North Melbourne's Hobart decision delayed

The National game should have long had a permanent presence in this nations capital however there exists an irrational national anti Canberra sentiment that is also prevalent within the AFL unfortunately. Personally I don't see it happening, despite the power of symbology this evokes as with a Republic for this country - sadly this is unlikely to ever transpire either. We live in hope. In respect of NZ, Auckland is near 2mill population I believe but more relevant than that is that they are NOT in any way culturally interested, committed, talented, in respect of the Australian code and hold general contempt for most things Aussie. Why would anyone with half a brain even consider NZ given those sorts of challenges and at our expense?

Always fantastic to hear from people who have learned to love our game from the other side of the world.

In all respect to NZ. They are just too small a nation and economy to worry about for the AFL. Only heard today that we will have 35 million people in Oz by 2050. All out in NSW and QLD I say. More teams there, Newcastle, Canberra, maybe another in Sydney.

That internationalising our code can only be a good thing is an incredibly simplistic view on the part of Hlomela for all his noble intent. Altruistically we should all embrace this concept and I honestly do not believe Jeff Kennett takes exception to any country playing Australian footy and nor do I covet our game to that extent. Any commercial engineering however, that would promote a generic AFL brand in any potential overseas market, at the expedient neglect of the many available local options, is an absolute insult in my opinion and would prove irrevocably disenfranchising to a code steeped in domestic tribal traditions, already diluted within these fatal shores. To extend this model of top down growth to any offshore local, where the code has diddly tradition or pedigree would be a grave mistake in satisfying the global cringe that seems to have alarmingly infiltrated the AFL rank and file.

In the main you are of course quite right - however, should the ignorance of others stop us? check out this link : http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/115055/default.aspx Mtutuzeli Hlomela has been an early star and leader (captain/coaching) of South African footy. This is his letter to Jeff Kennett. There is a clear distinction, Australian football sits far more mid way b/w soccer on one side and the Rugby codes and American/Canadian football on the other side. Selling just another formation/offside x-bar game on a rectangle field that may have more or less players or a different scrumming rule isn't likely to take off. Who knows what Aust Footy can do on the ovals of South Africa - but, what's clear is some people can develop a 'love' for the game. And, realistically, the amount of money spent in RSA so far is chicken feed and has been offset by a bit of private investment/sponsorship (even before the AFL started committing funds). btw - North in Hobart, love it, probably 2 games a year there, and 2 in Ballarat. That'd be getting footy back to the people. And probably better financial proposition of a 10-15,000 crowd at such venues than a 25,000 crowd at Docklands.

Uncle Bob I don't dispute that sentiment and simply make the analogy between Saffa and NZ in respect of Kennetts recent comments, that tout NZ as an AFL elite base of all things! I continue to expose this because I regard Kiwis as equally having very little knowledge of or affinity for our code, bar the Ozzie ex pat factor that resides across the Tasman. There also exists a hostility that would not be experienced in a country i.e. Saffa since many Kiwis consider this as just another Ozzie assault on the naional identity. If Saffa is a complete waste of time and money as you believe it is, then NZ is possibly more so. NZ's geographic proximity is the only criteria that favours them in respect of AFL attention which quite frankly is not enough to my mind. It must also be stated that unlike other countries around the globe, this Ozzie assault on Kiwi identity would see a campaign that would change our games branding conditional to them being involved in the code at any meaningful level. This would be the thin edge of the wedge in respect of that country compromising Australian Footy as we know it and is all about them coveting and appropriating those bits of Australian culture and socio economic status that advantage the NZ cause.

On North Melbourne. With spiralling costs to footy departments they have two realistic long term options as a club. 1. Ballarat 2. Tasmania Ballarat is possibly better because it is relatively close to Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo so they can still get their traditional supporter base to rock up, plus grabbing the country support. Hobart is still open territory but hardly any people down there. 450k for the whole island. The government would have to bankroll it to make it happen.

Was over in South Africa last year, spent 2 months there and there is pretty much zero interest and knowledge of the Australian game. They actually think we are a rugby union mad nation, they do not really know much about NRL. It's a complete waste of time. You might as well just burn the money which would save the airfares. Put another way, how realistic is it for Victorians to just get into Canadian Football(sort of gridiron). It is that ridiculous.

I hope it goes ahead. Not directly related to this, I read that Kennett has come out in opposition to any Saffa AFL promotion and stated that our code will never become a truly international one. This contradicts his NZ push which is more to do with a self serving Hawthorn agenda, or does he not consider NZ a sovereign country? Personally I believe Saffa holds far greater potential in respect of sheer talent and an affinity for the Aust code than the hostile culture of NZ could ever offer.

This project is vital for the short-mid term future of North Melbourne If tassie can support 4 games a year in the north, and 2 games a year in the south, then that's half the games that a team of their own would be playing (assuming a 24 round comp next year which 12 home games a side) If this passes through next week and succeeds...I can see North bringing this up to 4 games a year like Hawthorn. Whatch Tassie start screaming for its own team then...

This article explains it better. In other reports the Tassie Greens are opposing it strongly apparently Link- http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/05/31/234171_most-popular-stories.html

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