Coronavirus: AFL & MFC

[Moonshadow 17,673]

Speculating a Norf move to Tassie or other similarly fanciful ideas is just Caro and other journos illustrating how bored the media are ATM and how desperate they are for attention and relevance. Look at me! Look at me!

Waaaaay too early for this sort of talk, in reality.

[Diamond_Jim 12,510]

North to Tasmania doesn't save any money. In fact it costs money if the AFL are required to fund the transfer as they offered for North to move to the Gold Coast.

GCS to Tasmania (if the Tasmanian govt is still prepared to heavily subsidise)  and merge two to four of the the bottom Melbourne teams.That's money saving.

The media deal has always been a strange one with Foxtel being prepared to pay more than half the total fee for the lesser games.This has meant you need lots of product. The next round will be completely different with say Netflix (or Optus) owning Friday night football and various combinations like we have not seen before. If they can match revenue wise what they got under the last deal they will be doing well.

[DubDee 25,447]

17 hours ago, Pates said:

Honestly I wouldn't be against the AFL just creating a one time style of premiership, don't call it a premiership flag or any of the usual terminology, perhaps call it the AFL Championships (particularly if they're going to go down a US model play off system). By the way anyone that feels it's a selfish idea of the AFL to be trying to create a way to be able to maximise what little they can get out of the year, it's ultimately going to be beneficial to the competition and the clubs (ie us). So if a best of 3 Grand Final is a way to do that, then so be it.

yeah i wouldnt be against them setting up some games or some sort of once-off comp.  once they don't try to imply this is a real GF or  a real flag i'm OK with it.

[Demonland 71,131]

 

[Demonland 71,131]

I’m assuming members from all clubs received the following email. 

March 31, 2020 Dear Supporters,   This is an unprecedented time in the history of our country, impacting on every aspect of our lives, both personally and professionally.   In order to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, we all need to play our role in helping to slow the spread of the virus and to ensure we flatten the curve to reduce the impact on our hospital facilities and the medical system for the sake of everyone’s wellbeing. We owe our health professionals a great debt for their selfless service to us all.   As we have said before, footy is a game but not the main game. The main game for all of us remains ensuring the safety of everyone - families, friends and the wider community.   While this is one of the biggest challenges to face the community, this is also one of the biggest challenges to face football in more than 160 years.   At every level of the game, from the 18 elite AFL clubs down to community football and Auskickers, Australians are currently unable to play and watch the game we love, severely limiting the ability to be part of the footy clubs and communities that are so important within our lives.   Which is why I want to assure you the AFL Commission and Executive, led by myself and Gillon McLachlan, will protect our game at all levels. From the 18 AFL clubs, to the 14 AFLW teams, to State leagues and the community game, footy will be back when it is the right time to be back.   For the time being, we have needed to reduce costs at AFL level, at our AFL clubs and across the states and territories dramatically, without regular revenue coming into the game, and this has been extremely difficult for everyone involved but we are conscious that this is not an easy time for anyone in the community.   With the support of NAB and ANZ as funding partners, we have been able to secure the funding that we need to enable continued operations, that will ensure that all parts of the game are protected for the longer term. It is a very important step and I want to thank NAB and ANZ while also acknowledging the AFL and our clubs still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do.  Our clubs have made difficult and hard decisions, while our players have stepped forward to show their support in taking salary cuts and agreeing to the flexibility that will enable us to run a season. Everyone is aligned and united in taking the actions to get through and I want to thank them sincerely for their response.    In my regular contact with the club Presidents, as well as those Commissioners and Presidents who are part of the AFL Council created to address this situation, the commitment by all to the future of our game has been both strong and reassuring.   We will come through this period together because of this united approach.   All stakeholders across the industry – players, coaches, clubs, staff, corporate and broadcast partners, members and supporters -- are united in doing everything necessary to ensure the game we love remains strong for every level of the community across the country.   We have had great support from our major partners and broadcasters who have backed us to work our way through this. Our game thanks all of those partners and broadcasters who share our values.   And although our Toyota AFL Premiership season might look a little different when we return to play, it will still be there for football supporters. It might mean we have to watch from our living rooms for a while, but your club colours are just as important as if you were sitting in the outer.   Whenever we return, I am hoping the footy this season provides you with a sense of normality and joy but right now the major focus of all clubs and the players is that our supporters and staff and their families continue to follow the guidelines to stay safe and healthy.     We will make it through this together.   Together as clubs, together as states and territories, together as community leagues, together as a football community.   Above all, I want to sincerely thank club members and supporters for the way they have backed their clubs, understanding the difficulties they are facing.    This time has reconfirmed once again that the passion of our supporters is the lifeblood of the game and that the game cannot prosper without you. Your clubs are equally concerned about your health and wellbeing as fans, so please look after yourselves and follow the safety messages.    This game has so much history and is so important to thousands of communities across Australia and millions of football supporters. One of the great strengths of our game is how it brings us all, from our various backgrounds together. This unity in diversity is and will continue to be important.   Our commitment is to protect the long-term viability of our game at all levels. At the end of the day, those of us with leadership responsibility in our game will continue to lead us through this, but we – with you the supporters – are stewards of this great game. All of us together. And it is what we create together that makes both AFL and AFLW what it is today.   This remains a complicated and evolving situation that reminds us that we are all part of a broader society with a responsibility to look out for one another. We encourage you to visit both afl.com.au and your club’s website for the latest news, updates and features to stay connected to the game.    Finally, I want to assure all supporters of all clubs that the AFL and the 18 clubs are facing this challenge together, and that all 18 AFL clubs will come through the other end. Together.

Richard Goyder, AO Chairman, Australian Football League Commission

[MyFavouriteMartian 572]

10 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Send 'North',  North to Surfers.

Their Blue and White jumper works much better,  in sunny warm climate days.

 

Tasmania needs to be wearing warm colours for match-days,  to suit their cold climate.

Edited March 31, 2020 by MyFavouriteMartian

[Demonland 71,131]

 

[Demonland 71,131]

 Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has come up with a radical idea to combine the 2020 and 2021 fixtures and have one premiership awarded over a mega 34-game season.

Lloyd believes the winner of this year’s premiership will be forever tainted, much like Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell’s Brownlow Medal win in 2012.

[whatwhat say what 22,590]

god the velvet sledgehammer is an utter moron

[Demonland 71,131]

 

[Demonland 71,131]

 

[gs77 4,052]

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

 Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has come up with a radical idea to combine the 2020 and 2021 fixtures and have one premiership awarded over a mega 34-game season.

Lloyd believes the winner of this year’s premiership will be forever tainted, much like Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell’s Brownlow Medal win in 2012.

The only reason the 2012 brownlow was tainted was the disgraceful conduct of Lloyd's club. 

[Demonland 71,131]

 

[Demonland 71,131]

The sub vest could be back. 

 

[Demonland 71,131]

 

[Cards13 9,117]

6 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

I know there is a lot going on but that’s embarrassing to the VFL especially.

[Ohio USA - David 107]

16 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

North to Tasmania doesn't save any money. In fact it costs money if the AFL are required to fund the transfer as they offered for North to move to the Gold Coast.

GCS to Tasmania (if the Tasmanian govt is still prepared to heavily subsidise)  and merge two to four of the the bottom Melbourne teams.That's money saving.

The media deal has always been a strange one with Foxtel being prepared to pay more than half the total fee for the lesser games.This has meant you need lots of product. The next round will be completely different with say Netflix (or Optus) owning Friday night football and various combinations like we have not seen before. If they can match revenue wise what they got under the last deal they will be doing well.

Honestly I feel that it is inevitable that the AFL will encourage mergers and the MFC is on that ask list. Who with and what it would look like is anyone's guess. (not Hawthorn) BUT I think there will be an inward push by Clubs assisted by the AFL (maybe underground) to be the first and strongest out of this mess. Facts are that we cannot support 10 Teams in Melbourne anymore and Clubs will be desperate to find that winning edge believe me.

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,336]

I feel a little sorry for North Melbourne always being the team first to be discussed when it comes to talk of relocations. Sure it's frustrating always being beaten by them but that's our fault not theirs. Aside from two relatively brief periods in their history when they bossed the competition they've been trying to punch above their weight and have been pretty good at it for fifty years now so it surprises me that they haven't been able to build a bigger fan base over the course. 

That said with them already giving up four home games to play in Hobart each year they aren't far from a tipping point where they could almost be considered a side representing Tasmania and not North Melbourne so in that respect they can't be too surprised that their name is in the mix each time mergers or relocations are mentioned. 

 

 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,129]

1 hour ago, Ohio USA - David said:

Honestly I feel that it is inevitable that the AFL will encourage mergers and the MFC is on that ask list. Who with and what it would look like is anyone's guess. (not Hawthorn) BUT I think there will be an inward push by Clubs assisted by the AFL (maybe underground) to be the first and strongest out of this mess. Facts are that we cannot support 10 Teams in Melbourne anymore and Clubs will be desperate to find that winning edge believe me.

The only ones pushing for mergers will be the non-Vic clubs - they will want to shift the balance of power outside Victoria so they can drive their agendas such as moving the Grand Final away from the MCG

NB - we clearly CAN support 10 teams in Melbourne, we have been doing so for almost 100 years. If the AFL didn't hamstring clubs with biased fixturing and stadium deals or implemented a revenue sharing arrangement like exists in competitions such as the NFL clubs would easily be able to stand on their own. The AFL looks after the AFL's bottom line at the expense of the clubs. Clubs should be pocketing the majority of AFL revenue however when the AFL hands out a million dollars here or there they act as if they are doing the clubs a favour! They should never have been withholding that money in the first place.

Edited March 31, 2020 by Dr. Gonzo

[Dr. Gonzo 24,129]

1 hour ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

I feel a little sorry for North Melbourne always being the team first to be discussed when it comes to talk of relocations. Sure it's frustrating always being beaten by them but that's our fault not theirs. Aside from two relatively brief periods in their history when they bossed the competition they've been trying to punch above their weight and have been pretty good at it for fifty years now so it surprises me that they haven't been able to build a bigger fan base over the course. 

That said with them already giving up four home games to play in Hobart each year they aren't far from a tipping point where they could almost be considered a side representing Tasmania and not North Melbourne so in that respect they can't be too surprised that their name is in the mix each time mergers or relocations are mentioned. 

 

 

After the Fitzroy debacle if the AFL white-anted another club into relocating/merging they would lose a lot of their support from the wider footy community, especially if they continued to prop up wastelands like the Gold Coast.

Any Demons supporter should be extremely wary of these kinds of moves - once (if) North goes we won't be far from the front of the queue to be next on the chopping block.

[Moonshadow 17,673]

2020 draft now resembling pin the tail on the donkey, if it happens at all.

Trading our 2020 first pick for Kozzie Picket now looks to be inspired! ?

Edited March 31, 2020 by Moonshadow

[Diamond_Jim 12,510]

A thought provoking article:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/31/pause-due-to-covid-19-gives-afl-a-chance-to-build-a-more-agile-and-inclusive-game

If the community the AFL is hoping will return do so, how battle weary will they be? Post-isolation, post-sickness – after experiencing a fraying of the very social fabric the game relies on – how will football serve this forever altered community? Is it ready? If survival is only for the elite, then the game will not be any more than the disappointing spectacle that was the soulless round one of the men’s competition this month.

The world in which football re-emerges will be a very different one. The easy option would be to piece together a version of the old that would be just as susceptible to increasingly common global disasters. The opportunity that presents itself now is to build something new – something that will last. Something more agile and inclusive.

[Ohio USA - David 107]

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

The only ones pushing for mergers will be the non-Vic clubs - they will want to shift the balance of power outside Victoria so they can drive their agendas such as moving the Grand Final away from the MCG

NB - we clearly CAN support 10 teams in Melbourne, we have been doing so for almost 100 years. If the AFL didn't hamstring clubs with biased fixturing and stadium deals or implemented a revenue sharing arrangement like exists in competitions such as the NFL clubs would easily be able to stand on their own. The AFL looks after the AFL's bottom line at the expense of the clubs. Clubs should be pocketing the majority of AFL revenue however when the AFL hands out a million dollars here or there they act as if they are doing the clubs a favour! They should never have been withholding that money in the first place.

With respect I disagree with your views. The Clubs outside of Victoria have it made and I am confident that Gold Coast Suns are on the right trajectory. The market is crowded in Victoria and the discussion of a merger has been on the tables for years and will continue to be until it is resolved.

With the now Corona virus cutting income and creating debt for Clubs the next move will be player and Coach contracts that will take a move backwards as far as growth goes. No longer $$$ contracts, reality has to settle in and Clubs will be forced to look at ways of pushing that boundary given the unknown factors of the VFL and its immediate pathway. Financially the AFL and clubs need to start looking outside the square. This is the beginning of that move outwards... watch this space.  

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,336]

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

After the Fitzroy debacle if the AFL white-anted another club into relocating/merging they would lose a lot of their support from the wider footy community, especially if they continued to prop up wastelands like the Gold Coast.

Any Demons supporter should be extremely wary of these kinds of moves - once (if) North goes we won't be far from the front of the queue to be next on the chopping block.

That’s a fair point Dr G. We can’t keep rolling out the fact we play at the G (who doesn’t these days) and we’re named after our city and hope that’ll save us. Money in the bank, a solid membership base and a successful football structure will go a long  way to securing our long term future. Training on a paddock also gives an impression of impermanence so the sooner we can address that the better. 

[rjay 24,815]

3 minutes ago, Ohio USA - David said:

I am confident that Gold Coast Suns are on the right trajectory.

You make some good points.

This is not one of them.

I doubt the GCS would survive if there was a rationalisation of the competition.

Also there is no space for GWS.

They might be successful on the ground but after that drops off they will be an empty shell...