Thanks Cat, happy to answer, but please elaborate, what statistics are you referring?

I thought the stats in the article were pretty self explanatory. I’ll add to this a few facts from last decade.
– 6/10 premiership to MCG tenant teams.
– 2/10 premiership to Cats
– 1/10 premiership to Dockland teams.
– 1/10 premiership to interstate.

If the competition was not skewed, we would see far more interstate teams winning, and Docklands teams winning but we do not.

Also Geelong have it super sweet. They get BOTH home ground advantage on the longest, and skinniest ground AND exposure to the MCG. This adds to their ability to consistently make then finals, AND then win it.

Worthy is only part of the equation as significant other factors slant the results. For instance;

– The Lions play on a MCG equivalent size oval. This added to their ability to win at the MCG.

– Geelong had and has the best of both worlds. The unique shape of the ground helps them make the final, the exposure to the MCG during the regular season helps them to win the GF.

– Blighty’s Crows were BEFORE Docklands. Princes Park was far closer to MCG dimensions than Docklands Stadium. Swapping Princes Park for Docklands was a big part of the problem.

Thanks Cat, but I don’t agree with the framing of this statement. It creates a Loose – Loose situation for the interstate teams. And why should the onus be put on interstate teams?

The other problem is if this logic were adopted, the competition would become overly Melbourne Centric.

Plus Katherine makes an excellent point, MCG tenant teams are playing away from MCG, and this denies interstate team chance to become more familiar with MCG.

Thanks for your comments, but there are few errors;

1. Yes, I really want to see the G remain the venue for the GF. My preference would be a best of three where finals are also taken interstate. The MCG would host game 2. But I suspect this would be unlikely to get up, so I didn’t pursue this argument in the article.

2. I’m a Brisbane Lions supporter and we won three straight. ALL the interstate teams are disadvantaged. Noise is coming from all of the country mate.

3. Melbourne teams can certainly have two home grounds. The only other way to solve the problem is for the Docklands stadium to be as close as possible to a replica as the MCG as possible (excluding replicating crowd size).

Now let me ask you a specific question, if the roles were reversed, and the Tiger’s were Minor Premiers, would you be happy if another team then got three home finals at the expense of the Tigers? Of course you wouldn’t. It would be ridiculous if you didn’t speak out!

Thanks MattyB. The only problem is the stats. In the last 10 years, Docklands teams have the 1 flag to show for their efforts (Bulldogs), MCG tenant teams (Hawks, Tigers, Magpies) have won 6 flags.

Those stats show Docklands teams are disadvantaged.

But therein lies the problem. The 2017 season proves that being Minor Premiers or Runner Up, does NOT give the most advantageous run at the GF. The Minor Premiership and Runner Up is trumped simply being an MCG tenant team. As Tigers in 2017 proved, simply being an MCG tenant team in top four, gives you the most advantageous run.

So at the very least, Minor Premiers should be respected and honoured in a far more substantial way as a result. They should be compensated in advance for the MCG Tenant team bias against them they will likely face in the AFL finals series.

Future regular seasons draws need a makeover. I would also throw a Docklands redevelopment into the mix which would see it of similar size to the MCG.

Square peg, round hole.

AFLX is a rectangular game. So you would want to play on rectangular grounds where the crowd is right on the boundary. Problem with ovals with a rectangular game, it kills the atmosphere.

I think the point of the exercise from what is reported is to have a form of the game which can be taken internationally.

You have a point about Suncorp, reports suggest it is overused. It is a 50k stadium yet last season the Brisbane Roar only brought in 14k per game. Why teams play in grounds they have no hope of filling is beyond me.

How about AFLXW pre-season tournament held over 2 days at AAMI Park or Hindmarsh?

To avoid goals being scored after just two kicks, make a rule where you have to kick three times before a goal is a awarded.

Pat, for ALFX (which is equivalent to Rugby 7’s), I would also replicate Hong Kong 7’s or other Rugby 7’s tournament. Basically run the AFLX as a tournament over two days at different locations each year. All teams play at the one location.

RECTANGLE STADIUMS TO CONSIDER…
Establish AFLX in heartlands first;
Year 1. VICTORIA – AAMI Park
Year 2. SA – Hindmarsh Stadium.
Year 3. WA – Perth Stadium

Move to next two major regions in Australia
Year 4. NSW – Take your pick of the Rugby/Soccer Stadiums (avoid non rectangular stadiums though)
Year 5. QLD – Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane) and/or Dairy Farmers Stadium (Nth QLD)

With runs on the board and sizable crowds, move internationally
Year 6. NZ Christchurch (Target South Island, Auckland already has two codes, as does Wellington)
Year 7. China
Year 8. India

That is a good analogy with the Canberra Raiders aka the green machine.

Again this is a highly respected team and being part of that team adds credibility for the coach.

Ricky Stewart (NSW Blues, Canberra Raiders/Sydney Roosters)
Mal Meninga (QLD Maroons and Australian Kangaroos, Raiders 1997-2001)
Laurie Daley (NSW Blues coach)
Craig Belamy (Melbourne Storm/ NSW Blues)
David Furner (former Raiders coach)

Wayne Bennett (albeit he was a coach of the Raiders in 1987, not a player).

Yes Clarkson is a common denominator. Had he remained at Port Power, would all the other coaches have still made it to the top?

At the very least, having a premiership credentialed team like the Hawks (or any other club) on your CV increases your credibility and supports a club’s ability to make the Senior Coaching appointment in the first place.

My bad, Minor Premiers 2003.

Data seems to supports that link MattyB.

As players at Port, Dew, Hardwick won 3 McLellan Trophies and the Premiership.
As assistant coach at Port, Clarkson on deck for 2 McLellan’s and the Premiership.
Couple of lean years for Port after loss of those key individuals (and no doubt others also), before returning to the big dance in 2007.

2001 – 3rd (5th in finals) – (Players – Dew)
2002 – 1st (3rd in finals) – (Players – Dew, Hardwick)
2003 – 1st (4th in finals) – (Players – Dew, Hardwick, Assistant Coach – Clarkson)
2004 – 1st (Premiers) – (Players – Dew, Hardwick, Assistant Coach – Clarkson)
2005 – 8th (6th in finals)
2006 – missed finals
2007 – 2nd (GF runner up)

Fair call M36.

Dew was a Port Power player for majority of his career. Led to a Premiership in 2004 and GF also in 2003. Add to that 3 minor premierships with Port and plenty of finals experience. For Dew, his time with Hawks as a player would have been icing on the top and added to his knowledge. No doubt, his playing career with both Port and then the Hawks helped him get the gig as an assistant coach with the Swans. Again another very successful club.

With Clarkson, you are dead right. He was midfield coach in 2003 (Port’s GF loss to Lions), and also in 2004 (GF win against Lions). Would have brought a lot of his knowledge from Port to the Hawks in 2005 when he became Senior Coach of the Hawks.

Of all Senior Coaches, Alastair Clarkson has the strongest link of all to the Hawthorn Hawks.

Dew was a premiership player with the Hawks in 2008. While in that Hawks team, he would have learnt a heck of a lot about how the Hawks win.

Scott, agree, and stated so in the article. Scott’s connection is the weakest in the list.

That is a masterstroke getting Hodge.

Did you watch the Hawks v Lions game this season when Hodge was miked up.

His knowledge and on-field coaching won the game for the Hawks.

Lions stand to benefit in a big way. Plus they will have a genuine leader who will be their role model.

No, I think it is a great move and Lions will be the big mover up the ladder in 2018/2019.

Hodge will be a part time player which actually works in the Lions favour long term.

Hodge will guide them on the field some weeks. Then take a spell. During that time, the Lions will have to put in practice what they learn and try to step up.

In 2019, he might just play half games? 1st quarter, then 3rd quarter? Again, it will teach Lions to step up and put what Hodge teaches them on the field into practice.

Good choice for reasons stated in article.

Dew should know what it takes to win. He has won premierships and/or minor premierships as player/coach at the the clubs he has been at.

He was a premiership player with two clubs. Port (2004), Hawks (2008). Ports were also minor premiers (2002, 2003, 2004) while he was there.

Coaching. As strategy/midfield coach at the swans, seems to have excelled. Look at the Swans performance in past few seasons. Minor Premiers and Grand Finalists in 2016.

A bird in the hand, is better than two in the bush.

Moving by foot is better than moving it by running, great scene from goal.

Ultimately it is about the end state of the Super Rugby Conference the Reds and other franchises will play in.

You want an ANZAC conference, but there is a problem. NZ are awesome and fans want success.

I like the idea which was written about last week on the roar. 6 conference around the world (Europe + Super Rugby).
3 divisions within each conference. 6 teams per division.

Australia has 6 teams. That is 10 home and away games.

And that is about all you want. 10 games, then go straight to a top four division finals system. Semi’s then finals. Then Australian Division Champions.

This would be done twice per year. Once with Super Rugby sized player, and a second identical series for everyman sized players.

Every four years, in years between world cup years, teams would enter the Champions Cup. 18 teams showdown. This again would be done for the Super Rugby and Everyman groups.

Outside of Champion Cup years, the top teams from each division would play off for the conference Champions. In our case we would play in the ANZAC conference.

Yes that is true. Overpay a handful of players, and you have a team with a few champions and not a champion team.

Hence capping individual player payments. Would actually make competition more even, and also stop underpayment of players in teams with overpaid ‘superstars’.

Port Adelaide have just secured Rockcliff from Lions (albeit he is a Victorian, but from a small country town in Wangaratta).

Adelaide crows got QLD academy player Tippett.

Lions will look for a Cameron trade.

It is a merrygo round.

Someone asked why Port Adelaide don’t lose players and the Crows do? Perhaps Port target small country town players who won’t miss the big smoke of Melbourne.

It is no suprise that Taylor Walker is from a small town in Broken Hill and has remained loyal to Crows. He doesn’t have the big city bug.

Top article!

Can you do the same article on the Lions/Suns next?

Then move onto all the interstate clubs?

– Crows/Port (SA)
– Lions/Suns (QLD)
– Eagles/Dockers (WA)
– Swans/GWS (NSW/ACT)

Problem is though Steve, Queensland have an academy of sport, but grass roots development gets yanked away from the Lions.

Tippet was born in Sydney.
Went to school on the Gold Coast. Was in the QLD academy of sports. Played for the GC sharks.You would have thought he would be a Lions player at the time.

Instead…

Tippet was drafted to Adelaide in 2007, and wasn’t drafted to the Lions.
Tippet then left Adelaide in 2013 for Sydney.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Tippett#The_2012_trade_controversy

Point is, QLD invested him in him through academy, no reward for Lions. Need a ring fence around these players so they draft to Lions/Suns. Sure there can be exceptions. Doesn’t have to be a draconian ruling either. Let player movement flourish. But give clubs genuine locals also!