Full credit to the Geelong Football Club for the way they have turned themselves around from being virtually insolvent 15 years ago, with an outdated stadium and facilities not up to scratch.
Kardinia Park is taking shape, with half of the state of the art redevelopment finished. Now comes the process of getting more Government funding for the second half, which includes reinvigorating the Brownlow, Jack Jennings and Fords stands on the western side of the venue.
It’s fast becoming the classic boutique stadium that the AFL needs in Melbourne to complement the big two, the MCG and Docklands.
The Cats are always hard to beat there as they fill it for every home game. The ground has gone from an endangered species in the AFL to a permanent fixture, so it makes sense that a Melbourne club would also consider setting up base to play their home matches there.
The obvious candidate would be the Western Bulldogs. Geographically they are the closest Melbourne club to Geelong, and they also have an unfavourable arrangement at Docklands.
They have one of the lowest memberships in the league and they rarely make a profit in their home games at Docklands unless they meet Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond and Carlton.
The games against the interstate teams are generally financial disasters and this is a club that has always struggled financially.
They don’t make overall profits often and in 2013 made a loss of more than $100,000, although that wasn’t really a surprise considering they had planned to beef up their footy department which they’ve done for this year and beyond.
Still, they are usually handing over a cheque to the Docklands management when they have home matches there.
The Magpies, Bombers, Tigers and Hawks have over the past couple of years got their hands out to receive cheques after their home games at their venues. The Bulldogs need to aspire to that.
The Docklands deal has constantly frustrated the Dogs. It’s been a major cause for concern for North Melbourne and to a lesser extent St Kilda, but in regard to on-field success, the Saints and the Roos have at times made the Docklands Stadium a fortress.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs haven’t . There were fleeting moments during Rodney Eade’s seven-year reign as coach when their fast-paced and high-octane style really suited the ground, but they have a disappointing win/loss record there.
Kardinia Park hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds either as Geelong have dominated them over the years, but there’s a chance to develop a fresher identity and get better bang for their buck and establish a rivalry with the Cats.
The Western Victorian Derby? That’s a bit lame (marketing and creativity isn’t a strong point), but Kardinia Park deserves to have AFL footy there every week.
North Melbourne shouldn’t rule out this as an option either, but they get two decent pay days with their arrangement at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
The Dogs have been helped financially by playing home games in Canberra and Darwin in recent years, but even though their future seems assured in this competition thanks to the AFL’s support, there is enormous potential for them to become stronger financially in the long term by shifting home bases.
Docklands hasn’t worked for them, so it’s time for the Bulldogs to make a move – even if it is to a cattery.
Glenn
Guest
Well I believe the Kangas had an AFL affiliation with Tasmania in the year few years the Devils were in the VFL, so seems fitting they have this Hobart deal going on now.
Epiquin
Guest
And nice to see you reply with your 'winning is the only thing that makes a team popular' attitude. GWS's woes have less to do with their on-field performances and more to deal with their inability to engage fans.
Radelaide
Guest
Don't write off Etihad just yet, according to Caro the AFL are looking at buy the stadium out to make the poorer clubs more profitable and they certainly can afford it.
Paul
Guest
"Needs just a little work on seating" and parking, etc, etc. Look we've tried Princes Park before it wasn't successful then and wouldn't be again. As I said before, stick to the Docklands with a better deal and maybe some games against interstate teams at Geelong. Really don't want to go to Cairns or anywhere else in north Qld, I went to the Tigers/Gold Coast game there last year and it was awful, couldn't wait to get out of the town.
Gyfox
Guest
Ah, Epi, nice to see you on this thread, bringing your Sydney only loves winners philosophy. GWS is a work in progress - Bulldogs & Roos are working class footy clubs that have had rare success. Yrs, Griffo, Princes Park would make an ideal 3rd AFL stadium holding 20,000. Needs just a little work on seating. Completing the development of Kardinia Park will certainly make it possible to have more home games in Geelong. And it will provide employment for a couple of years - something that Geelong needs. I am sure Jorji will be very keen about that.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I think he's saying that Bendigo and Ballarat are holding back Melbourne :D
Sam J
Guest
What about Princes Park, what's that looking like now (I'm from Perth so don't really know what it's like atm)? At least that'd be close to the CBD and not too big a trek for Bullies/Roos fans. I know they took some stands away but that used to be a decent sized ground.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
I live in Adelaide and love the place. What's your point?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Good food, wine and beer?
Epiquin
Guest
GWS still isn't happening...
alicesprings
Guest
Ha stranger things have happen! We all thought GWS was never going to happen. Newcastle will have a team one day hopefully!
micka
Guest
Not too dramatic at all...
Epiquin
Guest
Come oooooonnn... Where's the adventurousness? Newcastle Bulldogs anyone? ;)
langou
Roar Guru
The AFL sees the Bulldogs as an important part of the game in representing the Western suburbs of Melbourne. Last time I went to the Vietnamese markets in Footscray I saw them Bulldogs advertisements. The other day I had a coffee in Yarraville and they had teamed up with the cafes to run a promotion giving away free tickets providing you live in the Western Suburbs.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
The AFL has a policy that there needs to be a minimum 500K population per 1 team. So even if Geelong got to 500K they need to double again before the AFL will consider a second team.
Bill
Guest
No matter what happens I will support the Dogs no matter where they play. The Dogs may well be struggling financially but the western suburbs need a footy team. As for the statement that we get poor crowds, we are a very small club in a very powerful organisation, please do not rubbish us as there are a lot of loyal proud Bulldogs supporters out there who only want to see the footy team do well.
Ash of Geelong
Guest
You need to understand its the GFC that requests block busters at MCG , you will never have 11 home games.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Jorgi you are argue like a poor man’s Johnno. At least Johnno knows that the stuff he posts is total garbage 99% of the time. Firstly being from Melbourne and spending plenty of time in Geelong and the Surf Coast and attending games at Kardinia Park I think I know a little bit about the area and the team. Totally agree that Geelong people cannot get enough footy, you are spot on – but the footy they can’t get enough of is the Cats and the their local teams in the suburban comps. Do you have any evidence at all that there is a strong support for another team such as the Bulldogs to move games to the area? Have you contacted the Western Bulldogs or their members to ask what they think of the proposal? Do you have any figures which show a strong level of support for the Western Bulldogs in Geelong? You state “Geelong folks would welcome enough club with open arms” – that is laughable. How do you know that the stadium deal at Geelong would be profitable? Why wouldn’t the Geelong City Council try and make money out of another tenant similar to the way that Etihad squeeze everything from their tenants? You have anything which shows that the Bulldogs will automatically make dollars playing in Geelong or do you assume because the Cats make money there then so should the Bulldogs? You sound like a bloke with a massive chip on the shoulder and put forward arguments that are not objective and without any evidence.
me, I like football
Guest
Melbourne would be another Adelaide if it wreren't for places like Bendigo, Castlemaine and Ballarat
me, I like football
Guest
Lets concentrate on getting the Cats 11 games at Kardinia Park before worrying about another tenant