Apple Isle Showdown: Tas Govt threatens to end Hawks, North deals if no plan for 19th side

[RUNVS]

Probably needs a tunnel, but they don't have the population necessary to engage in such an expensive project.

Perhaps if they didn't have a state based on the village of Hobbiton they would have a bigger population.

Build the infrastructure and more people will want to move there.

 

[LeverPuller]

Canberra and the Tasmania ? Nawww it’s Tasmania and The Northern Territory. Sure they don’t have the same population but I promise you there’s far more AFL supporters in the NT than there are in ACT

Someone doesn’t realise the ACT has 400,000 people not including Queanbeyan and the Riverina, and Manuka sells out every time in Canberra.

NT doesn’t even sniff that.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

And ban tackling and use a square shaped field.

No, the actual gameplay wouldn't change at all. The rules around field of play and how players interact with each other and the ball would remain exactly the same. It would just mean the field opens up as players are now exponentially fitter than when the game was initially codified 150 years ago (never mind 18 a side wasn't part of the game at its foundations).

It would help get the game back to what it was 20-30 years ago before it devolved into a rolling scrum. I assume you don't like the centre square either? That wasn't a thing until the 1970s but now it would seem silly to play the game without it. The difference is the centre square actually did change the way the game was played.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

Someone doesn’t realise the ACT has 400,000 people not including Queanbeyan and the Riverina, and Manuka sells out every time in Canberra.

NT doesn’t even sniff that.

I think the problem is regarding a professional AFL team in Canberra is the capacity of Manuka Oval in general.

I mean I've been there a couple of teams for AFL/Cricket and I think it only can hold 15,000 spectators max so I just feel like along with the Tasmania bid in the AFL with Belierve Oval & UTAS Stadium, there needs to be a massive redevelopment of the stadiums to hold at least 30,000 supporters for future growth.

You can't just create a professional sporting team and the stadium's capcity is only like 10,000-15,000 seats IMO.

But I agree though that Tasmania & Canberra are the next places the AFL should expand to when the time is right and even if Hawthorn/North Melbourne get kicked out of Tasmania, they should seriously consider hosting matches in Canberra given the sport is growing big time over there.

 

[Kappa]

Need to either merge two Vic teams, or get rid of one Vic team (or either GWS or GC) first. Eighteen teams is the magic number, there needs to be an opening.

Why is 18 the magic number exactly?

 

[BobbyMorri]

Perhaps build a rail line between Hobart and Launceston. It may sound stupid but I think the AFL would feel more comfortable if it only took an hour to get between the two cities.

funny you say that. This week, we are celebrating 150 years of rail in Tasmania.

Long story short, Tasmania is a shocking place for rail. our current rail lines use the shortest gauge available, which limits the speed and increases cost. Useful for going uphill which is more important down here for we are rocky and hilly and that makes it slow going. Also makes it expensive to build a new railway built for speed. There is a reason why passenger services ended in the 1970's.

That is ignoring the population issue

 

[3rd Grade Maggy]

The AFL needs to flex some muscle there. Oval sports aren't being considered any more in the new GIO replacement, but that's because it doesn't make sense to factor them in without a full-time team.

The ACT govt loves AFL. They pay $2.3m a year to GWS. The ACT govt's slow-moving nature means there's still a chance to get an oval configuration, but we need to tie it to a bigger commitment from the AFL. Maybe get the BBL on board too to commit to Canberra expansion.

Dude, they can't even get the rectangle stadium to fit where they want to put it (without severely compromising on the outcome). Manuka however can be upgraded to allow 20k seated patrons which is all it needs for the foreseeable future. But the politics of pouring tens of millions into an oval, while the rectangular stadium falls apart in front of our eyes is not great. Until the ACT Government bite the bullet and commit to building a rectangular stadium at EPIC or Southwell Park there won't be any chance of an upgrade to Manuka

 

[St Plugger]

Reduce players on field to 14 or 15, frees up talent to spread around the comp and frees up space on the field to open up the game. Win/win.

Yep, 5-5-5 15 aside works really well. Introduce this along with the Tassie side and then we'll be able to watch some good, fast and high marking footy again!

 

[Kappa]

Yep 19 teams for 18 games over 22-23 rounds.

Everyone plays once - 9 home and 9 away. Reverse the fixture each year.

Players get more rest between games with byes through the year.

Gives room to float the fixture later in the season to allow for prime time games on Thursday/Friday nights.

Makes all the sense in the world.

Makes all the sense in the world as long as you forget that would see TV, stadium and media partners all get significantly less money from the AFL, the competition itself would get far less money, players coaches and umpires would be paid less.. And none of them want that.

So yes, if you forget literally every single stakeholder in the AFL industry, it makes perfect sense.

 

[Blackhawk42]

I think the problem is regarding a professional AFL team in Canberra is the capacity of Manuka Oval in general.

I mean I've been there a couple of teams for AFL/Cricket and I think it only can hold 15,000 spectators max so I just feel like along with the Tasmania bid in the AFL with Belierve Oval & UTAS Stadium, there needs to be a massive redevelopment of the stadiums to hold at least 30,000 supporters for future growth.

You can't just create a professional sporting team and the stadium's capcity is only like 10,000-15,000 seats IMO.

But I agree though that Tasmania & Canberra are the next places the AFL should expand to when the time is right and even if Hawthorn/North Melbourne get kicked out of Tasmania, they should seriously consider hosting matches in Canberra given the sport is growing big time over there.

I could imagine the newly renovated Lavington sports oval in Albury and Robertsons Oval in Wagga could host two games each with those councils pitching in a nice chunk of coin. A Canberra team that actively involved the Riverina could be quite financially successful.

 

[Pessimistic]

The game went to sh*t after expanding from 12.

There is simply nowhere near enough talent for 20 teams.

Not to mention 20 lots of coaching staff and umpires. And commentators.

I reckon the coaching and admin is the point. I mean certain teams have consistently selected the best talent via draft, and nothing changes

 

[Pessimistic]

The perfect comp is
8 Vic
2 WA
2 SA
2 NSW
2 QLD
1 Tas
1 Canberra

Less corruption from Vic State Govt/AFL/MCC.

Everybody with half a brain knows this.

Name the other people with 'half a brain'

 

[Pessimistic]

For the WA fans, you now get 2 derbies one home 1 away. add a third WA team and the AFL reverts to playing each team once

So you get 3 derbies (not 6), and 1.5 home games each year

 

[LeverPuller]

I think the problem is regarding a professional AFL team in Canberra is the capacity of Manuka Oval in general.

I mean I've been there a couple of teams for AFL/Cricket and I think it only can hold 15,000 spectators max so I just feel like along with the Tasmania bid in the AFL with Belierve Oval & UTAS Stadium, there needs to be a massive redevelopment of the stadiums to hold at least 30,000 supporters for future growth.

You can't just create a professional sporting team and the stadium's capcity is only like 10,000-15,000 seats IMO.

But I agree though that Tasmania & Canberra are the next places the AFL should expand to when the time is right and even if Hawthorn/North Melbourne get kicked out of Tasmania, they should seriously consider hosting matches in Canberra given the sport is growing big time over there.

Oh agree wholeheartedly- and earlier on I did say that Manuka is the big issue. There’s just been a big fight in Kingston over extra development, and any rebuild of Manuka will be heavily protested against. The ACT Govt are trying to work out how to rebuild/replace GIO Stadium (where the Raiders play) let alone Manuka.

Kicker is NEAFL collapse probably really hurt the game locally. Eastlake are a powerhouse and dropping back to the local league will hurt. But if they go VFL that’s a huge challenge esp with the lockdowns issue.

 

[HairyO]

No, the actual gameplay wouldn't change at all. The rules around field of play and how players interact with each other and the ball would remain exactly the same. It would just mean the field opens up as players are now exponentially fitter than when the game was initially codified 150 years ago (never mind 18 a side wasn't part of the game at its foundations).

It would help get the game back to what it was 20-30 years ago before it devolved into a rolling scrum. I assume you don't like the centre square either? That wasn't a thing until the 1970s but now it would seem silly to play the game without it. The difference is the centre square actually did change the way the game was played.

20 and 30 years ago there was 18 a side.

The difference is the umpires blew their whistle quicker and the AFL werent constantly chsnging rules and making the game worse every time.

If constant meddling makes it worse what makes you think even more meddling will help?

Why not stick to the rules, blow the whistle quicker, and move the ball on quicker. Zero chance for congestion.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Perhaps if they didn't have a state based on the village of Hobbiton they would have a bigger population.

Build the infrastructure and more people will want to move there.

Bit of a chicken and egg problem, people won't move there due to a lack of infrastructure but you need people there to have the business case for infrastructure funding. But there are initiatives that successive Tasmanian governments could have taken up and didn't. For example, Riverline has still not been committed to by either major party, despite it having been discussed for a decade now.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Wild cards doesn't make sense in the AFL. Its a good system in a conference based US league where it gives a chance to a team who may or may not have been screwed over by the teams in their own conference, but it has no place in the AFL.

Eighteen teams is the magic number. Nine games per round, no single byes for teams similar to how it was in 2011 with seventeen teams. Again: either GC or GWS fold, two Vic teams merge, or a Vic team (my money is on St Kilda) folds.

Yes and no, i largely agree that it is a product of the conference system, but while there is an uneven fixture, the concept of a wildcard game where teams just out the 8 fight for a spot in the 8 may be valid given the team inside the 8 could have had a far easier run than a team placed 9th

 

[Kwality]

AFL should make it a 20 team competition and place 2 teams in Tasmania

Mindless reaction, surely Franga gets a go.

 

[Kwality]

Someone doesn’t realise the ACT has 400,000 people not including Queanbeyan and the Riverina, and Manuka sells out every time in Canberra.

NT doesn’t even sniff that.

Er what: https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/manuka-oval/crowds

The page includes highest historical crowd & a separate listing of recent crowds back to Apr 2019, no sell outs any time.

 

[LeverPuller]

Er what: https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/manuka-oval/crowds

The page includes highest historical crowd & a separate listing of recent crowds back to Apr 2019, no sell outs any time.

That’s interesting given they’ve been sold out in terms of being able to buy tickets on the day from what I remember. Wonder if it’s a function of the Canberra members.

 

[L_W_P]

Makes all the sense in the world as long as you forget that would see TV, stadium and media partners all get significantly less money from the AFL, the competition itself would get far less money, players coaches and umpires would be paid less.. And none of them want that.

So yes, if you forget literally every single stakeholder in the AFL industry, it makes perfect sense.

I think that if you could give Channel 7 better matches in prime time every week they would be fine.

Foxtel would see a reduction in games but they would be the afternoon/twilight timeslots anyway.

Major Stadium deals would have to be reworked but it would also mean that the AFL could charge a premium for the games that are sold to the boutique venues like Canberra, Alice Springs and Cairns. Less games to go around means each one is worth that much more. Supply and demand.

 

[Kwality]

I think that if you could give Channel 7 better matches in prime time every week they would be fine.

Foxtel would see a reduction in games but they would be the afternoon/twilight timeslots anyway.

Major Stadium deals would have to be reworked but it would also mean that the AFL could charge a premium for the games that are sold to the boutique venues like Canberra, Alice Springs and Cairns. Less games to go around means each one is worth that much more. Supply and demand.

So how much more do 7 pay for what/ ditto Fox get a discount?
The AFL can charge a premium ...

Getting back to Tassies money/Melbourne clubs chasing replacement sponsorship .....

 

[Canberra Pear]

Oh agree wholeheartedly- and earlier on I did say that Manuka is the big issue. There’s just been a big fight in Kingston over extra development, and any rebuild of Manuka will be heavily protested against. The ACT Govt are trying to work out how to rebuild/replace GIO Stadium (where the Raiders play) let alone Manuka.

Kicker is NEAFL collapse probably really hurt the game locally. Eastlake are a powerhouse and dropping back to the local league will hurt. But if they go VFL that’s a huge challenge esp with the lockdowns issue.

My dream outcome is a stadium in Civic where they lower Parkes Way to make room for a 30k-undercover oval stadium. But I know that'll never happen, it'll just be too costly.

I would also be happy if they went with the EPIC option. A bit far north for a lot of Canberra, but the tram makes it more convenient. Plenty of room there, too.

I think an upgraded Manuka is still the most likely option. A lot of the uproar was not just the upgrade, but what it came with. I believe it was a private proposal, so there were other stipulations attached to the stadium.

Grocon also wanted to fit in "a mixed-use development in the Manuka precinct that includes a boutique 4-star hotel and serviced apartments, residential, commercial and retail and a licenced club". The locals may have been less cranky if it was just the stadium upgrade.

 

[Canberra Pear]

That’s interesting given they’ve been sold out in terms of being able to buy tickets on the day from what I remember. Wonder if it’s a function of the Canberra members.

There's been at least one sell-out a year between 2015-2018. Probably would have had another in 2019 if it hadn't snowed against Hawthorn.

 

[OniAu]

18 is never the magic number if the draw is still lopsided with playing some teams twice and not others

Makes more sense to go to 20. extend the finals system if anything , or a play in to wildcard spots for finals.

We do lose 4 rounds if we go to 20 teams and play each other once , so would have to find those games somewhere im assuming for $$$$$$$