The Western Bulldogs in Wellington is a great idea
Columnist By Michael DiFabrizio, 12 Mar 2010 Michael DiFabrizio is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, AFL NZ, Hawthorn Hawks, New Zealand, Wellington, Western Bulldogs
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Jarrod Harbrow of the Western Bulldogs look dejected as they leave the field after the AFL 2nd Qualifying Final between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. GSP Images
Yesterday’s news that the Western Bulldogs will be seeking two home games at Basin Reserve in the New Zealand city of Wellington, possibly as early as next year, is a positive for the game.
I touched on the topic of teams expanding beyond their existing support bases earlier in the week, and this is a great way for the Dogs to go about doing just that.
Whilst the club has already sold home games to Sydney, Darwin and Canberra (and are continuing to do so in the latter two markets this year) the fact they are willing to forgo their existing agreements to solely go after Wellington is testament to how serious they are this time around.
It doesn’t seem like some quick cash-grab, especially considering in Darwin they are now effectively supporting Port Adelaide’s push into the region and in Canberra they are supporting Sydney. With these current games, there doesn’t seem to be much in it for them other than money.
On the Wellington plan, Dogs chief Campbell Rose said, “The fundamental idea is to establish a major event of sustainable proportions that creates a sense of occasion.” In that sense, it’s a bit like the NFL’s hosting of games in cities like Toronto, London and Mexico City, on a slightly smaller scale, no doubt.
Of course, as Hawthorn have showed in Tasmania, the key to making any foray beyond traditional club markets is to look beyond the dollars.
You’ll remember that originally both Hawthorn and St Kilda played games in Tassie, but it was the ongoing commitment from the Hawks, even after their much talked-about resurrection on and off the field, that got them the extended supporter base they now have.
So long as the Bulldogs can wrap their head around that concept, the opportunities for them are huge.
New Zealand has a population well over 4 million. The Wellington region’s population is on par with Tasmania’s and the Wellington city’s population is a fair bit higher than that of Launceston.
Kiwi teams have a presence in most other Australian leagues – the Wellington Phoenix are currently storming through the A-League finals, the Warriors are a big part of the NRL, the Breakers get decent support by NBL standards, plus of course there’s the Super 14 and netball’s ANZ Championship, which have teams across both countries.
Furthermore, as Rose pointed out yesterday, New Zealand is closer to and cheaper to get to than Darwin.
So who’s to say there isn’t room there for Aussie rules, even if it is in a minor capacity?
Taking the club out of it, any push into New Zealand should be welcomed. The fact it’s a sports-mad country not all that far away makes it intriguing more hasn’t been done already.
During the off-season, it was Hawthorn leading the charge across the ditch, putting together a grassroots program with AFL NZ, signalling their intentions to use the country as a future recruiting ground. Even the national teams from the U/16 level up will now be known as the NZ Hawks.
Both clubs should be applauded for their initiative. It’s about time the sport got more serious about New Zealand.
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March 12th 2010 @ 12:45pm
jimbo said | March 12th 2010 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
AFL – following in the footsteps of the FFA.
Gold Coast United – Gold Coast AFL
Western Sydney Rovers – WS AFL
Wellingtom Phoenix – Wellington Bulldogs
March 12th 2010 @ 1:53pm
Redb said | March 12th 2010 @ 1:53pm | Report comment
Jimbo,
The AFL were looking at the Gold Coast before Clive Palmer had his brain fart with GCU.
WS was on the AFL’s radar from 2003, the A League did not even exist in 2003.
No chance the AFL will relocate the Bulldogs to Wellington in the near future.
Of course the FFA have employed an AFL man to run the show, who is following who
March 12th 2010 @ 2:09pm
Country Victoria said | March 12th 2010 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
Redb
And still no AFL Gold Coast team.
And still no AFL WS team.
Ans still no AFL NZ team.
No the FFA is not following the AFL the FFA is leading the way.
March 12th 2010 @ 2:29pm
Rod said | March 12th 2010 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
And the FFA is following the NRL
March 12th 2010 @ 2:30pm
Punter said | March 12th 2010 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
On the backpage (Foxtel) about a year or 2 ago, the Rugby League journalists (Gibson & Paul Kent) was discussing the possible effect on the league with an AFL team in Western Sydney. The nominal AFL jock, (sorry don’t know his name) said it wasn’t RL the AFL was worried about but Soccer.
March 12th 2010 @ 2:43pm
BigAl said | March 12th 2010 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Well thanks for enlightening us all with this ancient and vague bit of info.
March 12th 2010 @ 3:20pm
Punter said | March 12th 2010 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
My apologies el wise one, I keep forgetting you know everything.
March 12th 2010 @ 3:24pm
bever fever said | March 12th 2010 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
Seriously … Punter, do you ever have anything else to say !!.
March 12th 2010 @ 4:24pm
Australian Football said | March 12th 2010 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
Punter,
hmm, I think it was Demetriou who said that. He has been monitoring Australian Football ever since and following Ben Buckley where ever he goes…
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AF
March 12th 2010 @ 2:40pm
BigAl said | March 12th 2010 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
. . . fools rush in !!!
March 12th 2010 @ 2:42pm
Redb said | March 12th 2010 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
The AFL decision to put a team in GC and WS happened before the FFA.
no decision has been made to go to NZ by the AFL with a team and its unlikely for the foreseeable future.
But code wars aside and this is just troll rubbish from you, the FFA hasn’t exactly bedded down many of it’s teams to date.
March 12th 2010 @ 9:01pm
Country Victoria said | March 12th 2010 @ 9:01pm | Report comment
Redb – again for you:-
AFL or AFL franchise have no team on the Gold Cost or in Sydney Western Suburbs and no team in NZ. AFL is still trying to establish or would like to establish AFL there. The AFL is still dreaming not leading.
Redb you are confusing yourself, your lost trying to justify yourself your misleading answers. AFL HAS NOT GOT PLAYING TEAM IN THOSE AREAS AT THIS TIME. FOOTBALL A TEAM ON THE GC, NZ AT MOST AND MAYBE ANOTHER TEAM IN MELBOURNE TOO.
March 12th 2010 @ 1:43pm
Norm said | March 12th 2010 @ 1:43pm | Report comment
-” it’s a bit like the NFL’s hosting of games in cities like Toronto, London and Mexico City, on a slightly smaller scale,”…the NFL got 75,000 to the London game & over 80,000 to the Mexico city game so how small is the scale you’re talking about?
March 12th 2010 @ 3:22pm
bever fever said | March 12th 2010 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
Maybe the doggies and Hawthorn can split NZ somehow, at any rate it will be interesting to see if Hawthorn can manage to get a couple of decent players through their kiwikick and scholarship.
IMO if the WB were only there to grab the money and run, it could backfire on the league, if they implemented some grass roots initiatives then i would be all for it.
Freo did some coaching and expanding the of the game in South Africa last year and picked up a couple of good sponsorships, instead of pocketing the money, it was put back into the local comps, or so i have been told, this is how it should work.
I know that Nth Melbourne was only in Canberra for the money and it has backfired on them, GWS would not want to make the same mistake in Canberra.
March 12th 2010 @ 4:54pm
bever fever said | March 12th 2010 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
Acouple of recent things announced in the land of the long white cloud.
http://www.nzafl.co.nz/News/NewZealandSecuresOceaniaSeniorTournament/tabid/362/Default.aspx
Following on from the Under 16 Oceania Tournament held in Fiji in December last year, Auckland New Zealand will host the inaugural Senior Oceania Tournament in mid November later this year.
AFL New Zealand are hopeful that there will be six nations attending including Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Nauru, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand
And this : http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20100312141115910
2010 AFL New Zealand Under 20 NPC ready to go, The AFLNZ U20 National Provincial Championships are to be played this weekend in Wellington, March 13th and 14th 2010, at Hutt Park. These will comprise the Best U20 players from the Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington provinces with the NZ U16 side, who played at the Oceania U16 Championships in Fiji during December 2009, also involved.
March 12th 2010 @ 5:34pm
Victer said | March 12th 2010 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
Interesting but the AFL should concentrate on its two big projects coming up. FFA have stumbled upon wellington and Christchurch for the future thanks to terry serepisos. football has the possibility of becoming a huge summer sport in those two places in years to come.
March 12th 2010 @ 6:32pm
Alister said | March 12th 2010 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
I’m all for this. There was much hype with 3 games within 5 years around 2000, then nothing more came of it. About time they had a few more games in New Zealand
Interesting they chose to go back to the Basin Reserve though. The ground is too small (field size), they’d be better off to go back to Westpac Stadium, which is at least bigger and was actually designed with AFL dimensions in mind. Maybe it’s a cost thing? I imagine it wouldn’t be cheap to hire Westpac Stadium.
March 12th 2010 @ 7:46pm
Republican said | March 12th 2010 @ 7:46pm | Report comment
Canberra, Darwin?
The latter having the highest per cap support for the indig code in the country. Townsville even!! These demos actually have a cultural affinity for the game as would every piece of the Australian continent you care to mention compared to NZ.
If this folly of corporate expedience must be entertained, i.e off shore home and away games, what about PNG. They actually are producing some talent with some gusto. No because it’s all about top down corporate money grabbing, that;s why.
Guess what Mr Rose, Darwin is only 3/4 hour longer than Wellington by air and Canberra is much closer to the Western Oval and Docklands so I don’t understand your rationale re travel, especially considering the Doggies have pulled gates of around 12k in Canberra on av. and have a football culture to boot as does Darwin!
So what of loyal heartlands, the definition in this case being anywhere that is NOT NZ.
So fellow Australians, do you support the idea of the NZ capital one day having an AFL presence of 100% Ozzie personnel, while your own capital does not? So much for the sacrosanct symbology of what is a cultural institution, ‘Australian Footy’.
NZ is NOT in the country, remember and is a black hole s far as our code goes. They also take great exception at the game being referred to as Australian Football. Have you ever asked yourself why they are they do, compared to any other country on the globe you care to consider?
So, what is this if nothing more than a commercial enterprise between two very cosy yachting mates and yet another example of Australia’s ignorance of it’s culture by allowing a philistine NZ to cash in at the expense of its own long suffering and loyal supporters to the code.
I am absolutely incensed at the support Australians are showing here re. this, not because the Doggies or the AFL seem to be exploring off shore development potential but because none can grasp the magnitude of how this feels for those who have been born into our game only to have this happen. Mark my words this could well be the thin edge of the wedge that will disenfranchise more than the code would care to ever contemplate.
March 17th 2010 @ 3:10pm
Ora said | March 17th 2010 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
First I heard of New Zealanders having a problem with the name Republickin.
I wonder where you come up with your ignorant view towards all things New Zeland at times.
Then again I just remind myself that it’s coming from your insecure little mind
March 17th 2010 @ 5:42pm
ohtani's jacket said | March 17th 2010 @ 5:42pm | Report comment
I played Aussie Rules in highschool and we always called it Aussie Rules… because that’s what it’s called. Your omniscient knowledge of all things New Zealand never ceases to astound me. The things one can learn if one googles hard enough. Astounding!
March 12th 2010 @ 10:49pm
ac said | March 12th 2010 @ 10:49pm | Report comment
One thing for sure about the AFL. they can get free publicity out of anything. I think the AFL deserves the credit as the best organization for running a SPIN on anything and the Media and people pick it up and talk about it. Here is another example. The AFL is in deep trouble with the Gold Coast and Western Sydney teams – there is no market for it. I am not saying one bit there wont be, but at the moment there isnt. That wont stop them plying along with the idea and they probably will succeed, which is great. They are such a formidable organization that i just cant believe how they get away with bulldozing everything in their path. Going to Wellington is another example. They probably have not got a clue where Wellington is but that doesnt matter – say your going there and people will talk about it.
March 13th 2010 @ 8:54am
bever fever said | March 13th 2010 @ 8:54am | Report comment
AC, Acouple of points …. This is something that the WB are initiating , not the AFL, although they would have to stamp it.
There is a market for Australian football on the GC, their is quite a strong junior comp and quite a number of senior teams with one of the richest foobal clubs in Australia there (Southport), grassroots is quite strong.
I would think the average crowd will be way more than the a league but a bit less than the Titans.
BTW i think they do know where Wellington is.
March 13th 2010 @ 10:38am
Country Victoria said | March 13th 2010 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Gee leave it to bever!
GC, WS and Wellington are still not complete, next you will be saying Aussie Rules has world games, international competition world wide just like football.
March 13th 2010 @ 11:01am
Australian Football said | March 13th 2010 @ 11:01am | Report comment
Thanks for the plug Bever. Why are the GC17 and Karmichael Hunt holding up an Adelaide United FC jersey?
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AF
March 13th 2010 @ 2:41pm
Al said | March 13th 2010 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
And what’s the deal with the “Sports Tonight” logo, are they playing in the AFL now?
March 13th 2010 @ 3:35pm
Australian Football said | March 13th 2010 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
Al,
What a disgrace..!
yeah; and not only that—they ripped off AU’s jersey design-colours, and now they are trying to promote themselves on the back of AUFC’s success in the ACL..
——
AF
March 13th 2010 @ 9:19am
Republican said | March 13th 2010 @ 9:19am | Report comment
A nice irony -
The Doggies recruited a very good Canberra lad in the draft this year.
The Doggies play the Swans in canberra in May at manuka and again the pressure is on the ACT faithful to attend in numbers to show their support for a the A.F.L.
How many more years of enduring this hard sell? So the 12, 13 14K is NOT enough for you Mr Rose?
This little experiment will likely to backfire when diddly turn up at Manuka in May to watch your mercenary club play and who can blame any of us. I most certainly along with all my mates and their kids have certainly had more than a gut full of your expedient treatment of this town promising the world and delivering nothing of substance while holding the tax payers of this community to ransom
This has naught to do with support and everything to do with what the govt of resepctive cities are willing to pay. It is a form of unscrupulous blackmail on the part of WB and the AFL who have given them their blessing in this respect.!
The good and hard working people of Wellington can pay the 1mill if that’s what they reckon your worth.
March 13th 2010 @ 11:36am
Michael DiFabrizio said | March 13th 2010 @ 11:36am | Report comment
Republican, the Swans have more support in Canberra than the Bulldogs. And starting this year, Port Adelaide will play more games in Darwin than any other club. In both cases, the Bulldogs are being used to help facilitate the Swans’ and Power’s push without those clubs giving up crucial ‘home’ games.
How is it going to such a big loss when all the AFL has to do is find another willing and able Melbourne club to sell a home game?
In fact, in Darwin, it shouldn’t be an issue at all. The Dogs are one of three Melbourne clubs that sell games there (each time playing Port) on a rotational basis. Given there are only two games in Darwin per year, there is no reason why that wouldn’t continue.
As for Canberra, all indications are that GWS will get super involved in that area in the next few years. If the Dogs weren’t already squeezed out of the picture by the Swans, they definitely will be by Sheedy.
The AFL will continue on in Darwin and Canberra without the Dogs. They already have the two clubs needed to hand the Power two away games each year in Darwin, and once GWS come along it’s a whole new ball game in Canberra.
I doubt the effects of giving up their existing agreements will be as drastic as you are suggesting.
March 15th 2010 @ 7:36pm
bever fever said | March 15th 2010 @ 7:36pm | Report comment
The way the Dogs are going ATM, they should play all their games in Melbourne, they play a good brand of footy and as we all know … that’ll bring the fans back !!.
Their membership this year reflects it, and of course Big Bad Busting Barry.
March 13th 2010 @ 11:51am
hammer said | March 13th 2010 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Hey repub – bet you own a ute with a “f$@k we’re full” sticker on it