fans will get bored of it if SAf keep getting spanked like that…..

Now that is atrocious umpiring…….you just tell them to pull their heads in and ball it up.

It’s pretty simple – – – when your team has the ball then just don’t do it – – don’t do anything silly.

Umpire got it right and Charlie Dean should learn from it.

Last ‘touch/disposal’ is such a flawed system.

It’s not what our game is about. This means that rather than trying to keep the ball alive – – the players near the boundary seriously must ‘fumble’ it over. Especially defenders.

it’s a good point though – – the sizing of change rooms varies across different sport – – so in some cases at very least having partitioning so as to have flexibility.

Then of course……….there’s the showers……

#Macca

At many levels ‘paid’ local footballers is a problem and that’s one of the reasons the AFL has pushed the ‘points’ system on recruits to try to limit the capacity for the ‘haves’ to just load up entirely.

Don’t want a Euro soccer league scenario of the top 2 or 3 being light years ahead of the rest.

my home town in Gippsland – a couple of years ago opened the new netball change rooms as part of a $1.45 million rec reserve ‘face lift’.

“On one side of the social rooms, there are spacious new football and cricket home and away changerooms, umpire’s rooms, administration and first aid rooms, while on the other side of the complex, there are new netball changerooms and umpire’s rooms convenient to both the netball court and the social rooms.”

For the netballers – it came after the provision of professional surface grade court, shed and upgraded lights, installed in 2017.

So……..a nice example of a local FNC (Football Netball Club) in combination with the Cricket club and the community facilities.

And more local to where I live now – the Diamond Creek netball club has recently been majorly upgraded.

#East Coast Aces

The irony of your comment:
“Great article and a topic not talked about enough in the media and gov due to conflicts of interest.”

Is of course that in the previous Fed govt – that while the ABC was trying to report on “Sports Rorts” that Murdoch and other conservatives friendly media were trying to ignore it.

And of course Gladys came crashing down with her “inclination to support” a $5.5m grant for a shooting complex in Wagga Wagga.

#Don Freo

Not at all. Amiss has done very, very well – – goaled in all but 3 of his 22 games this season with 3 bags of 4 and another 5 bags of 3.

I’ve also been impressed with van Rooyen (also turned 20 this year) – – 28 goals from 19 games and only goalless twice; just the one bag of 4 and 3 bags of 3.

#Brainstrust

re Tassie……….Bellerive Oval……it was already there!!

It’s actually a cricket oval too. Owned by the Clarence City Council and operated by the TCA.
IN fact when the light towers went in back in 2009 it was ONLY a cricket oval (at the elite level; as there were TSL matches played there including the 2010 GF between Clarence and Devonport). AFL matches didn’t begin there until 2012.

The Tasmanian Govt wanted greater usage of the asset. North Melbourne had been looking to play games in Ballarat until the Brumby Govt lost an election. With Ballarat off the table the AFL and Tasmania offered up Hobart; an original 3 year deal for 2 games a year – in a deal with the Tas Govt, Hobart City Council AND Cricket Tasmania. The deal was going so well – (clearly the fees deemed worth while) it got extended to 3 games annually and……in 2021 was extended to 4 games for 2022!!!!

Now though……it stinks a bit because Tasmanian footy fans are effectively boycotting the Melbourne clubs waiting for their own side.

But……seriously – – there’s your ignorant view of what you want to see…….and then there’s how it’s actually played out. You really need to do a bit of research – – Tasmania/Hobart isn’t the victim here!!! Nor is Launceston – the benefits they found with the Hawthorn deal was largely the reason that Tassie/Hobart was looking for an AFL club partner.

#Gyfox

I believe the latest is the AFL GF is committed to the MCG until 2057.

That and the annual requirements of the AFL under the lease arrangements is what’s paid for a venue that was 100% rebuilt for over $575 million with just $77 mill from any level of Govt. Docklands involved zero Govt monies……..just cheap land to developers which was all the go to lure people to the Docklands urban renewal project.

Even re Centres of Excellence – the example of the Hangar at Essendon is that it’s a partnership with Paralympics Australia; the $4 mill of Fed funding was to Paralympics organisation and they stretched the ‘bang for buck’ by partnership with Essendon who raised over $10 mill themselves and another $6.28 mill from State Govt. End result is a facility that is also currently home base to Western Utd soccer club!! So again – – pretty good ‘bang for buck’. Multi purpose.

I’ll pull you up on this glib throwaway line “In the case of Victoria, the desire to please elite sport means less resources for grassroots sport.”

Back in 2018 economist Tim Harcourt determined that the benefit to Melbourne of hosting AFL matches each season was around $340 million to the economy. In essence – this is the annual ‘dividend’. Obviously the Feds benefit from the income tax at the highest rate on many if not most players/coaches.

The LOSS of that state ‘dividend’ was felt during Covid. So there is more than just a ‘desire to please elite sport’.

Then – regarding the $225 million State Govt investment into Docklands and precinct. It’s an interesting one. The AFL has earned and paid to 100% own the venue, lock, stock and barrel (incl. land). There have been murmurings about knocking it down and selling the land and setting up elsewhere – – however the State Govt loves that venue in that location. The Govt is hugely interested in re-invigorating the Docklands precinct and the venue plays a big part – the Govt want it to be a ramped up sport/events venue and so – – quite correctly – – the Govt can invest into it and it’s a partnership between Development Vic, Sport & Rec Vic and the AFL. Much of it is the external connectivity of the zones – – the “Town Square” all weather year round ‘plaza’ to be open for community. Not much to do with the AFL – that bit. Other elements of course ARE very linked to the AFL usage/asset. IS it evidence of a bit of black mail? a bit of hard ball? The wider agreement includes “the guarantee of ongoing access to Marvel Stadium for other sporting codes and events”.

Sometimes for Govt in partnership with private entities……it’s about ‘bang for your buck’.

#Don Freo

Just pointing out that there is a fair degree of potential apples with oranges with bananas in this award anyway.

Ashcroft for example – turned 19 in May and Sheezel doesn’t turn 19 until mid October. So one is a bottom ager and the other if not a top age at least is mid age for that group. But that’s only relevant if all the one group of 1st year players – – which it isn’t. Amiss turned 20 a month ago……and Eddie Ford turned 21 in last June. So……..apples with oranges with bananas!!!

As it is – – there’s also a massive difference between being a jet 1st year player surrounded by a mature top 4 midfield vs being in a wooden spoon contender.

#Steele

Hopefully Sanders…..

Also – one Brayden George who we knew would sit out 2023; will be unleashed in 2024. Powell is looking much better by season end; likewise Lazzaro. Ford out on a wing has been a revelation; but is he more H-F, high H-F?

Most likely can’t keep them all – – eventually – – you then build up trade currency.

#Steele

Slightly pedantic – Amiss debuted in 2022 (I remember – it was against North). He had 3 games in 2022; and that’s one of the factors – – he’s had 2 AFL pre-seasons; and Eddie Ford has had 3.

#Pope

Ah Craig Holden; and blast from the past when some of the interstate recruits were outright stars and others were…….traded off to the Swans!!

And……in the case of Holden…..the 1987 All-Australian team!!!

So – – we definitely keep Ford!!

Irony of Holden and the Swans line up that year…….all the BIG recruits from other AFL clubs…..Williams, Healy, Toohey…….and ask someone for the 4th and they might say Bolton?…….very few would say Holden.

He’s certainly got a bit of ‘x factor’ attitude which is great; you need those players who can lift people around them. Ford is an energiser…..a ‘driver’…..a Ford driver…..Allan Moffatt comes to mind.

#Chris Lewis (August 28th 2023 @ 6:37am)

Threads can be hard to follow at times……as #Grem said……….that’s why I directly reference the poster I’m referring to.

Arguably should also directly include the date/time stamp as well……

……anyway – – I’ll support anyone who shows some journalistic integrity; and even then is open to debate, discuss, politely defend etc their findings. i.e. the science of journalism. I’m always open to new information. btw – AFL took a big hit through Covid and the sporting environment coming out of Covid has been great timing for soccer. How the dust settles over the next 3 or 4 years will be very interesting. I suspect that’s why soccer in Australia would love, love, love to get hold of the 2034 event (although I still assert 48 teams is too big in Australia so you’d be sharing with more than NZ and might just be more clumsy that the Vic regional Comm Games!!).

#Lionheart

You’ve gotta admit though – – THIS article was very inflammatory and way off the mark.

As I pointed out – plucking just one example out – the Tweet that was reproduced looking at the 2 layers of Govt funding to AFL CofE’s – – without any background knowledge (and with a hatred of the club) – I plucked out Essendon and the $10.3 million referenced towards their “The Hangar” development was a partner project with the Australian Paralympics organisation for their Victorian base – the $10.3 mill Govt funded included $4 mill of Fed funding……….to the Paralympics and NOT to Essendon. And no mention of the $10 mill that Essendon sourced themselves.

So do you see why I get frustrated with ignorance……either deliberately or just lazily so. Journalistic negligence in this article abounds. There’s a narrative being pushed…….a bit like anti-vaxers – – here it’s the anti-AFLers and they don’t let facts get in their way. Perhaps that’s why a couple of us get a little defensive. Happy to pot the AFL when they deserve it…….

#Lionheart

excellent last line.

re first – Rowdy largely covered it – – on the AFL tab there’s practically zero reference to any other code.

On this tab however – – again and again there’s commentary generally based in gross ignorance that is specifically anti AFL (and to a very much lesser extent the NRL).

The thing to remember – – while there are sports specific tabs – this IS a multi sport website and on that front page in the “Roaring Hot” column – it’s not obvious which tab the comment relates to.

#Lionheart

Mate – – before the Olympic bid was accepted the AFL and Cricket had managed to get a $35 mill upgrade (that was contracted to Watpac and scheduled for completion before the first game of the ICC T20 world cup)…..Oct 2020……well…..that was the cricket schedule at that time.

That was it.

The AFL and the Lions have NOT been agitating for what’s now slated to happen – – and to be relocated for 3 years.

The Brissie Lions have a very, very nice thing happening at the Gabba presently. They’re in a very good spot.

As was reported (June 2020) – “The Gabba’s key hirers Brisbane Lions, AFL, Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket have also provided detailed input into the project plans.”

Your anti-AFL bias is shining through in your response and your assumptions of convenience rather than fact.

#Blue007

You’re still all over the shop.

I don’t care how many watched Sam Kerr’s “Cathy Freeman moment”; I don’t even care how many people in Melbourne or Perth was an NRL State of Origin. Not sure you’ve notice – – the AFL doesn’t compete with Soccer at the national team level. btw – did watch the Boomers this evening??

#Grem

It’s not the ‘object/goal’ of the game.

The Rugby codes and American Football no longer kick their major objective (or ‘goal’) or their game play. They run it in and touch it down…..and then kick a ‘conversion’ to cap it off.

In soccer – – everything equals 1. There is not qualitative component. The goal is now – simply to ‘force’ the ball through for a goal by whatever means……kicking a goal equates to any other ball in the net……by a factor of 1….i.e. equitable.

In Australian Football there IS a qualitative component and it specifically requires the ball to be kicked – – by a factor of 6. No one is setting out seeking to score a behind. And we know why they were introduced – to reduce drawn matches. And it works. No argument there.

They already had the kick off area posts……what then happened – eventually the ‘kick off’ area reduced to the current goal square. Association football still has that kick off area that stretches beyond the goal uprights towards the corners.

#Lionheart

The Gabba is interesting though – – it’s not like the AFL has been lobbying for it. This is a QLD passion project……and the Fed Govt called them out on it – – it’s urban renewal almost more than it is Gabba renewal. And it’ll impact the AFL…….so……compensation??

There’s 2 ways of running the public asset grounds. One is like local fields – in Melbourne so many footy clubs get the keys in season and come mid/late Sept they hand the keys to the cricket lads who have them through until mid/late March. Other people can arrange usage…..but not at the expense of the ‘primary user’.

In essence – it’s up to the ground owner/manager. And agreements or contracts that might be in place. The AFL is contracted at the MCG until 2057 to provide something like 45 games a year plus finals and minimum patronage and that’s how a ‘public asset’ has been built without public funds.

Over in Perth – they are half way through a 10 year deal for the Eagles and Dockers to be playing there….and no doubt that will be rolled over in some form or other. It provides everyone what they most need……certainty.

I’d be absolutely delighted if AFL/Cricket grounds are never needed for major soccer tournaments in Australia. I thought things ran quite smoothly; the AFL venues weren’t impacted and the NRL and even the Wallabies were able to get by quite adequately at alternative venues. As I’ve said before — win-win-win. I was saddened by those who decided to attack the AFL for not giving up Marvel (which they own…..why the heck would they) or the MCG. That just seemed like any excuse to attack the hated enemy.

#Lionheart

There’s no relevance of the Olympic Soccer tournament to the Gabba – – the Gabba will be the ‘main stadium’ for athletics – with a running track around and cricket/AFL will be impacted (including the construction works).

The benefit of it all is that the venue isn’t NOT used otherwise. It means monies spent on making it fabulous isn’t monies spent on an unused white elephant.

The whole issue around the dedicated rectangular venues……..that is something I look on incredulously. It seems that traditionally none of the codes wants to put in funds for venues that might be used by their direct competition. Rely on Govt instead for the ‘shared’ venues. Which – – from the AFL perspective – – practically every venue they’ve put money into…..can be used by any of the competition…..and regularly have been.

I’m down on the NRL – – and can’t help but laugh at the irony – – given the way they extort the NSW Govt to spot them $10 mill here or there on the ‘threat’ of taking the NRL GF interstate. They get their money in the short term – however don’t have long term lease arrangements at venues which means a FIFA WC can waltz in and kick them out pretty well without compensation. The AFL can’t afford to do that – – and in no small part due to ground rationalisation and required ground sizes. The NRL…..have short arms and deep pockets it seems!! Perhaps too much culture built around private ownership; and this we see in soccer – private ownership removes the common ‘profit’ to be reinvested into the game.

btw – how open would you be to a FIFA WC in Australia running Oct/Nov (as the 2003 RUWC did). Given the June/July summer schedule is a Northern Hemisphere one (and I look at that and wonder if there’ll be deadly heat domes causing havoc in 2026 across US and Mexico). Run it Oct/Nov and pretty well every large venue in Australia would be available…..just not Flemington!!!