The 17th team...

[Tiger74]

A 17th team would be stupid. With reduced numbers on team lists a 17th team would further dilute the quality of football.

Probably the first step to an eventual merger down here

 

[johnson2richo2003]

A 17th team would have to get a 12 of 16 club approval first.

Quite the opposite.An AFL official on 3aw today said that they only need 5 clubs to agree.

 

[momentai]

Best for Tigers if Melbourne and North go North, but also best for us if that is delayed until we are no longer elligible for a top of draft priority. That is fewer than 5 victories next year and we are likely to get picks 1 and 2 in 08, with elligibility for a top of draft priority to continue to 09 depending on our result then.

I don't believe either Melbourne or North can last in Melbourne and I don't think the AFL will get support for a 17th team while both teams continue to head towards the gurgler.

Expect that by the end of 08 both clubs will look untennable and they will be forced north, both to commence as Northern Roos and Sydney Demons in 2010.

Good for us.

 

[craig]

Melbourne will always remain in some way shape or form as they have the name MELBOURNE in a national comp.

Whether that be in their own right or merged with the Demons/ Kangas the AFL will always have a team called Melbourne.

 

[momentai]

Melbourne will always remain in some way shape or form as they have the name MELBOURNE in a national comp.

Whether that be in their own right or merged with the Demons/ Kangas the AFL will always have a team called Melbourne.

People keep saying so Craig but there is no good reason for it to be true. In fact if the AFL wish to spread the code internationally, the concept of having a team called Melbourne play in a 16 team national competition with 8 other teams from Melbourne, only serves to confuse.

Besides their performance on and off the field is such that they certainly don't deserve advantage over North.

 

[TigerMasochist]

Now that North have flipped the bird to the AFL and demanded the right to dig their own grave it gives Dimi and the boys a quiet year or two to organise the stadium deal and for either Southport or a consortium to arrange the 17th licence for 2010 or 2011.
When North Melb realises that they can't get their membership to hold much above 20,000 and the spurt of funds they may find in 08 doesn't flow on they will have no choice but to run cap in hand to Dimi and beg to be saved from their rising and crippling financial deficiencies.
Lo and behold, glory hallelujiah. Just look what nice uncle Dimi has hidden away in the bottom of his raincoat pocket. A one way ticket all expenses paid to the Gold Coast.
As for the SHARE holders that own the North Melb footy club. Phhhht! They will be offered the option of paying Norths debts as owners or pissing off in a big hurry.

Have no fear at all Dimi and the boys at corporate house will pick the arse out of the Kagas carcase and ship the framework and players up to the Coast and because the Kangas demanded the right to fall on their own sword.

THE CORPORATE HANDS ARE CLEAN.
CYNICAL? NASTY? GUARANTEED? You betcha left one.

 

[Willo]

Now that North have flipped the bird to the AFL and demanded the right to dig their own grave it gives Dimi and the boys a quiet year or two to organise the stadium deal and for either Southport or a consortium to arrange the 17th licence for 2010 or 2011.
When North Melb realises that they can't get their membership to hold much above 20,000 and the spurt of funds they may find in 08 doesn't flow on they will have no choice but to run cap in hand to Dimi and beg to be saved from their rising and crippling financial deficiencies.
Lo and behold, glory hallelujiah. Just look what nice uncle Dimi has hidden away in the bottom of his raincoat pocket. A one way ticket all expenses paid to the Gold Coast.
As for the SHARE holders that own the North Melb footy club. Phhhht! They will be offered the option of paying Norths debts as owners or pissing off in a big hurry.

Have no fear at all Dimi and the boys at corporate house will pick the arse out of the Kagas carcase and ship the framework and players up to the Coast and because the Kangas demanded the right to fall on their own sword.

THE CORPORATE HANDS ARE CLEAN.
CYNICAL? NASTY? GUARANTEED? You betcha left one.

Agree with you TM, and who's to say the 5 "lost" years, afl originally forcast 2015, weren't part of the plan to force nths hand.
afl now has bought themselves time for stadium deal etc, may have even wanted southport in from the start, nths decision has benefitted afl imo., they'll get what they want as usual, if nth go...afl will say ...well they made their decisions of their own free will and missed their opportunity, sorry to see them go under but.. (such is life)

 

[Streak]

Now that North have flipped the bird to the AFL and demanded the right to dig their own grave it gives Dimi and the boys a quiet year or two to organise the stadium deal and for either Southport or a consortium to arrange the 17th licence for 2010 or 2011.

I can't help but think the AFL is wide open here, attempting to establish a club in a place where a stadium needs to be built. Deal or no deal in place, the AFL will want damn good lawyers, because until the stadium is acutally built and finished, they are going to be terribly exposed to someone else's mercy. I could see them getting done over big time. The risk involved seems very large.

 

[Ian4]

as a lifelong richmond supporter and 12 year member, if it ever came to a vote for a 17th club, i would want the RFC to vote no. a 17th team will create more competition in a dog-eat-dog competition, and we may lose players to the new club. either a team relocates, or 2 teams in melb merge before they start a team up there

 

[Tiger74]

as a lifelong richmond supporter and 12 year member, if it ever came to a vote for a 17th club, i would want the RFC to vote no. a 17th team will create more competition in a dog-eat-dog competition, and we may lose players to the new club. either a team relocates, or 2 teams in melb merge before they start a team up there

What if they offer us $3m, gets rid of a big chunk of debt? The clubs will be bought, as they were every other time.

 

[Ian4]

What if they offer us $3m, gets rid of a big chunk of debt? The clubs will be bought, as they were every other time.

fair point. but can they buy out 12 clubs?

 

[Tiger74]

fair point. but can they buy out 12 clubs?

Of course, thats how they did it for the previous licenses, and thats how they were trying to do it with the Dees/Hawks merger and the Kangas move north. The AFL is one organization that is not above dishing out the bribes