The Spectre of Private Ownership Looming Over AFL

[Demonland 66,674]

So who do you want to be our Overlord?

 

[ding 5,126]

Whoever ensured our survival.

[Rab D Nesbitt 7,391]

Whilst I don't think private ownership is anything more than a media driven rabbit hole at this stage in a world of privately owned clubs I'd still like to think we'd be the Green Bay Packers of the competition. Supporter owned and not the latest plaything of some oligarch or middle east state that's big on oil but poor on human rights. Would we end up with a competition that's dominated by the rich or would it be like the A League where owners are disgruntled and frustrated by salary caps and a lack of a say in it's running? 

[Dee Dee 1,058]

We could be Geoffrey Edelsten’s plaything or maybe Clive Palmer’s!

No Thanks

I like the idea of being a member of a publically owned footy club!

[Demonstone 19,793]

How's Leanne Edelsten looking these days?

[Cards13 9,117]

Mike Cannon-Brookes

https://www.forbes.com/australia-billionaires/list/

[Demonstone 19,793]

Ooooh, a hyphenated surname.  That's a good start!

[drysdale demon 4,272]

2 minutes ago, demonstone said:

Ooooh, a hyphenated surname.  That's a good start!

Drysdale-Salvo's

[TGR 1,367]

The spectre of mergers is looming over the AFL.

One club will merge with GC.  One with GWS.  One might link with Tassy.

 

A game person to punt on the Melbourne Demons, North Kangas, St.Kilda Saints and Western Bulldogs existing as they are in 2023.

 

Don Scott better grab that velco hawk from his bottom drawer.

[drysdale demon 4,272]

8 minutes ago, TGR said:

The spectre of mergers is looming over the AFL.

One club will merge with GC.  One with GWS.  One might link with Tassy.

 

A game person to punt on the Melbourne Demons, North Kangas, St.Kilda Saints and Western Bulldogs existing as they are in 2023.

 

Don Scott better grab that velco hawk from his bottom drawer.

Just lie back on your bed and admire that moniker of yours o your bedroom ceiling  and dream away.

[Tony Tea 2,792]

There's as much chance of a privately owned AFL club as there is of Geoffrey Edelsten inventing a cure for Corona Virus and bringing Christopher Skase back to life.

[drysdale demon 4,272]

12 minutes ago, Tony Tea said:

There's as much chance of a privately owned AFL club as there is of Geoffrey Edelsten inventing a cure for Corona Virus and bringing Christopher Skase back to life.

Funny you say that, I heard

[Earl Hood 5,851]

Recipe for disaster and the end of the AFL. Australia doesn’t have enough billionaires with the discretionary money and the few who might take it on will be like most business luminaries, around for the good times but go missing in action as soon as things get tough. 

[Bitter but optimistic 21,560]

If private ownership became a reality that would end my interest in football

[MyFavouriteMartian 572]

17 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

Recipe for disaster and the end of the AFL. Australia doesn’t have enough billionaires with the discretionary money and the few who might take it on will be like most business luminaries, around for the good times but go missing in action as soon as things get tough. 

When the Tough get going...  the Rich't have already left.

Edited March 27, 2020 by MyFavouriteMartian

[Dr. Gonzo 22,693]

Private ownership is the one big thing I hate about US sports. I just don't get it. We would no longer be members but season ticket holders. If you get saddled with a bad owner (like Woody Johnson and his sons for my NY Jets) or one who thinks he can dictate to the coach and GM like Jerry Jones at the Cowboys you're absolutely screwed and there's nothing the supporters can do about it. Not only that but they'll be looking at more and more ways to gouge money from supporters, say goodbye to GA tickets.

[MyFavouriteMartian 572]

Could you imagine an owner listening to a  MMalthouse  who wanted 12 interchange bench,  and 5 mermaids per team.

The game would change,  to some unwanted alien thing for international tv alone.

[daisycutter 28,709]

it's just a beat up news story with zero foundation

come back when some billionaire actually makes a move....then, it might be newsworthy

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,503]

2 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

or one who thinks he can dictate to the coach and GM like Jerry Jones at the Cowboys you're absolutely screwed and there's nothing the supporters can do about it. Not only that but they'll be looking at more and more ways to gouge money from supporters, say goodbye to GA tickets.

Agree Doc.

Do the Cowboys even need a GM with old mate Jerry running the show?

[Macca 16,174]

17 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Agree Doc.

Do the Cowboys even need a GM with old mate Jerry running the show?

Jerry Jones is the GM for the Cowboys BBP ... doesn't work either.  And he won't be relinquishing the role in a hurry.

On the other hand Belichick is the GM for the Patriots as well as the head coach.  And that does work.

As for private ownership in Oz.  It's just the wrong fit.

Even if we had enough billionaires who might be interested,  it would be more like a hobby for them rather than an entity that makes lots of money.

[Moonshadow 16,507]

15 hours ago, TGR said:

The spectre of mergers is looming over the AFL.

One club will merge with GC.  One with GWS.  One might link with Tassy.

 

A game person to punt on the Melbourne Demons, North Kangas, St.Kilda Saints and Western Bulldogs existing as they are in 2023.

 

Don Scott better grab that velco hawk from his bottom drawer.

Careful Tugger.

Heard of the phrase 'the bigger they are the harder they fall'?

Your beloved Tigers might hit the bottom hard.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I just don’t see how it would help in the current situation.

It works in US sports because the owners are all billionaires.

[Demonland 66,674]

 

[rjay 24,099]

35 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

I'm not sure who would want to invest in a club that's losing money and never likely to turn a profit but I guess stranger things have happened.

At least the AFL won't have to sink any more money in.

People mistake their current on ground success with ongoing viability.

Once this success, their window closes, then it's a tough road for GWS.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,588]

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

 

Possibly not private, but if they are for sale, maybe the Tasmanian govenment could buy them out and relocate them, instead of funding Hawthorn and North.