There’s been a lot written and said, again and again, on this topic. And there are a couple of points that appear lost in all the confusion.
A. The AFL never claimed that losing the MCG for eight weeks would ruin it’s season. In fact, the AFL clearly stated having offered it for up to 10 weeks.
B. The AFL and NRL have both questioned the capacity of SOME clubs to survive should SOME of the WORST case scenarios of potential disruption occur.
C. The AFL had stated clearly from October 2008 (when ‘rival codes’ were reported as offering their in principle support) that they intended to retain Dockland Stadium. Noting the AFL has an exclusive 25 year lease at the venue and the venue doubles as their Admin HQ and Channel 7 studios/offices.
Hardly an ideal scenario for FIFA to ‘convert’ to a clean venue.
The AFL had the impression from a series of meetings from Oct 2008 to Oct 2009 that the FFA understood and respected this position.
D. The timing of the FIFA 2010 WC draw was hardly important to the AFL.
Much more important was the very public global promotion by the FFA of their intended venues – including Docklands stadium.
Along with the November tour of the venue provided by the FFA for FIFA journo’s that took in a MVFC match as well as the Federal Government’s Bid money funded reconfiguration of the seating.
At this time, the AFL was getting a tad uneasy.
Do you really think they cared about the draw for the 2010 WC matches in South Africa?
cuzybros cuz
Roar Rookie
yeh bro, and you can't get anyone East of Norfolk Island and West of Perth to not break into laughter when they see the game and have a Victorian try to have a serious conversation about it. Thats doing it tough bro
Forgetmenot
Guest
if you truly love a game you should be able to watch lower leagues play and still enjoy it. Alot of soccer fans i believe watch the sport because of the variety of cups and trophys to be won. Most football fans watch for the love of the game.
Forgetmenot
Guest
myopic capital. Please explain the large crowds at sports other than football. Ie cricket, league, soccer ...
elbusto
Roar Rookie
I agree Chuq - Mikcy is pulling a swifty - he is scared poopless by the WC bid - if he wasn't his obsessive behaviour would be less evident. For goodness sake lets all get behind this bid whatever code we follow. I think most of us will apart from the paranoid AFL cheer squad that lodge here on a seemingly permanent basis.
Michael C
Roar Guru
and are the luckiest people perhaps those who enjoy both??
Michael C
Roar Guru
No - - you can.....but we leave that to Jimbo, you did, did you not - follow the provided links that LukeW was provided with earlier in the thread?? Proofs of the points made.
pH
Guest
There has been a lot written in official media circles about the FFA trying to get Docklands after verbal agreement with the AFL they wouldn't and about the AFL making it clear Docklands wasn't for giving over (despite giving over MCG, Adelaide Oval, Subiaco, Carrara, ANZ stadium - ok that just means the Swans and GWS can't use it for 2 months but have SCG nonetheless is a scheduling of big Sydney based games issue if only minor - and now have thrown in Kardinia Park). There has never been - correct me if you can find the quote - any official FFA denial of this. Given stakes sounds like the defamation courts or at least the media would've been where the FFA would've taken this if not the truth.
Timmuh
Guest
How will Ian Collins look stupid? Collo might be a gouger, but he isn't stupid. Docklands stadium will make far more money (and that is his priority, if it was holding fixtures in good conditions he would not have held concerts that destroyed the surface for two sporting codes) hosting 18-20 AFL games over a six week period than 3-4 World Cup games with simiar crowds (admittedly with higher ticket prices) over two weeks and having to have an unused stadium for four weeks prior to that. Melbourne will be fine, if the bid is won (and it is highly doubtful Australa is capable of holding an event that size, we lack the cities with the capability). Melbourne would get both a fair slice of WC games, including a semi or the 3rd placed play-off and at least one Australin group game; and get to keep its own number one sport in operation. As for Sydney having three stadiums, I think you'll find only two will be used even if three go in the bid book because FIFA's guidelines don't allow more than two. Oh, and Canberra will not have world cup games. This city (reportedly) can not handle the accommodation demands, even if a major stadium upgrade, or rebuild, was to happen.
punter
Guest
Yeah, but I'll be watching the WC in Sth Africia, with the world's greatest football players from Italy, Germany, England, Spain, Brazil, USA, Ghana, Japan, Nth Korea, Algeria & of course Australia. Ahhh the world game.
Mick
Guest
The truth 1. Government guarantees in December 2009 2. Bid book by May 2010 3. Decision in December 2010
Chuq
Roar Pro
An article by Michael C, about the World Cup, with "truth" in the title - hilarious! You can't make this stuff up!
bever fever
Guest
Jimbo, you say it like its a insult, to be the AFL capital of the world is IMO nothing to be ashamed of, its really OK.
Michael C
Roar Guru
never said that the MCG was required for 10 weeks - - it has as is confirmed been indicated as 8 weeks - - Demetriou as per the articles was quoted as offering for up to 10 weeks but no more......now whether that was just rhetorical in a sense to attempt to display a more than 8 but less than 16 figure to somehow look more accomodating........well, who knows.
Michael C
Roar Guru
you tell me.
Timmuh
Guest
LukeW, I think you'll find that AndyD's only comments about abandoning the season were if: a. the MCG was going to be rectangularised, apparently the FFA had already ruled that out but the AFL had not been informed and thought it was still on the FFA list of possibilities, or b. if the WC got Docklands, and no Melbourne ground would be available for 2 half the season
jimbo
Roar Guru
Ziggy its only ever been the AFL Capital of the World.
bever fever
Guest
You know i love Andrew Demetriou, this guy is one smart cool cooky. His $1.8 million salary is more than justified, but i really sense that he loves his job, he did have a very sucessful bussiness before becoming the Vlad the slayer at AFL house. The guy loves nothing more than a scrap, he is up for whatever.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
A lazy 336,000 in the first round of the AFL, an average of about 42,000 per game. That's one quarter of what the A-League gets for a whole season - 21 more rounds to go. Looking at a $1.2 billion TV deal in a couple of years - yeh, we're doing it tough.
Michael C
Roar Guru
y'reckon.....well, obviously you do. That speaks heaps for your state of mind, conspiracy theory anyone!!!!! It must hurt to carry such weight of chips around.......
Michael C
Roar Guru
Jimbo - what??