No Oppo Supporters General AFL discussion and other club news

[Ned Ryerson]

People who live in Richmond

Correct!

See also, people who bloody love the winter sun in Melbourne.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

They did it again

The way Nanna goes off when it's called and the notes his reaction and just gives him a 'there there' tap on the knee is pure gold.

 

[Bugs1977]

The way Nanna goes off when it's called and the notes his reaction and just gives him a 'there there' tap on the knee is pure gold.

It's kind of romantic that his surname is Payne because boy oh boy he's in for a world of it

 

[Big Hotdog]

The way Nanna goes off when it's called and the notes his reaction and just gives him a 'there there' tap on the knee is pure gold.

He couldnt have been happier...unless of course he was picked by any of the other 17 clubs.

Poor kid.

 

[Bugs1977]

He couldnt have been happier...unless of course he was picked by any of the other 17 clubs.

Poor kid.

When dreams nightmares come true

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Wow, just wow. If you think the AFL make dumb decisions - the NRL is still the king of them. $600M of taxpayers money to fund a team in a basket case of a developing country. The AFL will be sending the NRL a gift basket today for leaving Perth alone.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/deal-is-done-australian-taxpayers-to-fork-out-600m-for-png-to-join-nrl/news-story/cbdc1b45274bbe883117ecbd5c6ac2c7

 

[moginie]

Wow, just wow. If you think the AFL make dumb decisions - the NRL is still the king of them. $600M of taxpayers money to fund a team in a basket case of a developing country. The AFL will be sending the NRL a gift basket today for leaving Perth alone.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/deal-is-done-australian-taxpayers-to-fork-out-600m-for-png-to-join-nrl/news-story/cbdc1b45274bbe883117ecbd5c6ac2c7

Yeah, can't see too many night games being played in Port Moresby.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Yeah, can't see too many night games being played in Port Moresby.

I am wondering if away team supporters will be getting police escorts with some of that $600M. Player retention should be interesting too - it is hard enough trying to attract players to Canberra let alone Port Moresby.

 

[moginie]

I am wondering if away team supporters will be getting police escorts with some of that $600M. Player retention should be interesting too - it is hard enough trying to attract players to Canberra let alone Port Moresby.

I can't imagine too many away supporters going there.

 

[CD Xbow]

Wow, just wow. If you think the AFL make dumb decisions - the NRL is still the king of them. $600M of taxpayers money to fund a team in a basket case of a developing country. The AFL will be sending the NRL a gift basket today for leaving Perth alone.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/deal-is-done-australian-taxpayers-to-fork-out-600m-for-png-to-join-nrl/news-story/cbdc1b45274bbe883117ecbd5c6ac2c7

From the point of view of the NRL I don't see how this is dumb at all, they get their snout in a very deep trough. It will be super popular amongst folks in PNG, too. They love the NRL up there. The main reason is diplomatic, tie PNG closer to Oz and keep the PRC out. That's the real reason but no one will say it. We will have to wait and see if it's money well spent. I can see many arguments being made why it's not good use of aid money, but they miss the point, it's NOT aid money. Remember PNG is a substantial country of 10-17 million people, 60 million a year to help keep them onside may be a good investment.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

From the point of view of the NRL I don't see how this is dumb at all, they get their snout in a very deep trough. It will be super popular amongst folks in PNG, too. They love the NRL up there. The main reason is diplomatic, tie PNG closer to Oz and keep the PRC out. That's the real reason but no one will say it. We will have to wait and see if it's money well spent. I can see many arguments being made why it's not good use of aid money, but they miss the point, it's NOT aid money. Remember PNG is a substantial country of 10-17 million people, 60 million a year to help keep them onside may be a good investment.

Taxpayers money shouldn't be used to entirely prop up a football team that would never survive on its own. If the NRL want to front $600M then go for it. Government investment in sport I have no problem with - but this is far beyond that.

PNG is a basket case and $600M could be far better spent on things that would benefit the local population there in far more substantial ways. It's a developing nation - the last thing they should be focussed on is an NRL side.

The NRL stand to gain nothing for doing this. A team in Perth would open up a whole new audience and would enhance their next TV rights deal. Australian media companies aren't going to care about the audience in PNG.

If we want to keep allies closer and stave off China - then I am not remotely fond of a sporting franchise being used to achieve that. What's next - do we relocate the Sharks to the Cook Islands to halt their cosiness with China?

 

[cryptor]

They did it again

Looks like he and his dad/grandad(?) next to him immediately disassociated when North called out his name.

 

[arupist]

Taxpayers money shouldn't be used to entirely prop up a football team that would never survive on its own. If the NRL want to front $600M then go for it. Government investment in sport I have no problem with - but this is far beyond that.

PNG is a basket case and $600M could be far better spent on things that would benefit the local population there in far more substantial ways. It's a developing nation - the last thing they should be focussed on is an NRL side.

The NRL stand to gain nothing for doing this. A team in Perth would open up a whole new audience and would enhance their next TV rights deal. Australian media companies aren't going to care about the audience in PNG.

If we want to keep allies closer and stave off China - then I am not remotely fond of a sporting franchise being used to achieve that. What's next - do we relocate the Sharks to the Cook Islands to halt their cosiness with China?

Disagree, Ned. The PRC thing aside, it is still a good investment to grow the game in a region where it is hugely popular. They will get higher attendance in Port Moresby than they would in Perth. Over time, you will see away teams support in greater numbers. I think it is a great move. Your point on how to better spend the 600M is also misguided. By investing 600M in a NRL team, it is only the tip of the iceberg.

 

[CD Xbow]

Taxpayers money shouldn't be used to entirely prop up a football team that would never survive on its own. If the NRL want to front $600M then go for it. Government investment in sport I have no problem with - but this is far beyond that.

PNG is a basket case and $600M could be far better spent on things that would benefit the local population there in far more substantial ways. It's a developing nation - the last thing they should be focussed on is an NRL side.

The NRL stand to gain nothing for doing this. A team in Perth would open up a whole new audience and would enhance their next TV rights deal. Australian media companies aren't going to care about the audience in PNG.

If we want to keep allies closer and stave off China - then I am not remotely fond of a sporting franchise being used to achieve that. What's next - do we relocate the Sharks to the Cook Islands to halt their cosiness with China?

I have no knowledge of the pros and con of where the next NRL team should go, you may well be right. You have a very simplistic and rather dismissive view of PNG. Why shouldn't poor folks (or countries) have football teams? Bit snobby if you ask me.

 

[TazHawk15]

Why shouldn't poor folks (or countries) have football teams? Bit snobby if you ask me.

A good point you make.

I often think the Shinbeggers should relocate to Urkukdurkastan.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I have no knowledge of the pros and con of where the next NRL team should go, you may well be right. You have a very simplistic and rather dismissive view of PNG. Why shouldn't poor folks (or countries) have football teams? Bit snobby if you ask me.

It's not snobby - it's more that I would prefer $600M of of taxpayers money being spent on diplomacy in PNG to be spent on health, education, critical infrastructure etc.

I get the trickle down arguments of stadium spending in a country like Australia where it will create employment and generate revenue from events etc. But we are a developed nation - PNG is very much not. I am sure the footy mad population will love it but when your country has a life expectancy of 65, an infant mortality rate of 35/1,000 and is ranked in the lowest 25% on the human development index - sorry but I think there are better ways to spend money that will benefit more people in more substantial ways.

 

[Rocket72]

Correct!

See also, people who bloody love the winter sun in Melbourne.

I used to live so close to the MCG that I would walk home for lunch in the lunch break at the cricket!

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I used to live so close to the MCG that I would walk home for lunch in the lunch break at the cricket!

I could probably do the same. Also comes in handy when your toddler wants to leave after a quarter. Thankfully this was the Swans game this year so he was doing me a favour.

 

[arupist]

It's not snobby - it's more that I would prefer $600M of of taxpayers money being spent on diplomacy in PNG to be spent on health, education, critical infrastructure etc.

I get the trickle down arguments of stadium spending in a country like Australia where it will create employment and generate revenue from events etc. But we are a developed nation - PNG is very much not. I am sure the footy mad population will love it but when your country has a life expectancy of 65, an infant mortality rate of 35/1,000 and is ranked in the lowest 25% on the human development index - sorry but I think there are better ways to spend money that will benefit more people in more substantial ways.

Let's be honest, Ned. You just do not want 600M spent on Rugby League, so you are playing the social welfare card to justify your stance. You are entitled to think that way. I do not agree.

 

[VernonSpots]

It's not snobby - it's more that I would prefer $600M of of taxpayers money being spent on diplomacy in PNG to be spent on health, education, critical infrastructure etc.

I get the trickle down arguments of stadium spending in a country like Australia where it will create employment and generate revenue from events etc. But we are a developed nation - PNG is very much not. I am sure the footy mad population will love it but when your country has a life expectancy of 65, an infant mortality rate of 35/1,000 and is ranked in the lowest 25% on the human development index - sorry but I think there are better ways to spend money that will benefit more people in more substantial ways.

Gov doing for "soft power". Closer cultural ties to Aus means the rank and file PNG persons more inclined to have an Aus presence vs China presence even though they will have way more dollars.

If PNG ppl loved watching AFL vs NRL, then gov would be providing dollars for that instead!

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Let's be honest, Ned. You just do not want 600M spent on Rugby League, so you are playing the social welfare card to justify your stance. You are entitled to think that way. I do not agree.

How about you don’t put words into my mouth to suit your argument? I have no qualms on spending government money on sport in Australia if it yields dividends - such as stadium funding and bidding on global events like a World Cup. I have no qualms helping out PNG and staving off Chinese influence - but I do have issues with the way this will be spent as I don’t think the broader citizenry will get as much benefit if it had gone to other areas. I can have an opinion more nuanced than ‘me no like rugby league’ considering I’ve spent most of my life watching the sport and still passionately follow my team despite the code itself having lost me a while back.

 

[Maybloomer]

A good point you make.

I often think the Shinbeggers should relocate to Urkukdurkastan.

If our trade history with North is anything to go by, we could get Sheezel for a donkey and 2 goats. Clarko could cuss in Urku and nobody would be any the wiser.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Marvel is literally a train ride to Southern Cross. Alot of supporters don't go there out of principle because of Waverley etc but it's really not that much of a stretch to play more games there and for the supporters to suck it up and attend those matches if they can. I've attended more marvel than MCG games the past couple of years because of work and those games falling on days Ive got spare. It's a soulless place to play footy but it's better than nothing.

 

[DogDaySonny]

Marvel is literally a train ride to Southern Cross. Alot of supporters don't go there out of principle because of Waverley etc but it's really not that much of a stretch to play more games there and for the supporters to suck it up and attend those matches if they can. I've attended more marvel than MCG games the past couple of years because of work and those games falling on days Ive got spare. It's a soulless place to play footy but it's better than nothing.

I'm glad you tacked on that last sentence. I don't go to Marvel because it feels like watching football in a stainless steel vat. Astronauts enjoy more atmosphere in the vacuum of space.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I'm glad you tacked on that last sentence. I don't go to Marvel because it feels like watching football in a stainless steel vat. Astronauts enjoy more atmosphere in the vacuum of space.

Aptly summed up. I could live next door to that void and still dread going. It’s the worst place I’ve ever watched live sport. I’d rather go to a local ground.