i.e. the rectangle MCG drawing or the Host city part….just scare mongering.

Their will be some disruption due to venue loss for 6 weeks but with 13 years to plan around it I think the AFL/NRL will be allright.

A. MCG U/A for 12-16 weeks or more,

and

B. FIFA enforcing a host city exclusion

It’s not just one stadium at any rate when Docklands, Homebush, Adelaide (whichever), Whatever in Perth – Subiaco or something new, etc etc……..

It’s not ‘just one stadium’, you can’t just pluck one element out in isolation.

it still remains to be seen if ‘host city’ exclusion applies or not. If Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle? Townsville? Gold Coast (i.e. would WC at Carrara make Robina off limits??) and Melbourne are off limits…..that’s why the AFL and NRL want answers about the FIFA rulings about major competitions.

It’s still the thing……would a RL test b/w Aust and NZ potentially drawing 30K be deemed a ‘major competition’ whilst a SoO drawing 80K might escape as being deemed ‘domestic’?? Buckley needs to define this. If he can massage FIFA to allow NRL and AFL access to host cities, then, suddenly – ALL the public good will returns to the FFA bid. It’s that simple

I think one SOO match in NZ is fine and would probably happen before 2022 anyway, afterall it has allready gone to Melbourne twice.

Should be pushing for another stadium in Brisbane that holds 80k, not sure where you could build it though. Then Brisbane could host every 3rd NRL grand Final

Pete -

Buckley was not able to deny that the range of prosposals included (although he doesn’t regard it a likely outcome) a proposal to rectangularise the MCG and require at least 16 weeks due to the works to the G,…let alone any requirement post the WC. This equates to a season lockdown of the MCG.

Such an imposition would severely impact the capacity of the AFL to run a season. Highly unlikely – but, it’s in the public domain now that such an selfish and arrogant proposal was considered. That they would have the nerve to expect the AFL and MCC to agree is another matter…..you could only imagine that option would be considered with the aid of govt legislation.

So, correct, Buckley hasn’t talked about a season long lockdown, however, one (extreme) possibility might include that as the effective outcome. Demetriou has at least ensured now, that the MCG won’t be off line for more than 8 weeks….and even 8 weeks is very, very much stretching the friendship.

Just remember, the AFL doesn’t have to do anything at this point. Nor the NRL. They don’t have to stop. That’s FIFA’s position.

A national code threatning to shut up shop because of one stadium in Melbourne being unavailable whilst true wouldn’t fill the AFL fans in WA, SA, NSW and QLD with a great deal of pride.

however, what if FIFA said ‘jump’,

would the FFA ‘jump’??

At any rate, there were people yesterday claiming that Demetriou had invented it and lied,

obviously, Demetriou hadn’t and wasn’t – and it’s forced Buckley to get on the public record.

Smart move by Demetriou, wouldn’t you reckon??

Demetriou has also forced Buckley onto the public record around the AFL and NRL.

Now – we have a line in the sand and it’s up to Buckley and the FFA to do the right thing.

Again, smart move by Demetriou, wouldn’t you reckon??

Sadly – this is what people have to do, I reckon the AFL learned that during the illicit drugs debate that Messers Howard, Brandis and Pyne made very public with misinformation and untruths.

“The AFL and the NRL had been kept in the loop over the bidding plans for more than a year, and his organisation had never suggested a season-long lockdown”
&
”Based on all the estimates we have done maximum disruption would be around eight weeks. ‘If a venue is not playing in the semi-finals or final those venues could come on line sooner.”

Demetriou went off too early though and got everyone in a tizz over nothing.

That said yesterday on Fox sports it was the only AFL story when you click on the news link. Pretty depressing for egg ballers all round yesterday because there was only one story in each category and the headlines went
AFL “Demetriou AFL season may be cancelled” which as a headline by itself is a bit of a worry.
NRL ” Bird joins Gold Coast” did take some prior knowledge that Bird is a bad boy though
RU “Cooper arrested”

Call it – Buckley’s chance 2018?

Buckley has not eased concerns at all by saying the FFA is lobbying for the AFL or NRL to continue. Where exactly are they to play games?

“The normally-polished Buckley looked a little miffed about the whole affair ”

Yes becuase he effectively just had his nose punched with claret dripping by his former Boss who caught him and Lowy out at their little games of “let’s see what we can get away with”.

Redb

Karma.

he still doesn’t know,

still hasn’t found out whether the AFL and NRL can continue in host cities or not,

and isn’t able to rule out the tabled option of a 16 week plus requirement for the MCG

Buckley just spun his wheels yesterday and deflected everything – - making it simply more clear that FIFA runs this show.