There will not be a code war in Western Sydney
Roar Rookie
By simonjzw, 11 Nov 2009 simonjzw is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- AFL, Kevin Sheedy, NRL, Western Sydney AFL
129 Have your say
There’s been a lot of conjecture about whether or not the Western Sydney AFL team will be successful and even more about the ignition of a “war” between the NRL and the AFL now Kevin Sheedy has been appointed.
It all makes good press and it keeps both codes on the back pages during the off season.
But there’s every reason to think the Western Sydney team will be successful in the long term and no reason at all to suggest that this success will have any impact on the NRL or the NRL teams based in Western Sydney.
Crowd surveys of the big games involving the Swans at ANZ Stadium consistently reveal 15,000 to 20,000 of those attending do not go to watch the Swans play at the SCG because it is too hard for them to get there.
Then consider the number of people who live in Western Sydney who grew up in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, all of whom would love to watch live AFL matches if they were easier to get to.
It’s not really big stretch to imagine a team in Western Sydney growing to a steady membership base of 25,000–30,000 and being able to attract crowds of 35,000 for regular matches and 50,000 for big games.
Obviously not right away, but it’s definitely achievable in the long haul.
And having such a team in the local community could well triple the number of local junior clubs and junior registrations.
But here’s the thing: there are so many people living in Western Sydney (more than Adelaide and Perth combined), that the numbers I am talking about aren’t all that significant.
There’s no reason to think those sort of numbers would have any impact on the membership rates and attendances of any of the NRL clubs based in Western Sydney. The impact would probably be less than the impact the Swans have had on the Roosters (which is zero).
Nor should it have any effect on registrations in junior rugby league competitions.
Even if the Western Sydney Club has some success in attracting talented local junior sports people from other sports to special academy programs, these athletes would come from a number other sports (soccer, union, basketball, as well as league) and the gross number each year wouldn’t be significant to any one sport.
Certainly not large enough to have an impact on the amount and quality of talent those sports would continue to produce.
And if the Western Sydney Team develops the sort of rivalry with the Swans that Port Power has with the Crows and Fremantle has with the West Coast, then matches between the two will become additional big events for the city of Sydney.
But that won’t mean we’ll be any less inclined to support the Blues against the Maroons.
All the naysayers who spruke the line that the Western Sydney AFL team is doomed remind me of the brother in-law of Kevin Costner in “Field of Dreams”.
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Brett McKay said | November 11th 2009 @ 7:00am | Report comment
But, but, but Simon, the Daily Telegraph said it’s war!!
BigAl said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:46am | Report comment
My sentiments exactly . . . the DT will be devasted by this news !
Redb said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
seems the SMH is partaking as well.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
The league hit list for AFL and the Mark Geyer headline (actual story was quite light) suggests you are right. A little bit surprising but I guess they give Hinds, Masters and Foz free reign
MyGeneration said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
All part of the grand conspiracy to give the AFL enough free publicity that they can’t possibly fail.
James said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
The NRL must be HATING the fact that indeed so many NRL club CEO’s directors, past players etc are feeding the mammouth amount of articles and publicity for this story. There was a whole blog on the Tele with Dean Ritchie yesterday too, where all the paranoid NRL fans wrote in saying how much they hoped this would fail. Cripes there has even been an article on the publicity!
http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/sheedy-move-a-bit-media-hit/2009/11/10/1257615040641.html
So funny…all the NRL folk were saying Kevin Who? just 2 days ago…
MyGeneration said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
That’s right, James. If the DT were trying to pump up the NRL, why wouldn’t they have relegated the story to an inside page somewhere and let it die a natural death. The DT doesn’t care about any code’s long-term future, just their own short-term revenue.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:11pm | Report comment
Murdoch pushed for war in Iraq because he knows that wars sell papers.
bever fever said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
Would that be Mr anti-AFL himself Roy Masters ?.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
I left of Fitzsimons (for Rugby) but I was trying to cover all codes. Hinds (AFL), Masters (League) and Foz (Football)
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 7:05am | Report comment
I agree with the general sentiment of this article – but I think your projections for crowds figures are a bit exaggerated – I don’t think we will get those sorts of figures inside the first decade.
simonjzw said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:02am | Report comment
Maybe you’re right about the numbers – they’ll also be influenced by onfielld success – but I think similar success can be achieved inside 10 years.
The big difference between the Storm and Western Sydney will be the amount of television coverage WS gets. Storm get next to nothing in Melbourne WS will get live and prime time coverage here in Sydney.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
and the other big difference is 2 annual ‘local derbies’ against a 30 year established rival,
and the other other big difference is that AFL expats in the region will probably have a real soft spot for GWS (growing organically and all) compared to the NSW-RL expats in Victoria (most anywhere really) who regarded Storm as an almost sick joke News Ltd insert Superleague fiasco compromise at the expense of traditional clubs.
But, reality kicks in across winter when you need to draw people to 10-11 games rather than 3 or 4.
However, will 3 or 4 be held in Canberra?? (why not a game at Wagga!!!! – vs Port or Freo).
The main thing, is to get those free family tickets out to the Auskickers and spread them over the year.
James said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
I think they would be silly not to schedule games in Canberra. All of canberra’s alootment of games (say only 2-3 per year), can include the new franchise.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
Makes sense.
Timmuh said | November 11th 2009 @ 6:26pm | Report comment
All WS home games must be in WS, or it will be even more likely to be seen as a cynical marketing exercise. They can’t hope to get community support if right form the start they don’t even try to play games in the community.
The AFL will probably however give Sydney and WS advantages by playing them as the away side in Canberra against teams who don’t play here as often, and are unused to the ground.
Dan said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
I’m trying not to be Mr Negative, but you’d imagine every afl fan already watches the Swans on tv and the ratings are very poor. I just can’t see the new team get any new audience.
sledgeross said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
It will be similar to the Melbourne Storm, no more than novelty value with 10000 or so die hard supporters. They will get a few people going out of curiosity, but noone in Western Sydney really cares enough to make it a resounding success. At least it gives them an alternative to travelling over an hour to see the Swans to see top class AFL games though.
M1tch said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:42am | Report comment
AFL wants to take over, but yeh I doubt they will
James said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:03pm | Report comment
They only people who say that the AFL wants to take over, are the NRL folk themselves. I dont think the AFL want to take over. I dont think they can with 2 AFL teams in NSW v 11 NRL teams. I think they just want to grow the pie, and if they convert a few NRL folk along the way, then so be it. What is everyone worried about?? As I mentioned above, this NRL paranoia is feeding the MASSIVE free publicity the AFL is getting…its in your best interests to stop talking about it!!
M1tch said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
News ltd is getting what they want of course, creating panic, thousands of extra hits, comments by the hundreds. I wish all people in NRL would shut up and look after the grass roots.
At the end of the day all codes want to be number 1, AFL is just having a go.
Art Sapphire said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Only one of these observations is correct – do you want to have a guess Simon
A) There is no Santa Claus
B) There is no code war in Western Sydney
C) There is no trouble between the Israelis and Palestinians
Here is a clue – just don’t tell the kids until they are old enough
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Art
When are the kids old enough to tell them about the troubles in the Middle East??
Art Sapphire said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Just after you have told them about the fat man in the red suit. They should be able to handle it then
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
what does seem amazing is that the NRL is trying to lay claim to this population base of near enough to 2 million people……and yet they service it with only a small number of NRL teams with stuff all attendance and stuff all memberships.
The comparison of Perth and Adelaide with just over 2 million people having 4 AFL teams with around 150,000 plus members and average attendances combined of around 140,000……and we compare that to Wests, Penrtih, Bulldogs and Parra and a combined aver attendance of around 65,000.
It suggests the NRL is trying to pull a shifty here. If this region can’t support a single AFL team (given the centralised/national network based systems at work in the AFL structures) whilst barely creating a ripple in the NRL pond out there….????
The NRL are trying to run a closed shop and have been getting away with mediocrity for a long, long time.
or, perhaps it’s only AFL fans in all of Australia who really ‘get into’ their sport and attend in large numbers and sign up as members in large numbers – - which is obviously a sign of mental dillusion that ought be derided.
simonjzw said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Couldn’t agree more Michael
People living in the western half of Sydney have always been taken for granted and short changed (and I’m not only talking about sport).
Hopefully they’ll be getting better service from locally based high profile teams now, no matter what code.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
that’s the thing that has irked me most about people poo-pooing the Blacktown Oval development,
it after all provides an upgrade of cricket/footy facilities in a region where they are obviously lacking.
The state govt providing $15 mill specifically for that job,
oh, and another $5 mill towards more soccer fields at Rooty Hill.
It just seems, again, that some soccer/rugby folk are fine with sporting diversity so long as it fits on a square ending ‘pitch’ about 110 by 80…..
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Haven’t you seen “Angels and Demons”, ovals are a symbol of the illuminati.
The Link said | November 12th 2009 @ 4:23pm | Report comment
Don’t know what’s worse, the Tele beat ups or those that take the bait, AFL fans included.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
can’t help but notice the WS Rovers folk made sure to make a statement as a ‘me too’ effort to get a bit of ‘free publicity’ around this……
….funny thing is – - – for clubs that don’t really exist yet and certainly not on the field……there’s an awful lot of ‘free publicity’ happening.
…..but certainly, no code war.
James said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
Is this the article you were referring to:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/rovers-boss-welcomes-afl-push/story-e6frey4r-1225796228994
If so, I think “well played” by the Rovers boss…in any case they are comepeting mostly in opposite seasons.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Yeh – smart move – free publicity two seasons out – why not?
bever fever said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
If this is the case and their is no code war…and by the way i agree with the sentiments should we just close the roar down.
Surely stirring the pot is half the fun, what will oikee do, will KB just head to the RSL for his pensioner hour a bit earlier, will robbos take his soccer ball and go home, what will MC do with arsenal of facts and figures……. who will Pip talk to.
No i say lets perpetuate this code war… in a nice way… keeps minds active and people at DT employed.
Bring it on big boy.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Well sport is all about entertainment…. I heard an add on the radio this morning about how repetitive pay tv is and it was an add for a video store.
So in a way code wars are natural.
Perhaps if sport was outlawed and we all watched nature documentaries as the only remaining legal form of entertainment for males then we would have Oikee telling us how Crocodile Doccos were the greatest and that the big cat docco makers should be worried because Simba is long in the tooth
MyGeneration said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
So the Roar is providing a therapeutic outlet for sufferers of dementia coda belligerans (DCB). Is the time I spend here covered by Medicare?
sheek said | November 11th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
If I were an AFL fan I would be delighted by the dismissive noises coming out of Sydney re AFL’s plans to establish a team in Western Sydney.
There’s nothing like complacency from the opposition to give you an easy leg-up. And by the time the opposition (NRL) wake-up to the danger, it might be too late.
That said, & as mentioned elsewhere, Western Sydney’s population is bigger than that of Perth & Adelaide combined. On that score, you would think there is enough youth for NRL, AFL & A-League. (Rugby union, you’re welcome to join the WS bun fight, but only if you show a willingness to do so!).
keeper11 said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
war or no ‘code’ war….
one thing is certain…the stench filled journalistic swamp that is the DT will ensure we will be made to beleive there is an all out code war….it sells papers
and ofcourse..no prizes who in news-limited HQ will order the sydney branch to barrack for ..
and as per standard news-limited practice , through half-truths, misinformation, slants , beatup and outright manufacturing of ‘exclusives’ ..will loyally follow the script and tell us all who ‘is winning”…….
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
But is it clear who this is helping? (apart from News Ltd)
MyGeneration said | November 11th 2009 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
No
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
Well – yes and no.
News might be wanting to favour the League clubs (and why not, it’s a big market of readers for them), but on the other hand, it’s generating the sort of publicity that money cannot buy (for the AFL).
And while a lot of the commentary is along the lines: they’ve got no chance, etc.
Some readers, who may not necessarily be overly strong in their views one way or the other, might be tempted to think: geez, maybe there really is something in this story about how big the AFL is?
MyGeneration said | November 11th 2009 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
As you intimated earlier, News wins either way, so that is clear (and my own feeling is News would love to keep the code wars going for another century if they can, but, if not, they’ll find something else to sell papers and/or get internet hits). As far as whether this is helping AFL or NRL (or A-League or Union for that matter), this is not clear (though so far I can’t see how it’s hurting AFL, people with no interest might have suddenly noticed it’s there etc.), hence my original answer to your question stands.
Or, to quote the noted orator Marcel Marceau in Silent Movie, “Non!”
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
Didn’t he say: Oui! ??
MyGeneration said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
I don’t know. I don’t understand French.
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1777190
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
heh, heh – actually you’re right – he did say “non”!!
Simmo said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
I like the idea that the code war is all a beat up by the Terror. Only thing is, code war stories are by far and away the most viewed and commented stories on this website. Who to blame? The DT? The Roar? The commenters who wade in with their two bob’s worth 20 times a day?
It’s a pretty clear case that the media outlets are giving the public what they want.
MyGeneration said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
Methinks you have a point, Simmo, but the media do fan the flames in many instances as well (as do a few Roarers).
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
In any war, truth is the first casualty.
But if it’s a non-war? First and foremost, we are casual with the truth.
danny said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
isn’t that the DT’s motto?
Spanner said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
I still cannot work out why any supporter of a Melbourne based team would like to see the game taken to Western Sydney. What good does this have for the average punter who probably still talks about how many flags their team won in the VFL.
The answer is code war.
Michael C said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:40pm | Report comment
Spanner – - for a lot, you’re absolutely correct.
for me – I like the impact that these 2 new organically grown clubs/teams are having upon the AFL talent pathways, the money invested in improving structures around the country and that we are getting some serious action on an international level.
Will North Melbourne ever win another flag……who knows. I’ve seen 2 first hand…I know I’m lucky. In a 12 team comp it was possible to go 60 years without one. Flags aren’t everything.
Dan said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
Neither of these 2 new clubs are organically grown, particularly WS. There has been very little push from the community for a team, rather a team is being placed there in the hope that people might follow.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
Spanner
A few of us here on the Roar would have thought a couple of years ago that it didn’t make much sense that the AFL try and put a team in West Sydney (the Gold Coast was a little bit different).
But gradually, I’ve changed my mind.
Why?
1. I like the idea of kids getting the opportunity to at least sample the game, and this helps with that.
2. It’s likely that WS might end up leading a charge to recruiting players from outside of Australia. Two years ago, I would have thought that was pie in the sky, but now I honestly think it’s a real possibility.
I find both of these thougths quite intriguing.
When I went to primary school – there was only one option – you played aussie rules – these days it’s different – kids get to sample a wide variety of sports – and it will be the same in West Sydney.
I don’t see that as a code war.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
I am a little worried they are going to grab the next Holmino (Blacktown boy as is CCM’s Matt Lewis) and tie him up to Aussie Rules instead which would be a bit of a waste but Blacktown doesn’t have it’s own team in the top flight of anything.
I know people in the west will be a bit cynical at first but I think in the long term it’s for the best. Football and the NRL are filled with self interest and need to cop a rocket. The AFL’s success in West Sydney will be very embarrassing to both codes.
My only fear is a selfish one in that West Sydney is the best breeding ground for Socceroos and I see AFL likely to make huge inroads on Footballs participation because it is so cheap to play and has a little bit more violence in it (I used to love that as a kid and I am sure that hasn’t changed amongst young boys). So many kids playing football in the one area really pushes up the standard. It’s good enough to produce a national team by itself and I want a successful Socceroos team.
A lot of the NRL’s talent is now coming from the Polynesian kid and I know the AFL is going very hard to tap into that market but that seems a tough sell for them. I don’t really think the NRL would be effected and even if it was I don’t think it would actually hurt my enjoyment for the game the same way an unsuccessful Socceroo team would.
If Parramatta win the comp I don’t care how many miss tackles the opposition make.
I don’t agree with spending 120m to upgrade the Showgrounds when there is a perfectly good stadium next to it just because the AFL are worried about empty seats. That really strikes me as government funds going into pandering the AFL’s ego.
But 120m even 200m for Blacktown oval I would be ok as that is actually giving something to a community with no top level sport….of course I have never lived in Blacktown (but have been their plenty of times) and don’t like frogs so I shouldn’t get a vote on the matter.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
AndyRoo
Melbourne too has produced plenty of Socceroos.
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
Apart from Dukes all the best ones are from Sydney (not biased at all), although I learn’t the other day Cullina was born in Melbourne….has really hurt his image in my eyes
Robbos said | November 11th 2009 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
Keep it up AndyRoo, educate them.
Pippinu said | November 11th 2009 @ 8:58pm | Report comment
Dunno – from the last WC, your best XI would have included Dukes, Bresh, Grella and Culina – that’s not a bad start!!
AndyRoo said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:14pm | Report comment
Gk Schwarzer
RB Neil
CD Moore
CD Milligan
LB Chiperfield
RM Emerton
CM Wilkshire
CM Carle
LM Carney
AMC Cahill
FC Kewell
Subs
D Millosicvic /Adam Jay Federici
Holmino
Jedinek
Mile Sterjovski
Bruce Djite
Brosque
Could be good enough to qualify for the world cup. Not bad names from Victoria though and the 2014 squad is shaping up as potentially a lot more of an even spread.
Jay said | November 12th 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Totally agree on your point about upgrading the showground.
Use ANZ Stadium – no need to fund the new construction of a smaller ground next door. If they do – the Football, RL and RU codes should lobby to make reconstruct ANZ Stadium into a proper rectangular ground like Suncorp Stadium!
Spanner said | November 12th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Pip and Michael, This can go both ways, you prefer AFL while others prefer Rugby League or Football. What happens if RL or Football decides to round up as many kids who have athletic talent and take them away from AFL or poach them when they are at the top of their game. I cant see how you support it not being a Code war. RL supporters are hating this approach by AFL and that is why Rugby is loathed by many RL fans. Every board room of the governing body are currently discussing this issue. Pip, You said when you were at school you played AFL or nothing. When I went to school in NSW I could play RL or Fball and it was a 50% split. Today I think it is the same in NSW but in Melbourne where I am now it seems AFL is still the 90% option and to be honest many people (mainly skips) just scoff if you say you play or follow football.
If the Western sydney region decide to play hardball and scoff at any person who plays AFL not many kids will want to be the odd one out. Winning the hearts and minds will not be an easy task just ask anyone taking on AFL in Melbourne
Pippinu said | November 12th 2009 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Spanner
You are saying straight out that people in WS scoff at the AFL – it’s starting from a very low base – - probably 4th behind all the football codes – so I don’t quite understand what the issue is exactly – that pecking order will probably remain forever – but if a few kids are attracted to the game – that’s a few more than would have been otherwise.
Jay said | November 12th 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Last time I checked, a sherrin retailed for over $100. Compare that with your average stedan for $20.. financially at least, RL has a little advatage for kids wanting to kick around the footy.
Simmo said | November 12th 2009 @ 11:33am | Report comment
A bit too simplistic or marginal there.
Broad truth across the world is that people will be attracted to the same sports and clubs that their friends and family are.
AndyRoo said | November 12th 2009 @ 11:40am | Report comment
Wow…I had never noticed that.
Shows the benefit of free trade as I bought AndyRoo juniors first football for $4.95
Pippinu said | November 12th 2009 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Well – you’re talking quality materials (Australian leather) and quality Australian workmanship (hand stitching).
You have to pay for quality!!
I wonder if they’re still making plastic footies?
Otherwise, the kids of Blacktown can do what I used to do as a kid in working-class Footscray – kick a cordial bottle around the backyard?
Backyard??!! We used to dream of a backyard!!
Well, it wasn’t so much a backyard as half a drive way.
You were lucky to have half a drive way, we had to kick our cordial bottles on the nature strip.
We didn’t have a nature strip – we used the alley at the back of the house that the refuse trucks used to use.
At least you had an alley!!
AndyRoo said | November 12th 2009 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Gee if you were the kid that accidently kicked it onto the roof you wouldn’t make it home alive!
Redb said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
You dont need a full blown leather Sherrin to learn how to kick an Aussie Rules football. Suggest you get down to Rebel Sport and see the range, some balls would only be $10, fine for kids.
Do kids starting out in golf buy the most expensive clubs, or the top Wilson tennis racket? No.
Redb
AndyRoo said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
I do wonder how mank kids rock up to swimming carnivals with fast suits…. would be quite over the top
And Pip I am sure I still see plastic footballs around…but then they could be 20 years old and just never sold
Spanner said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Pip, I said if they decide to scoff at the AFL like they are showing in the media now. The issue was about why people in the heartland of AFL are motivated and pumped about taking the game to WS not some pecking order. If my club was based in Melbourne (and not Collingwood or Essendon who have money) and I wanted to win a premiership why would I not be pissed off at the AFL for making it virtually impossible to win a flag. Look at the history – How many clubs without home grounds have won a flag in the past 20 years. Not many, the advantage has gone to the clubs with home ground advantage this is what the AFL wants. It has the melbourne market sewn up and cares very little for it these days, they would have gone to Tassie if it was about giving back to the supporter, now it is all about taking on the other codes. If you like the idea of expansion to WS and GC your motivation is taking on the other codes.
Redb said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
Spanner,
When there was only 12 clubs in the VFL it did not help Footscray (1954 – one flag), St Kilda (1966 – one flag), North Melbourne (1975 & 1977 two flags after 50 years), Fitzroy’s last flag was in 1940?, South Melbourne in 1933.
There was ample opportunity pre draft, pre salary cap, for these clubs to win their share.
Redb
Pippinu said | November 12th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
Spanner
also – I can’t really complain because the AFL has been propping up my club to the tune of about $1 mill per annum for the past decade (that’s $1 mill in about $28 mill of revenue all up).