I am surprised how many people do not get this RR

I guess the surprising thing is I am still surprised.

Isn't it funny - they don't see the benefit of a team in GWS, just like those that thought it was silly to go to Brisbane and to Sydney decades earlier.

We would still be the VFL if these people had their way?

Or would we look like the NRL where they have 4 teams outside of Sydney - 3 of which have struggled massively financially and then 'boast' about a warchest to spend in Western Sydney. Simply a laughable situation.

Edited March 4, 201411 yr by rpfc

Article in The Age today trying to pump the tyres of the Richmond CEO to be AFL CEO.

You don't have to wonder who wrote it...

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmonds-brendon-gale-may-be-the-man-to-replace-afl-boss-andrew-demetriou-20140304-345d6.html

needed a laugh....thanks

Can't be too good as a CEO.

Their due diligence is severely lacking at the moment, based on the hardly-secret knowledge I have of one of their new administrative staff.

I won't go into it, but it's laughable that they don't check up on this sort of thing.

Can't be too good as a CEO.

Their due diligence is severely lacking at the moment, based on the hardly-secret knowledge I have of one of their new administrative staff.

I won't go into it, but it's laughable that they don't check up on this sort of thing.

You mean one of these people. Hope it is not the Chaplain.

Chief Executive Officer Brendon Gale Executive Assistant Nicki Crivari General Manager of People and Culture Amanda Green Finance and Administration Chief Operating Officer Michael Stahl Finance Manager Shannon Gordon Financial Accountant Angela Booth Assistant Accountant Dominic La Fontaine Accounts Officer Wendy Plowman IT and Analysis Manager Hayden Hill IT Support Martin Connell Reception and Administration Officer Alexa Ward Internal Events Coordinator Sue Filius Internal Events Coordinator Michelle Peric Commercial Operations & Marketing General Manager of Commercial Operations & Marketing Simon Derrick Sponsorship Manager Vanessa Foo Sponsorship Account Executive Airlie Johnston Sponsorship Account Executive Michael Tipping Sponsorship Account Executive Natalie Zaibak Marketing and Brand Manager Ben Jenkins Marketing and Campaign Analyst Kate Stevens Graphic Designer Tara Campbell-Barry Junior Designer Breanna Bartlett Corporate Sales Manager Daniel Giese Corporate Sales Executive Dominic Leyden Marketing Services Manager Kristi Ogston Events Manager Amanda Brearley Events and Coteries Coordinator Rachael Duncan Events Coordinator Jessica Manning Commercial Development Manager Ben Joske Bequest Officer Geraldine Albrecht Consumer Business General Manager of Consumer Business Cain Liddle Membership Manager Alex Jolley Premium Membership Sales Executive Ash Aidone Member Communications & Engagement Officer Alexandra Crow Member and Supporter Services Supervisor Renata Lazarovska Membership Retention Officer Antony Keeley Consumer Acquisition Officer Anthony Fagan Retail Sales & Service Manager Chris Clay Retail Stock Assistant Jack Blackmore Retail Officer Nick Clay Retail Customer Service Trainee Elise Hogan Membership Sales Officer Jade Stevens Membership Sales Officer Aaron Ball Membership Sales Officer Kiera Stacey Premium Membership Sales Officer Gavan Moule Membership Sales Officer Tyler Capon Membership Sales Officer Chris Papa Media and Stakeholder Relations General Manager of Media & Stakeholder Relations Simon Matthews Director of Korin Gamadji Institute Belinda Duarte COO of Korin Gamadji Institute Alex Splitt Community Manager Michael Lacy Multilcultural Development Officer Todd Sigalas Indigenous Community Relations Officer Luke Murray Editorial and Research Manager Tony Greenberg Media Manager Adrian Ceddia Multimedia Producer Gavin Juchnevicius Multimedia Coordinator Dale Leszczynski Communications Coordinator Jaimee Damon Roar Vision Producer Matthew Richardson Digital Marketing Manager Anthony Alsop Fan Development Manager Sarah Hart Club Relationship Manager Dale Weightman Football Department General Manager of Football Dan Richardson General Manager of Player Personnel & List Management Blair Hartley Executive and Administration Assistant Football Ashleigh Dummett AFL Compliance, Scheduling and Administration Manager Jenna Earle Coaching & Football Performance Manager Tim Livingstone Player Development Manager Bronwyn Doig Club Psychologist Kim Stephens Senior Coach Damien Hardwick Defensive Coach Ross Smith Midfield Stoppage Coach Brendon Lade Midfield Spread Coach Danny Daly Forwards Coach Mark Williams Senior Development Coach Mark 'Choco' Williams Development Coach Greg Mellor Development Coach Max Bailey Development Coach Andrew McQualter VFL Coach Tim Clarke VFL Football Operations Manager Daniel Hull Opposition Analyst and Pro Scout Nick Austin Football Technology Coordinator Simon Reinsch Technology, Video and Statistical Analyst Michael Stuart Recruitment Manager Francis Jackson Recruiting Officer Matthew Clarke Recruiting Officer Richard Taylor Recruiting Officer Luke Williams Elite Performance Manager Peter Burge Rehabilitation and Conditioning Coach Luke Meehan Strength & Conditioning Coach Adam Douglas Sports Science Advisor Brendan Fahrner VFL Strength and Conditioning Rob Inness Boxing Coach John Vickery Property and Facility Manager Giuseppe Mamone Chaplain Geoff Shepherd

Yep, one of those.

If its not up to standard for one of their employees, it's fair to expect it won't be for the vast majority.

If some very basic due diligence was performed then alarm bells would have been ringing.

You mean one of these people. Hope it is not the Chaplain.

Chief Executive Officer Brendon Gale Executive Assistant Nicki Crivari General Manager of People and Culture Amanda Green Finance and Administration Chief Operating Officer Michael Stahl Finance Manager Shannon Gordon Financial Accountant Angela Booth Assistant Accountant Dominic La Fontaine Accounts Officer Wendy Plowman IT and Analysis Manager Hayden Hill IT Support Martin Connell Reception and Administration Officer Alexa Ward Internal Events Coordinator Sue Filius Internal Events Coordinator Michelle Peric Commercial Operations & Marketing General Manager of Commercial Operations & Marketing Simon Derrick Sponsorship Manager Vanessa Foo Sponsorship Account Executive Airlie Johnston Sponsorship Account Executive Michael Tipping Sponsorship Account Executive Natalie Zaibak Marketing and Brand Manager Ben Jenkins Marketing and Campaign Analyst Kate Stevens Graphic Designer Tara Campbell-Barry Junior Designer Breanna Bartlett Corporate Sales Manager Daniel Giese Corporate Sales Executive Dominic Leyden Marketing Services Manager Kristi Ogston Events Manager Amanda Brearley Events and Coteries Coordinator Rachael Duncan Events Coordinator Jessica Manning Commercial Development Manager Ben Joske Bequest Officer Geraldine Albrecht Consumer Business General Manager of Consumer Business Cain Liddle Membership Manager Alex Jolley Premium Membership Sales Executive Ash Aidone Member Communications & Engagement Officer Alexandra Crow Member and Supporter Services Supervisor Renata Lazarovska Membership Retention Officer Antony Keeley Consumer Acquisition Officer Anthony Fagan Retail Sales & Service Manager Chris Clay Retail Stock Assistant Jack Blackmore Retail Officer Nick Clay Retail Customer Service Trainee Elise Hogan Membership Sales Officer Jade Stevens Membership Sales Officer Aaron Ball Membership Sales Officer Kiera Stacey Premium Membership Sales Officer Gavan Moule Membership Sales Officer Tyler Capon Membership Sales Officer Chris Papa Media and Stakeholder Relations General Manager of Media & Stakeholder Relations Simon Matthews Director of Korin Gamadji Institute Belinda Duarte COO of Korin Gamadji Institute Alex Splitt Community Manager Michael Lacy Multilcultural Development Officer Todd Sigalas Indigenous Community Relations Officer Luke Murray Editorial and Research Manager Tony Greenberg Media Manager Adrian Ceddia Multimedia Producer Gavin Juchnevicius Multimedia Coordinator Dale Leszczynski Communications Coordinator Jaimee Damon Roar Vision Producer Matthew Richardson Digital Marketing Manager Anthony Alsop Fan Development Manager Sarah Hart Club Relationship Manager Dale Weightman Football Department General Manager of Football Dan Richardson General Manager of Player Personnel & List Management Blair Hartley Executive and Administration Assistant Football Ashleigh Dummett AFL Compliance, Scheduling and Administration Manager Jenna Earle Coaching & Football Performance Manager Tim Livingstone Player Development Manager Bronwyn Doig Club Psychologist Kim Stephens Senior Coach Damien Hardwick Defensive Coach Ross Smith Midfield Stoppage Coach Brendon Lade Midfield Spread Coach Danny Daly Forwards Coach Mark Williams Senior Development Coach Mark 'Choco' Williams Development Coach Greg Mellor Development Coach Max Bailey Development Coach Andrew McQualter VFL Coach Tim Clarke VFL Football Operations Manager Daniel Hull Opposition Analyst and Pro Scout Nick Austin Football Technology Coordinator Simon Reinsch Technology, Video and Statistical Analyst Michael Stuart Recruitment Manager Francis Jackson Recruiting Officer Matthew Clarke Recruiting Officer Richard Taylor Recruiting Officer Luke Williams Elite Performance Manager Peter Burge Rehabilitation and Conditioning Coach Luke Meehan Strength & Conditioning Coach Adam Douglas Sports Science Advisor Brendan Fahrner VFL Strength and Conditioning Rob Inness Boxing Coach John Vickery Property and Facility Manager Giuseppe Mamone Chaplain Geoff Shepherd

I did not se TM listed anywhere there Redleg!

The poor old HUN could not help themselves this morning after finally getting AD out they had to publish his salary level on the front page as a final dig.

Well, the less said about their Youth Education Centre the better.

Unless things get a little more serious in there, that will soon blow up in their faces.

Most of their community training and education programs have been one day coffee making courses...

The AFL and the Federal Govt are pumping the money into that crapshoot.

Isn't it funny - they don't see the benefit of a team in GWS, just like those that thought it was silly to go to Brisbane and to Sydney decades earlier.

We would still be the VFL if these people had their way?

Or would we look like the NRL where they have 4 teams outside of Sydney - 3 of which have struggled massively financially and then 'boast' about a warchest to spend in Western Sydney. Simply a laughable situation.

I don't subscribe to the "earth is flat" brigade, nor am I a luddite. However, expansion for expansion's sake is bad business mostly. The revenue that drives the setting up of teams such as GWS and the Suns is almost entirely generated by TV rights. In the case of GWS, they are in a particularly volatile sporting market. Western Sydney, given its demographic, was primed to have a well supported and successful round ball team. Indeed the Wanderers have done just that. Sydney is a very fickled market; "theatre goers" in the main. Let's say GWS, as it undoubtedly will, with the continuing help of the AFL, drag itself up from the bottom to be finalists. What of the Swan's, can Sydney town sustain 2 AFL teams. Will the positive results for a GWS team have a converse negative affect for the Swans? I for one doubt that Sydney can support 2 teams in the long run.

As for the Suns, sure a lot of ex-pats on the Gold Coast, but many are itinerant or retirees already set in their ways. There are a litany of failed GC sporting sides, but I am prepared to wait to see how the Suns track over the next 5 to 8 years. But with GWS, I have serious doubts.

As with any business, while you always look at broadening your revenue base, the first rule is to protect you core business.

Edited March 5, 201411 yr by iv'a worn smith

I don't subscribe to the "earth is flat" brigade, nor am I a luddite. However, expansion for expansion's sake is bad business mostly. The revenue that drives the setting up of teams such as GWS and the Suns is almost entirely generated by TV rights. In the case of GWS, they are in a particularly volatile sporting market. Western Sydney, given its demographic, was primed to have a well supported and successful round ball team. Indeed the Wanderers have done just that. Sydney is a very fickled market; "theatre goers" in the main. Let's say GWS, as it undoubtedly will, with the continuing help of the AFL, drag itself up from the bottom to be finalists. What of the Swan's, can Sydney town sustain 2 AFL teams. Will the positive results for a GWS team have a converse negative affect for the Swans? I for one doubt that Sydney can support 2 teams in the long run.

As for the Suns, sure a lot of ex-pats on the Gold Coast, but many are itinerant or retirees already set in their ways. There are a litany of failed GC sporting sides, but I am prepared to wait to see how the Suns track over the next 5 to 8 years. But with GWS, I have serious doubts.

As with any business, while you always look at broadening your revenue base, the first rule is to protect you core business.

Sydney's west is too big to ignore.

Expansion has to hit a market that can pay for itself. The NSW market is what is pushing up the TV rights value.

You think the AFL can't sustain 2 teams in NSW.

There is only one way to find out.

Edited March 5, 201411 yr by rpfc

Sydney's west is too big to ignore.

Expansion has to hit a market that can pay for itself. The NSW market is what is pushing up the TV rights value.

You think the AFL can't sustain 2 teams in NSW.

There is only one way to find out.

Sadly the AFL needs GWS to be more successful than Footscray, North or the MFC.

In the medium term we are expendable a successful GWS is vital.

Sadly the AFL needs GWS to be more successful than Footscray, North or the MFC.

Gee can't be that hard then based on that KPI.

I would hope the AFLs medium long term goal is set higher

Gee can't be that hard then based on that KPI.

I would hope the AFLs medium long term goal is set higher

Ok you caught my poor grammar out.

How does this grab you.

The AFL need GWS to be successful more than they need Footscray, North and the MFC to be successful.

Edited March 5, 201411 yr by old dee

Sydney's west is too big to ignore.

Expansion has to hit a market that can pay for itself. The NSW market is what is pushing up the TV rights value.

You think the AFL can't sustain 2 teams in NSW.

There is only one way to find out.

No doubt, but at what cost to your core? In any business, in any market, there is an opportunity cost to expenditure on expansion. None of us on here know what that opportunity cost is, but one thing is for sure, we have a right to question it.

No doubt, but at what cost to your core? In any business, in any market, there is an opportunity cost to expenditure on expansion. None of us on here know what that opportunity cost is, but one thing is for sure, we have a right to question it.

The extra TV money covers the outlay. It is paying for itself in the hope that it then grows exponentially.

To increase markets you have to turn people into fans - it is easier to do that with a team. I know a few up in Canberra who were not AFL fans at all and have become AFL members to the GWS because they are their team. Leaving aside the fact that my eyes rolled when they told me that - it is exactly what the AFL wants to see, more eyeballs on more games with more ad revenue.

If we are talking about the cost of setting them up in terms of image - they have been a terrible spectacle, but so have we and we are the furthest thing from an expansion club.

The extra TV money covers the outlay. It is paying for itself in the hope that it then grows exponentially.

To increase markets you have to turn people into fans - it is easier to do that with a team. I know a few up in Canberra who were not AFL fans at all and have become AFL members to the GWS because they are their team. Leaving aside the fact that my eyes rolled when they told me that - it is exactly what the AFL wants to see, more eyeballs on more games with more ad revenue.

If we are talking about the cost of setting them up in terms of image - they have been a terrible spectacle, but so have we and we are the furthest thing from an expansion club.

I get back to my original point, despite a "few" in Canberra taking up the GWS mantle, the Wanderers have made a lot of the sporting arable land in that region, their own. Maybe the AFL can overcome this, who knows, but is it worth it in the long run and are there other markets ripe for the AFL picking which are better alternatives? That is the opportunity cost that needs to be valued. How much time and money do we need to pour into this venture? Just as an aside, if "Melbourne" is considered not to be a marketable commodity in AFL terms then there has to be something terribly wrong with the marketing model. There will always be a 'Melbourne' AFL entity. There has to be.

As an aside, the case for the COLA that Sydney clubs get is weakened by the similarity in cost of living announced today between Sydney and Melbourne. http://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/sydney-melbourne-more-expensive-than-new-york-says-living-index-20140305-3466w.html

According to the data there is a 1.7% difference in costs between Syd & Melb the 5th & 6th most expensive cities in the world. So if the cap is approx $9.5 million 40 players = approx $4000 each. I think they get a lot more than that. Should Adelaide & Perth(cheaper cities ) get less? Of coarse not. One cap for all. These players get enough.

I get back to my original point, despite a "few" in Canberra taking up the GWS mantle, the Wanderers have made a lot of the sporting arable land in that region, their own. Maybe the AFL can overcome this, who knows, but is it worth it in the long run and are there other markets ripe for the AFL picking which are better alternatives? That is the opportunity cost that needs to be valued. How much time and money do we need to pour into this venture? Just as an aside, if "Melbourne" is considered not to be a marketable commodity in AFL terms then there has to be something terribly wrong with the marketing model. There will always be a 'Melbourne' AFL entity. There has to be.

Where should we be? What market are we not exploiting? What is the opportunity cost?

The NRL are pouring money into their own backyard they have been so backward and inert in their thinking.

NSW has 13 teams in the NRL, NZ has one, Qld has three, and Melbourne is left to carry the flag as the only expansion team.

Exploiting already tapped markets has a ceiling you will soon reach.

Where should we be? What market are we not exploiting? What is the opportunity cost?

The NRL are pouring money into their own backyard they have been so backward and inert in their thinking.

NSW has 13 teams in the NRL, NZ has one, Qld has three, and Melbourne is left to carry the flag as the only expansion team.

Exploiting already tapped markets has a ceiling you will soon reach.

I would suggest that the ARL are already there and the AFL are not far off the top rpfc

I would suggest that the ARL are already there and the AFL are not far off the top rpfc

I agree. While the western Sydney region is big, I'm not sure the AFL wouldn't have been wiser to promote the Swans out there rather than establish a new club. Fortunately that's not my job. I just hope their little adventure doesn't screw the Demons and the other struggling Melbourne clubs (more than it has already).

I agree. While the western Sydney region is big, I'm not sure the AFL wouldn't have been wiser to promote the Swans out there rather than establish a new club. Fortunately that's not my job. I just hope their little adventure doesn't screw the Demons and the other struggling Melbourne clubs (more than it has already).

I think that is a forlorn hope sue. IMO it will only get worse over time.

Having said that I don't disagree with the reasons for having a GWs I just thing it could have been done a lot better.

Paying $6million to an average player and a similar amount to a rugby player who had little idea was folly from the start.

Of course they will. For some reason the AFL think it will be a great thing when a Premiership is won in Greater Western Sydney.

But in reality who will care and who will have benefitted?

I am surprised how many people do not get this RR

I guess the surprising thing is I am still surprised.

60% of the ad revenue in Australia comes from Sydney and Southern Queensland.

Look no further as to why they are supporting these ventures....TV, TV, TV....

Actually by the time the next TV rights deal comes around the AFL will be producing their own content and making around $3bn over 5years....

Article in The Age today trying to pump the tyres of the Richmond CEO to be AFL CEO.

You don't have to wonder who wrote it...

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmonds-brendon-gale-may-be-the-man-to-replace-afl-boss-andrew-demetriou-20140304-345d6.html

Thought exactly the same thing.

Brian Cook would be a good choice if you were looking at CEO's from club ranks. Brendon Gale could turn out to be a great CEO but Richmond needs to become an onfield power first.

60% of the ad revenue in Australia comes from Sydney and Southern Queensland.

Look no further as to why they are supporting these ventures....TV, TV, TV....

Actually by the time the next TV rights deal comes around the AFL will be producing their own content and making around $3bn over 5years....

I am very well aware that it is all TV based greed.

But is it the correct decision long term? Or should the AFL sorted out its existing backyard first??

Whilst the current Etihad Stadium deals exist Victorian clubs are almost dying whilst GC and GW$ have the unlimited bank account.

Vlad alone took home $3.4 Mill in 2013. He is doing well but the jury is out on many others.

Edited March 5, 201411 yr by why you little