'Have a crack, boys': Expansion delay opens door for AFL plunder
Date October 29, 2012
Phil Lutton
brisbanetimes.com.au sports editor
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The AFL is poised to make a move on rugby league heartland.
The NRL's decision to take expansion off the table has given AFL the green light to swoop into potentially lucrative regions, according to the chief of the Central Queensland consortium.
Denis Keeffe says he understands the commercial rationale that has driven the Australian Rugby League Commission's move to delay adding new teams to the competition, with chairman John Grant saying there would be no discussion about expanding the league until the end of 2014.
That means any additional NRL teams wouldn't be up and running until 2017 at the earliest.
Keeffe said the news, which was part of the
ARLC's five-year plan delivered in Sydney, came as little surprise as the bid was informed last week that the seven rival consortiums shouldn't be getting ready for a mad dash to the line.
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While Keeffe agreed there should be a focus on ensuring the longevity of the existing clubs, revealing the specifics of the game's non-expansion plans would be music to the ears of the AFL, which has been aggressively forging new ground in traditional league country.
"I knew that was coming, because we talked to the NRL as late as last week. And I do agree with the rationale. It is important that the existing clubs are strong and viable," Keeffe said.
"But I think there might be a twist or two. I understand they are talking about the commercial value but there is a really intrinsic strategic value to what we're trying to do here. We have a very aggressive AFL in our region and there is no national sporting team between the Sunshine Coast and Townsville.
"Even though the NRL, in their wisdom, have said this is our program and are informing us, they're also informing the enemy. You're telling the enemy that we aren't going to work much towards the strategic value in the heartland.”
Central Queensland doesn't sound like a natural lair for the AFL to expand, but the code is taking steps to win fans in a region still experiencing a massive financial bounce and population boost from mining and gas interests.
The Gold Coast Suns have zoned Mackay in their 'Talent Academy' zone, which stretches from Bundaberg to the tip of the state. Keeffe said while the CQ bid team had been active on the ground to sign members and enthuse juniors, they were getting serious competition from rival codes.
"I'm not saying that they (ARLC) rushed it but if you tell the enemy that we're not going to invest in here in a strategic sense for the next four or five years, I think you're saying the AFL can come in and be more aggressive. Because they're very aggressive here now," Keeffe said.
"I think someone's going to have a look at this and say hang on, the Suns have got a very big development program operating in Mackay. Will they grow that? I'm sure they will. This is a bit like saying 'have a crack, boys'.
"In the NRL's haste to actually paint the clear picture for rugby league people, they've also painted a clear picture for people with interests in our heartland.
“If I was sitting on the AFL fence now, I'd be thinking there is not going to be any NRL movement between Townsville and the Sunshine Coast. It's vacant land.
"When some of the second and third tier things relevant to the announcement become obvious, we're going to say – is this really want we want to achieve?"
Keeffe said the bid wouldn't be deterred by the lack of progression in the expansion process and the CQ team would continued to try and recruit members and enthuse juniors in what is already a diehard rugby league region.
But he reminded the game's powerbrokers not to take that passion for granted while AFL continues to knaw away at the foundations through programs like AusKick.
"With the mass migration into Central Queensland with all of the big mining projects – it's booming here – I'm looking at the risk. Don't just think rugby league is going to be here when you come back in five years time," Keeffe said.
"Things are dynamic in this part of the world. If we drop off now and put the cue in the rack and go home, it's like opening the doors and saying 'come in and do what you like'."
Still, Keeffe said the group was more determined than ever to win the right to start a team in Central Queensland and would remain active with the supporters and corporate partners.
"Some people might think we might drop off. I'm more enthused than ever. We're here for the long haul. As far as I'm concerned, it's going to happen," he said.
Brisbane Bombers bid chief Craig Davison said his franchise had a '100-year plan' to establish a second club in the Queensland capital and wasn't deterred by the time frame.
"There's now a direction there that at the end of 2014, they're going to investigate that proposal for expansion. It's a 100-year plus plan so two more years is not going to make much of a difference at all," Davison said.
"It just means we can prepare further for what is likely going to be a very interesting tussle to get another team in Brisbane."
