agreed, contra is bs padding.
vlandys responsible for the worse tv deal in the games history.
gap between tv deals (cash and contra). All in AFL’s favour
2008 $73mill (game under conflicted ownership)
2013 $25mill first arlc deal
2017 $31mill the smith gate deal
2023 $21mill vlandys new deal
2025 $191mill afl new deal
Was also unsuccessful in getting ANZ stadium upgraded. Then pivoted to local grounds and failed to secure the $800m in government funding.
I’m pretty sure Gil never lost $800m in government funding for the AFL. A man like Gil would have had these government funding deals put in writing - not bloody hand shake deals.
Then goes on TV and starts whinging like an amateur about “ya can’t trust the premiers word” cause he wants to give the funding to flood relief.
Honestly, it’s a clown show atm.
Over 2020-27 period AFL gonna have at least $500m more in media money than NRL. Including the $800m in government funding that vanished over night cause they got nothing in writing - that’s $1.3b worse off under current administration.
Imagine the uproar in the daily tele and on here if Greenberg lost $1.3b in media and government funding.
Meanwhile, AFL has all states covered for stadia with quality negotiations with federal and state governments. They’ll get a new $1b stadium at the Gabba cause of the Olympics and they won’t even be paying a cent.
Tip my cap to Gil. Smart professional man that brings everyone on the journey with him. Does it all with out tantrums in the media, no self adulation, no carrying on like an amateur out of his depth and no making handshake deals.
Sure, in war time (covid 2020) NRL needed a PVL type. Someone that understood bio security from years in racing and had the balls to get the game going again. Well done for that. Was the gloating and self adulation over the top? Sure, but at least he delivered and gave the game hope in that dire 2020.
Then he changed the rules and brought in 6 again. Something I still despise. The product was fine as it was. But again, ok - let it go cause he got the game going in 2020. However, six again is still a dumb rule I’ll never like and was brought in without consultation.
Now we in 2022, it’s peace time. Do we really need a war time leader? I don’t think so. And the proof is in the decision making since July 2020 which has lead to at least $500m less in media revenue between 2020-27 and lost government funding of $800m. Seriously, no competent administration loses $1.3b in media and government funding.
Going forward, the NRL now needs a Gil type that’s extremely experienced, professional and purely focused on building great relationships with government. Especially, if ALP win next election in NSW in March 2023.