Roar Rookie
Joined August 2008
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This may come as a surprise to some, but Tasmania does not want the seveneeth AFL license. Nor the eighteenth, for that matter. And,…
Only six months have passed since the Mario Jardel-burdened Newcastle Jets were crowned A-League champions. Yet, it already seems the days of clubs left…
In the one city, one team rule, Melbourne is the exception. Sydney can be split up geographically, Queensland has lots of regional centres to work with — in Victoria, it’s Melbourne. It is almost as if you’ve got to have a strong presence in Melbourne if you are to succeed Victoria-wide, even Geelong (in the AFL) play 3 home games a year in Melbourne.
While this new team may end up being “based” in Casey, it will still be a Melbourne team. They will be no different to a Hawthorn or Western Bulldogs — their support will not be geographically limited. (Didn’t Sydney FC at one time train in Parramatta? Do they still do that? They were never considered a Parramatta club, were they?)
As for Geoff Lord’s comments, well, you could tell he had his MV hat on when he made those, I wouldn’t read too much into them Apparently a team now isn’t the right time, he would wait ten years (when MV has built its monopoly…)
“Today, as a businessman, I wouldn’t be prepared to start up a second team in Melbourne” should’ve read “Today, as a MV chairman…”
Buying an A-League franchise takes some heart
Redb,
It would probably just come down to O’Keefe… “Do I take a good offer from a rebuilding side like Essendon or do I take a pay cut with Hawthorn and in all likelihood win another premiership?”
I suppose it isn’t any different to the Geelong players making a pact to stay together but take less money.
Weight of expectation sat heavy on Geelong
Redb,
With the way Hawthorn are going about it, they may stay up for a while yet. Yesterday we heard they are making a play for Ryan O’Keefe and they have in the past promised to keep trading even when they are at their peak. It is an interesting strategy, and is very conducive to building a dynasty if done right — which shouldn’t be too hard, what player wouldn’t want to be traded to the premiers?
Geelong, conversely, has and will continue to build via the draft. The only real big trade they had was Brad Ottens. The concern was exposed on the weekend, with some of the young fringe players having questionable games.
These are contrasting methods, but I think Hawthorn are probably going about it right. Fringe players will be on the way out and replaced by proven performers. So long as the bulk of their squad is of good age, then they will manage to be contenders for the next 3-5 years at least.
Geelong, eventually, will probably head down the path of Sydney and Adelaide — they’ll make the top eight no worries, but will struggle to rise to the top.
As for 2009, I don’t think they’re done with just yet…
Weight of expectation sat heavy on Geelong
Wayne,
From a fellow Cats fan, that’s a good summation. The past two years have seen some of the best footy ever played (or certainly the best footy I have seen, given I’ve only been on the planet for less than two decades) and we should be proud of that. But still, I think next year they will inevitably be labelled the ‘Redeem Team’ and expected to prove everyone wrong. The critiquing will not stop here.
Redb,
Hard to argue with your comment. Although it is funny how whilst this debate is going on, nobody really seems to notice that Hawthorn are saying the exact same things we did this time last year — we’re going to “build a dynasty”, we are the “new Collingwood”, etc.
Weight of expectation sat heavy on Geelong
I’m not so fussed about the mascot — its pretty much in line with what every other club has.
http://www.aflauskick.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/mascot_manor/2006/002%20intro.jpg
Not a fan of the colours though, there is enough clubs with red on their jumpers as it is. (I expect Gold Coast to come out with about 8 different clash jumpers — and maybe even let a primary school kid design one on top of that, Port Adelaide style.)
As for the name, a bit anti-climatic to not have one. But I geuss this is how all the Victorian clubs did it, starting out as the XX Football Club. As time went by they picked up nicknames like the ‘Pivotonians’ or the ‘Bloods’ then eventually settle with their current names.
I’m not normally a fan of the traditional names, particularly in this modern era. Although I am a fan of letting the fans decide, so if the public survey could not provide a winner (as was the case here,) then I’m all for going down the traditional path and letting a nickname “emerge”.
Gold Coast, call draft concessions 'skinny'
Redb,
Good point there about Essendon. I am starting to suspect a “great divide” is beginning to form between the rich clubs (Collingwood, Essendon, et al) and the ones at the lower end of the scale (Bulldogs, Melbourne, et al). Maybe that’s just me…
But things are certainly changing on the sponsorship scene, that’s for sure. An interesting debate on Triple M the other week asked if the AFL needed a major sponsor at all. The argument was that the AFL is big enough anyway and doesn’t need the money (the $10-million odd a year from Toyota is nothing compared to broadcast dollars) and without Toyota, more car companies would be able to sponsor clubs.
It looks like Toyota are going to re-sign anyway, but it may be an idea for the future.
Don't be fooled, the Tasmanians are realists
Trevor,
Good to hear some hoops on this site. I don’t see this rivalry cooling down from here. With the Dragons playing out of Hisense and the Tigers out of the 3,500-seat Cage, do you think its possible that Rod Laver Arena might come back in to the fray, if only if these two teams meet in the playoffs?
The NBL probably wouldn’t like it, they are trying to make this season as insignificant as possible, but in the end it can only be good for the game.
True Tah,
Maybe even basketball in Perth has overtaken futbol… On the same day that the Glory pulled only 4,400 to a game with Wellington Phoenix, the Wildcats matched that figure against the South Dragons!
9000 fans turn out to watch Dragons thump Tigers