By Davidde Corran
November 29th 2009 @ 1:51am
Related coverage
An open apology to North Queensland Fury FC
Former English premier league soccer player Robbie Fowler, right, pictured with the North Queensland coach Ian Ferguson at a news conference in Townsville, Australia, Sunday, March 15, 2009. Fowler will play for the North Queensland Fury in Australia's A League competition later this year. AP Photo/ Michael Chambers
“They could be the worst team to have played in the A-League”; “They’re going to be worse than the New Zealand Knights”; “They could kill this competition.” They are all things that I, and many others in the media, privately said about North Queensland Fury in the lead up to their A-League debut.
The signs just weren’t looking good. As the club made the astounding move of signing Jade North as their inaugural marquee player, only for him to jump ship, things seemed to be going bad for the club. The truth is North’s defection was only one of many worrying signs, and a lot of people were worried, including myself.
Instead Don Matheson, Ian Ferguson and co have proved me very wrong, so I only think it’s fair that I apologise.
Truth is I’ve had the opportunity to watch a number of their games this season and have enjoyed almost all of them. Certainly more then I have the Central Coast Mariners efforts despite them sitting four spots higher on the table.
The Fury might have spent most of this season propping up the league standings, and a couple of their performances have been just dire, but they are far from the worst team to have played in this competition. On the contrary, they’ve brought a lot to season 5 of the A-League.
Bringing Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler into the country is something we’re all grateful for now that the doubts over his fitness and ability have been shown up as pessimistic concerns.
On the pitch, the Fury’s football can be quite enjoyable to watch, even if at times it lacks fluency or that cutting edge. Their first half performance last night against Adelaide was as comprehensive as it was easy on the eye.
While Gold Coast United’s game against Brisbane Roar at the start of the season may have been the highest quality I’ve seen in the A-League this year, I’d rather watch the Fury at the moment then Gold Coast. That’s something I never expected to say.
Even the crowds, considering the population pool they’re able to draw from, have been reasonable enough; especially when you think that there have been enough poor performances at Dairy Farmers Stadium to scare the locals away.
I’m also loving the ‘Furgins’ initiative by the club. First time fans to Dairy Farmers are handed a team coloured t-shirt with “Furgin” written across it. It’s a great initiative and is proof that the club are showing their fans more respect than Gold Coast Untied have so far.
Certainly it hasn’t all gone well for the Fury. They still made far too many rash and silly player signings in the first few months after they were given their license. It says a lot that nearly all North Queensland’s standout players joined the club after most of the squad was already assembled. In fact, I think this drip feed of talent coming into the side is a bit embarrassing.
The club’s financial troubles have been a worry as well, though they aren’t alone on that point.
Most importantly the club has at least admitted their errors and have looked to make up for them. I get the sense that as long as they can survive financially over the next couple years then this club will be around for the long-term.
While I’m at it I’d like to give credit to the Fury’s marquee man Robbie Fowler. When he signed for the club and then missed most of the pre-season through injury, I was worried. In fact the only people I thought that would get to see his talent in action would be Townsville’s real estate industry.
So, despite their flaws and mistakes, I think the Fury have added something special to this competition. Personally I’m glad to have them as a part of our domestic football landscape and I don’t think I’m alone on that one.
Comparatively there are a couple of other A-League teams who should take a long hard look at themselves, though that’s for another day. Today I’d just like to say sorry North Queensland, and its good to have you on board.
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cruyff turn said | November 29th 2009 @ 3:48am | Report comment
Davidde,
I too am pleasantly surprised by North Queensland’s current position. Even last week when they got trounced on the scoreboard by the Mariners, I thought they played some decent stuff, and with a bit of luck could have pegged the score back before the horse truly bolted. Like you say, they also seem to have done well in engaging the community, unlike the other new team.
Fowler especially, has been terrific. Had the feeling he was going to be a bit of a mercenary and just go through the motions, but he’s really impressed me with his commitment. At times it must be frustrating for him to play with guys of far less ability (certainly compared to what he was used to), yet he’s never whinged or complained about his team. Just got on with the job and scored goals.
You’re right about some of their early signings being rash. Jacob Timpano, with his history of injuries, was a leap of faith which has so far backfired. You get the feeling that the Fury’s list was assembled depending on who was out of contract, who wasn’t getting a game at their last club, or who wasn’t getting a run in the A-League at all. It’s in stark contrast to Melbourne Heart, where van’t Schip seems to have a vision of the football he wants his team to play, and will pick the appropriate players. Maybe with a good first season under their belt, the Fury will be in a far better position to entice new signings?
So in conclusion, they’ve done OK, but if you took Fowler’s contribution out of this season’s performances, the Fury’s position would be somewhere closer to our original predictions.
Mick said | November 29th 2009 @ 6:30am | Report comment
About time that those in the southern media apologised. For some reason, it’s always hard to convince people down south that North Queensland can produce a competitive team in any sport. The Cowboys went through similiar motions when they started up in 1995. It took them a few years, but now they are usually considered a top 8 side. While as a loyal fan, I’ll be the first to admit the some of the Fury’s performances have been dismal this season, their typical North Queensland fighting spirit as the underdog and attacking style of football will win them more respect from other clubs and hopefully more fans in the coming years. Last night’s win is symbolic of that: a come from behind victory which was all heart. It certainly proves that with the right coach (Fergie), having half your main squad out injured and limited funds to shop around for replacements, the Fury can still put in a result. Thanks Davidde for giving us some credit at last.
Cheers,
Mick
Pippinu said | November 29th 2009 @ 6:41am | Report comment
I don’t mind saying that from day one, when the Fury came back from 0-2 down against SFC, that I have had no such qualms about the Fury being well behind the rest of the comp.
It was obvious even on that day that they had reasonable strength in the wide positions ( a bit of a weakness in many A-League clubs), and that Fowler was not going to be a passenger.
In fact, I can recall being very happy to play them early in the season in Towsville, to score a lucky 1-0 win, because I knew they were going to give all teams plenty of trouble.
Realfootball said | November 29th 2009 @ 8:10am | Report comment
Well done Davidde. I graceful and timely piece of journalism. Perhaps also not only an apology is due to the club (and I include myself in this) but also to coach Ferguson who was widely criticised for his CV and his nationality, with all sorts of assumptions made about the kind of football his team would play. In fact, the Fury at their best play one of the more attractive passing games in the League – much more so than the Mariners who, with the odd exceptional game – are mostly still very ordinary to watch. Ferguson has had a very, very difficult brief and he is fulfilling it exceptionally well. Congratulations to him and to everyone at the Fury. As a Gold Coast member, I can only wish that the GCU admin people had shown the same commitment to engaging with their community that the Fury have.
As for Robbie Fowler, in terms of his commitment to the cause he is easily for me the standout marquee player to have graced the A League, and the Fury’s long term survival (which I am assuming) will be put down in no small degree to his personal commitment.
midfield general said | November 29th 2009 @ 8:32am | Report comment
You can compare the difference in body language between Fowler and Jason Culina on the pitch. As it was mentioned previously they’re playing with players of lesser ability than in Europe, but Fowler just gets on with it whereas we see Culina sulking and abusing his team mates if things don’t go his way.
I was wrong about Ferguson, too. I expected Scottish kick and rush but the way they’ve been keeping possession is a pleasant surprise. Just hope Fowler doesn’t get injured.
Pippinu said | November 29th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
True – Culina’s demeanour on the field is absolutely pi$$ poor.
gaz said | November 29th 2009 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
Oh get over it people! Fowler is a striker, Culina’s a midfield general. Both command the respect and friendship of their team-mates, which is all that matters,
And as for showing anger, at least Culina doesn’t roll onto his head and kick people in the face with his studs. M’kay?
PS: Good article Davidde, well said. To be fair, many of us critics were very keen on the Fury to begin with, but only became vocal critics after a long string of mind-blowing cock-ups. I’m sure everybody’s happy to see NQ grab a few wins.
midfield general said | November 30th 2009 @ 7:28am | Report comment
Nah, Culina’s body language says `I should have stayed at PSV for one more year’ Hehe
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
I will never forget the night Muscat did a dummy spit and walked off the pitch against Newcastle Jets in Newcastle, because he was frustrated with his team-mates.. Leaving a pleading Merrick and Cole urging him to stay on the field ha ha… Finally replacing himself that evening and sat sulking on the bench…
~~~~~~
KB
Realfootball said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:29am | Report comment
Comeon, Gaz, I’m a Gold Coast member to but it doesn’t mean I have to say black is white. Jason Culina isn’t playing well and his attitude on the pitch is not helpful. All this is understandable but still not, in the end, forgivable. Personally, I have been surprised at the lack of impact he has on games over 90 minutes. Compare him to Hernandez in terms of him influence on games, or Fowler. Compare the spirit in the Fury team with GCU. I honestly think it comes down to the coaching. Miron Bleiberg, for all the admirable work he did getting the club up and running, isn’t the coach the club needs. He is all style (and quite annoying style at that) and not enough substance. Ferguson is precisely the opposite. As things got tougher, Ferguson got better; exactly the opposite of Bleiberg, whose coaching performance mirrors the woes at the Roar before he was sacked. Yes I know all that stuff about how depleted GCU were, but what kind of a coach puts their “playmaker” on the right wing in that situation? Answer: either a clueless coach or a one who is being told what to do by his star player.
Pippinu said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Very good appraisals of the responses to two coaches who started the seasons in very different fashions.
In aussie rules, we often use an expression: down hill skiers, i.e. players who are great when everything clicks into place, but as soon as things get a little tough, these sorts of players go missing in action.
I hate to say it – but Culina reminds me of such a down hill skier – he was sensational those first 3 to 5 rounds – but as soon as it got a bit harder – he has gone missing – and what’s worse – his body language basically says he’d rather not be there.
Interestingly, it’s also coincided with Smeltz’s form falling into an absolute black hole over the last 6 to 8 weeks.
At one point, people were saying that if Smeltz had been Australian – he would have been playing up front for the Socceroos!!
Whoah – slow down people!!
dasilva said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Well, if Smeltz chose to represent Australia ( he was eligible for Australia before representing New Zealand). I’m quite sure Smeltz would have had a few token caps (A-league only game) for Australia and be an outside chance of making to the squad.
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
At least Culina excepts his responsibilities and doesn’t generate FFA conspiracy theories
Pippinu said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:22am | Report comment
That’s the problem – Culina is “excepting” his responsibilities – big time!!
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
How..? Culina has played every game “except” when called upon for national duty… Muscat has not played as much topline football as Culina… Therefore not as fresh at times
Art Sapphire said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Why was Culina playing out wide on Saturday night?? With GC having a depleted team you would have expected Jason to line up in front of the defenders and directing traffic. Tactical masterblunder!
Pippinu said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:33am | Report comment
They should have put Culina in goals, Thwaite on the right wing, and Smeltz in the centre of defence – they may have had half a chance then.
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
You were lucky we didn’t put Culina in goal — next time we meet you won’t be facing our youth team..
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
A gamble trying to nullify Hernandez perhaps, but he put is some quality crosses for Porter and Smeltz… that almost resulted in goals
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Realfootball,
the club may be going through a bad patch, but to not support the club, when it needs the encourage from it’s supporters is much worse… The club is third on the latter in its first year, no matter what has happen in the past … that’s still not bad a position to be in for the present…
~~~~~
KB
Realfootball said | November 30th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
I’m supporting the club, no question, KB. But that doesn’t mean pretending problems aren’t there. Culina, as Pippinu points out, goes missing from games and his overall attitude is not constructive in present circumstances. Bleiberg’s coaching is an issue too. I began as a supporter of Miron. Now after having seen every game GCU has played, plus having been at Suncorp since game 1 of the A League before this, I am convinced that Bleiberg lacks the motivational and tactical skills needed for the job. Further, the behaviour of Culina and others on the pitch indicates to me that Bleiberg does not have the respect of the core team members. The real waste in this situation is that after spending so much on a marquee player, Palmer didn’t finish the job and hire a marquee coach.
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
Gone missing?? I was at Skilled to see them play the SFC and he made the goal, and played a commanding role in the win… At Skilled when they played MV, GCU had 10 men and played very well — a retake penalty for MV and were so unlucky not to win the match..
Against the Reds again 10 men and nearly won that one … Gosh third on the table and you are saying he hasn’t been performing… You are a hard task master lad…
Btw.. I said I put my faith in Paul Okon and that has not changed one bit.. Never mind about Miron, Okon will get the team into the final .. he is the football brains behind the team… 3rd on the table not bad..
I’m hoping for a SFC v GCU … I don’t care who will win that one as they are both my teams…
That said, I’m enjoying my football on the GC
AndyRoo said | November 30th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
They have also lost 3 of their 1st choice defenders to long term injuries.
I can’t think of many A league clubs where that kind of luck wouldn’t ruin their season.
Pippinu said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:25am | Report comment
AndyRoo
the blokes they’ve lost are plodders.
GC still had their very best players out on the park the other night (Culina, Smeltz, Porter, Thwaite, couple of Brazilians, etc)
At the start of the season, MV was forced to play with Kemp in the centre of defence.
AndyRoo said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Sorry I was talking about Nth QLD Pip.
For Nth QLD with a small and suspect squad (calculated gambles) 3 players out for the season could have been game over but I think they are in 7th or 6th.
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:43am | Report comment
GCU had no less then 5 youth players out there on Sat night…
Realfootball said | November 30th 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
Good point Pippinu. The game was lost in the midfield, not in the defence. Caravella, once again, was awful, constantly mishitting passes and getting caught in possession, and Culina was on the wing and featured only occasionally when he should have been in the middle of everything.
As I said above, Culina on the wing can only mean one of two things – Bleiberg is an idiot (he is not) or Culina is making the calls (much more likely). GCU has big problems in the team, no getting away from it.
Gweeds said | November 30th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I also have to apologise. I thought that it was the wrong move. But I was unaware that football has had a tradition in Townsville and FNQ that quite frankly, as a Victorian, surprised me. I thought that it was a totally non-football area.
Mick said | November 30th 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Glad to see people ‘waking up’ so to speak. Yes, North Queensland (Townsville to Cairns) does have a football culture. It may be small compared to down south, but it is there. You know, if people want the ‘World Game’ to expand, this is where you need to be doing it-in regional areas otherwise deprived of national teams in the A-League. No reason why Rockhampton, Darwin and eventually Cairns can’t have teams. It can’t all be in Sydney and Melbourne: that’s how the old NSL fell apart: city-centric arrogance. Give the Fury a couple of years and watch those crowds increase tenfold. Though the Cowboys are great fo NQ, it’s not all about Rugby League up here.
KB said | November 30th 2009 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Mick,
I’m not apologising to the Fury… I had always felt they would show character when they entered the HAL and when they announced that Robbie Flower was going to be their Marquee Player; I was delighted for them… Too often, too many people, expect instant success from start up clubs, but if the regional teams can attract 10k eventually that will be an astounding success.. I believe that the GCU and the Fury will eventually reach that figure… I also agree with you that regional Australia is the true barometer of a codes acceptance…
The one thing I will apologise for is that the Bligh Gov. with fed monies will be spending some $126m on a white elephant stadium to support an AFL ghost team with its inaugural captain an ex Bronco player (Karmichael Hunt) that will spend the first 3 seasons at the foot of the table…
Instead of pouring in that sort of cash into the Cowboy’s and Fury’s home ground, Dairy Farm Stadium… I simply can’t understand that our tax payers have to foot the bill on an absurd stadium being built for a ghost team called GC17 with no track record… When a fresh coat of paint and a new toilet block would have done for the first few years of competition, which would have been suffice…
I apologise Mick, on the behalf of the Qld taxpayers for this misuse of state taxes…
~~~~~~
KB
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
i applaud the Bligh government on their foresight in heiping the AFL fund the redevelopment of Carrara for the community club GC!17 which will draw much larger crowds that the privatly owned GC soccer club which caps the amount of people attending its matches.
Might come over to see my father in law who lives on the GC when the Dockers play.
Commonwealth games can also be held at Carrara.
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:54pm | Report comment
you will look quite silly standing there alone — you will be standing alone on the terrace with your dog — no bid lodge yet and if ever it is it will be a waste of Qld tax payer’s money — Qld are broke Anna wants to sell off the gov assets so she will be gone in the next election and the Com games are going to NZ…
The Grooky Ghost team will be a nightmare up against the Titans and in the mean time the GCU FC will play and grow with no competition …. not even drawing one cent from the Qld tax payers now that’s good for the Gold Coast Community … Didn’t know you managed a father in-law.. Are you sure you got one to visit..?
Mick said | November 30th 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
KB,
Thanks mate. Yeah I hear you on the State Government’s misuse of funds. NQ always cops the rough end of the stick when it comes to funding. With the exception of the Titans and GCU, it’s long been known that the Gold Coast is where teams go to die. I hope that’s not the case for GC17, but with League, Football, AFL and possibly Union in the mix, how can a population base under 1 million people support that many codes?
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
The GC AFL team will have to compete with the Titans. That will be very, very tough. There are a lot of southern climate refugees on the Coast, but enough to fill a stadium? I personally doubt it. GCU will be ok long run because they complement the Titans rather than compete. But the AFL is taking them on head on. This is the first time the AFL has done this and it will be a very interesting litmus test for the code’s glass ceiling in northern rugby league states. My hunch is that the Gold Coast AFL franchise will fail and only stay afloat via vast subsidies.
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
Is that you Clive Palmer?
The Gold Coast has a strong expat community that is more than strong enough to get 10-15K in crowd levels in its early years.
People forget that AFL fans travel to see their teams. That is why the QLD Govt is putting in money for ther new stadium. tourist wise the GC is a favourite for a short break. They’ll play Carlton, Ess, Coll, Rich and get good crowds.
The AFL team on the Gold Coast will still be standing in 25 years you can bank on that.
Redb
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
The Bad News Bears occasionally got 18,000 at a rundown Carrara back in the late 80s – so I wouldn’t be too worried about the chances of GC17’s survival.
Also, the term “subsidy is used quite loosely.
If the two extra teams help drive the current TV rights from $780 mill to $900+ mill – then once could argue the two new teams deserve whatever the competition wants to give them (it costs about $35 mill per annum to run a club, the AFL may need to subsidise up to 20% of that in the early years – but that’s a fraction of the extra money being received from TV rights).
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
If the AFL can make the club work in a small market against the Titans it will be no small achievement. AFL is an interesting phenomenon, tapping into the same nationalistic parochialism as Gridiron in the States. Australia’s cultural isolation in Asia has worked and continues to work strongly in AFL’s favour, countering the globalism of the round ball code. The fact that so many migrants have embraced AFL is an indicator of this process.
I grew up in an AFL state, playing “soccer”. AFL has never appealed to me – an aesthetic preference – but I recognise its athleticism, cultural significance, and the superb quality of the game’s management. Surely there can be no better supported sports code in the world in terms of population and match attendances.
But head to head with the Titans in a small market? Irresistable force meets immovable object? It’ll be interesting.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
realf
I agree with you that the Titans are an outstanding success (being the 3rd reincarnation of an NRL team on the GC).
Similalry, this will be effectively the AFL’s second go at the Gold Coast – and the difference with the first go could not be more stark.
Good businesses learn from past mistakes (and they also learn from their competitors too).
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Stop! Apply the brake and listen….
Who said :
That the entire sports attending community on the Gold Coast currently only goes to Titans games? is there no-one else left?
People make this mistake all the time. Just becuase the Titans have a following it’s not the ONLY following possible. I bet some dont follow rugby league, may follow Aussie Rules or soccer.
Many follow all 3 and jump on the bandwagon of the succesful team – a lot of people do that. Titans will have their day, so will GC17 so will GCU.
The critical part is actually providing an outlet. If the sport has no team than how will they attract juniors, casual fans,etc.
Redb
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 11:03am | Report comment
I think you hit the nail on the head, RB, with the mention of juniors. This is perhaps AFL’s biggest challenge in the northern states. Where I live, AFL is barely played at all at any level. Despite what can only be described as bribery (AFL reps turning up at the local primary school and offering kids backpacks full of goodies and $10 cash – I kid you not, this happened – I was there at the time), the kids are overwhelmingly playing football and league. My 11 year old son came home and told me that he and his mates had debated whether they could take the backpack and then renege on the deal. A number of kids put there hands up when the AFL rep (who did a very lively pitch) asked who would play AFL, but significantly in my son’s class only one boy in the end signed up. No doubt AFL will make inroads with this kind of aggressive spend and pitch campaign, but they will struggle, as has been shown in Sydney. Does this matter, when the Swans and the Brisbane AFL team pull decent crowds? Probably not. But AFL has a long, long way to go be a significant participant sport outside the southern states.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Southport is perhaps the most successful club in the history of the QAFL. Broadbeach also competes in Div. 1 of the QAFL.
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
You’re stooping pretty damned low to offer primary school kids money to play your sport. It was ethically dubious to say the least, and downright embarrassing for the code.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Realf
Thank you for reminding of something you wrote that caught my attention.
Are you saying that AFL officials are traipsing around the Gold Coast, offering kids $10 cash to play aussie rules?
Because on so many levels, that is a completely unbelievable statement to make.
I honestly doubt there is any credibility in the statement to any meaningful degree.
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
not as embarassing as your crediblity.
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
I agree with you Realfootball that is the most damaging bit of news I have ever heard … bribing kids to play AFL… Then to con the QLd government to cough up $60m part of the $126m to build an AFL purpose stadium for a ghost team… When the run down Dairy Farmers stadium could have used that sort of money to build a proper stadium for the Cowboys and the Fury… Its a disgrace and one that Anna Bligh will rue in the coming state election…
Chop said | December 1st 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
Davidde,
Why is it that you (and others) pick out the Mariners?
9 goals in two games and they are still stereo typed as a boring long ball team…People like you keep bagging them out and using them as an example of all that’s wrong with the A-League.
You keep bagging them and they’ll keep proving you and the other football ‘experts’ wrong over and over again.
As they say ‘Nobody rates us and we don’t care’. I’ll grab some cream for your humble pie at seasons end.
Oh and as for the Fury, coached by the ex Mariners assistant are doing well exceeding my expectations. I hope they can get more of a following and get themselves out of their financial issues. NQ is sports mad, just look at their basketball teams, the Taipans and Crocs regularly sell out games and are apparently in reasonable financial shape. The cowboys are a success off the field now, even with a bad season last year, they will be up there again next year.
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
Pippinu
I am very surprised that you questioned the authenticity of my account.
I was there. I am a credible witness..This is exactly what happened:
At assembly at my son’s primary school, the local AFL promotions officer (Gold Coast based, I understand) was allowed to make a presentation to the students. The purpose of this presentation was, naturally, to encourage the kids to play AFL in an area where there is a very low participation rate in the code.
If they registered to play AFL, they were to receive a backpack. He demonstrated with the said backpack. It included a number of kid attractive items, the contents of which escape me other than the four free tickets to an AFL game at the Gabba. The last item in the pitch was a voucher for $10 cash, redeemable by the child on presentation at at bank (I think, but am not certain, that the bank was Westpac).
I was astonished. So were the other parents who were there. So before you “doubt the credibility of the statement to any meaningful degree” – which is a very verbose way of saying you think I am being less than truthful, can I suggest you do some research and check the facts. It may be of course that the AFL deny it – in fact, it would not surprise me at all. But it happened. I was there and so were a good many other parents.
I take serious objection to my truthfulness being called into question. It happened. There were many witnesses. I would not refer to it in a post if it was not true.
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Any chance the bank was NAB? Your a bit sketchy on the details of the voucher.
NAB sponsor Auskick it would not surprise if it is was a an offer of a Child Saver account or something.
Scurrilious to suggest bribery – you would not be accused on telling untruths if you didnt use such language.
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
I humbly withdraw the intemperate use of the term “bribery”. Perhaps you can suggest something more palatable.
As I said in my post, I am not sure which bank it was. How is that important? The fact is this: a cash inducement was made to primary school children to encourage to register to play AFL. There is nothing “sketchy” about this voucher.
The AFL promotions officer stressed to the children that it was a CASH voucher; that they would received $10 cash when they presented it to the bank. He made a point of this.
These are facts. I don’t care what word you prefer to use to decribe it.
“Scurrilous” is a word better applied to the tactics of AFL in this case. Avoid the temptation to shoot the messenger, Redb.
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
code prejudice knows no bounds. You interpret bribe becuase deep down you don’t like AFL. Just admit it. Your realfootball moniker is a fair giveaway.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Realfootball you are libelling a very honourable organization……Westpac aren’t involved with the AFL
It’s the NAB that hand out the $10
Pip and Redb were pretty harsh considering the $10 is a well known incentive. It’s hardly a state secret.
Perhaps because Realfootball didn’t bother to spin it the way the AFL does he copped it.
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Well thank for your confirming that it is the NAB that hand out the $10, NOT the AFL.
Feel free to read:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/12/01/the-real-crawford-report-exposed/
Just add that one to the list.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
The AFL just give the voucher …. so it’s totally not them. That’s the same sort of reasoning that Pip uses for the “not one cent from the government” line.
I must admit the idea of a bloke offering small children $10 cash seems a bit strange and probably counter productive to getting kids to sign up since they should all be aware of “stranger danger” by that stage (endeth joke).
It’s not something that concerns me much, though, I was really pleased too see MV bring in a similar program (but without the cash component) and I would love too see young football players on the Coast given a GCU bag and drink bottle and a couple of tix. Better than a $7 levy which is all the FFA currently does.. I have mentioned this before and was shrugged off with “football doesn’t need to worry about junior participation”.
Aus kick is a real threat to football participation because you look at the states where footbal does best and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that their is little AFL played their …yet.
I just think it’s sad that $10 doesn’t mean much to kids these days…. I would have signed up for anything for $10 when I was a kid
“”greco roman wrestling, yeh sure where’s my 10 bucks”
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
What it illustrates and apart from the hysterics around the voucher (sponsor driven and not unusual in the marketing world) is that ingrained football codes in schools are hard to shake.
Until rugby league via News Ltd/ARL poured millions into getting that game going in Vic schools 4-5 years ago it was not played at all in school in Victoria.
Expansion takes time.
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
Andyroo and Redb, you are playing with semantics here. It was part of the AFL registration backpack. You’re sounding like Mafia defense lawyers.
I am not libeling anyone, simply relating something that happened – and that surprised me – at my son’s primary school.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
realf
you made it sound as if there was an AFL official standing there with a roll of ten dollar notes, handing it out to kids as soon as they registered for Auskick at your school.
This is what was wrong with the account you gave:
1. My child is registered to play soccer, I pay money – and I sign the form to register him – I’m sure you would appreciate that much – proper registrations require the signature of a parent or guardian – you don’t just sign a kid up and give him $10.
2. The auskick school program, which my son has also done at school, involves no such registration. They take a half hour out of school, run around with some footies – they might get some stickers or whatever – but no registration of any description is involved.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Sorry RealF my wording was poor at first (the email version you probably read) but I made it more clear after re reading it.
I think you copped it because you didn’t use the right AFL approved spin. It’s not a $10 bribe it’s a (now where is that piece of paper…ahh here it is) “It is an investment in a childs savings account to help build the GREAT AUSTRALIAN nation” (that can also be cashed in on the spot and spent on lollies).
My use of the word libeling was purely in jest. I wouldn’t want people closing their Westpac accounts over this!
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
your not Roy Masters by any chance
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
No but I am a huge fan (even when he got in a spat with Lowy). Thanks Redb
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
I bet you are.
Towser said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:39pm | Report comment
Personally I find it unacceptable that anybody would go into a school other than for the purposes of education. Thats the point who cares what bank or sport is involved its not on full stop. Where do you draw the line?
Local Muslim community decides to hand out Korans at assembly in a Catholic school. There are designated avenues for advertising yourself school is not one of them.
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
no comment. Getting off topic. Try the real Crawford Report…
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
Towser
the Crawford report is suggesting exactly that to get kids playing sport at school again.
A school based Auskick program, as I have described it above, is done at the invitation of the school, and time is set aside for it – no one is wandering into the school at their own choosing.
Midfielder said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Gotta agree no different to McDonalds coming in and giving away free big Mac meals…
We don’t allow McDonals into schools to sell their products, nor any commercial organsiation, so ….. why / how / when / because / if / ….. is AFL any different….
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:58pm | Report comment
Is the AFL any different to Maccas, well if we are to use anolagys then soccer would be the macdonalds of this world (bland and everywhere) and aussie rules would be the hamburger with the lot including of course beetroot – quite australian and unique.
Of course commercial operations are allowed in schools , how do you think schools fund themselves for new equipment etc .
Just a quick look at my sons school newsletter reveals school sponsors including well known R/E agents, hairdressors and grocery stores.
Freud of Football said | December 1st 2009 @ 9:56pm | Report comment
How can you even compare McDonald’s and the AFL? One is responsible for obesity across the world, for wrecking the environment in every country they enter, for having no sense of business morals and ethics while the other is admittedly no role-model organisation, they drive a sport and are trying to get it to bigger and better things.
How can you have a problem with a sport or sports organisation being advertised in a school? We shouldn’t battle the obesity epidemic by encouraging sport?
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
I should be working.
Who cares anyway, really. It didn’t work. The kids all still play football or rubgy of one form or another.
Pippinu, thank you for illuminating the registration process. Now I know what I’ve been signing for all these years.
What I should have done, of course, is signed up my son, swiped his $10, and gone off to have a coffee and cake.
Towser said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
Pippinu
If it is at the invitation of the school & there is “selling” then the School principal is in the wrong. Its commercialism in schools no different as Midfielder said to any other commercial product. We can agree to disagree on this but in my book it is wrong
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
I wouldn’t mind a free clinic, in fact my school growing up had the Swans and Sydney Kings visit us.
I also remember getting pizza hut vouchers for reading books too
Personally It’s the sales pitch that steps over the line for mine.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
This is web site showing the introductory package kids get for registering for Auskick:
http://www.aflauskick.com.au/index.php?id=3
You will note there is no mention of receiving $10, so I am unsure what Realfootball is referring to.
But I am amazed out how quickly AFL haters will jump onto a bull$hit story.
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Absolutely.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
realf should be working so I will post this and save him the time
http://www.aflgoldcoastjuniors.com.au/auskick.asp?OrgID=123
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Thanks AndyRoo – but that’s still a long, long way from where Realf was heading with this story – and in that sense – it’s still bull$hit.
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
“NAB AFL Auskick wallet and NAB Smart Junior Saver – $10 voucher for new accounts ”
err that would be sponsorship related. What can a bank offer but an account? They dont do cigars or chocolates.
so it’s not a bribe at all.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
As he mentioned the voucher can be exchanged for cash, I don’t know why so hostile to RealF. It’s not his job to justify it and explain it. He just called it like he saw it, he is not a new poster.
I do find it interesting that it’s only on the Gold Coast (that we know off, perhaps it will occur in GWS) while established areas won’t get it.
And the traditional bank style introduction for kids is a piggy bank or the wallet. The CBA dolamites gave you a pencil case.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
No – I disagree.
He gave the very clear impression that a bloke was standing outside the schoolgate, handing out $10 bills to any kid who signed up for Auskick.
The reality is different.
If you regester, with your parents, AND pay $45 (yes, that’s right, it costs to register for Auskick, like registering for any sporting activity), you get a bundle of goodies.
Now – can people here honestly tell me they have gone through life never having been offered a new bank account with a few bucks in it?
I can recall starting up my first bank account with the Commonwealth bank, through my school, as a 5 year old in 1967.
They opened it with $2.
Let me all tell you – $2 in 1967 is probably worth more than $10 in 2009.
So please, let’s just cut the bull$hit.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
Pips words
He gave the very clear impression that a bloke was standing outside the schoolgate, handing out $10 bills to any kid who signed up for Auskick.
that’s pretty close to what happened so what’s the problem.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
AndyRoo
Were they accepting registrations right there and then? Were they handing over $10 bills directly to the kids?
Are you forgetting that Realfootball used the word “bribe”?
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
This is getting boring.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
AndyRoo
here are a few more quotes for you:
Where I live, AFL is barely played at all at any level. Despite what can only be described as bribery (AFL reps turning up at the local primary school and offering kids backpacks full of goodies and $10 cash…
You’re stooping pretty damned low to offer primary school kids money to play your sport. It was ethically dubious to say the least, and downright embarrassing for the code.
All followed up by: of course all of us play soccer, all the kids play soccer, don’t know anyone who plays aussie rules, absolutely everyone I know plays soccer, the whole Gold Coast plays soccer – don’t know a soul who is interested in aussie rules, etc etc
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
AndyRoo
that’s the whole point – nothing like that happened – that’s why it’s all bull$hit.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 3:03pm | Report comment
Actually that sounds like exactly what happened. The facts are
The parent pays $45 and the Kid gets $10. kids don’t care about how much the parents pay, it’s what’s in it for them that matters, in this case $10. Even if they are allready registered with another sport a free $10 is a free $10 (that’s how kids think).
It happened on school grounds so the “$10 to play AFL” is a fair desription. Sure he put in his oppinon (it’s an oppinion site) as well but the core facts were completely true no BS. In fact I don’t see any untruths in his account at all just a little bit of emotive language that would get AFL people a little upset. It’s a different slant to what an AFL fan would give….but it’s not fair to call him a liar.
Why don’t kids in Melbourne get the $10, thats what you should be worried about.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 3:52pm | Report comment
Or – more accurately – as soon as the parent registers the kids for Auskick, pays $45, signs the form, they get a package of goodies which includes some sort of run of the mill bank account start up offer.
But
Realfootball made it sound like someone was registering kids there and then and handing over $10 – completely false.
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
I am working.
But I stand by my account. AndyRoo’s link is not what was offered at that assembly. There was in addition to the voucher 4 free tickets to the Gabba (two adults two kids).
Bull$hit yourself, Pip. But short of coralling other parents and having them post to support my account, there is nothing I can do.
Signing off on this one. Way off topic and it’s my fault. I just wish I had had that coffee and cake.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
You pay $45 to register for auskick and they throw in 4 free tickets to the footy – so what!!
What exactly is the problem here – that you get a lot for your $45 registration – isn’t that a good thing??!!
Michael C said | December 1st 2009 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
I’m with AndyRoo….where are my kids $10 bank vouchers?!??!?
all we got was the backpack, footy, cd-rom, pencil etc, and the tickets arrived in the mail sometime later…….where are our kidlet bank vouchers!?!?!??!
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
Interesting Nab are sponsors for FFA as well, so where is the same promotion for the kids that signed up for Football … Pippi did you get the freebies when you signed up your son for juniour Football and the $10 bank account voucher..? I believe Realfootball’s account of things, why do you doubt him..? This is technically a bribe conjured up by AFL and Nab for grassroots support in South East Qld… It’s a disgrace … what next…?
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
KB
the opposite is true – it costs a small fortune to register a kid to play soccer (for the privilege of playing about 15 half hour games on tiny fields marked by cones – all the money goes back to the club (with a hefty whack to the FFA), so I don’t begrudge it too much – but it’s bloody expensive in comparison to auskick.
My son got some free auskick clinics at school, with no goodies, but as I said – that’s not registered in any way.
Once he gets some meat on those skinny limbs, I’ll hunt down the next available registration pack of goodies, but I doubt I would bother opening up the NAB bank account.
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
“(with a hefty whack to the FFA)”
Well that’s not a bribe is it …. ? and can you prove that .. the now defunct “old Soccer Australia” tried to rip off the kids and got drawn and quartered for even thinking of doing such a thing… You are mistaken that the FFA have a levy on the kids .. or being mischievous … maybe lying perhaps..?
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:07pm | Report comment
KB I was under the impression the levy ($7 i think) was still in effect. I have sort of mentioned it a few times and no one has told me otherwise.
Look at the deal the AFL kids get $45 and you get what equates to a pretty decent showbag as well as getting to play. If it was branded with a clubs logo rather than Auskick they could charge $15 for it at the easter show easily.
Would be great if we had something like that for Football. Each kid in Sth East QLD paying say only $80 to their local club for their yearly rego and they got a free Brisbane Roar or GCU back pack, drink bottle, football and a few tickets.
Would be a massive boon for football.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:15pm | Report comment
And I forgot to mention that at the rego day Craig Moore or Jason Cullina would be their obviously serving sangas and such
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:28pm | Report comment
Bribing the kids no doubt with a sausage …. Does it ever get better than that…?
jimbo said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:01pm | Report comment
Despite all the inducements from the AFL commissioners and the relative high price of playing football, football is still the most popular code and has the highest participation rates, particularly in NSW.
Because of the disappointing growth of AFL up here, falling attendances and the lack of interest, the AFL have been forced to spend a lot of money to promote the game and get kids to play it up here – about $180M last year alone.
And they give away free tickets to Swans Games
And they give away Free Swans Caps and Backpacks and free AFL balls.
Free buses to the Swans games from all the major railway stations
They’re spending money on TV shows and movies than mention AFL or show kids playing AFL, like the cigarette companies product placements.
They are even featuring AFL as “Australia’s game” at some tourist destinations in Sydney.
Its quite funny really.
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
One could argue that when the $1 billion TV deal comes through that it was all worthwhile.
And let us not forget that the AFL’s average crowds remain the 3rd of 4th highest in the world of any sport.
The last particiaption figures I saw looked quite healthy to me.
So it’s not all that shabby.
These little extras are actually paid for by major sponsors – it doesn’t actually cost the AFL much at all (if anything), for some reason, major sponsors keep sinking their money into the AFL.
Sometimes, as in the example of the pre-season cup – we all say to them: look, we don’t want this damn thing on – but they keep wanting to sink millions into it!! These big corporations just can’t be shaken off!!
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:39pm | Report comment
The AFL spent 180 million in QLD last year… you must be off your rocker.
As far as the $10 voucher goes its nothing different from what the Commonwealth bank used to do when i went to school.
AFAIK to redeem the $10 you must open a account at a branch …. that boys is marketing.
The aussie rules haters on this site are pathetic and knows no bounds, they stoop to the lowest common denominator all the time.
Talk about smell the fear…. you boys have it in spades.
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:02pm | Report comment
you are on a football thread and flaming the football posters if you are not offering an apology to the Fury FC or you can’t stay on topic please leave ….
Zac, here is your chance to be consistent…
~~~~~~~
KB
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:12pm | Report comment
Having read this thread IMO its the other way around with the amount of B/S thrown up.
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:15pm | Report comment
Then take it to an AFL thread ….
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:22pm | Report comment
This thread has become the Bash the AFL thread if it was about Fury you would not see me on here.
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:27pm | Report comment
I don’t think anyone invited you guys onto this Football thread — you give football a bash on the AFL thread and pull the trigger if you don’t like what you read….
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:44pm | Report comment
KB, i did not know you had to be invited.
Midfielder said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:58pm | Report comment
HHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhmmmmm AFL haters … AFL haters ………… HHHHHHHmmmmmmmmmmmmmHHHHHHHHmmmmm
Any product going to a school where cash is offered as a reward for joining anything is simply WRONG WRONG WRONG…
In my previous post I said what is the difference between McDonalds & the AFL …..
This post may actually start something because I am totally unaware of any product in any school I have heard of where kids are paid to join something…
However for having this opinion I have become an AFL hater … this is very very very very very funny …. If I state I don’t believe any commercial product should be allowed to offer cash for our kids to do something with a respectable adult being held up by the school as a trustworthy person … then call me an AFL hater …. me thinks defenders of this on the Roar are clearly desperate people trying to sell a message… wrong is wrong no matter who does it..
I suggest who ever posted the orginal thread to report the matter to the following..
Courier Mail
Ch’s 2, 9 & SBS,
Radio networks,
Qld Education Minster
Old Premier
Old Opp Leader
PM he is from OLD and holds himself out to be education friendly.
I find it un thinkable anyone would think this is OK… if it turns out to either be a miss understanding or pure BS then let the truth out one way or the other…
Play grounds are not the place for suits to carry out marketing and promote product of any kind … SIMPLE AS NO ARGUEMENT
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:09pm | Report comment
Have you been following , i remember another thread where you got on your high horse and were proven wrong, quite simply you are off the mark this time as well.
You have to open a account to redeem the $10, its marketing from a bank, as i said earlier the Commonwealth bank over the years has done the same thing with a couple of my other kids.
And what i said previously is right, many people who post here are very anti AFL and turn hysterical at the drop of a hat.
Fancy offering kids a $10 voucher if they open up a account…. AFL the devils code, i think they are gunna eat our kids.
Midfielder said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:25pm | Report comment
Sorry mate primary schools kids $10.00 is a lot of money …
Wrong is wrong how hard is it to admit … what high horse .. it would not matter what the product … I take pride that our schools are safe places for our kids to go to … also that business organisations cannot get in to market and promote product … it is that simple …
I holiday at Byron Bay most years and cheer the locals on for having the ability to keep the developers away from their beach…. I champion those that hold our schools that hold out against business of all kinds wanting to go in and promote product … The things that are taught and shown at school is for their education and developed by a team for teachers to deliver …
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:37pm | Report comment
Midfielder, i agree with you about developers and commercial greed.
But for years and years the Commonwealth Bank had something similar in place and they are 50% government owned, as i said earlier in my sons school newsletter the sponsors range from Australia wide grocery stores to the local hairdressers to well known real estate agents., this is how schools pay for new equipment.
All the well known sports codes in this area donate balls, bats to the school every year.
As usual the anti AFL mob on this site grabs onto something to portray the AFL as evil.
I repeat the $10 can only be redeemed if a account is opened … what the big deal.
Apparently at the school mentioned only one kid was sucked in by the big bucks offered from the AFL and who knows perhaps he has not even opened his account yet.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:50pm | Report comment
Bever I think we are all over it now, but it won’t stop us making jokes about it.
Did K hunt get his $10 etc,
someone announces their kid is going to play Auskick “quick sell your NAB shares” ….. ok I am still working on them but you get the jist.
It does look desperate when you are only charging $45 you chuck in a swag of gear, free tickets and $10 and they got…….. 1 kid. Whereas I bet in WA kids would have mobbed the guy if that was on offer.
It’s going to be a long hard road and this is for a code that has had heaps of FTA coverage since as long as I could remember
I think in the end the AFL will get there and do fine but it does give a bit of hope to us football fans. Our kids get charged about 4 times as much, their is no swag of gear and the game isn’t on FTA but kids still love playing it. If our code gets organised perhaps we can win the World cup one day
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:55pm | Report comment
As Bever and I have mentioned half a dozen times already – the sponsor pays for it all – this is how you partner with corporate sponsors to pull in the big bucks.
If you’re happy with Jim’s Mowing as your major sponsor – then that’s fine.
But if you want to bring in big bucks from major corporate backers, you offer value to your partners.
From the word go – RealFootball created a falsehood about what was happnening and it has continued till now.
bever fever said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:59pm | Report comment
So i guess what your saying is i take it to seriously.. perhaps your right.
I can see your a reasonable guy, can see all sides to a point.
What a lucky country that can see people get worked up about what in reality is pretty trivial, i consider myself very lucky.
I always say there are 3 sides to a story … your side …. their side … and the truth.
AndyRoo said | December 1st 2009 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
Actually Bever you better keep battling up against KB otherwise he will work the $10 into his Man grooky speech and years from now you will be hearing about how the Gold Coast was bought by AFL
Probably because Anna stuffed the ecconomy and so we become a sweat shop state where $10 can buy you a kid.
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 7:11pm | Report comment
Midfielder,
… what a roit he is…
Bever must have been that guy running around the field with his wooden mallet yelling out… AFL hater … wack …. AFL hater … wack …. AFL hater … wack ….
Midfielder said | December 1st 2009 @ 9:22pm | Report comment
Pip
Sorry mate I am unsure if what realfootball says has been proven or disproven IMO should be sent off to those I mentioned before… to test to see if it is true … because if it is I am a very annoeyed voter no one goes into schools promoting and marketing product ….
BUT mostly mate I can’t believe you are saying what you are saying … you said this… As Bever and I have mentioned half a dozen times already – the sponsor pays for it all – this is how you partner with corporate sponsors to pull in the big bucks.
If you’re happy with Jim’s Mowing as your major sponsor – then that’s fine.
But if you want to bring in big bucks from major corporate backers, you offer value to your partners…..
Are you realy serious school kids and primary school kids fall within this … what you will do for your corporate backers… that is as wrong as wrong can be…
Schools are places free of business promotions … but to say this is another demographic we can deliver the client … I cannot believe what I am reading … some crazy novel set in the year 2525 if man is still alive…
Look an unkind example very unkind but I write it to make my point…. A church even if over 50% of the school population want to come and have a talk is not allowed … there is a reason for that Kids KIds Kids and between 4 & 11 for heaven sake they are not another marker to tick off the target range…
ren said | December 2nd 2009 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
sorry but what is so wrong about promoting grass roots sport- that is what auskick is after all, when i was going through primary school the soccer wa people use too send out coaches to run clinics where we were given your standard cards, water bottles, and even a shirt- for nothing. no one complained it was great we got to play more sport (read do less school work) and on top of it all- The parents were happy because we were playing sport, getting more exercise. so just to reiterate- what is wrong with promoting any sport or any physical activity at a grass roots level, (this thread really belongs n a discussion of the crawford report.
Pippinu said | December 2nd 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
ren
agree with your last point.
Midfielder said | December 1st 2009 @ 9:30pm | Report comment
Beaver
On your last post I think you totally miss my point .. I just said it in a post to Pip… but in as plan and simple language as I can… School is not the place to do it…
I don’t give a rats if the AFL take out a double page ad in the local paper and say kids come and get you $ 10.00… if they do a ad on radio or TV .. fly a plan with a big sign… sky write .. letter drop … drive around in a big truck and tll everybody …. BUT not at a primary school to promote and market product …. presented by the school as a trustworthy person … to 4 , 5 & 6 year olds … that is plan and simple FOOKING WRONG
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 10:00pm | Report comment
Our local soccer club puts a notice in our weekly school newsletter saying registrations will be here, at this time, on this day, the cost is, etc, etc.
The soccer club works very closely with the school.
Is there really that much difference?
Realfootball has created a false impression by making it look as if this bloke was collecting registrations there and then and handing out $10 notes to kids – that’s the bit that was false.
From the little I can put together, some bloke, probably an auskick official working around the Gold Coast area (don’t know), was talking, presumably, at a school assembly, and showing what you get for your $45 registration – and it happened to include some NAB starter account voucher (big deal – I’d be surprised if even 20% of the 150,000 kids doing Auskick have actually opened up a new account – and if they do open up an account – so what).
But apart from the fact that the bloke is showing the kids what you get for your registration – I can’t see too much difference between doing that and getting a free plug in the school newsletter about when the next registrations are for the year.
bever fever said | December 2nd 2009 @ 1:02am | Report comment
Midfielder,
Did not miss your point, i just dont agree with it, a very well known R/E agent sponsors a art show at our school, if you use his services you recieve a discount and the school gets a cut as well … i guess this would be wrong in your books, i guess you should come to our school tell everyone they should give some computers back or stop the P and F from re-seeding the oval.
No-one is making these kids join a footy club, no-one is making these kids open a acount at the NAB, in fact its alot of work to open a bank account and even more work to then close it straight away for $10 which is a cup of coffee and cake or a meal at maccas, not much money at all, not even for kids.
You are making a mountain out of a molehill.
Its sour grapes from the soccer boys on this thread and probably a bit of jealousy as well.
Midfielder said | December 2nd 2009 @ 9:07am | Report comment
BF
No it is totally different the R/E agent is amied at parents and is an ad in the school mag …
All sorts of companies would like present to get kids in a primary school to market and promote their product … to my mind about 99.9999 % of the population would agree with me…
So let me ask you two simple questions..
Should primary schools be used to promote and market any business product aimed at the kids in the school?
If so should the presenter of the product be presented as a trustworthy local, when they are a paid employee of the business?
Towser said | December 2nd 2009 @ 6:03am | Report comment
Bever fever
Some people like myself & obviously Midfielder have a genuine adversion to commercial intrusion into schools. If the situation was in reverse ie the FFA had done the same thing as the AFL I would be disgusted that one the principal allowed them in & 2 the FFA thought it a way & means of selling football to vulnerable children. What sport you follow is irrelevant if you believe that schools are not the place for commercialism full stop. If the principal invited AFL football Hockey or whatever sports coaches to get the kids to follow a healthy pursuit,totally different.& acceptable to me. Theres enough blatant commercialism aimed at children via TV etc,we dont need it in schools.You may disagree as is your right but neither football or AFL fans should be involved in a slanging match on this as it cuts deeper than sport. In my opinion this argument should have been cut off by the moderators from the very beginning as it is not really a sports issue.
Redb said | December 2nd 2009 @ 7:10am | Report comment
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - cut here – - – - – - – - – - – - – - –
Pippinu said | December 2nd 2009 @ 7:22am | Report comment
…and include a self-addressed envelop to obtain free delivery of your bank account starter kit.
Redb said | December 2nd 2009 @ 7:26am | Report comment
We will watch very closely how this World Cup bid is handled . I hope there are no sponsors on any soccer products at schools anywhere in Australia.
bever fever said | December 2nd 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Exactly Redb, wonder if we will witness the hysterics from people when this undoubtably happens.
Meanwhile i will leave with a snippet of towsers quote ” selling football to vulnerable children”. (i need a rolls eyes)
I just remembered that my son came home from school yesterday with sachels of milo, and it just struck me where he got them from……. a cricket rep was at the school showing kids how to play cricket and where to play it and of course junior cricket is sponsored by milo.
Whats worse Redb, a sachel of sugar or a $10 bank starter kit, i doubt if anyone has ever on this site complained about the obesity that cricket is causing yet the the AFL will cop it because their are plenty of AFL haters.
As i said jealousy, and sour grapes.
Game set and match, thankyou linesman , ballboys.
Redb said | December 2nd 2009 @ 9:18am | Report comment
I think we need to do an investigation into the bribery and corruption around the whole World Cup bidding process. Do we want our children associated with such a corrupt sport?
The latest match fixing scandals in Europe another case in point. Cheating is bad, we teach our kids.
Redb
p.s. this is getting way off topic.
bever fever said | December 2nd 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
My very last word …. the auskick/NAB scandal runs much deeper than any the world cup bidding process.
Roy Masters and a few posters on here will tell you why.
Daily tele exclusive tomorrow.
AndyRoo said | December 2nd 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
At least Bevers Comment was funny Redb.
Yeh money for South African Childrens Hospitals…the scoundrals!
http://www.theworldgame.com.au/australia/tutu-backing-australias-bid-263452
Glad there were enough lemons to go around from the real Crawford Report that they could spare one for you
Redb said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
boohoo.
Michael C said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
ANdyRoo -
I saw that, the $150K to the Tutu childrens hospital,
that’ll be coming out of the $45 million provided by the Fed Govt……personally I’d much rather it be handed over as a sign of Aust Govt support/friendship rather than the FFA big noting themselves with other peoples money.
perhaps that’s just me……..but the FFA look like the kid that stole the golden goose.
AndyRoo said | December 2nd 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
I think getting a free football or sachet of Milo is different than a pitch for $45 But it’s a value judgment so we will leave it at that.
It’s a very aggressive sales pitch by the AFL, there is a lot of planning and money going into it so the results will be interesting and probably the basis for text books on sports expansion wether it succeeds or fails. All Aussie sports will learn from it.
Towser said | December 2nd 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
bever fever
The key word is “selling” be it football by the FFA or milo via cricket to schoolchildren you may think it trivial frivolous prone to handing out trite comments but I dont. Why do you keep bringing it back to AFL? I find it puzzling. I picked this up on a football related site,as I’m a football fan. Coincidentally AFL was the seller in this instance. Not everybody who is a football fan is out to denigrate or slag of other sports.
Like I said to Pippinu we can agree to disagree on this & on that note I shall leave it there. As Redb said it is way off topic.
Realfootball said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Pippinu
I cannot stress enough how much I take exception to your persistent questioning of my integrity simply because I rendered an account of something that occurred at my son’s primary school. Anyone who has worked or known me would tell you that I am simply the kind of person who would make up a story like this. What on earth do you think my motivation for “creating a falsehood” could possibly be? I have long respected your posts, but you have really overstepped the line in persistently casting aspertions on my truthfulness.
The $10, which is indeed a considerable sum for a primary school student was hit heavily as the sign off sweetener by the AFL rep in his presentation. I stress that I was not alone in feeling that he had crossed a line of appropriateness in the way he presented the money blatantly as sugar coating.
Midflielder:
At the time I and others discussed formalising a complaint about the tenor and content of the AFL reps presentation because we thought it was highly inappropriate in a primary school. I wish wholeheartedly now that I had done so, but unfortunately a complaint would have to have been made at the time. It is too late now.
My intention on this thread was not to start a blogger firestorm. I believe that in his presentation the AFL rep was ethically inappropriate. This is NOT about the AFL code. I am not a fan of the game but I respect the code, its athletes, its fans and the formidable organisation that runs it.
What I do not respect is ANYONE OF ANY CODE blatantly pitching dollar incentives to kids to play a sport.
Redb said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
“What I do not respect is ANYONE OF ANY CODE blatantly pitching dollar incentives to kids to play a sport”
Really so when folks talk up the extra money to be made in one sport over another and how 10-12 years old will pick that sport becuase of the riches overseas – you agree that’s pretty tacky also I’d imagine.
The $10 voucher has been taken out of context deliberately as a bribe. We’ve established its part of a promotion of NAB.
Please ensure all Socceroos and A League sponsors are withdrawn immediately just in case any of their products are mentioned on soccer brochures, products, in all schools in Australia.
Realfootball said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:45am | Report comment
That’s a furphy, Redb,and you know it.
Redb said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
A furphy is a watercart.
Michael C said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:53am | Report comment
from Shepparton.
Realfootball said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Oh dear, typo.
How embarrassing;
Of course the sentence should read : “Anyone who has worked or known me would tell you that I am simply NOT the kind of person who would make up a story like this.”
You must have enjoyed that one, Pip. No doubt you will have interpreted it as a Freudian slip.
Pippinu said | December 2nd 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Realf
I’ve only just returned – so you need not sweat the typo.
I still believe, wittingly or unwittingly, you made it sound like $10 was being handed over upon a kid registering there and then at the school – and that is the bit that I could not believe from the start – and as it transpired – it’s not the way it was working.
This was simply publicising a registration process for a sport, which would have to occur with parental consent – and I doubt very much that a new bank account starter kit would be enough to sway anyone registering who was not interested in the game.
I know I woudln’t.
My 8 yo son can wrangle $100 out of me at one visit to a shopping centre without a problem – if I were to tell him that he could have a new bank account with $10 in it – his eyes would glaze over.
I doubt he has ever even seen a $10 bill in his life.
He wouldn’t have the patience to fill in the application form – nor would I.
AndyRoo said | December 2nd 2009 @ 11:01am | Report comment
I don’t think it’s much of a stretch that some of the people on the ground aren’t quite as politically savy as Andrew Demetriou and were talking up the $10 you get like RealF described.
Probably an ex Victorian or worse a recent convert (the converted are always the most fanatical) and faced with an assembly of kids who seemed quite disinterested overstepped the line.
Time to move on.
Realfootball said | December 2nd 2009 @ 11:05am | Report comment
Thanks Pip. I appreciate your clarification, and I can see how my initial comments could be interpreted that way. It was really more of an aside than anything else and conflagrated into a code war.
My feeling is, with this all cooling down, that a particularly zealous AFL rep overstepped the mark that day. I have to say he did a great pitch. The AFL is lucky to have him.
And I have no problem with the backpack idea, or with free tickets to games, or encouraging kids to play. Like you I think the rego costs for football/soccer are very high and I fork every year. My issue was simply with the way the rep used the $10 as a hook at the signoff of his presentation. These are very young kids – 5 to 11 – and the buzz it created was immediate and clearly audible.
Poor old NQ Fury. This was meant to be a thread where we could justifiably extol their virtues.
Back to the football.
Pippinu said | December 2nd 2009 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Fair enough – as AndyRoo says above – certain people can become over-zealous (referring to this particular rep – I didn’t hear what he had to say, you did, so accept you may have been left gobsmacked).
I accept the point made by a few (Towser, Mid, Andyroo, yourself) – that it’s not a bad idea to keep crass commercialism out of schools (and while we’re at it: kid’s TV, etc, etc)
Michael C said | December 2nd 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
crass commercialism out of schools (and while we’re at it: kid’s TV, etc, etc)
hmmm……but, it’s crass commercialism that allows mass participation sports to get out there……whilst not recieving govt sports funding towards opex as is only directed at the relatively low commercial value Olympic sports……might be worth running a review of, dontcha reckon??
Mick said | December 2nd 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
Come on guys, this thread was supposed to be about the Fury. How the hell did it get into a slanging match between the AFL and Football? I think its time to close the comments section. Too far.
Pippinu said | December 2nd 2009 @ 11:49am | Report comment
Mick
it’s a bit like the Fury on the park – they can keep our attention for so long.
(only kidding!!!)
I already wrote my favourable comments about the Fury above – what more is there to say??
Towser said | December 2nd 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Pippinu
On a football matter have put up a link to an Australian newspaper article regarding Melbourne Victory. on the “Super Club” article.
Not up yet because of the “moderator/edit” business.
As a matter of interest & I direct this once again to the moderators of this site how is it that every second post is blocked for 10 minutes nowadays & yet you allow such unadulterated, uninformed,off the topic garbage to develop as has just occurred with this article. Its the reason I dropped off this site before. I just dont get it. If you want adult informed sports banter as you profess then block any such posts that may inflame, or sway into other areas that can be interpreted as non sports related.
Pippinu said | December 2nd 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Towser
saw the post and link, and commented already.
I occasionally get the moderator treatment – I honestly think that:
1. it’s a bug; or
2. they have some bot automatically kicking in the moderator if it stumbles on something, but like many bots, it gets confused easily.
Pippinu said | December 2nd 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Re staying on topic – has any Roar article with over 100 posts ever managed to stay on topic?
On a lighter note, in my most recent article on the Roar:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/29/the-best-in-the-world-returns-to-canberra/
where I talk of Lauren Jackson’s return to the Canberra Capitals (and unceremoniously refer to Capitals coach, Carrie Graf, as Steffie Graf!) – I’ve had the unfortunate situation where 20 of 22 posts ended up being about a completely different topic (in effect, whether NZers exaggerate their sporting prowess or not, or something similar).
Even though I had every right to be perturbed – was I?
Hell no – I was thankful someone was putting up a post on my thread!!
Can I add, in both cases, here and the linked thread above, the divergent discussion was actually of some interest, even if way off-topic – and I would at least separate that from out and out trolling where zero attempt is made to add anything of interest.