Training 2025 Pre-Season - Standards are currently being driven

[andana]

Shark would've been an amazing club identity too.

Something like this

 

[ferball]

It’s always puzzled me why the AFL dropped the ball there, such an obvious thing to do. Can only be arrogance that they’ll regret

I think the argument was that the other people who supported or played for all the other GC clubs might not have got behind the Sharks at all but potentially would for a start up unique side.

Even if that was true by now, over ten years later, there's a generation of kids at primary school who would know the Southport Sharks as the AFL side from the Gold Coast and support them because of it. Dunno if they'd have had much more success tho. The place doesn't breed champion sporting teams. (Tho as afaik none of those other failed GC sporting teams began as a grass roots footy club. Sharks did.)

 

[shinboner magic]

yep surely they only do 2 for them forced

3 weeks forced leave would be wild

and for the players 3 weeks is very generous


yeah 2 months post the season and 3 weeks over xmas, not a bad deal to have nearly 3 months off a year

And another 8 weeks during the season

 

[King Corey]

Southport club success slightly overstated fwiw.

My understanding is their model is a leagues club pokies type arrangement.

 

[The Dingrel]

Southport wouldn’t become an AFL owned cuck.

Poorta more or less have despite their pre afl history!!!

 

[Chip Scab1]

It would quickly take a detour about how amazing Sam Lalor is.

I've never wanted anyone to be worse. I'll spew if he's good!

...(nothing against the kid personally).

I think the argument was that the other people who supported or played for all the other GC clubs might not have got behind the Sharks at all but potentially would for a start up unique side.

Even if that was true by now, over ten years later, there's a generation of kids at primary school who would know the Southport Sharks as the AFL side from the Gold Coast and support them because of it. Dunno if they'd have had much more success tho. The place doesn't breed champion sporting teams. (Tho as afaik none of those other failed GC sporting teams began as a grass roots footy club. Sharks did.)

Yep, apart from the odd holiday in Sept school hols which was good when much younger, it's a place where sporting clubs and older folk go for their final innings, rather than thrive.

 

[Augustine]

I think the argument was that the other people who supported or played for all the other GC clubs might not have got behind the Sharks at all but potentially would for a start up unique side.

Even if that was true by now, over ten years later, there's a generation of kids at primary school who would know the Southport Sharks as the AFL side from the Gold Coast and support them because of it. Dunno if they'd have had much more success tho. The place doesn't breed champion sporting teams. (Tho as afaik none of those other failed GC sporting teams began as a grass roots footy club. Sharks did.)

The pros:

• est. 1961 grass roots identity vs start up
• decades long community and local business ties and relationships
• organic "sharks" brand better than marketing gurus' bland copy from Pheonix
• an established brand that wouldn't need to introduce itself to the locals
• pride of a local team making the big time
• independence and drive to succeed vs AFL executives fly in fly out mindset
• relatively massive established club infrastructure and revenue including club, hotel, restaurant, pokies

The cons:

• People not supporting the Sharks who are involved with other local clubs (is that a really an issue? Queensland League isn't exactly like SANFL with thousands of actual local supporters who attend games and care. Southport alone seems to have a bit of that)
• AFL can't control the club as much as if it owns it

Basically a real local club that's financially solid vs a bland, plastic money sink-hole.

I think that platform ^ DOES enable you to do better on the field. All your focus and effort goes onto football instead of establishing everything else from scratch.

One of the worst strategic decisions the AFL has ever made.

 

[ferball]

The pros:

• est. 1961 grass roots identity vs start up
• decades long community and local business ties and relationships
• organic "sharks" brand better than marketing gurus' bland copy from Pheonix
• an established brand that wouldn't need to introduce itself to the locals
• pride of a local team making the big time
• independence and drive to succeed vs AFL executives fly in fly out mindset
• relatively massive established club infrastructure and revenue including club, hotel, restaurant, pokies

The cons:

• People not supporting the Sharks who are involved with other local clubs (is that a really an issue? Queensland League isn't exactly like SANFL with thousands of actual local supporters who attend games and care. Southport alone seems to have a bit of that)
• AFL can't control the club as much as if it owns it

Basically a real local club that's financially solid vs a bland, plastic money sink-hole.

I think that platform ^ DOES enable you to do better on the field. All your focus and effort goes onto football instead of establishing everything else from scratch.

One of the worst strategic decisions the AFL has ever made.

I mostly agree but:

People not supporting the Sharks who are involved with other local clubs (is that a really an issue? Queensland League isn't exactly like SANFL with thousands of actual local supporters who attend games and care. Southport alone seems to have a bit of that)

Out of at least 20 blokes who played on the coast I never knew anyone who played for the sharks or even liked them. I dunno if its genuine hate or just someone they love to hate cos they were the big club in town.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

I mostly agree but:

People not supporting the Sharks who are involved with other local clubs (is that a really an issue? Queensland League isn't exactly like SANFL with thousands of actual local supporters who attend games and care. Southport alone seems to have a bit of that)

Out of at least 20 blokes who played on the coast I never knew anyone who played for the sharks or even liked them. I dunno if its genuine hate or just someone they love to hate cos they were the big club in town.

Southport itself is quite big, so it has a lot of local suburban support and junior pathways. However, I always noticed most footy following people on the Gold Coast support other teams outside Southport and the suns. Bit of a weird place given the high volume of expats.

 

[Liam Boy]

They'd also have to change their colours and song (good old Southport forever) so it's not like their identity would be unchanged.

 

[Passmore]

Southport club success slightly overstated fwiw.

My understanding is their model is a leagues club pokies type arrangement.

Given pokies are quite on the nose, you’d wonder how they would replace the moolah.

 

[Hotham FC]

Why not a Suns-Sharks merger? Gold Coast Sharks. Puts a bit of fabric into the franchise, local grass roots support.
The Suns history is not much greater than University’s (same number of finals appearances in almost double the seasons, at least University have a Coleman Medalist to show for it!). Wipe the slate clean, time for a rebirth.

 

[shinboner magic]

Why not a Suns-Sharks merger? Gold Coast Sharks. Puts a bit of fabric into the franchise, local grass roots support.
The Suns history is not much greater than University’s (same number of finals appearances in almost double the seasons, at least University have a Coleman Medalist to show for it!). Wipe the slate clean, time for a rebirth.

Gold Coast suks

 

[desie]

I think the argument was that the other people who supported or played for all the other GC clubs might not have got behind the Sharks at all but potentially would for a start up unique side.

Even if that was true by now, over ten years later, there's a generation of kids at primary school who would know the Southport Sharks as the AFL side from the Gold Coast and support them because of it. Dunno if they'd have had much more success tho. The place doesn't breed champion sporting teams. (Tho as afaik none of those other failed GC sporting teams began as a grass roots footy club. Sharks did.)

The original Gold Coast NRL club kind of did - they were based out of the Seagulls club in Tweed Heads and known as Gold Coast-Tweed.

At that time the Broncos licence didn’t allow for another South-East Queensland club.

 

[Themanbun]

I've never wanted anyone to be worse. I'll spew if he's good!

...(nothing against the kid personally).


Yep, apart from the odd holiday in Sept school hols which was good when much younger, it's a place where sporting clubs and older folk go for their final innings, rather than thrive.

It's changed a bit since COVID. Joint is absolutely thriving.

 

[Chip Scab1]

It's changed a bit since COVID. Joint is absolutely thriving.

The Gold Coast - where the fish are in the ocean and the sharks are on the shore.

Only been there 20+ times.

Dreamworld is good, Wet 'n Wild is good. Sanctuary Cove & Hope Island Golf ain't bad. I don't mind Broadbeach and you can get a decent breakfast at Main Beach (with some local corporate criminals). Had a few good nights up there which ended ok playing some Blacky (in shorts which I do respect) at Jupiter's.

 

[Gasometer]

That’s pretty bloody cheeky for somebody to copy & paste something like that & not give it any credit.

It’s somebody here.

Damo I am thinking

 

[danj]

Random question without notice.... Do we think the AFL may have seen better results if they'd put Southport Sharks in, instead of creating the Sun's?

Sent from my SM-G781B using BigFooty.com mobile app

Hardly a random question dude. This was the obvious thing to do if you wanted to genuinely grow the game. Southport had millions of dollars 30,000 members a great ground and fantastic facilities. Will go down as one of the dumbest moves in the history of the game. Makes you wonder why the AFL wanted to move is there…..or does it

 

[travelli]

Just fitting in with the Queenslanders

Shoes only became compulsory at schools within the last 20 years. I am furious they changed that

 

[iloveireland]

That’s pretty bloody cheeky for somebody to copy & paste something like that & not give it any credit.

It’s somebody here.

 

[Kanga Glory]

 

[Masked Avenger]

That’s pretty bloody cheeky for somebody to copy & paste something like that & not give it any credit.

It’s somebody here.

Well, after you eliminate the stand up, god fearing and honest posters amongst us, that leaves about 90% of this Board as suspects in this serious breach of trust.

I think it would easier finding a finals winning Essendon footballer than the culprit.

 

[lockheed]

View attachment 2191109

Only 11 injuries cited. Suppose it could be worse.

 

[ferball]

It's changed a bit since COVID. Joint is absolutely thriving.

I think the word you are looking for is metastasizing.

 

[Gasometer]

Wat is it with Corr and his finger? Didn’t he do it last season as well?