Relocate GCS to Darwin.  They have two games there, it is their Academy zone.

Having a 20 team competition could in theory be the answer re: allowing Tasmania in. But if there's question marks over how Tasmania could financially support an AFL club, there would certainly have to be the same, if not more question marks over NT.

32 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Relocate GCS to Darwin.  They have two games there, it is their Academy zone.

Again, GC is growing the game. These markets take decades to bear fruit but kids are playing in record numbers up there.

34 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Again, GC is growing the game. These markets take decades to bear fruit but kids are playing in record numbers up there.

On this. A Tassie team might stretch the talent pool, but if there is no Tassie team, what will the talent pool look like in 10/20 years when Tassie kids all play basketball instead of Aussie rules? GC kids all play soccer? Etc.

Expanding the AFL comp to GWS/GC is a pre-emptive defensive measure to protect the game. The AFL are enacting it aggressively, but it's either expand or shrink.

18 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

On this. A Tassie team might stretch the talent pool, but if there is no Tassie team, what will the talent pool look like in 10/20 years when Tassie kids all play basketball instead of Aussie rules? GC kids all play soccer? Etc.

Expanding the AFL comp to GWS/GC is a pre-emptive defensive measure to protect the game. The AFL are enacting it aggressively, but it's either expand or shrink.

Tassie is different to GC. Tasmania is not a growth area in anything. Most people leave in their 20s for more opportunity. The initial interest there is strong but historically teams just don't survive there because the economics can't keep up with the rest of the country. NT would be the same. GC is sustained growth corridor so there's more upside if you commit long term. But Tasmania will have a huge honeymoon period before eventual struggles. 

I can't see how NT could possibly sustain an AFL team. 

• Very low population.
• Transient workforce where large numbers of people from interstate will have a team and do not intend to stay in NT long term.
• Climate. Although the AFL season fits reasonably nicely into their dry season, there would still be some very uncomfortable games at the start of seasons with very high humidity and rainfall.

 

Build the new stadium and training facility at the port and let China pay for it as part of their 99 year lease. 

20 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Build the new stadium and training facility at the port and let China pay for it as part of their 99 year lease. 

Hell, give em a team 

The Beijing Dragons? 

18 teams is too many.

NT should fund a summer comp with altered rules. Perhaps 14 a side and 15 minute quarters and triple headers.

Build it off the local indigenous leagues and allow each team $X to have two or three "marquee" players.

And most importantly get cheap and frequent flights to Darwin

I can't believe this is even being discussed. Darwin's population is about 40% of that of the City of Casey. The entire NT population is about 65% of City of Casey.

Why don't we upgrade Casey Fields to AFL standard and have the 20th team play out of there? That is a much bigger, largely untapped market than Darwin.

That said, I agree that 18 teams is too many and that ideally we would be consolidating, not expanding, given shrinking junior participation numbers.

I don’t like 19 or 20 teams, and I don’t like state governments forking out 20 million a year to have one.

A few games a year of AFL teams and a strong local comp is enough for the Nt/Darwin.

I still think a new regional Victorian team that plays out of Kardinia Park makes a lot of sense.

But I mostly think that because I hate Geelong, and just want to see them have to share a stadium that all Victorians have paid for.

1 hour ago, Spaghetti said:

I can't see how NT could possibly sustain an AFL team. 

• Very low population.
• Transient workforce where large numbers of people from interstate will have a team and do not intend to stay in NT long term.
• Climate. Although the AFL season fits reasonably nicely into their dry season, there would still be some very uncomfortable games at the start of seasons with very high humidity and rainfall.

 

I spent several months of Victorian lockdown in Darwin after Howard Springs quarantine. 
The heat at times is hard to survive. In Darwin’s Main Street at some crossings there are “shade shelters” to afford pedestrians some sun protection while waiting for green light. 
I like warm weather and live Vietnam. 
Darwin heat is next level. 

I have nfi if the economics adds up, but it'd be awesome if they had a team.

if a 19th license is approved then a 20th has to follow quickly thereafter

there is no value in adding a 19th team in the competition; a 19th and 20th gives one extra game per round which will provide actual value to broadcast rights etc.

still don't think it'll be nt; it'll be a 3rd team in wa

32 minutes ago, poita said:

I can't believe this is even being discussed. Darwin's population is about 40% of that of the City of Casey. The entire NT population is about 65% of City of Casey.

they used to joke about the NT Government saying that if you got one side of a street offside you could lose your seat.

Interesting dilemna though in the sense that we are demanding that the State governments of Tasmania and NT fund new teams while the competition itself fully funds GCS and GWS

4 hours ago, MadAsHell said:

But if there's question marks over how Tasmania could financially support an AFL club

How come they can financially support a Sheffield Shield team, Big Bash team and NBL team but not an AFL team in a footy mad state?

Edited May 26, 20223 yr by one_demon

22 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

...a 19th and 20th gives one extra game per round which will provide actual value to broadcast rights etc.

Is it all about money?  What about supporting and growing football in Tasmanian?

1 hour ago, Smokey said:

Hell, give em a team 

The Beijing Dragons? 

The Chinese Whispers?

2 hours ago, Spaghetti said:

I can't see how NT could possibly sustain an AFL team. 

• Very low population.
• Transient workforce where large numbers of people from interstate will have a team and do not intend to stay in NT long term.
• Climate. Although the AFL season fits reasonably nicely into their dry season, there would still be some very uncomfortable games at the start of seasons with very high humidity and rainfall.

 

Then you'll need to persuade 40 young, well paid, professional athletes to live there and turn down enticing contracts from the major cities that promise fame, big stadiums, big crowds and the glitz and glamour that their peers enjoy.

Tough sell for Tasmania; very tough sell for the NT.

 

 

11 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

The Chinese Whispers?

The Wuhan Bats?

The Territory Turtles??

1 minute ago, DubDee said:

The Territory Turtles??

have to be the barras wouldn't it?