2011 International Cup

[VikingSven]

The AFL Game Development Department have announced the next International Cup will be held in 2011 (and thereafter a 4 year cycle ie 2015, 2019 etc... apparently) (Source: WFN )

The host location is up for tender as well.

Time for the Cup in Adelaide, Perth or perhaps even overseas (Northern Hemisphere anyone)...?

 

[newo]

Time for the Cup in Adelaide, Perth or perhaps even overseas (Northern Hemisphere anyone)...?

i disagree, the game was founded in vic so i think it should stay in vic..
as for overseas, i played with and against some of the Nauru boys last season and to them playin aussie rules football in australia was the biggest highlight for them , and i'm sure if it was moved overseas it would loose some of its novelty

 

[Niels81]

1) I dont see in the WFN story that it will go to a 4-year circle after 2011. I understand that for now it will remain the 3-year circle (so 2011, 2014, 2017 etc).

2) I dont see it being hosted outside Australia for the next 11 years, so wont happen untill 2020. The US and South Africa would be prime contenders for this.

3) I think it would be nice to see it in another city, and see if the people there would be more interested in the games, than the Melbournians were.

 

[clarkey]

It's disappointing to hear that it's going to be every 3 years. It's a lot of money to raise and 4 years would be much better.

In regards to location, it will be in Australia in 2011. Perth or Adelaide would be a better option than AFL obsessed Melbourne.

 

[fishmonger]

In regards to location, it will be in Australia in 2011. Perth or Adelaide would be a better option than AFL obsessed Melbourne.

If it has to be in Australia, then I reckon the Gold Coast and Carrara would be an ideal candidate.

What better way to introduce the GC17 club that year than to give the cynical locals a taste of international footy.

The stadium is just the sort of boutique size that would suit such a tournament and there are great standard grounds for QAFL clubs right down the Gold Coast, including some which PNG boys already play on.

Being further north, it is also closer to the Pacific Islands, Asia and the rest of the world.

Such a huge holiday location for the southern states, a domestic and nearby international airport and the Brisbane people would travel as well.

It is almost scripted.

 

[VikingSven]

IC periods are probably something that needs to be clarified.

In a recent email I got from the AFL, they did suggest (though not confirmed at the time) that the next IC was planned for 2011 to steer clear of the Olympic year and then go to every 4 years from there.

Even at this frequency, this puts an incredible burden on european teams to continually attend and support the concept and makes it more difficult to conduct regional tournaments in between (ie European championships).

Given everything in play at the moment, I wonder how a Tasmanian bid would be received?

 

[benjamin]

If that's their reasoning then I think we should be waiting until 2013 and then every four years.

Leap years = Olympics
Leap years +2 = Soccer World Cup
Leap years +3 = Cricket World Cup
Let's fill in the Leap year +1 slot!

But I agree with VikingSven ... even every four years is too often.

As for the venue, if it's to stay in Oz then I like the idea of Perth or Brisbane. The visiting players can still see AFL games. And something else no-one has pointed out is that the weather would be better in those venues, too.

 

[wikipediaAFLproject]

Perhaps in the group stages the games could be played in various locations around Australia, with the finals all played in Victoria.

The only negatives i can think of with this is the lack of communication between the seperate developing countries, and some possible financial issues.

 

[clarkey]

Possible financial issues?! How about a truckload of money? Hilarious.

 

[cos789]

Previously when I have suggested playing games outside of Melbourne there have been two responses . Cost and the importance of playing at the spirirual home of Australian Football .I think people have realised now that the net cost of the games will be approximately the same at any Australian city and we've seen Melbourne's approach to the IC .It is quite possible that another Australian would relish the chance at promoting the games .The WAFL side ,Swan Districts played a number of RSA members in their reserve and colts teams .IMO I could see IC games easily incorporated into the WAFL scheduling and at worst the Sunday League.That still enables games to be played at subiaco in conjunction with the AFL .I'd imagine it would be similar for the SANFL or Tasmania.It could be a really good promotional tool if played in QLD or NSW ,broadening people's general outlook of Australian Football.
There are many possibilities and I'm sure that someone will see the financial benefits in much the same way as the USA championships bring over 500 visitors to the host city .

 

[mattys123]

As someone who is now living back in Melbourne, after living in the UK for a few years, the main interest to the International Cup is to actually play on "real" AFL grounds and stadiums in Australia.

I would agree the move overseas, wouldnt happen for at least another 2 Cups, but it is something that would have to happen for the International Cup to gain international sporting recognition.

I believe the next Int Cup should be held in and around the Perth area, with maybe a few regional games and then the semi finals and finals based back at Subiaco.

I'm sure the WA government would love this idea, and might even attract some South African spectators due to the proximity.

I remember Perth's response to it's 1st ever International Rules game, which forever will be known as "Jacko's Day".

I'd love to see it in Perth, maybe even pre season with the final played before the 1st round game at Subiaco.

 

[Bello Buffalo]

I'd go with Perth for reason of distance from South Africa, but how much further is that for NZ, Samoa, USA, Canada etc. ???

So, . . . HOW ABOUT ADELAIDE ???

Great Clubs to organise/support!!!!

Great grounds/facilities!!!!!

Close to great country regional grounds like Berri/Murray Bridge/Barrossa/Whyalla etc!!!!!!

Close to really unique Natural Experiences such as Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island etc !!!!!!!

South Australia - no greater travel expense for any country, different environment to Vic ("more öutback"), personally welcoming and supporting and great facilities !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I vote ADELAIDE

Cheers

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Tasmania would be good for a few reasons, but have problems for others.

- Accommodation tends to be cheaper than any of the major cities, especially in winter. Over the course of a couple of weeks, that more than makes up for the extra airfare costs.
- Small town syndrome would see local media get behind it, something that does not happen in Melbourne.
- Decent grounds, including York Park, North Hobart and Bellerive, could be used without complaint.
- Just as with the South Africans and the WAFL, local sides - whether TSL, NTFL, SFL or local leagues - would most likely welcome the overseas visitors, with the odd one given a game.


Negatives include
- Not playing the final at a major AFL ground. That could be overcome if the final could be at the MCG with other games in Tasmania.
- Pacific Islanders and the South Africans might get a bit of a shock playing in zero degrees for a morning game in Launceston.
- Internal travel. Such an event would probably be held across the state, so once the gorup phase is over travel could become an issue. But is that any worse than playing a round in country areas of other states?

 

[cos789]

Negatives include

Extra cost in getting to Tasmania !That's a big extra .
Need a capitol with an International airline network.

After visting Warrnambool and seeing just how far it was from Melbourne
I'd say overall Perth would be far superior if games were played on WAFL grounds .

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Extra cost in getting to Tasmania !That's a big extra .
Need a capitol with an International airline network.

The accommodation tends to be so much cheaper that the extra airfares would be covered quite easily.

 

[Lusitanian]

I'd like to see an Australian team take part. At first they could select a team made out of minor league players, and gradually pick players from stronger leagues as the overseas countries improve. An Australian football competition open to teams from all continents without an Australian team doesn't seem right somehow.

 

[cos789]

I'd go with Perth for reason of distance from South Africa, but how much further is that for NZ, Samoa, USA, Canada etc. ???

The net distance would be roughly equal for any direct International airport destination in Australia ,I'd say. Perth is closest to RSA, Europe and Asia.
Sydney is closest to NZ, PNG ,Pacific and North American countries.
.

 

[tonk]

I'd like to see an Australian team take part. At first they could select a team made out of minor league players, and gradually pick players from stronger leagues as the overseas countries improve. An Australian football competition open to teams from all continents without an Australian team doesn't seem right somehow.

How about some kind of knock-out competition to select a side to represent Australia. Country leagues, metropolitan leagues could have an F.A. cup style elimination comp. The winner of the Bellarine league could play the winner of the Mallee league etc etc. With the ultimate country league winner playing the winner of the nation-wide metropolitan league knock-out etc. The winning team is the Australian team, just a thought.

 

[Lusitanian]

That could be a good idea. The competition's motto could be "Earn the right to represent Australia" or something like that.

 

[British Beef]

It is a great idea in theory, but in reality if any Premiership team from any of the country or metro leagues played in the IC they would dominate. I would like to say otherwise as I have a very close interest in the IC, but every Country's team would knocked off with ease.

There would be merit in an under 19's Aussie team taking part, but then what coach in his right mind would let his pride and joy, and future of any respective club on the ground against (for example) a team of rather large, fully grown Samoan UNITS?!

Also, the IC usually falls during the actual season over here, so again, as much fun as it would be for an Aussie side to play in the tournament, would it really take precidence over their domestic competition that they bust their asses for every year? I wouldn't have thought so...

 

[clarkey]

In our submission to the AFL back in 1999, our proposal was to have an Aboriginal team represent Australia. Not an All-Star team that would destroy everybody, but a team more akin to the Central Desert Eagles that competed against international teams in the Arafura Games in Darwin.

Then AFL CEO Wayne Jackson loved the idea but it was vetoed by Ross Smith, then head of AFL Game Development. The reason given was that it would be 'too hard'.

I still believe having the first Australians represent Australia would be fantastic, and a great addition to the exchange of cultures on display at the International Cup.

 

[Munro_Mick]

The AAFC (Australian Amateur Footy council) sent an amateur team to Ireland and played some IR matches.

Now, there's no reason that if there were divisions in the IC in future years - - and whether or not even then there was requirement to qualify? But, no reason that Australian amateur squads could be created to play. I still hobble around in D4 VAFA, and watching the Nauru lads take on PNG, I was impressed by the standard and vigour of the game. They certainly wouldn't be push overs for many VAFA sides - remember that a whole team worth of PNG lads are in Australia variously scattered around the country.

A VAFA D1-D4 rep side might be an appropriate yard stick initially.