While Tasmania continues to be overlooked for an AFL club, Canberra continues to be overlooked as the city seen to be overlooked.
When Tasmania finally joins the AFL and AFLW as the 19th club, Canberra should join as the 20th.
Imagine it. A packed-out Manuka Oval. Thousands of fans screaming as Canberra kicks after the siren to defeat the Tasmania Devils. A truly national competition at home in the national capital.
The capital makes sense for a club. Greater Canberra has double the population of Hobart and is fast approaching 500,000 people. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest median income in the country and a large cohort of public servants with free weekends.
With a secondary home in the Aussie rules hotbed of the Riverina-Murray, playing annual games in Albury and Wagga, the club would have a market of 750,000 potential fans.
Aussie rules has been played in Canberra since the city’s founding, with the fertile grounds along the Molonglo River bearing such greats as Alex Jesaulenko, James Hird and Phil Davis.
But Canberra’s Aussie rules pedigree dates back even further, with our great game’s founder – Tom Wills – born on the Molonglo Plain, the area that would become Canberra. Without Wills, the sport would not exist in its current form. Aussie rules owes its very existence to the region.
There is enough room for three major winter codes. Canberrans have proved it through their support of the city’s adopted part-time club – the GWS Giants – who have complemented the winter sporting landscape alongside the Raiders in the NRL and Brumbies in Super Rugby.
The Giants’ men’s average attendance has competed well against a resurgent Raiders, and even surpassed the Brumbies’ average crowds.
Dylan Shiel. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Women’s spectator numbers have proved even more impressive, with the Giants’ women’s three Manuka games all featuring in the side’s top four home attendance figures.
These metrics will only go up with the attention and support that a full-time club brings.
Canberra has an impressive Aussie rules pedigree. In 2003, that pedigree led to the Sydney Swans’ reserves opting to play in AFL Canberra’s first grade. The capital offered a higher standard of competition than their local Sydney competition could offer.
The Swans played against Canberra’s best for eight seasons before joining Canberra’s five teams in the creation of the NEAFL. The only other city with five teams competing in the NEAFL was Brisbane – a city five times more populous.
In 2017, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said he wanted Aussie rules to be the “dominant code in this [Canberra] market”.
The code is healthy, but it can’t be expected to be reach McLachlan’s lofty hopes without a permanent team in the city. From their base at Sydney Olympic Park, GWS just can’t compete with the Raiders and Brumbies for airtime, column inches, and hearts and minds.
The Giants’ partnership with Canberra has definitely been a positive step. The capital has been vying for entry into the national competition for nearly four decades, and GWS’ prolonged support has allowed Canberrans to get behind a single club.
The Giants have been good for Canberra, but it was never meant to be permanent. Their part-time status is obvious. The Giants are ours, but only kind of. And they’re treated that way by both the public and the media.
Eventually, GWS will pull out of Canberra to focus more on Sydney. Eight home games will not be enough for their growing Western Sydney base.
As the Giants plan their exit from the capital, Canberra should be planning its entry into the AFL and AFLW. It’s time for the national capital to be represented in the national competition.
Andrew Wilkins
Guest
A stand-alone team in our nations capital- A fantastic idea, lots of disposable income, plenty of code support. The 21st license...after Tasmanian team & NT Thunder.
GWS Fan Legend
Guest
I have a very great idea, I think if the Northerrn Territory team didn't exist in the AFL Season, Canberra will have its own team: Canberra Funnel Webs, they can play 9 games in Canberra and 2 games in Illawarra/Wollongong (if North Dalton Park was upgraded) Colours: Dark Blue, Gold, White. Their Home Guernsey Describes to have a Dark Blue v shape with a little white outline and the background will be gold and they will also have a web on the gold background.
Republican
Guest
Definitely never NZ. They have naught interest and no cultural affinity for our code aside from the expat Australians who live there which is hardly a basis for gifting them a presence in the biggest game in the land. They have long been expedient in their ability to glean favour in other domestic leagues but this should not be afforded them in the case of the indigenous code, a cultural institution, which they mostly denigrate. There are plenty of domestic options that are by far more viable than NZ. I recall some power brokers in NZ stating that they would be ready to entertain the idea of being gifted an AFL brand on the condition that all reference to Australia was dropped. This is a NZ trait, looking to appropriate the code as their own while offering diddly in terms of history, affinity, or respect.
Zaco_
Roar Rookie
Oh yeah, I saw an article about them building a new Cricket ground in Auckland and to potentially play games there.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
East Coast Giants to encompass all of NSW and Canberra. I guess Jervis Bay is part of the ACT.
Canberra Pear
Roar Rookie
Paul, I think East Coast might be a bit vague and you’d risk alienating particularly the Sydney market. More footy for Canberra can only be good and Canberrans would support more matches. But you’d risk alienating Western Sydney fans. Sydney already has the Swans, so without a differentiating marker, I think it would be hard for Western Sydneysiders getting on board with a half Canberra team if they weren’t already on board.
Paul
Guest
I agree Canberra should have a team if not GWS could change it's name to be more encompassing of Canberra and less Sydney oriented. I think East Coast Giants would make more sense and would encompass all of NSW and Canberra.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
No hate, just awe.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Capital idea, I'm just ruing the fact that l didn't jump at that thought.
Canberra Pear
Roar Rookie
Zaco, I'd actually get the Saints playing in Auckland before they go back to Wellington. The new Western Springs Stadium redevelopment will create an AFL configuration not far from the centre of Auckland. The city had about five times as many people as Wellington and much of the grassroots Aussie Rules as well.
Canberra Pear
Roar Rookie
It would actually be fitting. Blue and gold (and sometimes white) are on a few of our teams. The Brumbies, the Brave, the Caps. Even the Canberra Demons had blue and gold in the NEAFL.
Canberra Pear
Roar Rookie
No worries, the comments section is a tricky one to navigate sometimes. I wouldn't be opposed to an Auckland team when the time is right!
Gerry
Roar Rookie
I agree for Canberra team I was replying to those who don’t think a Tas team is viable ever. But yep 200 per cent for Canberra, NT and Tas team. If NZ were half interested in AFL why not chuck a team in from there. It’s all good Canberra Pear.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Sorry Canberra Pear I was relying to the fool who thinks Tas team is not going to happen. I am all for Canberra having a side as should an NT team. It’s a fair time away but I think it will happen. The Vics want to dominate the comp with their 10 sides for all eternity but I am afraid they will not be able to sustain that amount of teams in a fully national comp. I suspect one of the current teams would relocate to Canberra. It may be GWS I am not sure. Vics would hate to lose another team like Fitzroy and South Melbourne to another city. I fear though it is inevitable at some point.
Zaco_
Roar Rookie
Because it’s literally one of the colours on ACT’s Flag, would make sense cos they would be in Canberra
2dogz
Roar Rookie
I haven’t seen any that look as good as Kouta (or Cappa) in hot pants. I’ll stay tuned
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It's amazing how deluded some, not all, RL types are over their mythconceptions about AF. ------ Now AFLW has come along I've now got equality with what women AFL fans have had for ages. I can now druol over the AFLW players.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
He can rewatch the Blues 95 gf over and over and over in slow motion. He’ll be throfen over Kouta in his hot pants
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The "hot pants" went out in 1996. Happy New Year 2021
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
It would be interesting if the AFL capped subsidies & advised non competitive Melb teams that they would be playing in a 2nd tier comp as of 2024. You might find a couple of clubs changing their stance on non relocation or merging. Could open up a spot for Canberra?