#Jack Russell

There’s a difference between preaching and responding to a question posed.

Given his language was full of “Can” and “Could”……..he didn’t really go out all that strong either.

And – – question of Australia Day isn’t really an esoteric one; it’s a broad question that doesn’t actually impact anyone regarding cost of living. So – I’m not sure that “ivory towers” come into play on this question.

And given the symbolism of Australia Day……it’s somewhat appropriate to hear the views (after being questioned) of the Australian Test Cricket captain. Remember – – cricketers are a little less brain washed than are military personnel (who also represent Australia and the flag); so he doesn’t have to wait until he retires to have a chance to think outside of the command structure.

#Jack Russell

And here we have the problem.

Why must this idea be seen as ‘Left’ or ‘Right’?

It’s not of itself a progressive nor conservative idea. It’s an idea. The response becomes perhaps reflective of progressive or conservative thought and values.

Attacking the question…….is somewhat churlish. The number of people who just can’t come to understand that having this conversation is NOT in any way trying to NOT have an Australia Day or attacking Australia. It’s about coming up with a win-win date.

And by the way…………when we finally grow up and become a Republic…….then we might get the appropriate date at that point in time and stop eating our own in such a boorish manner.

#scrum

Realistic.

That said……….I would have prefered the good Murdoch lad to have inherited the family farm.

#ozinsa

“Pollies could bilaterally agree that we can be big enough to consider the feelings …….”

Yeah……..and pigs might fly.

WE saw with the Referendum just how rapidly what in all rational appraisal a couple of years out should’ve been either bi-partisan or at least not involving assignment of party positioning……….was instead weaponised and used in the battlefront of the ‘culture wars’.

“I wish we were better”

The problem here really is the media. Politicians can’t afford to ‘lead’. It’s rarely……pretty well never about what is ‘right (correct)’ but about what can get the numbers.

And overly partisan media entities playing the role of cheerleaders (if not the tail wagging the dog) doesn’t help for a centrist debate that would reach a centrist critical mass of consensus that would drive the political bubble.

I blame overly watered down cross media ownership laws…….started 40 years ago.

Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel……and they profit from inflaming this debate rather than solving it (and they’ll do it again, by the calendar in 2025, and 2026…….).

who is ‘behind Jan 26’ anyway? The Australia Day Council??

Seriously – – – finding a better date that relates to the Federated nation of Australia shouldn’t be an issue at all.

What is clear – is that those most ardently ‘behind Jan 26’ are ignoring rational discussion; in many respects are ignoring the history of the nation and the concept………..and politically weaponising the issue as part of the ‘culture wars’.

Yep……..it’s the hard right who just hate to be anywhere within 3 postcodes of anything that might seem ‘progressive’.

And…….in particular a ‘progressive’ discussion that can be seen in any way to have a racial component. ‘cos that’s being ‘woke’……..decent…….respectful……….and we can’t have that.

Guess what. We could change the date – let’s say to May 9th – – the sitting of the first Fed Parliament in 1901 and the opening of the Canberra Parliament houses in both 1927 and 1988……….everyone would be happy. We’d move on and seriously………seriously – we’d look back and wonder what the impediment was. (of course by then all the boomers will have died off).

#Lionheart

It’s not Soccer………..it’s FIFA (and a World Cup). Soccer Australia can’t do that by itself.

The AFL – – which runs every single year – University of New South Wales economist Tim Harcourt estimated a $340 million loss for Victoria due the absence of games (played up in Qld). And the loss of the GF being between $50-100mill.

So……for the state of Victoria……yeah…….love your FIFA WC’s but……..when’s the next one??

#Grem

And Tasmania can vote then to remain an irrelevant after thought in the cultural/social dark ages……or vote to join in.

#Grem

A joke? How?

The AFL won’t own the stadium. It will be a public asset.

The AFL broader commitment to Tassie is hundreds of millions via dedicated team and footy development within Tassie. That’s new money to the economic pie.

The Fed portion of the funding is new money to the Tas economic pie.

And…….it’s Hobart’s multi purpose centrally located stadium/venue that is AFL capable………and soccer capable………and………there’s no A-League side in Tassie nor a realistic short term option other than………relocated Western Utd??

#Lionheart

What returns? To whom from whom?

The cash that Soccer Australia gets – from FIFA? Yep – – now they can spend it on things that matter to them.

#Football Fan

You well know that the Western Utd works is a public private partnership with the Wyndham City Council. Using the “Value Capture” model. They made a point of it being done without State/Fed Govt funding. So……what are you complaining about??

As it is – it’s very much about the 62.5 hectares and around 2,000 houses. Oh yeah…..and a soccer team that no one asked for!!!

The irony is that Western Utd has been set up at the Essendon FC “Hangar” facility. The one many soccer heads have attacked for the Govt funds that went into it – – – although ignoring that those funds were to the Essendon Hangar partner – – The Paralympic organisation.

humidity……

#Foodball Fan

As per my response to chris1

The Showgrounds $65 million redevelopment; paid for by $45 mill State NSW, $12 mill AFL, $7 mill RAS.

what’s your problem with that?? AFL contributed 18.46% of the build cost.

To what is a state asset and managed by the RAS. Not a bad deal for NSW there.

And still – – you have this blind jealousy about it???

Don’t let facts get in the way – hey!!!

#chris1

Not sure your grasp of English is that great here.

“parasitic AFL”…….

The Showgrounds $65 million redevelopment; paid for by $45 mill State NSW, $12 mill AFL, $7 mill RAS.

Used by…….many.

Parasitic doesn’t really work when the AFL is one of 3 co-investors and a core partner with the RAS.

I think the word you are after here is “symbiotic”……

…..”the symbiotic AFL”…….

#GoGWS

AFL should be playing games in India.

And……..should partner with cricket in the US.

#Brainstrust

“AFL head office in Melbourne runs the state with a specific agenda, and decided to bid for the Olympics , run the rail line to the Gabba. ”

Seriously??

Do you even read what you post before you do??

I know you hate the AFL………..

You said “Perry Park is a no brainer but putting 10 million towards football by this satanist state is not going to happen.”

Now……ironic you state 10 million.

That’s how much the AFL/Brisbane Lions contributed directly to the Springfield facility.

And the AFL put in $13.3 million into the Carrara Stadium upgrade.

…….so………10 million into Perry Park………is that what FQ should be chipping in? Or the FPA?

Because – – that’s the secret to regularly unlocking Govt funds. Be it at the very local level; all the way up. (that and the ongoing investment into the state by the code.)

Yes – co funded by AFL (AFL/Brisbane Lions put in $10 million towards the project), 3 tiers of Govt and the developer.

So how much are you proposing Football Qld invest in Perry Park? Or are you just calling for hand outs??

#Brisbane RL Fan
“I can’t see the game ever taking off internationally when it is so different to every other football code.”
The irony of this is – – looking at RL in the US…….it’s too similar. Not enough ‘point of difference’ given NFL and the Olympic Union are far better established.

For Aust Footy – – for those North Americans who have discovered it (playing) – the common thread is that they love the variety of skills/attributes it calls upon. Many have told me that they played whatever combination of soccer, volleyball, basketball, American football etc etc through school/college and then when out in the real world and more time poor – a game like Aust Footy draws on so many more of those skills/attributes than any other game.

So……..the niche for playing……is the ‘all rounder’.

But how to market it to people watching??? It’s tough as you need to explain it. And there’s not much time to dissect replays during the game.

#matth

Re the NBL…..pretty well all comes down to Larry Kestelman.

#matth

I always assert – – that Australia is arguably unique in the world – as at very least the worlds most competitive domestic football market.

Let alone the broader sports landscape.

What it means is each code tends to have its own ‘sweet spot’ and it’s really difficult to gain traction outside of that sweet spot.

As far as the AFL goes – – I feel they largely recognised this back in the ’90s and have benefitted greatly from that (i.e. gave up on the SofO).

Soccer in Australia…….will always struggle as a Domestic ‘elite’ club comp for a couple of reasons. 1. the national teams gain the superficial attention; not the clubs; 2. competition – – from the international clubs/leagues to which any decent local player gets attracted to; 3. comes from a long way behind NRL and AFL in the consciousness.

If Australia were a sporting vacuum……who knows. But it’s very much the opposite.

Cricket is always a funny game – – when playing I couldn’t wait but often just hoped for a wash out.

#Grem

“Jumping from a first grade standard to test cricket is too great a leap”

Not always. Sadly enough.

SO often – – be it cricket, soccer, whatever — just because something is an ‘international’ doesn’t mean it’s any good. All I ever want is a ‘contest’. And for me – – the most interesting contests involve pitches NOT in the ‘road’ category.

btw – the odd tour match played in country locations; back in the early ’90s Sri Lanka ventured well east of Melbourne to take on the Vics in Sale.

The other great thing was the matches versus a Country XI.

#Mr Right

Not so much Maynard…..although elements in the media did. And certainly social media. I thought his defence made the point about Brayshaw’s lurch to his right as he completed the kick as being something Maynard couldn’t anticipate.

But yes – the ‘intent’ vs ‘outcome’ which is also reflected in the old “attempted striking” charge. How hard should anyone go on intent alone if there’s no outcome.

The ‘reckless’ clause SHOULD have covered a lack of intent. And sheesh – – I always wonder just what Maynard’s idea of ‘success’ was ever going to be in that incident. Surely he knew he couldn’t avoid illegal front on contact. And that’s the thing about defining a ‘reckless act’ as a ‘legitimate football act’. Because………many a legitimate footy act is executed poorly and concedes at least a free kick or if executed too poorly……a suspension.

I still don’t understand how the tribunal ended up getting shunted down the path they took…….other than; an unwillingness.

best value for cricket is shield matches at grounds with a grassy hill.

However – – we so very, very rarely see anything like our top internationals in the shield.

I was in the bush and unable to get there – but as a kid growing up listening to the call of shield matches with not just our internationals playing; but also the likes of Botham, Garner, Holding…….I know that time is long gone now.

It just seems a little incongruous – – the innovation on the BBL side of things and lack of innovation on the long format side.

#Grem

Largely agree.

That said – – there are many Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan recent arrivals who live eat and breathe cricket.

If test cricket were limited to England, Australia, India…….and NZ??….and RSA??

I grew up loving Viv Richards and the Windies of the last 70s and 80s. A little bit of magic has worn off. Interestingly – I DID get hooked on some of the WC matches recently. And the Maxwell magic.

The reality is – – Boxing Day MCG…….will always draw a crowd. How ‘great’ that crowd is depends. Cricket though – – needs to really review it’s pricing especially for the lower tier teams. It’s a long day at the cricket and food/drink can be costly; it should be made as cheap as possible to come through the gates.

re the crowd at the cricket – – it was very hot over there – – no one out in the sun.

In bigger stadia like that – – you’ll find everyone creeping up under the shade or on the shaded side of the ground.

It’s like the MCG in winter on a really wet day – – you can have 30,000 there and not see more than a handful out in the open.

#Chris Lewis

“There are 25 million Aussies, and key is to get more of them interested in domestic football.”

In the worlds most competitive domestic football market – – part of the problem is that so many ARE interested in ‘domestic football’.