An open apology to North Queensland Fury FC
Columnist By Davidde Corran, 29 Nov 2009 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- A-League, Adelaide United, Don Matheson, football, furgins, Ian Ferguson, Jade North, North Queensland Fury, Robbie Fowler
145 Have your say
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.
Recommend this story.
December 1st 2009 @ 9:42am
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 9:49am
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).
December 1st 2009 @ 10:13am
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
December 1st 2009 @ 11:03am
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 11:52am
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 12:33pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 12:44pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 12:50pm
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
not as embarassing as your crediblity.
December 1st 2009 @ 12:59pm
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…
December 1st 2009 @ 12:02pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:12pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:24pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:32pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:48pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:26pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:30pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:54pm
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”
December 1st 2009 @ 1:59pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:36pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:44pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:01pm
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!
December 1st 2009 @ 2:03pm
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
your not Roy Masters by any chance
December 1st 2009 @ 2:09pm
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
December 1st 2009 @ 2:11pm
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
I bet you are.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:39pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:46pm
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
no comment. Getting off topic. Try the real Crawford Report…
December 1st 2009 @ 1:47pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:48pm
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….
December 1st 2009 @ 6:58pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 9:56pm
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?
December 1st 2009 @ 1:52pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 1:59pm
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
December 1st 2009 @ 2:15pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:02pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:04pm
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Absolutely.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:11pm
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
December 1st 2009 @ 2:13pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:15pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:19pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:25pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:36pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:41pm
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”?
December 1st 2009 @ 2:44pm
Redb said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
This is getting boring.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:50pm
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 $10 cash…
You’re stooping pretty damned low to offer primary school kids money to play your sport. It was ethically dubious to say the least, and downright embarrassing for the code.
All followed up by: of course all of us play soccer, all the kids play soccer, don’t know anyone who plays aussie rules, absolutely everyone I know plays soccer, the whole Gold Coast plays soccer – don’t know a soul who is interested in aussie rules, etc etc
December 1st 2009 @ 2:54pm
Pippinu said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
AndyRoo
that’s the whole point – nothing like that happened – that’s why it’s all bull$hit.
December 1st 2009 @ 3:03pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 3:52pm
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 $10 – completely false.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:29pm
Realfootball said | December 1st 2009 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
I am working.
But I stand by my account. AndyRoo’s link is not what was offered at that assembly. There was in addition to the voucher 4 free tickets to the Gabba (two adults two kids).
Bull$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.
December 1st 2009 @ 2:36pm
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??!!
December 1st 2009 @ 3:39pm
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!?!?!??!
December 1st 2009 @ 5:24pm
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…?
December 1st 2009 @ 5:29pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 5:43pm
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..?
December 1st 2009 @ 6:07pm
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.
December 1st 2009 @ 6:15pm
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
December 1st 2009 @ 6:28pm
KB said | December 1st 2009 @ 6:28pm | Report comment
Bribing the kids no doubt with a sausage …. Does it ever get better than that…?