Footy in Queensland

[Cubs2Lions]

Surely there is a better venue than Hickey Park for today's AFLW prelim.

It’s being played at our training base Brighton Homes Arena in Ipswich.

 

[GC2015]

Your last paragraph is bang on. I think the Suns are on the cusp of a growth phase that will translate to visible metrics, crowds, membership etc. the grassroots looks great and I think the successful Suns Academy haul this week will only reinforce the efforts to invest in grass roots on the coast. The ‘system’ on the Coast will be motivated by the Academy success which I think will inspire more kids to join AFL and the schools to start competing with each other in time.

Have to agree. Bottoming out in 2019 felt really worrisome in the moment, but with hindsight we can see the extra financial investment the AFL committed to our academy as a part of the package they gave us back then has really paid dividends. The 2023 draft class is the first of the Suns academy to go through the whole academy pathway of U12-U18s with the proper amount of funding from the AFL and the next few draft classes appear to have some high end talent from the GC as well. This is the greatest concession (if you want to call it that) the AFL has given us to date IMO.

Draft picks are great but if they don't want to stay for whatever reason then you're just going to be stuck in an ever revolving state of losing your best players. We've got a FAR better chance of retaining our high end talent if they are locals who grew up here and have genuine reasons to stay when interstate offers come their way. To be clear, I mean actual locals from the Gold Coast instead of Cairns natives that we've lost like Charlie Dixon. It's like calling Alubury product Will Setterfield a local to GWS when he actually grew up six hours away from Sydney and considerably closer to Melbourne. Dixon already made the big move to south east Queensland at 17 years of age so it wasn't as big of a deal when he left for Port as it would have been had he grown up his whole/most of his life on the GC.

The opportunity for a takeover is absolutely there. We just need to strike while the iron is hot and start playing finals. That's how we'll win over the next generation of Gold Coasters and turn the GC into a footy city of mostly rusted on Suns members in the next decade or two.

Brisbane is a harder task but the Lions are certainly creeping up. The announcement yesterday of a complete new 50,000 seat GABBA is gold for the AFL, allowing the game / club to showcase every aspect of the AFL experience in the best stadium in QLD. It’s another step in the right direction and no wonder V’landys is homing in on QLD with greater resources and firepower. He needs to, he’s under attack!

The redeveloped Gabba is fantastic news for footy in Queensland. We absolutely need it as the current Gabba is looking very dated. V'landys would definitely be worried seeing the Lions make the GF, both QLD clubs breaking their membership record this year, a newly redeveloped Gabba on its way and the Suns securing Hardwick + four local juniors in the first round of the draft. No doubt the admission of the Dolphins and Des Hasler's appointment at the Titans are moves to quell the momentum the AFL is building.

Which school?

That would be A B Paterson College in the north-central suburb of Arundel and that is one of the eight elite APS private schools on the Gold Coast. Really shores up that inner north section of the GC by having Aussie rules clubs in neighbouring suburbs of Southport (Sharks), Labrador (Tigers) and Pacific Pines (Power). However, this one will be handed to one of the elite private schools in the city that doesn't have a strong affiliation with any sport right now. We've seen how much PBC has benefitted from having their oval adjacent to the school and this development should hopefully lead to something similar. A B will naturally feed kids into their new Aussie rules club because they will have the top class facilities soon and I wouldn't be surprised to see them starting their own excellence program soon either. It's really a win-win in every sense for Aussie rules on the Gold Coast.

 

[Miller1971]

one of the biggest issues for the growth of the game in SEQ is facilities.

Many schools and also the clubs don't have enough space to accomodate the growth.

Schools are relying on the generosity of clubs for use of their facility, but this will eventually stop as those clubs that are helping schoolts with facility usage are all burst at the seams as it is. (Coorparoo, Sherwood etc)

 

[Bjo187]

one of the biggest issues for the growth of the game in SEQ is facilities.

Many schools and also the clubs don't have enough space to accomodate the growth.

Schools are relying on the generosity of clubs for use of their facility, but this will eventually stop as those clubs that are helping schoolts with facility usage are all burst at the seams as it is. (Coorparoo, Sherwood etc)

It's weird there aren't enough ovals in places like Brisbane. If you look at the situation in Melbourne, basically every footy club has a cricket club that uses the facilities in the summer. Cricket clearly not pulling their weight again with getting facilities.

 

[Miller1971]

It's weird there aren't enough ovals in places like Brisbane. If you look at the situation in Melbourne, basically every footy club has a cricket club that uses the facilities in the summer. Cricket clearly not pulling their weight again with getting facilities.

or hogging the facility 12 months a year due to the huge prevalence of 'winter cricket' up here.

 

[Bjo187]

or hogging the facility 12 months a year due to the huge prevalence of 'winter cricket' up here.

Cricket seems another sport jealous of footy, add it to rugby union and league, w***ers.

 

[GC2015]

one of the biggest issues for the growth of the game in SEQ is facilities.

Many schools and also the clubs don't have enough space to accomodate the growth.

Schools are relying on the generosity of clubs for use of their facility, but this will eventually stop as those clubs that are helping schools with facility usage are all burst at the seams as it is. (Coorparoo, Sherwood etc)

The AFL, Suns and Lions all know lack of suitable facilities are a massive issue. This is why it was so important for the AFL to strike the facilities deal with the QLD government when they were handed the rights to host the 2020 AFL GF. We're already seeing it take shape on the Gold Coast with one of the elite private schools being handed a parcel of adjacent land that will be developed into an sports precinct that will include a brand new AFL club with good facilities. That wouldn't have happened if the AFL had not brokered the deal with the QLD government in 2020.

 

[PhatBoy]

NRL is rugby.

It is not, and never will be

 

[PhatBoy]

This is a ridiculous debate.

Rugby is rugby. It's thick necked guys running in straight lines at each other. Sometimes it stops and someone rolls the ball out the back.

But it's all the same thing. Fans might say "oh, but in this version a guy chucks it in from the side" but it's all the same thing. It's chunky blokes trying not to throw the ball forward.

It's one of the main reasons that union is dying (or arguably has died). No one who isn't already a fan understands why there needs to be two versions of the same game. Rugby Union is just Ms Pacman.

They’re nothing like each other mate.

 

[Bjo187]

They’re nothing like each other mate.

This is one of the dumbest comments I've ever seen on Bigfooty, congratulations.

 

[PhatBoy]

This is one of the dumbest comments I've ever seen on Bigfooty, congratulations.

Not as dumb as the one it was replying to.

 

[Happy_Neale]

The AFL, Suns and Lions all know lack of suitable facilities are a massive issue. This is why it was so important for the AFL to strike the facilities deal with the QLD government when they were handed the rights to host the 2020 AFL GF. We're already seeing it take shape on the Gold Coast with one of the elite private schools being handed a parcel of adjacent land that will be developed into an sports precinct that will include a brand new AFL club with good facilities. That wouldn't have happened if the AFL had not brokered the deal with the QLD government in 2020.

+ using the upcoming Olympics as a way to revamp the GABBA as well.

IMO the next step for QLD footy should be improving the Jr pathway, the academies are doing a great job but it is quite difficult for non-academy juniors to get noticed at the moment. It's pretty unfair to expect a junior to play at Southport and travel interstate regularly while they're still at school and the QAFL is not really good enough to have high draftee numbers. Jaspa Fletcher was drafted out of the QAFL last year which is great and Conor Budarick at the Suns played for Labrador before being drafted but the QAFL is never going to be as good a development pathway as the Coates talent league or WAFL colts etc

 

[GC2015]

+ using the upcoming Olympics as a way to revamp the GABBA as well.

IMO the next step for QLD footy should be improving the Jr pathway, the academies are doing a great job but it is quite difficult for non-academy juniors to get noticed at the moment. It's pretty unfair to expect a junior to play at Southport and travel interstate regularly while they're still at school and the QAFL is not really good enough to have high draftee numbers. Jaspa Fletcher was drafted out of the QAFL last year which is great and Conor Budarick at the Suns played for Labrador before being drafted but the QAFL is never going to be as good a development pathway as the Coates talent league or WAFL colts etc

Well, if we keep having years like 2023 where multiple Queenslanders are being drafted in the first round then I think the southern state AFL teams will start to take more notice of the young talent within the QAFL. I'd like to think there's at least one person at both the Lions and Suns who is keeping an eye on the QAFL and any potential talents that should be added into their respective academies. We're also starting to see the emergence of Queenslanders accepting football scholarships at one of the prestigious Melbourne APS schools so they can develop through the Vic pathway. Sam Marshall (Brisbane/Melbourne Grammar), Caleb Nancarrow (Cairns/Scotch) and Boston Everitt (Gold Coast/Carey) are all draft eligible in 2024 and are examples of this. So that's another avenue for Queensland juniors that didn't previously exist.

 

[rwan566]

The Queensland women’s teams also smashing it and large increases in female participation in the sport ( more than rugby)

 

[Miller1971]

Jaspa Fletcher was drafted out of the QAFL last year which is great and Conor Budarick at the Suns played for Labrador before being drafted but the QAFL is never going to be as good a development pathway as the Coates talent league or WAFL colts etc

With attitudes like that it never will be, but it absolutely could be a great breeding ground for draft talent, however it is so heavily compromised by the Coates Talent League those lads don't get a fair crack.

My view is that the academy teams should get funding to a sufficient level that they actually participate in the CTL for a full season, rather than playing a few CTL games that are meaningless and then filtering back in and out of the QAFL.

The last 5 draftees in QLD came out of the QAFL in Reveille, Fletcher, Ryan and Coleman x 2

Fletcher and Blake Coleman the only ones actually taken in their draft year, the other 3 overagers after strong form in QAFL/VFL

Well, if we keep having years like 2023 where multiple Queenslanders are being drafted in the first round then I think the southern state AFL teams will start to take more notice of the young talent within the QAFL. I'd like to think there's at least one person at both the Lions and Suns who is keeping an eye on the QAFL and any potential talents that should be added into their respective academies. We're also starting to see the emergence of Queenslanders accepting football scholarships at one of the prestigious Melbourne APS schools so they can develop through the Vic pathway. Sam Marshall (Brisbane/Melbourne Grammar), Caleb Nancarrow (Cairns/Scotch) and Boston Everitt (Gold Coast/Carey) are all draft eligible in 2024 and are examples of this. So that's another avenue for Queensland juniors that didn't previously exist.

For every Marshall, Nancarrow and Everitt - there are 6-7 kids knocking back those offers as they don't see it as the best way to progress their footy anymore.

 

[GC2015]

Brisbane walk away with another AFLW premiership this year. It really has been an outstanding year for Queensland footy!

 

[WillHayward]

VFL flag
AFLW flag
Under 18 flag*
AFL runner up
Brownlow

One heck of a year for Qld footy....

*Allies with some Tasmanians

 

[Miller1971]

QLD u18 girls won it too didn't they?

 

[Bjo187]

I posted this in the other thread but thought it could be useful here too.

The Queensland government pulling the rug from under the Lions on funding for the replacement venue (RNA) and offering no compensation for losses incurred during their 4 year Gabba displacement has the potential to stuff footy in the QLD capital and send the Lions broke.

This is apolitical as the opposition haven't made any promises either as far as I know, but you can help out footy in QLD by emailing your dissatisfaction if you like:

QLD sports minister (scroll to bottom):

Stirling Hinchliffe MP

Responsibilities include tourism development and promotion, tourism investment attraction, marketing and promotion of international education and training, entrepreneurship policy, innovation policy, major events, sport and recreation.

cabinet.qld.gov.au

And premiers office:
premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au

 

[Cmarsh]

I posted this in the other thread but thought it could be useful here too.

The Queensland government pulling the rug from under the Lions on funding for the replacement venue (RNA) and offering no compensation for losses incurred during their 4 year Gabba displacement has the potential to stuff footy in the QLD capital and send the Lions broke.

This is apolitical as the opposition haven't made any promises either as far as I know, but you can help out footy in QLD by emailing your dissatisfaction if you like:

QLD sports minister (scroll to bottom):

Stirling Hinchliffe MP

Responsibilities include tourism development and promotion, tourism investment attraction, marketing and promotion of international education and training, entrepreneurship policy, innovation policy, major events, sport and recreation.

cabinet.qld.gov.au

And premiers office:
premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Think what might happen is that the AFL will fund the difference for the Lions financial losses over this period. Agree that its poor form by the QLD govt though.

 

[Bjo187]

Think what might happen is that the AFL will fund the difference for the Lions financial losses over this period. Agree that its poor form by the QLD govt though.

Possibly but the afl shouldn't have to fund that anyway.

 

[GC2015]

QLD u18 girls won it too didn't they?

Almost. Queensland finished second behind an undefeated South Australian side this year. Still a fair effort from QLD to finish ahead of the two Vic sides, WA & the Allies this year. They also finished 3rd in 2022 and I wouldn't be surprised if they claimed the title next year.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Think what might happen is that the AFL will fund the difference for the Lions financial losses over this period. Agree that its poor form by the QLD govt though.

Not in the QLD govt terms though because that would mean the AFL is going to give Brisbane Lions 70 million dollars for absolutelt zero return

QLD govt have put in a "figure it out yourselves" offer here.

I think most likely scenario here is Brisbane have to play at Metricon Stadium and AFL gives them the losses like you said which would be more like 10-15 mill which will then eek its way back into the AFL coffers with federal funding instead

In the end, you get what you vote for so not much worth complaining about

 

[Bjo187]

Not in the QLD govt terms though because that would mean the AFL is going to give Brisbane Lions 70 million dollars for absolutelt zero return

QLD govt have put in a "figure it out yourselves" offer here.

I think most likely scenario here is Brisbane have to play at Metricon Stadium and AFL gives them the losses like you said which would be more like 10-15 mill which will then eek its way back into the AFL coffers with federal funding instead

In the end, you get what you vote for so not much worth complaining about

If cricket is predicting $12 million in annual losses when they have less games and crowds, I wonder what the lions would be losing.

Let's remember, the QLD government made promises to funding an alternate venue and compensation for losses. They forgot very quickly that the AFL poured nearly 100 million into the state during covid. Also the afl have losses over $60 million in the past few years, the suggestion they should cover the costs is absurd, especially when you see the government's golden handshakes to other sports that have never put their hand in their own pocket for anything.

 

[dave10]

Not in the QLD govt terms though because that would mean the AFL is going to give Brisbane Lions 70 million dollars for absolutelt zero return

QLD govt have put in a "figure it out yourselves" offer here.

I think most likely scenario here is Brisbane have to play at Metricon Stadium and AFL gives them the losses like you said which would be more like 10-15 mill which will then eek its way back into the AFL coffers with federal funding instead

In the end, you get what you vote for so not much worth complaining about

I still think the Lions / AFL need to maintain a presence in Brisbane. The Club and the game can’t afford to not be in the Brisbane market with live AFL for 4 years. They’ve collectively invested too much into SEQ the last 5 years to give up gains, especially given importance to grassroots growth.

Mayor Tom Tate has provided a compelling alternative that should be considered. I wonder if the Lions could find a way to work with the Suns to ‘buy’ a few extra games a year from interstate clubs to get more games into Metricon to secure the investment into the GC venue and support the GC AFL push? Thats separate to their home game arrangements. Then Lions perhaps move (buy) 2-3 homes to Metricon per year, 7-8 other games from around the country moved to Metricon. Maybe sweeten the offer for Mayor Tate by securing a Gather Round for the GC in years 3 & 4??

It could be viewed as a broader opportunity to support the games growth in QLD.

But the various stakeholders need to find a solve for the Lions to play at least 8-9 home games in Brisbane imo.