Karmichael Hunt of the Suns in action during the AFL Round 07 match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, Brisbane.
The AFL couldn’t have scripted a better fortnight: a new television deal signed which exceeded the billion-dollar mark; the Adelaide Oval redevelopment – the potential saviour of the code’s most vulnerable club – confirmed; and on Saturday night the first-ever Queensland derby was won by the competition’s rookies.
The Gold Coast Suns’ thrilling eight-point win over the Brisbane Lions – their second win this season – will help cement the Suns into the Queensland psyche, generating some positive news stories and excitement as they prepare for their debut at their Carrara Stadium home ground.
Some had pondered which would be more detrimental to the AFL’s Queensland quest, a Brisbane or Gold Coast loss?
But the reality is the Lions brand is now strong enough to survive a period of on-field struggle, as proven by the 25,000-strong crowd in attendance at the Gabba on a night when the Broncos were also in action across town.
The Suns and AFL needed the result they got, or at least a competitive performance, in the derby. Like when newbies Melbourne Heart upset the established Melbourne Victory in the A-League’s first derby, the first win to the younger sibling sets up the rivalry nicely, upon which the intrastate feeling can build, evening up the playing field in the state.
The bad blood and posturing heading into the first Queensland derby, real or manufactured, only helped the cause.
Some had questioned the AFL’s expansion policy in the wake of Gold Coast’s capitulation against Essendon last weekend, where they found themselves 93 points down at quarter-time and subsequently lost by 139 points.
But erratic performances are par of the course for an expansion club starting from scratch, and it shouldn’t have in any way called into question the AFL’s expansion policy.
The Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants, debuting in 2012, give the AFL a weekly presence in the Queensland and New South Wales markets, with the rivalry between the Suns and Lions in Queensland, and Swans and Giants in NSW, helping the code widen its footprint via greater interest.
As the Swans and Lions can today show, long-term vision and patience is required. And the Suns and Giants will grow in a much healthier league than the Swans and Lions ever did.
When compared to the 34,000 at Suncorp for the Broncos versus Melbourne Storm NRL clash, the AFL can be satisfied with the 25,501 fans at the Gabba. Remember, the Lions were rooted to the bottom of the ladder with no wins, playing a side just one spot above them that had been destroyed the previous weekend, relative to a Broncos team playing for top spot on the ladder against what remains one of the most exciting NRL teams in the Storm. One was a bottom of the table clash, the other a top of the table.
Things appear even brighter for the AFL up north.
Meanwhile, the confirmation that the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval, which was orchestrated by Andrew Demetriou, will go ahead provides a huge boost to the Adelaide Crows and Port Power, and South Australian footy as a whole.
The beleaguered Power is expecting to be $3.5 million a year better off from the move to the Oval come 2014 – a boost they desperately need.
Once they carve up Adelaide into two distinct pieces, the Crows and Power are left with the smallest market in the AFL to fight for. And once you divide those pieces further into SANFL allegiances, those who love Port and those who despise them, the Power is left with a tiny supporter base that’s struggling to sustain its AFL and SANFL clubs.
The city move with its promise of greater crowds – like the AFL moving the Melbourne-based teams into the CBD over a decade ago – has the potential to enliven footy in the state; an opportunity Port needs to grasp.
With the Adelaide market set to reap the benefits of the Oval move and the Gold Coast Suns exceeding expectations, the AFL is sitting pretty on its $1.25 billion treasure chest and can solidify its bases and focus on the western Sydney battleground.
Things are falling into place nicely for AFL House.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
It'll be some where near last year's average. The Broncos are the biggest, most successful sporting club from either code of rugby. They're going from strength to strength. Sorry union fans, but Super 15 teams are NOT clubs, so don't mention how they get so many people to their games. They're representative teams. The only exception to the rule is the Rebels.
Sam el Perro
Guest
The Broncos crowds, if you compare with last season, are on track to be the same or better. There are some high draws (45-50k) to come, such as St George, and when the average is calculated at the end of the season I would predict that it will be the same as last year or even 1k higher. Anyone else got a prediction?
Sam el Perro
Guest
Thew Test was originally scheduled for Christchurch, and moved after the earthquake. In recognition of this the Queensland Government flew 500 earthquake victims over for the Test. A nice touch!
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
Cattery, the AFL auditing itself is not an audit - really. Please provide the definition of "AFL participation" or "AusKick participation".
Sam el Perro
Guest
Logan is not a shire of Brisbane (whatever that might mean): Logan City is a city in its own right.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Peter our Northern cousins are constantly accusing the AFL of making up numbers, even though we AFL fans are able to cite endless audited annual reports (far more than what followers of other codes can do). Then our Northern cousins get a surprise when the TV rights of $1.25 billion comes rolling along.
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
Then they add all the kids on the school bus to the "AusKick participation" numbers. Nowhere in the AFL stats anywhere does it actually define what "AFL participation" is, so they can make up whatever numbers they like. They do it in NSW as well. They actually pay the school, who are desperate for money, to have the AusKick sessions on the school oval after school. They give all the kids a free backpack with ball, hat, freee Swans tickets etc and they all get a free $20 NAB bank account too. If AFL is so great a game, why do they have to bribe little children to play it?
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
BigAl, So you believe everything the AFL propaganda machine says? Learn to think for yourself buddy.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Haven't the Lions been in the red more often than not over the last few years? "What’s more, I’ve just read somewhere that total participation in Queensland has risen from 30,000 to 130,000 in the space of 10 years." When the AFL says "participation" what they mean is schoolchildren were forced to attend an Auskick program. The AFL then goes to the Australian Government and says they deserve so much funding because they've increased the participation rate.
BigAl
Guest
'People are fooling themselves ...' - talk about the pot calling the kettle black ! . . .
chris
Guest
Sorry Parra about the League comment.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Why is it important what the make up of the supporter base is? The Lions have total revenue of $29+ million, in the middle bracket of AFL clubs. One person's money is as good as the next. What's more, I've just read somewhere that total participation in Queensland has risen from 30,000 to 130,000 in the space of 10 years.
JamesP
Guest
Thats an interesting point Brissie Boy...on the telecast, you could clearly see some sections of the ground had fans sitting on the very back row on the top of the grandstands (obviously general admin), yet the prime second level is always half empty. Its a tough one I guess - they could change it for this season and the next, but once the Lions climb back up the ladder and start pulling 30k plus crowds, it may be a different proposition.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Are you people starting to see what I mean when I say that the Lions' supporter base consists of expats from the southern states and disgruntled rugby league fans who do not like the Broncos?
Redb
Roar Guru
They must be desperate, good to see some passion. Better sign up to the Broncs coz the Lions plight is not going to improve against the Bombers this week. :)
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
"Logan isn’t a ‘city’, it’s an endless and unplanned sprawl of southern Brisbane suburbs. It doesn’t have a centre of any note (google maps agrees with me here…), and really only exists because of 1970s restrictions on new suburbs within Brisbane City Council – all the developers just hopped the southern border into Logan." Shows how little you know! The Queensland Government declared Logan a city in 1981. That makes it a city. Go read up on it and see for yourself if you don't believe me. The council for Logan is the Logan CITY Council. That makes it a city. It wouldn't be a "CITY COUNCIL" if the Department of Local Government did not think Logan matched the criteria that is used to define a city from a town. It was awarded city status in 1981 because it contianed everything that is needed to fall in that catergory. Logan has a CBD. It may not be as big and influential as the ones in Brisbane and Sydney, but it still qualifies as a CBD. People from China's massive cities would not class Sydney a city because it's only tiny when compared to what they have, but that doesn't mean Sydney shouldn't be classified a city. I really wish people would read up on the subject before they comment. They obviously have their own definition of a city and assume it is right. All that matters is what the government thinks. If the government says it's a city and it fits the definition of "city" -- which is does -- then I'm going to call it a city. I'm not interested in uninformed opinions from people who do not understand the criteria that officials use to define cities from towns and shires.. "As for a Logan NRL team – I’m not qualified to comment, save to say that it’s an area with a low socio-economic profile, disparate population centres and it’s a fair drive from either Lang Park or Robina, where the team would have to play." There are plenty of disparate population centres in Brisbane. Business districts crop up all over the place. The one in Mt Gravatt is a good example. What makes you think a Logan-based team would have to play out of Robina or Lang Park? If a team was placed in Logan then the Queensland Government/Logan City Council would build a stadium. The team wouldn't be admitted into the competition until the stadium was complete.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Lions fans turning on the club - they are threatening to tear up their memberships and convert to League: http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2011/05/11/brisbane-fans-turn-on-wounded-lions/
mick h
Guest
but the broncos rested their test stars and there is still the interest of how hunt goes in afl.very good figure for both games.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
I've noticed that too BrissyBoy. The people of Brisbane are very open-minded and hospitable. Most people in Brisbane think Aussie rules is a stuipd game but they give it a go.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Skilled Park only has a capacity of 27,000. Only 800 to 900 tickets were not sold. The Test was originally scheduled to be played at Christchurch. The earthquake over there forced the NZRL and ARL to reschedule the match elsewhere. Lang Park couldn't be used as the Broncos were booked to play there the next night. "A lot of QLD are still getting over the floods – I think crowd figures are down overall." The Lions' crowds are down by 7,000 to 10,000. That's a big drop off. The Broncos haven't experienced the same sort of drop off. Even the Cowboys' declining crowd numbers haven't been as steep. North Queensland's fans are dealing with the aftermath of a once in a century cyclone that destroyed their homes, businesses and local infrastructure.