AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou (R) addresses the media. Slattery Images
Andrew Demetriou’s comments on Monday, in which he said an AFL season could be under threat if Australia is successful in its World Cup bid, have caused quite a stir. Some out there are even starting to think Demetriou is plotting to bring down the bid.
Or that he’s merely an insular, narrow-minded fool.
Or that his comments were, as journalist Ray Gatt put it, “just the AFL boss’s idea of stirring up the rabid masses in the aerial ping pong game.”
But one thing has been missing from all the uproar – some context.
Demetriou was speaking in response to a newspaper report that the MCG could be unavailable for nearly an entire home-and-away season.
What’s the significance of that?
Well, it means his comments were not some baseless pre-planned media assault designed to coincide with the announcement of the draw for the 2010 World Cup, for starters.
More importantly, however, it means 40 to 50-odd games (around a quarter of all games) will need to find new homes should plans for the ground’s reconfiguration go ahead. And that’s just the outcome of the MCG’s unavailability.
Given the FFA are now relying on the occupation of Etihad Stadium for the World Cup – despite the stadium’s protests – another 20-odd games on top of that will need to find homes.
This isn’t about derailing another code’s bid for a massive global event to be held in Australia. This is about making sure that event isn’t detrimental to that code’s rivals.
If the MCG is wiped out for a season, and Etihad is a World Cup venue, then Demetriou’s claim that a season will not go ahead does not actually seem far-fetched.
With no MCG or Etihad, where are Collingwood and Essendon – who both average over 50,000 spectators to home games – going to play? Where are Hawthorn – who have over 50,000 members – going to play?
Right now, the only forthcoming answers are Geelong and Launceston.
When talk of the bid began, it was assumed that the MCG would be out of action for only four weeks, and that Melbourne’s second venue would be an expanded version of the new rectangular stadium. Etihad Stadium would be left to the AFL.
That arrangement seemed fine. It could’ve worked well.
Then came the talk of FIFA needing an extra four weeks at each venue to replace signage and bring the pitch quality up to standard.
Then came the talk of a “design bungle” at the rectangular stadium, meaning expansion would supposedly cost more than the venue’s initial construction.
Then came the talk that the AFL season would be classified as a “major event” by FIFA and would have to shut down for up to two months.
Then, on Monday, came the talk that the MCG might actually be out of action for a whole 16 weeks.
Is it any wonder Andrew Demetriou started talking to the press?
At some point the AFL had to draw a line in the sand and say that enough is enough. The FFA have become increasingly reliant on the MCG and Etihad since the bid process began.
Now, there needs to be some sort of compromise.
For example, if the MCG is indeed going to be taken for 16 weeks, then Etihad should absolutely be left for the AFL. At the very least the FFA should ensure that the AFL season is not given major event status.
It shouldn’t be too hard, mind you. No matter what words I punch into Google, I cannot find a single article outlining any sort of conflict between Major League Baseball and those behind the United States’ World Cup bid.
Which provides a whole different kind of context, doesn’t it?
Maybe we’re all just jumping at shadows. In the States, there is no debate over major event status. It seems as though a repeat of 1994 – when the baseball season continued despite the World Cup – is expected.
Don’t get me wrong, a World Cup would be great for Australia.
And hey, even Andrew Demetriou agrees. He’s been supportive of the bid, much in the same way that the AFL was accommodating of the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
It’s just that there is a tipping point. And if Etihad is taken for two months, and the MCG for 16 weeks, then that tipping point has been reached.
That’s why Demetriou had to speak out.
The FFA must rise to the challenge of forming a bid that isn’t detrimental to the other codes. To do that, they’ll have to compromise.
Even if it means negotiating with the aerial ping pong game.
pH
Guest
jimbo - FFA have been anything but fair and frank with the AFL - they verbally tell AFL they can have Etihad to get AFL in principle support to help get bid rolling, then turn around and say we'll get the government to evict you (despite Etihad having AFL HQ offices and a 25 year exclusive lease with option to purchase the stadium outright - because of the $millions the AFL has sunk into the stadium). The AFL virtually hear this via the media. Demetriou was right to question this. If this was the NFL, NBA, NHL in USA - they'd be far more vocal than the AFL has been. Of course that won't happen because only MLB on diamond fields is played in June/July in USA and soccer wouldn't use NBA or NHL stadia - but would FIFA want them to shut down - maybe, and if so they'd tell FIFA and MLSoccer in USA to get ..... So why should AFL and NRL be any different to similar counterparts in USA?
Michael C
Roar Guru
does anyone seriously believe, that, without the FIFA WC in perhaps 13 years time - that major stadium works wouldn't happen anyway?? Major stadium works in Perth and Adelaide have been getting delayed because of this WC talk. btw - 'stadium usage' may seem simple - but, there's also the scope of the ability to continue competitions within host cities as well. Let's see how the AFL behave should the FFA come back and say, "Guys, sorry, FIFA says 'NO', cheerio!"
AndyRoo
Guest
sounds a bit like the AFL fans are being irrational. This supposed plan is for 2018 most likely 2022 (if at all)..... I don't think clubs like North melbourne will be in their current situation only receving 77k from gate receipts come that time. The crux of the issue is the Fifa Wcup bid needs 10 venues (the more in your book the better but the nitty gritty is you need 10) for 6 to 8 weeks in 2022. It seems 4 of them will be predominently AFL venues, 3 of which will be receiving significant upgrades with commonwealth funds. Possibly a 5th will go in the bid book (geelongs stadium) The remaining venues required are 1 venue pretty much built up just for the World cup (Cambltown) and then 5 rugby league venues 3 of which are getting significant works because of the Wcup the other twp (Suncorp and SFS) aren't getting anything. it's up to the codes themselves what they do with that and wether they accept that or not. For all the fuss AFL seems to have pretty much agreed to it, and their call of Docklands as off limits seems fair to me. That's actually being pretty reasonable and what more can you ask for really. I think people waiting for all the codes together to agree exactly how 2022 will go down will be dissapointed, this is only really about stadium usage and that's the only scope of interaction really.
Redb
Roar Guru
your attempt at humour is lacking....
Phil E Buster
Guest
Redb, are you trying to pull the wool over people's eyes with those figures? There is only one Victorian top flight football club (MV) versus (correct me if I'm wrong) 10 Victorian AFL clubs. By your reasoning that means only 2 to 1. No wonder we can smell the fear - soon with the new club it will be more like 1 to 1.
Redb
Roar Guru
The FFA have been anything but straight. Both the AFL and NRL have rejected their ambitious plans for Australia's two main winter competitions. Their strategy is to kill off 2-3 AFL or NRL clubs through revenue destruction leading up to and including the World Cup. They want the disenfranchised to then folow their A League. They seriously want Australians to follow that crap.
jimbo
Guest
FFA have been open and frank with everyone including the AFL about the bid from day one - they all agreed (including Demetriou) to support the bid months ago, otherwise the federal government wouldn't have committed $46M to it. What evidence is there that the FFA, Buckley or Lowy lied to anyone? The one who is lying is Demetriou who says that the AFL will "be forced to cancel its season” if Australia wins the WC bid. That is not the case. The WC can be played in Australia without having any fooball WC games played in Melbourne. If Australia fails to win a WC hosting spot, the blame will be squarely on the AFL and there will be a big backlash from Sydneysiders. The AFL will have Ben Buckley’s chance of ever having a successful AFL team in Sydney.
AndyRoo
Guest
Michael c ....that wouldn't work because it's at the bidding stage not the organising stage and it's in the interests of the NRL and AFL that football gets as little benefit as possible
Anthony
Guest
That is the best comment yet on Demetriou. The soccer fans are attacking full-on....but it's all dishonest attack. FFA is the one deceiving us all!
Michael C
Roar Guru
I just can't fathom the following : the AFL and NRL should not be so crucial to the bid, the FFA should not be in the position to be asking these things of the AFL and NRL, govt had best avoid attempting to legislate, the organising committe probably should be a multi-lateral one, but, FIFA might not permit that. WE need to consider that perhaps we just aren't a big enough nation, let alone a big enough 'soccer nation' to do it, and that the event is about deriving 90% of FIFA's revenue.....that's what it is - it's their biggest fund raiser.
Norm
Guest
jimbo I think I can say with some confidence that pippy boy has left the stage & won't be back.
jimbo
Guest
AFL doesn't have the slightest influence on FIFA Pip and this is the great delusion that the AFL Spin doctors keep regurgitating. The vasl majority of FIFA members wouldn't even know what A F L stands for. The FIFA world Cups of 2018 and 2022 will still be played with or without AFL parks. You and the AFL flat earthers have only made it more unlikely that a football WC game will be played in Melbourne this century.
Trevor
Guest
Without the money flowing from the VFL/AFL for over one hundred years the MCG would not be the stadium it is today, so in a moral sense the AFL does own the MCG. Without the AFL Australia wouldn't even have the sporting reputation is does today. What has soccer done to deserve access to a stadium built by money from fans of the Australian code? Why does soccer so arrogantly believe it should take priority over other sports? The culture of soccer is imperialistic. If there is one common thread from all the soccer fans I've met and soccer coverage in the media, it's that the fans are more interested in the tribal aspects than the actual sport itself, examine the dismissive nature of your own comments. Look at the comments of other soccer people, they're all dripping with self importance. Nobody ever mentions anything redeeming about the game, which by any objective comparison is far slower and less eventful than our football. Listen to the arrogance of the FFA, listen to what soccer fans say. It is clear that soccer cannot abide co-existence with other codes of football. The motivations of the FFA in bidding for the world cup have less to do with genuine interest in the event and more to do with displacing local codes.
Kurt
Guest
Oh lighten up Norm, it wasn't really a public humiliation - and like I said, we deserved it.
mahony
Guest
"just compensation" - go look at the case law. You will get a rude suprise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain#Australia
Norm
Guest
So Demetriou harbours grudges, is vengeful and has no qualms about the public humiliation of 15 yr old boys. And you think that is a virtue.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Initially I thought Demetriou was just acting like a bullyboy in the press but after considering the position the AFL is being forced into and Demetriou's role as CEO I applaud and support his actions. Historically football in this country has been poorly run and as more information comes to light FFA looks like they have not been fully transparent with their disclosure and discussions with other codes that will be affected by Australia's bid to host the world cup. All sporting codes recognise the significance of the FIFA world cup and would be supportive of Australia's bid, pity FFA aren't showing the same consideration.
Punter
Guest
Well said, but I think the opposite, hence the world keeps spinning around & we keep having the same discussion..
Ghost
Guest
Why is the proposition that the AFL go to the country idiotic Pippinu? I've seen this idea floated by a few other people and I think it is one really worth considering. I think there would be good long term benefits for the AFL too.
Redb
Roar Guru
Well said Richard. 20 to 1 is the ratio of support for Aussie Rules to soccer in Melbourne. 20 to 1. Forget the bogus polls, 400,000 AFL club members versus 20,000 soccer club members gives the true indication of support. The impact needs to be minimalised, this means host the World Cup, AFL to give up the MCG and make other scheduling changes to accomodate but get steam rolled by the FFA - no way. Redb