Regardless there is a need to continually improve the quality of the league. What I am unclear of is the anticipated time-line. In the short to medium term the National Youth League will assist in identifying and developing talent whilst the clubs will get better at both bringing talent home as well as identifying better imports.

The question is the long term. How long will it take for those kids in new youth development programmes to make an impact on the local scene? Hopefully not too long as the patience of sections of the sporting public is somewhat limited. Personally I believe we are currently on the right track and as more and more players emerge from the NYL the game will improve.

Yes I’m sure AFL house is in a panic that a town of 900 has a soccer team. Did notice that they having an Australian Rules oval going in however, not a soccer one.

How this article can make the papers is really beyond comprehension

Norm,
thanks for the link .. a heart warming story…. Ben Buckley is changing the face of the Australian sporting landscape in the bush…

MC, will soon be around to give his take on falling attendances … only 18k for the Nth Melb Bengal Lancer at the Dome a week ago… hmm I can’t wait to hear why…

~~~~~~~~
KB

Let me remind you, if you don’t already know that an Option taker (AFL $30m) has no equity value on a security… It’s not a deposit; nor a down payment.. It’s merely an option to exercise an agreed purchase price on a security that has an expiry date attached (2025)..

However, that option can be passed on to a new taker; in this case I am surmising it was Mirvac as they seem to be the new owners of the Etihad Dome… A reasonable assumption to make when you can see on Wikipedia they have stated as much…

All I ask is if they claimed to know so much; is to give the missing detail on the Option Contract … ie the “Exercise Price” of the agreed purchase… As sure as eggs.. Can you see Mirvac handing over the title deed to the AFL for a mere $30m after paying something like $300m to secure the title.?. I think not….

~~~~~~~
KB

All that reporting preceded the sale of Channel 7’s equity (stake) to Mirvac or have failed to understand the ramifications of it being sold to Mirvac and co. ???

Pippi,
you keep on with it… But you do not understand what an Option Contract is by definition … It’s a contract with no “Equity” John Elliot has said it’s the worst mistake the AFL have ever made …

The Option Contract Components:
1. Underlying Security (Dome)
2. Option Contract size ($30m)
3. Expiry Day (somewhere in 2025)
4. Exercised Price ($ ??? ???)

Pippi, just answer the fourth question and I will be satisfied it’s a done deal…. And the option price is always near 10% of the agreed Exercise Price…

The taker has the right to buy.. but not the obligation to exercise .. It seems to me they have sold that option to Mirvac and its subsidiaries with the purchase of Waverly who are the current owners of the Etihad Dome..

~~~~~~~
KB

Christian Esposito looks like a very good prospect from all accounts and hopefully will play for the Socceroos, but he may well end up like the other more famous Christian Aussie Italian who ended up playing for Italy instead.

Sorry but we don’t have thread for breaking news … but Christian Esposito makes a number of young players pushing for selection… Rhys Williams, Bradden Inman, Shane Lowry, Richard Porta, Bouzanis … I am feeling good about the future … hope he picks Australia like his Dad says he wants too.

Summary

Rhys Williams chooses Australia over Wales call up,
Bradden Inman chooses Australia over Scotland call up,
Shane Lowry chooses Australia over Ireland call up,
Bouzanis chooses Australia over Greek call up,

If Christian Esposito picks Australia too over Italy then how good is that.

Add Troisi who choose Australia over two other countries I think Italy was one cannot think of the other, Jedi who choose Australia over Croatia.

Add Nathen Burns, James Holland and man we are looking good for 2014 as well….

Posted this to Jes as well … But…………..

Have you heard of Christian Esposito can you give us any details on him.. Has anyone heard of this kid .. he sounds the goods .. Fozza will have a heart attack if he looks at his coaches …

But with AC Milan chasing you and being picked in a Serie B side ( Albinoleffe ) he sounds like he is a real talent …

As a side issue Adelaide produce some good players for such a small city that is AFL dominated.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25470273-5006373,00.html

A MODERN Adelaide-born version of Italian super striker Christian Vieri is set to be torn between two countries after making his debut for Albinoleffe’s Serie B side at the weekend.

Christian Esposito is eligible to play for Australia and Italy due to his heritage.

He is also on the wanted list of glamour club AC Milan.

Esposito, 18, has attracted the attention of Australian national team talent scouts after rising from the grinding ranks of the tactically superior Italian coaching schools.

His father, Joe, lives in Campbelltown while his mother, Maria, lives in Bergamo, Italy.

Esposito received his first team call-up against Frosinone on Sunday after scoring five goals for Albinoleffe’s under-21 side, which plays in Italy’s famed Primavera national youth league system.

He was the youngest ever Albinoleffe player to make his debut, said father Joe Esposito.

“I’m proud of Christian,” he said.

“Playing for the Socceroos would be a dream for him.

“He wanted to come to Australia but I really want him to make a go of his career in Italy.”

Vieri rose to prominence when he returned to Italy after Marconi Stallions introduced the star to the game as a teenager before scoring 23 goals in 49 appearances for the Italian national side

As I said, it has been common knowledge ever since the Dome was first planned. For two years now, KB has had trouble accepting that it was possible that such a facility could be built without any government funding.

There are a milion references that mention the AFL taking it over in 2025, here are a few:

http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4382936-1.html

http://www.austadiums.com/news/news.php?id=374

http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4711-0-0-0&sID=56333&articleID=7545052&news_task=DETAIL

It’s been known by everyone since day one.

I understand what you are saying but it’s news to me .. so let me see if I understand what you say.

The AFL hold an option contract to buy Docklands in 2025 from Mirvac.

We have no idea what price is on the option contract …but assume in the hundreds of millions of dollars……. Meaning you believe the AFL has to pay a considerable sum of money to excise their rights under the option.

If the AFL do not excise their option rights….ownership of Docklands will remain with Mirvac..

I have to say KB that has never been my understanding or have I ever read anyone else put it that way … but if you are right it changes a lot of assumed knowledge on the future ownership of Docklands…

How sure are you of the …….” option with price” ….. contract in 2025… and do you have any proof… arguably the biggest post or story ever posted on the Roar … dare I say this years biggest news story if you are correct…

~~~~~~~
KB

Nah, you guys have no idea what is going on and no link to prove me wrong, nor John Elliot; of the stupidity of it all… It seems to me that the 3rd option of a 3rd stadium is probably the proof of it all that, there will be no AFL ownership of the Dome in 2025 and the most likely outcome will be that Mirvac will pull the Dome down… Most probably to build a residential and office business precinct to service the new rectangular stadium… Ha ha…

~~~~~~~
KB

It’s common knowledge amongst everyone who follows the AFL – I really don’t know why some try to make it out as some sort of improbable event.

That’s why I invite you to do some research to proove your theory, as, it’s really not based on anything contrete as yet. I really can’t be bothered – - for now, I’m happy to believe the overwhelming intimations that the AFL has nothing to pay on that day – but, that they are not 100% obliged to take full control.

I’m just happy that people are seriously on the verge of ‘concrete’ action around a 3rd Melb venue – as, more than anything, that will ensure the on going survival of clubs that otherwise struggle for no good reason considering the money in the game (but, again, the AFL are good for the economy – I’d rather my super invested in operating Docklands than in operating Bruce stadium or Homebush!!!)

~~~~~~~
KB

the option seems to be ‘free’ of charge come 2025. Have you found anything to contradict that? The AFL commitment to play at the venue is the mode of ‘payment’ above and beyond the $30 million cash. And the share holders are very happy right now – thankyou very much (actually, have you got your super invested in there?)

careful Pip – - you’ll be accussed of spinning again by those who refuse to concede to facts.

do you ever feel like you’re just spinning your wheels in the mud.

I figure either these guys are stubbornly ignorant or they are just Friday arvo fishing. Let’s hope it’s the fishing.

~~~~~~~
KB

Have a think about that, and also have a think about why the AFL will own it outright in 2025.

Are you guys on drugs or something???

Does anyone truly believe that the magnificent 100,000 capacity MCG has been funded on cricket money?? – give me a break!!!!

Honestly…

the SCG is a cricket oval. Don’t forget that. Just as with the Gabba – the upgrade is based in no small measure on ensuring a top flight ground for international cricket. In the case of the SCG – the cricket capacity pales against the MCG – - and conceptually against Homebush.

The AFL HELPS justify this expenditure because – you get 8 or 10 or 12 games of AFL footy there each year too. You CAN NOT exclude cricket from this discussion.

Homebush – again, the AFL contributed $6 million to help ensure that it could be set up to allow Aust Footy. And since then, they’ve played 3 and last year 4 games a year plus 4 finals in total and have provided over a million attendees at an average of 46,000.
Not a bad value add for the stadium.

What’s you’re problem?

btw – why would you redevelop the SCG – a cricket ground – for soccer/rugby with the SFS built right next door? LIkewise, why would you redevelop the MCG for soccer/rugby with a brand spanking new dedicated stadium built right next door.

Silly example really.

True Tah – on the money. And most certainly – the HOward Govt was effectively a stated enemy of the AFL. THe AFL exists despite them. Thankfully people power still holds some sway.

Robbos
I’ve never had anything contrary to say about whatever facilities are being built (and as a Victory member, I’m looking forward to seeing games at the new venue – I think the sporting experience will be close to the best in Australia).

But I rile against anyone implying that somehow the AFL has got fat on government hand outs – the history of Australian Football going back to 1858 is the exact opposite – and I am happy to recount it for everyone who wants to hear it.

And if anyone wants to get into the game of comparing direct government assistance and who contributes the most to building and maintaining sporting facilities, well, they better do so armed with all the facts and figures, because they might be in for a rude shock.

For instance, Jimbo mentions money being spent on the SCG (noting it’s a cricket ground first and foremost and has always been a cricket ground first and foremost).

But does he mention who generates the most revenue to assist in maintaining it, and even paying for improvements?

Does he mention the direct contributions the AFL makes to improvements (to an asset it neither owns or controls)?

Are people aware that the AFL made a financial contribution to the building of ANZ Stadium (way, way back in the early stages of its development)?

Yes – they were motivated by ensuring the ground remained oval to be able to stage AFL games down the track (which it has done with great success) – but at least the AFL put up money for it and had the vision to push the idea – once again, a ground that it will never own or control.

In the meantime, at the time of the 2000 Olympics, Canberra’s Bruce stadium, formerly a ground that could accomodate all four codes, was turned permanently into a rectangular stadium so that they could host a few Olympic football games (at enormous expense to Canberra ratepayers).

It’s a fantastic facility, but even with decent rugby and league crowds, it’s failing to generate sufficient money for its upkeep.

If a sporting facility fails to generate sufficient revenue to pay for its own upkeep, then it’s right to ask questions about whether the original expenditure was appropriate and good use of taxpayer’s funds.

With any facility that hosts AFL games – the question of generating revenue never arises – as a tenant, the AFL pays absolute top dollar (in some celebrated cases, to the detriment of the clubs involved).

~~~~~~~~
KB

Like I said, with football you have 40- 50 year old men playing, you have 8 year old girls playing, you have people playing beach football, indoor football.
You have 10-12 national teams you need to cater for everything from your professionals earning millions to 15 year girls still at school to homeless people.
Football has the ability to attract the greatest sporting event in the world.
The 2nd greatest sporting event in the world, a mulitpule sporting event, it’s biggest pulling sport is football
Football can also provide a national women’s competitition.
Football has a national youth league.

What do you have in AFL 1 national team that plays a hybrid game few people are interested, we need to wait till Mr Crean to get the China team up to scratch to play further int’ls.

So if you were the government which game would you invest in?
Which sport would give the government the best investment?

Like I said AFL has the the best adminstrated & best supported sport in Australia, I’m big enough to admit that, but football gives you so much more. Are you big enough to admit that.

what Pip is getting at is that the AFL itself has not received cash, rather the governments, be they state or federal or local, have spent money on facilities which the AFL uses. However the AFL is far from alone in being the only sporting entity which uses such facilities, futbol, rugby, cricket have all been played at the MCG and Telstra Dome at various stages. Playing at these venues has certainly not hurt futbol whatsoever has it?

Maybe the AFL is guilty of being the beneficiary of government spending on sporting facilities, but there is no way that the finger can be pointed at them solely.

If anything, the Fed Govt in particular is probably against Australian Football as a sport, given that it takes athletes away from other sports, such as athletics, basketball, futbol, rugby, etc in which Australia competes or attempts to compete on an international scale. Having said that, said athletes make the choice to play Australian Football so you cannot blame the AFL for offering a good product, we’re not a communist nation where people were strongly encouraged to take up certain sports.

The 2 best and most famous grounds in Sydney – ANZ and Sydney Cricket Ground, have been re-developed for AFL with plenty of taxpayers money, so the Melbourne Cricket Ground is not such a far fetched example.

You don’t seem to fully appreciate the situation up here.