Has anyone thought about a set up similar to GWS with Canberra (yes I know that is bad to mention) but the AFL have embraced the reality of multi City teams with a primary base and it seems to be working a treat.
The Jets (or whatever you want to call them) could be based out of Brisbane but play up to 4 games in CQ (one of which would be preseason). It gives the new team a chance to spread its financial and supporter base. It could have an academy etc. The Comets could also be a feeder team for them.
One of the things the NRL continue to ignore is the potential of multi-base clubs.
The Bears eventual decay of Manly and Newcastle. They're worried. They don't want the bears back in. I wonder why?
New teams shouldn't take away from the existing competition. Players are different in this and age sure buy a few but don't rely on such big names that is just silly talk. They should at least have their own coach though.
What evidence do you have to support this claim?
Well they seem to be able to get $'s for expansion of their game without having to base teams in every population centre in the country. Tasmania, NT and Canberra all have AFL team links, regular games, jnr development funding and sponsorships happening without having permanent teams based there. How come AFL is getting all this money to expand into new areas yet NRL doesn't? I'll tell you why, because 1. NRL leadership sucks and has no strategy or vision 2. Clubs would rather struggle than think outside their square 3. NRL is still seen as a NSW/Q'land game and other States are not falling overthemselves to have the NRL play games in their cities.
http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/hot_topics/better_football_deal_with_hawks
http://aflnt.com.au/index.php?id=6&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=217&tx_ttnews[backPid]=5&cHash=b18b61acb7
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=105020
I don't consider the AFL smart. Going by the regular 6:00pm news here in Sydney over the past two years we have heard about how AFL Adelaide Crows, Port Power, North Melbourne and Hawthorn are all struggling but going by what AFL fans are saying the AFL has decided to continue to grow without helping out these teams.
This reminds me of another codes big expansion that come to a loss.
But NRL fans can take comfort in that even though there are no NRL teams in any state outside the East coast of Australia, Rugby League is the most watched winter sport in the country.
Well they seem to be able to get $'s for expansion of their game without having to base teams in every population centre in the country. Tasmania, NT and Canberra all have AFL team links, regular games, jnr development funding and sponsorships happening without having permanent teams based there. How come AFL is getting all this money to expand into new areas yet NRL doesn't? I'll tell you why, because 1. NRL leadership sucks and has no strategy or vision 2. Clubs would rather struggle than think outside their square 3. NRL is still seen as a NSW/Q'land game and other States are not falling overthemselves to have the NRL play games in their cities.
http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/hot_topics/better_football_deal_with_hawks
http://aflnt.com.au/index.php?id=6&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=217&tx_ttnews[backPid]=5&cHash=b18b61acb7
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=105020
The Crows have 50000+ members as do Hawthorn. They are in no trouble at all.
Port Adelaide and Adelaide have an interesting relationship with their owner (the SANFL) and the SANFL bleeds them dry. In fact Adelaide would be wildly profitable and Port Adelaide profitable without the SANFL "withdrawing" $12m / yr from them. Adelaide made their first ever loss this yr on an average home attendance of 31,000+.
Hawthorn made a profit of $2.3M this year 2010 on revenue of $40M. so they're no in trouble.
NM are in a bit of bother, but they are bigger than nearly all the NRL clubs but in AFL terms a minnow. they receive CBF funding from the AFL to make up for their shiity draw and lack of exposure. Mel and WB also get CBF funding. (CBF = competitive balance fund)
The AFL budget for GC and GWS is rumoured to be in excess of $120M. so they are prepared to support all their clubs.
AFL is helping those teams out, and looking to increasingly do so.
Also the expansion is costing very little, those 3 expansions are being covered by state Govt's and sponsors. Clubs benefit, their game benefits and they continue to push the line of a National game to the media and TV execs.
One of the troubled clubs you mentioned is receiving $18million from the Tassie Govt to play games there. Ask yourself why cant the Cronulla Sharks get a same deal from the SA govt to play 4 games a year in Adelaide, or Sths in Perth or NQ in Darwin?
How come the AFl is so proactive in securing deals and tying up areas yet we flounder along hoping that a club or some well meaning volunteers will develop the game in an area?
http://www.newsroom.nt.gov.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=printRelease&ID=6156
My best friend is a crows support, they took a loss this year and that was after somebody who is rich bailed them out. They also borrowed money from banks to compete this year. AFL are doing very little for these teams which is leaving in South Australia the opinion amongst the fans that the AFL "wants it back to the VFL". I was done their last month dealing with this topic.
Who knows more, Manly fans or the higher ups at Manly? Gee I wonder... Why don't Manly and Newy want the Bears in? Simple question yet to be answered...
Reds & QLD 2013!