 

[Iamback]

Gil said they will spend 10% of broadcast cash on grassroots, much of it in NSW/Qld, including building/upgrading one ground a week.

At least the AFL is trying to grow their game. The NRL clearly isn’t.

Again with the apples and Oranges comparison. NRL doesn't fund juniors clubs do but lets go

While we don't know the actual cash breakdown. Lets go with 10% as being $64m

Penrith spend $6m on their junior programs

Their Junior league is the biggest in the world, Makes a profit so doesn't require funding

4 of those Junior league clubs, Have a licenced club they own.

1 is the feeder team to Manly - Has its ground and hotel
St Marys won the 3rd tier NSW Cup competition they spend $800k on RL again Ground and hotel on premises
Windsor has their Leagues club and spends $400k on RL

Roosters fund a local club from a club they have set up in the area

There is $10m in one District alone to match the $60m that AFL is spending in QLD and NSW

QRL is a whole spent $11m running competitions in 2019, That is without the club spend

So while $64m seems like a huge spend, That is only a minor spend compared to the RL spend in those areas. Which is why they aren't making a dent

 

[Iamback]

That's because unlike the AFL, development in rugby league is handled by its clubs. The head body has never been responsible for junior development.

Also "building/upgrading one ground a week"? Where are all these grounds in NSW and Qld the AFL owns?

This is the point people miss

 

[Iamback]

It is interesting that most on here can’t see how the AFL is growing in Sydney compared to RL. That the Swans crowd average is double the NRL’s in Sydney, and Storm is half of the AFL in Melbourne tells the story of how each code is going off field.

Because it isn't.

The people in Sydney are telling you how it is, Yet you listen to out of towners

 

[Canard]

Yeah they only play state games and test matches against weaker or low selling teams - Bangladesh, New Zealand (they are definitely not weak just not very high selling), West Indies etc at the WAFA. All the Big Bash games and high selling international matches are at Optus

I thought the WACA was no longer considered good enough by the ICC as an international cricket venue, and no international games have been played there for quite some time (I could be wrong)

 

[Jamberoo]

Building would suggest that they are going to buy land and develop grounds. They have money to unfortunately

No, these will be community facilities where they partner with councils to build new ovals or update cricket ground to suit AFL. Like they have done with Henson Park.

 

[Colk]

No, these will be community families where they partner with councils to build new ovals or update cricket ground to suit AFL. Like they have done with Henson Park.

Henson Park? Where Newtown play?

 

[Colk]

I thought the WACA was no longer considered good enough by the ICC as an international cricket venue, and no international games have been played there for quite some time (I could be wrong)

You may be right but I would doubt it wouldn’t be good enough for international cricket considering they have played at Manuka Oval and in Cairns recently

 

[Perth Red]

Again with the apples and Oranges comparison. NRL doesn't fund juniors clubs do but lets go

While we don't know the actual cash breakdown. Lets go with 10% as being $64m

Penrith spend $6m on their junior programs

Their Junior league is the biggest in the world, Makes a profit so doesn't require funding

4 of those Junior league clubs, Have a licenced club they own.

1 is the feeder team to Manly - Has its ground and hotel
St Marys won the 3rd tier NSW Cup competition they spend $800k on RL again Ground and hotel on premises
Windsor has their Leagues club and spends $400k on RL

Roosters fund a local club from a club they have set up in the area

There is $10m in one District alone to match the $60m that AFL is spending in QLD and NSW

QRL is a whole spent $11m running competitions in 2019, That is without the club spend

So while $64m seems like a huge spend, That is only a minor spend compared to the RL spend in those areas. Which is why they aren't making a dent

It is hard to directly compare.
For example in NRL the NRL dishes out significant sums of money to NSWRL and QRL, as well as clubs for jnr development and grassroots, as well as funds a number of participation programs and all the DO's in the country itself.
Then as you rightly say, where there is a LC they also are putting funds to grassroots (though in fact very little to participation and most of it to elite player development for the NRL club).

In AFL the AFL fund some significant participation programs, much bigger than NRL. The state bodies are actually significantly wealthier and have higher revenue than the RL state bodies and fund most grassroots football at club and school level. The AFL clubs also have their own development pathways like the NRL clubs.

Where things really take a sharp split is in the development states. This is where the AFL is funding all participation and grassroots, and AFL clubs to have good academies and elite pathways. In comparison NRL spends a pittance in non RL states. That is where they will continue to throw the new money in the goal of continuing to establish themselves as a national sport. Whilst WA, SA, NT, Vic and Tassie will continue to be ignored and underfunded by the NRL.

 

[Jamberoo]

This is the point people miss

Because it isn't.

The people in Sydney are telling you how it is, Yet you listen to out of towners

Again with the apples and Oranges comparison. NRL doesn't fund juniors clubs do but lets go

While we don't know the actual cash breakdown. Lets go with 10% as being $64m

Penrith spend $6m on their junior programs

Their Junior league is the biggest in the world, Makes a profit so doesn't require funding

4 of those Junior league clubs, Have a licenced club they own.

1 is the feeder team to Manly - Has its ground and hotel
St Marys won the 3rd tier NSW Cup competition they spend $800k on RL again Ground and hotel on premises
Windsor has their Leagues club and spends $400k on RL

Roosters fund a local club from a club they have set up in the area

There is $10m in one District alone to match the $60m that AFL is spending in QLD and NSW

QRL is a whole spent $11m running competitions in 2019, That is without the club spend

So while $64m seems like a huge spend, That is only a minor spend compared to the RL spend in those areas. Which is why they aren't making a dent

I know people in inner Sydney who tell me that there are as many kids at their school playing competitive AFL (not Auskick) as RL. A google search confirms that there are as many AFL teams/clubs within 5km - 8km of the city as RL. Is this correct? In this and Swans having twice the crowds of any RL club is not making a dent, then what would you consider making a dent?

 

[Perth Red]

I know people in inner Sydney who tell me that there are as many kids at their school playing competitive AFL (not Auskick) as RL. A google search confirms that there are as many AFL teams/clubs within 5km - 8km of the city as RL. Is this correct? In this and Swans having twice the crowds of any RL club is not making a dent, then what would you consider making a dent?

No to mention around 50 AFL players running around the comp from NSW compared to 2-3 from Vic and 4 from WA.

 

[Iamback]

I know people in inner Sydney who tell me that there are as many kids at their school playing competitive AFL (not Auskick) as RL. A google search confirms that there are as many AFL teams/clubs within 5km - 8km of the city as RL. Is this correct? In this and Swans having twice the crowds of any RL club is not making a dent, then what would you consider making a dent?

Inner Sydney and North Shore are the pockets of AFL support, RU is 2nd in those areas has been for a while. Atleast since Super League, The other areas not so much

 

[Perth Red]

Inner Sydney and North Shore are the pockets of AFL support, RU is 2nd in those areas has been for a while. Atleast since Super League, The other areas not so much

So they are making a dent then, at least in some areas of Sydney?

 

[Smug Panther]

So they are making a dent then, at least in some areas of Sydney?

Not since 1997

 

[mozza91]

Don’t know about you guys but I always rely on AFL fans from Melbourne and Perth telling me what is and isn’t happening in Sydney.

 

[Perth Red]

Don’t know about you guys but I always rely on AFL fans from Melbourne and Perth telling me what is and isn’t happening in Sydney.

Some people just cant see the wood for the tress. Problem of being in the middle of the forest.