AFL putting the building blocks in place in Cairns
Columnist By Ben Somerford, 21 Jul 2011 Ben Somerford is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, Cairns, Gold Coast Suns, Richmond Tigers
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After all the fuss about Richmond selling home games, it was easy to forget Saturday’s clash between the Tigers and Gold Coast in Cairns was a big success for the AFL. Yet again, in an expansion region, the AFL got it right, with a sell-out crowd of 10,832 cramming into Cazaly’s Stadium to witness a match befitting of the occasion.
Of course, let’s get things in perspective that a crowd of barely 11,000 isn’t going to have AFL House declaring victory in North Queensland.
Far from it.
Rather the event as a whole and the buzz it created in Cairns was something which the AFL can build upon.
These kind of events are what the AFL do best and something other codes aspire to.
And, typically, the plans are already in place to build upon it, with facilities at Cazaly’s Stadium to be improved in order to increase the capacity of the ground to almost 13,000 fans when the two sides meet in Cairns next year.
Since Saturday’s game was played I’ve been in touch with a number of contacts in Cairns who only had positive things to say about AFL’s visit to the region.
The game itself was a beauty, with the contest seesawing throughout the afternoon before Gold Coast – who the vast majority of fans were barracking for – got over the line in a fast-finishing final term.
And from all the reports there was a carnival atmosphere at the ground, with plenty going on before the game and around the stadium, like your traditional local Saturday footy outing, with scores of families in attendance, which would’ve pleased the AFL.
The point is, though, the way the day was organised made it an occasion for people to get along to.
It should be noted there was also a Friday training and autograph session with Richmond and Gold Coast players which was well attended by children.
I’ve been told approximately 1000 people attended the Friday session, which essentially generated that extra bit of buzz around town. AFL superstar Gary Ablett Jnr being in town helped too, as he was clearly the star attraction with the kids.
However, without wanting to overdo the positives, there’s a lesson in this.
The way the AFL tackles a new market is by engaging it. Perhaps that’s led to some criticism at playing fixtures in both Cairns and Darwin over the same weekend, with the latter reportedly somewhat neglected given games have been played in the Northern Territory for a few years now.
However, the point is the AFL created an occasion for Cairns and people will already be looking forward to next year’s fixture as a result.
The fact the AFL were able to convince Richmond to play this home game in Cairns against a Gold Coast side who have heavily invested in the region shows the determination of the AFL’s talented negotiatiors.
They’ve also managed to convince the Queensland state government to invest $2 million in the stadium upgrades even though a Cairns-side in the AFL isn’t at all on the radar.
It’s about having a presence in Cairns and while Richmond fans will be bemoaning their side’s decision to sell that home game, for the AFL it’s all part of the bigger picture as the competition looks to not only expand its market, but also its talent pool.
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- AFL, Cairns, Gold Coast Suns, Richmond Tigers
July 21st 2011 @ 7:03am
Shaun said | July 21st 2011 @ 7:03am | Report comment
Expansion region? You do realise how many Victorians live in the district? Although 15 000 went to the bull rides on the same day….not sure what you can read into that.
July 21st 2011 @ 7:20pm
Sam el Perro said | July 21st 2011 @ 7:20pm | Report comment
By “the bull rides” I take it that you mean the Mareeba Rodeo — where I was for the record.
The social event of the year for “dry end” of the Tableland. (Can’t top the Atherton Maize Festival however.
)
July 21st 2011 @ 8:54am
Redb said | July 21st 2011 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Fantastic result for the game up in Cairns.
It’s a bit small for a team at this stage, unless a Top End (incl Darwin) based side became a reality. The local comp is in a healthy state and is providing opportunities for PNG recruits and even PNG sides.
July 22nd 2011 @ 2:08pm
Andy Keeffe said | July 22nd 2011 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Can’t see a Cairns team coming in for a loooooooooong team. if ever. cairns is quite small too.
July 21st 2011 @ 9:02am
Republican said | July 21st 2011 @ 9:02am | Report comment
Shaun
Victorians are no more ubiquitous to Qld than Qlders are to respective states across the country.
The most influential and dramatic diaspora to Aust is the NZ one, which keeps Union viable here as well as sustaining League in states i.e Vic.
Perth’s Force can thank the huge Saffa diaspora, together with the ubiquitous Kiwi one, who without the code would probably be rendered unviable at the elite tier in the West.
!0k is nothing to be sneezed at. This is a fairly average gate for Canberra’s AFL fixtures and we are an Aust footy demographic, so very positive for mine.
July 21st 2011 @ 9:26am
Redb said | July 21st 2011 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Exactly right Republican. Its a cop out comment. Oh it must be Victorians lol
July 21st 2011 @ 11:13am
Jason said | July 21st 2011 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Most of the supporters of the Force are in fact Australians, with the kiwis and South Afircans mostly coming out when there team is playing. The difference is rugby is in the school system in perth as opposed to AFL in cairns and other parts of Qld not so much.
July 21st 2011 @ 11:19am
Redb said | July 21st 2011 @ 11:19am | Report comment
AFL is in the school system in Queensland as well. You can bet the Perth schools have rugby sides from expat kids. It works both ways.
How many West Australians are playing in the NRL right now?
There are some 80 NSW/QLD born players in the AFL.
July 21st 2011 @ 11:33am
Matt S said | July 21st 2011 @ 11:33am | Report comment
Redb, stop bringing the NRL into this. The comments were about union. There are about 5 born WA players in the NRL in believe. Not bad considering no team in the NRL.
July 21st 2011 @ 12:06pm
Redb said | July 21st 2011 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
The comment applies to both.
It is a myth that only expats play & follow AFL in NSW/QLD, yet supposedly born and bred natives follow/play either of the rugby codes in Vic/WA.
The AFL has far greater depth and penetration in it’s so called non tradtional states than either of the rubgy codes.
July 22nd 2011 @ 12:32am
Queensland's game is rugby league said | July 22nd 2011 @ 12:32am | Report comment
“It is a myth that only expats play & follow AFL in NSW/QLD”
I’m yet to meet a born-and-bred Queenslander who chose Aussie rules over rugby league, rugby union and soccer. I’ve heard a few stories about juniors who went from rugby league to Aussie rules, but for the most part that was because they had no future in rugby league. The only kids I knew at school who played Aussie rules were the South Australians and Victorians who migrated here with their families during the 1990′s.
How many of these so-called Queenslanders in the AFL can say their parents, grandparents and great grandparents are born-and-bred Queenslanders? If there is Victorian heritage down the line then it’s likely to have an influence on their choice in sport.
I’ve only known one born-and-bred Queenslander who was converted to Aussie rules. She was a 90 year old woman who I met in hospital when the Lions were at the peak of their powers. If the elderly are the only demographic who’ve been converted then Aussie rules in Queensland doesn’t have a very bright future.
July 22nd 2011 @ 3:28am
Fake ex-AFL fan said | July 22nd 2011 @ 3:28am | Report comment
Great-Grandparents? You seriously think that unless someone can trace their lineage in a particular location back to the 19th century then in some way they’re not legitimate fans and their attendance at a sporting event doesn’t really count?
I’ve got some bad news for the A-league fans…
July 23rd 2011 @ 12:26am
Queensland's game is rugby league said | July 23rd 2011 @ 12:26am | Report comment
A born-and-bred Queenslander who is proud of their state’s sporting history isn’t going to support a Victorian sport that keeps on telling us that our game is inferior and that it intends on converting us to their holy game. A person who has Victorian ancestry might accept that crap, but a Queenslander will not.
Time for the QRL to educate every kid about the history of rugby league in Queensland. That’s the best way of keeping Aussie rules out of QLD!
July 21st 2011 @ 12:35pm
ChrisC said | July 21st 2011 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
And how many are not from the NSW/ VIc border or east of the Barrassi line?
Anyway, the AFL sure does know how to run and promote an event.
July 22nd 2011 @ 6:44pm
ruckroverr said | July 22nd 2011 @ 6:44pm | Report comment
Qld has had the most rapid growth of juniors in Australian Football of any state in recent years, participation numbers eclipse traditional footy states of Tasmania and South Australia.
July 21st 2011 @ 4:01pm
Shaun said | July 21st 2011 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Seriously Republican, do you have any idea how many Vics are in this town, especially at this time of year? Not having a crack, love my AFL, but it has to be taken into consideration. Also, like I said, 15K were watching the bull rides at the same time.
July 21st 2011 @ 8:02pm
Dingo said | July 21st 2011 @ 8:02pm | Report comment
So without the bull rides the crowd could have been bigger?
July 22nd 2011 @ 6:46pm
ruckroverr said | July 22nd 2011 @ 6:46pm | Report comment
The Cazaly Oval was sold out. With a bigger stadium the crowd would have been bigger at the footy – whether bigger than at the bull rides is hard to know.
July 22nd 2011 @ 12:34am
Queensland's game is rugby league said | July 22nd 2011 @ 12:34am | Report comment
Shaun is right.
July 22nd 2011 @ 2:07pm
Andy Keeffe said | July 22nd 2011 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
bull rides? where can i get invovled?
July 21st 2011 @ 9:07am
Republican said | July 21st 2011 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Red
I have advocated a team that represents ‘The Top End” for sometime now.
The Cowboys tap into the regional support and Qlders will travel to see elite sport.
I reckon a Troppo type team could be shared between FNQ, NT, the Tiwis of course and possibly PNG.
July 21st 2011 @ 10:35am
Football Tragic said | July 21st 2011 @ 10:35am | Report comment
I suggested a similar scenario in the past. Cairns is too small in itself to support a team but building a team based out of more than one location such as what Hawthorn have achieved recently, Sydney and Brisbane to a lesser degree with their Souths and fitroy supporters in Melbourne and now GWS with its links to Canberra, is a definite possibility in the future. Cairns and Darwin both have healthy interest in AFL so once the ground work is done and infastraucture created, it could definiately be an area for expansion in the future. They would have a fair home ground advantage too given the conditions!
July 21st 2011 @ 4:16pm
Beny Iniesta said | July 21st 2011 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Nice idea, but it won’t work for a long-time. The AFL would be looking at Tasmania, Newcastle/ Central Coast, Canberra, or even New Zealand before contemplating a “Top-End” team.
A team needs a solid base. It would be hard for a team in Cairns or Darwin to sustain strong support in the other.
July 22nd 2011 @ 8:24am
Redb said | July 22nd 2011 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Tasmania is without doubt first cab off the rank.
Next will be either a 3rd WA team or Top End. Its no coincidence the AFL is laying the groundwork in Cairns, Darwin with Premiership games.
———————-
Canberra will be associated with the Giants for the foreseeable future. Can’t see them getting a team and the 5,000 Canberra based members the Giants have signed they obviously feel the connection.
Newcastle/Central Coast – very unlikely. I think the Swans see coastal NSW as their zone beyond Sydney. Giants have Western NSW including Sth NSW, Swans have inner Sydney and coastal to Coffs harbour,etc.
New Zealand – not worth discussing as a viable location for a team.
July 21st 2011 @ 11:03am
wisey_9 said | July 21st 2011 @ 11:03am | Report comment
I wish the a-league would learn from this success…
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July 22nd 2011 @ 2:09pm
Andy Keeffe said | July 22nd 2011 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
that’s it isn’t. rather than just plonking a team in a region, there’s got to be more of plan. the product alone cant speak for itself, its got to be engaging. the AFL do this so well.
July 28th 2011 @ 8:43pm
Nick Bencorelli said | July 28th 2011 @ 8:43pm | Report comment
A-League management aint proactive enough. its stuff like this game which makes a difference. longterm vision and proactive management
July 21st 2011 @ 11:24am
Tony said | July 21st 2011 @ 11:24am | Report comment
I was in Darwin for the game. Spent 5 nights there, Including a day tour on Monday. I spent heaps as a tourist! However there was very little publicity about the AFL game. In fact, when I enquired at the Darwin Info office about transport to the game they made no mention of the free busses. The crowd was down because of poor publicity by the AFL. But many of us came up for the game, spent our money & had a great time.
July 21st 2011 @ 12:27pm
Redb said | July 21st 2011 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
There appears to be less promotion of the Darwin game which has drawn some criticism but I put it down to an educated market. Melb v Port Adel is not exactly an enticing match.
Port Adelaide are a basketcase and really should be trying to build a following in NT. it would be much more successful if on field they were competitive.
July 21st 2011 @ 12:21pm
Horatio said | July 21st 2011 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Cowboys dont play a premiership game in Cairns anymore but I understand cairns hasnt grown as much in recent years because the Japs have stopped coming but then again that opens an opportunity for domestic tourism from the South which is the main push for playing these games during southern school holidays….
July 21st 2011 @ 12:43pm
Uncle Bob said | July 21st 2011 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
You need about 500,000 people in a region to put a team in there permanently.
Canberra is probably about 25 years away from getting it’s own AFL license and they would be the next mainland town in line.
Personally, I would be looking at Newcastle, northern Sydney and southern Sydney to take in Wollongong region.
We will see how the Giants go at Homebush before making the next move.
July 21st 2011 @ 4:11pm
Horatio said | July 21st 2011 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
I think you need 500K in AFL heartland before you get a team which means Perth and tassie are the next stops/…
July 21st 2011 @ 5:10pm
ChrisC said | July 21st 2011 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
Newcastle and Northern Sydney?? I think you have spent a bit too much time on BigFooty.com.
July 21st 2011 @ 12:57pm
Hornberger said | July 21st 2011 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
AFL Cairns has more junior teams (120) then their are junior rugby league teams in Victoria (VRL: 85 + GVRL: 14). Australian Football is going very well in Cairns.
July 21st 2011 @ 10:59pm
Uncle Bob said | July 21st 2011 @ 10:59pm | Report comment
Surprised there is any RL teams at all in Vic. I thought they only had rugby union teams in Vic. RL is smaller than ice hockey for participants.
July 22nd 2011 @ 6:11pm
Ted Skinner said | July 22nd 2011 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
How do you get 120 AFL junior teams in Cairns. I counted 54.
http://www.sportingpulse.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-3394-0-106005-0&a=ROUND&pool=1001&round=1
July 21st 2011 @ 1:06pm
Go Tigers said | July 21st 2011 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
It’s highly unlikely Cairns will have a AFL team within our lifetime but they could easily have one in the NEAFL in time and provide another pathway for talented FNQ-based footballers to be noticed by AFL recruiters.