A new $1.025 billion TV deal for the NRL. David Gallop replacing Ben Buckley as the FFA’s chief executive. It’s fair to say it was a pretty big news day in sport yesterday.
But who were the winners and losers?
Even those below the surface of these events, like the AFL, how did they fare?
Let’s take a look.
Rugby League: Winners
While rugby league fans are entitled to feel like losers – the new deal doesn’t drastically differ from the old one, and it lacks two fan-friendly components of the AFL deal in four free-to-air games and every game on Foxtel – ultimately, the game itself is a winner.
Several years ago South Sydney Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe might as well have screamed “Show me the money!” when he led what would become a chorus of complaints about the size of the NRL’s TV deal in comparison to its main rival.
There were some practical reasons why this was happening, of course, including the fact rugby league games take up two hours of airtime compared to three for AFL games.
But there were reasons in support of the Crowe battle cry, too. The fact league is clearly number one in two of our three biggest states was chief among them.
On top of that, there’s also the fact your average State of Origin game – taking out dead rubbers – averages more than your average AFL grand final in terms of nationwide audience (not bad considering there’s more of them per year). The NRL grand final is also one of the country’s biggest sporting events from a TV ratings perspective.
Now, rugby league is much closer to their main rival. But obviously, it’s about more than that; it’s about what the money can do.
The larger return doesn’t just mean bragging rights, it means rugby league now has the ability to build a “war chest” of its own. Expansion into so-called foreign territory is now a more realistic possibility. You can also start investing more heavily in junior programs as well.
Whatever is considered strategically important, the Australian Rugby League Commission can go for it.
It’s a good position to be in.
Football: Winners
There will be fans unhappy someone from “outside the game” has the game’s top job once again. Screw them. David Gallop is a good appointment.
Six years is a good innings, so it’s fair to say Ben Buckley has had his time to leave his mark on the sport.
Unfortunately for him, the negatives were really starting to pile up. Two A-League clubs lost in the space of two seasons. The last three seasons being the worst three in the league’s history for average attendance. The long overdue Western Sydney Wanderers only made possible after a government grant. Only one home Socceroos game since the 2010 World Cup pulling above 30,000 — and even that (40,189 in Brisbane) was unimpressive for a World Cup qualifier against Japan.
He had his achievements too, and not all the dramas have been his fault – Clive Palmer’s shenanigans come to mind – but it’s a good time for a new face to arrive.
David Gallop comes in after running the second-biggest league in the country, and having done so throughout some noticeably tough circumstances, at that.
The NRL was hit by its fair share of scandals during his time in charge, but Gallop was still able to ensure the sport found growth, as evidenced by the size of yesterday’s TV deal.
He is a quality administrator. He knows how to run – as opposed to being second in charge – an organisation with a much larger Australian audience and profile than the FFA. He’s a solid choice.
AFL: Winners and Losers
The AFL are losers in the sense that their biggest rivals have finally caught up in terms of their TV deal. Okay, so $1.025 billion including conta isn’t the same as $1.253 billion including contra.
But the gap has shortened and the NRL have not yet signed away mobile/internet rights (an area that isn’t being fully exploited yet in Australia) and New Zealand rights, which will obviously fetch a bit more than the native game’s.
You constantly hear references to the AFL’s supposed “war chest” and how it’s set up the league’s two expansion clubs. Well, now rugby league can get to work on building one of their own, which would be somewhat frightening to the AFL commission.
On the other hand, Ben Buckley becoming available poses an intriguing scenario.
Is he the man to fill the vacant North Melbourne CEO gig? Could he be sent to fix Port Adelaide? Is an AFL gig, re-grooming him as Andrew Demetriou’s successor, a possibility?
Without knowing what his future plans are, you suspect he’ll find his way back to the AFL industry. The North job is the one that got the most mentions yesterday.
At any rate, another quality administrator in the ranks can’t hurt.
Basketball: Losers
While this will be off the radar for many, I couldn’t let it slide.
Basketball Australia have recently replaced Kristina Keneally as chairperson and Scott Derwin as CEO by appointing … wait for it … Scott Derwin as chairperson and Kristina Keneally as CEO.
If that sentence wasn’t uninspiring enough already, they’ve now done it at a time when two of the most qualified sports administrators in the country went on the market (first Gallop, now Buckley).
In fairness, Keneally hasn’t been involved in the sport for that long so it’s not like you can write off that experiment just yet.
Whether basketball has the funds to pull off a big coup also has to be questioned.
But at a time when fresh blood is desperately needed – and on the back of yet another team going under in the Gold Coast Blaze – yesterday’s news, if nothing else, represents another opportunity lost.
Brewski
Guest
Sorry, i got that wrong, the Sydney Swans have around 720 boys at their academy. http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/philosophy/tabid/16982/default.aspx Probably the other clubs have more as well. I guess you guys will be all over it now, with your enthusiasm for info regarding all things Australian Football !!.
Brewski
Guest
Oh well, if you consider 100 players combined from NSW/QLD insignificant, thats your perogative. I would imagine that there will be a few more, now that the northern AFL teams all have academies up and running with around 400 boys in each. The northern clubs will have first dibs on these boys, which means quite a few will stay in their home states. Your interest is, as always, appreciated in the great Australian game. LOL. And interestingly, there is more QLDers on the GC Suns list than QLDers on the Titans roster, i find that very interesting, and quite amusing really LOL.
Brewski
Guest
You appear to take a big interest pot stirrer, you post heaps about Australian football, LOL.
Harry
Guest
Good on ya Bwoosk !! That'll sort em out.
mick h
Guest
FITZY no scare mongering what really pisses off people in western sydney is when councils(eg blacktown) are conned to provide facilities for the afl at blacktown( i see gws is moving training to homebush did the players get sick of travelling)and other sports have crap facilities and i include soccer rl and ru they are the most popular winter sports in western sydney. as a ratepayer, business and property owner i am entitled to input on how when and where my rates and taxes are going. blacktown workers have their own fields for rl and soccer i bet they would love assistance to upgrade facilities.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Its a big bubble, Mate your game sucks, Ive tried to take an interest but all i keep thinking is its just netball on a footy field.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Wow thats . 0000001% of the population.
Fitzy
Guest
Sorry, what is your beef? Why is AFL so threatening to you, you don't like it don't watch it, but don't come up with so many wildly inaccurate statements with no evidence backing up what you say. From what I remember the AFL never said the numbers would explode, they said that there were more than enough kids who PLAY NO SPORT that it would be viable for them LONG TERM to place a team and BUILD support! Typical scare mongering statements like yours just show how small minded you are. I think good luck to RL I know they have a future and respect the sport and players. I think you are just a pawn of those like Phil Gould who think there is a war.
JVGO
Guest
Parra sold out Rd 26 for the Hindy farewell and it is being moved to Stadium Australia.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
In the end, playing numbers are rubbery. What isn't though, is numbers on AFL lists - and there are 50 NSW players on AFL lists, including 18 from Sydney. This is a record high on both counts, and they're numbers that continue to increase. Where are these players coming from if numbers at grass roots level are negligible? Is it just luck that NSW produces so many players despite having such a small base (assuming what you say is true)? If you compare that to numbers playing NRL and Super Rugby from outside NSW and Queensland then it puts in perspective at least one of two things: 1. Australian football has a lot more participants than you're making out, and 2. Rugby League and (to a lesser extent) Union outside it's heartland is virtually non existent. Certainly here in WA, league is never really heard but union has a presence. But I understand there's just 1 WA player in Super rugby.
Fitzy
Guest
I grew up in NSW and have played, watched and enjoyed AFL since I was 15. Know alot like me, you obviously live in a bubble, keep telling yourself these fairy tales and the AFL will just go away. Some people live in their own little worlds. PS SCG has been sold out for months for Swans v Hawks! I don't think any NRL club can say same for one of their home and away games!
Brewski
Guest
And i guess you speak for the 49 players from NSW on AFL club lists, and the 48 from QLD. And the thousands of men, women and children playing the game, not to mention parents, officials etc.
Australian Rules
Guest
RL is already the biggest sport in both states. Grassroots $ will reinforce that to a point, but it's already top dog. It's like asking, could Australian Football grow much more in Vic or WA? Same answer: I doubt it.
Fitzy
Guest
When NRL is the sport that kids play and adults tune into in the other states (latest census indicated melb population will increase more than Syd) and the code has teams in all states other than a token effort in Victoria. Then I think your claim might have some credability. The fact is that tv rights is one stream of revenue, sponsorship, membership, merchandising etc are also valuable sources. Which the NRL is still well behind. Maybe 20 yrs from now but not foreseeable time, wherese GWS and GC will grow with time. NRL is too busy considering its next expansion into Sydney and Brisbane which will effect its long term future.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
The Big problem you face in NSW and QLD is we dont like AFL, Your arragant thinking your game is better when all you are is a die hard fan who loves the game he grew up with. RL is now in a position to throw money at the junior development while the AFL will be cuaght up propping up your very boring expansion teams.
mick h
Guest
vic rugby union is international their tv rights are sanzar south africa nz and australian rugby completely different factors their last deal was about 550 million for 5 years and don't rely on the domestic market as much as afl and nrl. in nz and sa they have a strong 3rd tier.
mick h
Guest
1. soccer won't if they keep fighting they will lock fans out your bold statement about rl becoming bigger in nsw and qld is astounding. rl will continue to grow in both states lack of proper facilities and money has been holding the game back and that will change now.
mick h
Guest
wrong mate as i have said before the afl made bold statements about the influence of gws in western sydney and that would reflect in playing numbers increasing the facts are it hasn't happened. you know a franchise is desperate when they have to go to canberra for support. people in western sydney don't care about gws. the medical issue doesn't seem to stop the thousands of junior rugby league and union players from playing in rep games each year and that will continue. pdjrl is currently putting the final touches to its new rep program which will involve 80 players from u 12 's to under 17's (480 players) to trail and train in a rep environment. and that is one junior district alone and more than what the afl would have in nsw and qld
Australian Rules
Guest
I think a legitimate question is: Can rugby league be bigger than it currently is in NSW or Qld? I think the answer is "probably not". It's always been ingrained as the staple sport in those 2 states for 100+ years. Whilst the costly AFL forays into those states have been criticised (perhaps rightly so) Australian Footy will undoubtedly have a greater presence in those states in 20 years time as a result of that investment. So will soccer, as a result of the 2nd Sydney team. Given the ARLC seemed to say yesterday that: 1) The clubs and players will attract a massive chunk of the tv monies; and 2) Expansion is NOT an immediate priority... You would hope that Grant et al reduce the grassroots/development deficit that have placed it squarely behind the AFL for the past 20 years.
Anthony
Guest
Good points made above. Have now read the fine details of the NRL deal. It may be a lot of money - but I think it is not the great achievement NRL people are trumpeting. Just one live game on FTA each week is a disaster. Everyone knows that FTA is the key to growth & promotion. Just ask the A-league. SOO & rep games must be worth half the rights - so NRL is valued at 1/2 billion. IE: 1/2 the value of AFL, with 6 less games. The only real positive is the extra cash - & that will be swallowed up by higher salary cap, grants to clubs & money put into where AFL is expanding, which is NRL heartland already!