AFL Expansion.

[gold1]

??? Given the AFL's program for expanding into the other states,I have a couple of ideas that I would like to get feedback on.Why not encourage existing teams to regionalise and play in the larger towns once a month?For instance,St kilda to ballarat,North to bendigo,Demons to Albury,Tiges to Mildura,Dogs to Warnambool.Would not such a move revitalise these areas through tourism as the regular supporter would more than likely stay the weekend?Also the existing leagues could play a curtain raiser to the main game,encouraging possible draft picks.Too costly,you might say.Why not force some multinational companies who want to set up here to do so,but in these areas.Good for employment,less traffic jams,better family life.IBM could sponser the Saints in ballarat for starters.All this has to reduce the impact on metro Melbourne.Any thoughts.

 

[Legends of 2017]

thought the headline was refering to *smile*'s waistline. Sorry. Continue

 

[Liverpool]

??? Given the AFL's program for expanding into the other states,I have a couple of ideas that I would like to get feedback on.Why not encourage existing teams to regionalise and play in the larger towns once a month?For instance,St kilda to ballarat,North to bendigo,Demons to Albury,Tiges to Mildura,Dogs to Warnambool.Would not such a move revitalise these areas through tourism as the regular supporter would more than likely stay the weekend?Also the existing leagues could play a curtain raiser to the main game,encouraging possible draft picks.Too costly,you might say.Why not force some multinational companies who want to set up here to do so,but in these areas.Good for employment,less traffic jams,better family life.IBM could sponser the Saints in ballarat for starters.All this has to reduce the impact on metro Melbourne.Any thoughts.

Gold1,
I think the problem would be the facilities, the grounds themselves, lack of corporate support (whether people like it or not, many clubs live from from corporate sponsorship and the guests they bring to games)...there is a lot going against such a move and not much for it.
The AFL isn't interested in "revitalising" regional Victoria....there isn't the amount of money on offer from this compared to the Gold Coast or Sydney.
Why do you think tasmania, an AFL state, has flopped in getting their own team in the so-called 'national competition'?

 

[nwonash]

to have a true national comp, you need to locate a team in Tasmania full time.

 

[richards42]

to have a true national comp, you need to locate a team in Tasmania full time.

And Darwin, would much rather see a team come out of these footy mad towns/states then sydney or gold coast. The territorians would be fanatical supporters, hang on Bling mite want to go home, bad idea!

 

[Eat the rich]

And Darwin, would much rather see a team come out of these footy mad towns/states then sydney or gold coast. The territorians would be fanatical supporters, hang on Bling mite want to go home, bad idea!

no actually,a really good idea.It would be great to see darwin become the home to an all indigenous team. Ready made, ultra-competitive team , heritage and pride dont need to be artificially constructed,huge local support .instead of paying lip service to koori players, give them something real.Could be an absolute godsend for young guys looking for direction. Gee ,Darwin would quickly gain a reputation more fearsome than the Gabbatoir. I think it could be the biggest and best and most original direction the AFL could possibly move in.

 

[richards42]

no actually,a really good idea.It would be great to see darwin become the home to an all indigenous team. Ready made, ultra-competitive team , heritage and pride dont need to be artificially constructed,huge local support .instead of paying lip service to koori players, give them something real.Could be an absolute godsend for young guys looking for direction. Gee ,Darwin would quickly gain a reputation more fearsome than the Gabbatoir. I think it could be the biggest and best and most original direction the AFL could possibly move in.

I spent a few years up there, they love their footy. A lot of koori players would go back home just to play in it, plus a lot more locals who may not have handled the go home factor, would thrive in that enviroment.

 

[Eat the rich]

I guess the AFL's plans are all about territoral 'code' hegemony, so they probably dont worry so much about areas where oz rules already dominates,and prefer to use these states as feeder states

It will only be when soccer australia reaches an expansion point that takes in NT and heavily promotes and developes the game in the region ,that we may see the AFL react.

A bit like the west indies, where the truly gifted athletes are turning to soccer or basketball, because of the huge money on offer. Either way,it would be great .We either get to see an all koori

team, or we start seeing some of these phenomenal athletes pull on the green and gold for the soocceroos, as I'm sure they would embrace and excel at the round ball game, just as they have

with footy.

 

[hellenictiger]

From memory football in the NT is played in summer because its the wet season. Think of travel, crowds, corporate support and weather conditions. It doesnt make any sense or dollars. Do you think the koori people will leave their native game for a foreigners game because of money? Some koori players are on a packet at AFL clubs and then leave because of their way of life, money isnt what makes them tick.

It's all about effort and return. To get a team going in Tasmania would be little to no effort compared to QLD and NSW but definitely not as much in return. QLD and NSW is the way to go. If you are running a business and want to build your brand, the more people that participate and view the game the better, Tasmania is defnitely not a growth area. The Gold Coast is, but it will enter maturity pretty soon, so thats why the AFL need to get in there asap.