By Sam Lienert
October 24th 2009 @ 2:04am
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New AFL clubs need to sign big name players
History suggests that if AFL expansion clubs in western Sydney and the Gold Coast are to enjoy early success, snaring established players from other clubs will not be the way they do it.
Gold Coast can spend next year trying to poach one uncontracted player from each of the 16 existing clubs to build their squad [...]
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M1tch said | October 25th 2009 @ 7:09pm | Report comment
LOL..we know what ‘big name’ players the WS franchise will sign..
NRL players because people of Western Sydney actually know who they are.
James said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
I don’t think many people in NSW knew who Tony Lockett was back in the mid 90’s when Sydney signed him…Or even Barry Hall. But I see you point….apart from say a Brendan Fevola type, they will probably poach a NRL star…
AndyRoo said | October 26th 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
This is in the Australian but with a totally different conclusion
“Poached stars a shaky foundation for new clubs”
I thought this line was interesting
“Just two Queenslanders were picked up in the most recent AFL national draft and one player from NSW”
Is that for real? Or is it misleading becasue of the way the expansion teams are being brought in. i.e. are all the QLD players allready in the Gold Coast team?
Pippinu said | October 26th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Not sure of the exact connection – but it’s true that a stack of Queensland players joined the Gold Coast U18 team rather than go into the draft – most of these kids will now play in the VFL next year (basically the AFL reserves) – to be joined by Hunt around mid-season.
AndyRoo said | October 26th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Yeh wasn’t sure of the timing with how this expansion works.
That stat is very misleading then.
Redb said | October 26th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
The new Gold Coast and Western Sydney teams are being setup in a very different way to previous expansion teams with both having the ability to draft the best young kids as well as poaching a few established players, both with a 3 year lead in.
This contrasts with previous expansion teams in a major way, particularly the 3 year lead in.
Sydney – relocation in 1982, bugger all planning, a literal transplantation of entire senior team. Went into private hands, became a play thing, pink helicopters,etc. Propped up financially by the VFL, eventually Ronald Dale Barassi got involved circa 1993-94 and they became a real football club in Sydney some 12 years after relocation. By 1996 they played in the Grand Final, salary cap concessions, but it took 23 years to win one.
West Coast and Adelaide – The AFL granted them both exclusive recruiting zones from their respective states thus ensuring in 5 years that each was virtually a State of Origin strength team. Both went on to win two premierships each. Importantly very stable clubs with huge fan bases.
Brisbane – Initially the first creation team in a non heartland area (1987), poor planning, cobbled together playing list and coach, private play thing, played on the Gold coast instead of Brisbane. Merged with the Fitzroy Lions in 1996 and literally was able to combine two teams of talent into one. Given room in the salary cap. moved to Brisbane, won 3 in a row.
Port Adelaide and Fremantle – have been given the worst support from the AFL,. No exclusive recruiting zones, both SANFL and WAFL clubs so more or less ‘promotion’ teams, 1 flag in 12 years between them.
GC and WS – given 3 years to develop lists, in the GC’s case build from young Qlders, PNG, as well huge draft concessions and uncontracted players.
The major difference is the 3 year lead in, coupled with a development pathway of TAC Cup (under 18s), VFL (state level) and then AFL level.
So many expansion teams have no lead in they are franchise clubs that have sprung up over the off season. There is a lot to like about the way GC in particular has been put together and history tells us the AFL is right to give them concessions as success is mandatory for new teams.
Redb
drewster said | October 26th 2009 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
Anyone see a “Merger” or two with a Victorian club/s in a few years if the two clubs don’t do well and can’t establish a fan base.
Pippinu said | October 26th 2009 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
The official AFL line is that mergers were taken off the agenda back in 1997 (after the Bears v Lions merger).
No mention since – especially about merging Vic clubs.
However, the AFL did toy with sending North to the Gold Coast with an enormous incentive package worth $100 mill plus.
That sort of thing is more likely than a merger, i.e. a club that goes broke being sent to Tassie or WA (pretty much the South to Sydney scenario).
Redb said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment
Blacktown Oval to host it’s first NAB Cup game on Feb 20th, 2010 – Sydney v Carlton. Should the Swans win they will play in the next round at Blacktown.
Redb
M1tch said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
why play the Swans there, when they want support for a new club, strange
James said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
So are you suggesting they play two interstate teams instead? (Or do you rather wish they would not play there at all and for the AFL to give up on Western Sydney entirely)? C’mon…be honest….
I think the new team will (unfortunately for the Swans) draw some supporters away from them. Couldn’t think of a better way to grow the pie then against the local team and a top VIC club.
Redb said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
no question this is a good matchup. Western Sydney will get their own team in time but it’s still almost 3 years away. Gives the Bankstown oval a run.
Redb
M1tch said | October 28th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Bankstown?
M1tch said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
Yeh, i would assume the last thing they would want is people of west sydney to become swans fans and not the new teams fans..
afl did it smart with no lions games at cararra (much)
TBH I dont care what they do..i actually support the Swans in AFL
Pippinu said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Anyway – no one pays any attention to the pre-season comp – so it doesn’t matter!!
westy said | October 27th 2009 @ 10:17pm | Report comment
Redb I know it is an honest error but the game is in city of blacktown ( population 280000). Bankstown is a separate city in Western Sydney ( population 180000) the home of Jeff Thompson , Lennie pascoe, the Waugh brothers , Clark and Ian Thorpe etc. A Bankstown boy is definitely not from Blacktown and vice versa.
As you can tell Bankstown has been a powerhouse in NSW cricket for some time.
Redb said | October 28th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Got it right the first time, but anyway its in Sydney somewhere
Bankstown – Paul Keating land?
Redb
M1tch said | October 28th 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment
hehe, looks like they tried to sign Todd Greenberg..mind you though Im sure most organisations would love him.
Redb said | October 28th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Just following Storm’s lead in signing an AFL Administrator as CEO.
The joke is the Daily Telepgraph’s “he ours’ rhetoric.
M1tch said | October 28th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
was waldron employed at the time when he crossed over?
Redb said | October 28th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Don’t remember, he was CEO of St Kilda for a few years. The Saints do have a habit of sacking folk