North want to sell a home game to the Dockers or Eagles

[Lincs]

Sorry but Hands Oval is not up to AFL standard even with the redevelopment just finished. It's in the middle of nowhere in suburban Bunbury, presumably the servo across the road will be doing the catering as there is nothing else around there. Anyone flying in from over east I'm sure will appreciate the hour long drive from Busselton airport (or longer from Perth) plus at least that much back to their accommodation - unless they are silly enough to stay in Bunbury instead of Margaret River/Dunsborough.

I hope Freo Oval finally gets a proper AFL gig at some point - the atmosphere in Freo before/after a game would be a cracker. Otherwise Arena Joondalup to lure a few Poms/Saffers in. Or even Broome - it would be peak tourist season and the Alice Springs model has shown a tiny crowd can still produce a great atmosphere. Could be indigenous round in Broome.

 

[Philth]

Dunno what map you looked at, but this is from the AFL website. Blue is wc.
View attachment 2154574

Ah yeah. Helps if you zoom in hey

 

[blueboy25]

Is this a preview of a third WA team?

 

[parano1a]

Ridiculous unfair advantage to West Coast and Fremantle.

 

[Altum Volantes]

I would say Geraldton is WC territory also.

Are there any Freo regional strongholds in WA?

Cockburn.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Mixed feelings on this, would rather not see my tax money going to help prop North Melbourne up, but hey, it’s an extra game in Perth, and I guess as a paying AFL customer, I already do pay to prop up the teams that don’t make money without additional top ups.

Brings things in line with the SA teams and an arrangement like this was pretty much the only way it was going to happen.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Ridiculous unfair advantage to West Coast and Fremantle.

 

[sydney_gws]

So does that mean only 2 games in TAS. I would say North won't play away in Perth, so effectively only 1 more trip there thsn otherwise.

 

[eastfreo75]

If a team needs to sell home games, maybe they shouldn't be in the AFL.

I am for all reducing travel for Fremantle but having an extra home game isn't fair.

 

[eastfreo75]

So does that mean only 2 games in TAS. I would say North won't play away in Perth, so effectively only 1 more trip there thsn otherwise.

Might be back-to-back games.

 

[Canberra Pear]

Is this a preview of a third WA team?

Don't need one now.

A major argument was to reduce travel for West Coast and Freo. Turns out we didn't need a whole new club for that.

 

[stallon]

So does that mean only 2 games in TAS. I would say North won't play away in Perth, so effectively only 1 more trip there thsn otherwise.

I think they will play away in Perth vs Eagles at Optus. Ideally 1 trip west in round 2(Darlings 300th), then do the other 2 WA games later in the year, around school holidays in winter perhaps

 

[parano1a]

I would say North won't play away in Perth

Why not? If you opt to sell games this shouldn't impact your away game roster.

 

[stallon]

Don't need one now.

A major argument was to reduce travel for West Coast and Freo. Turns out we didn't need a whole new club for that.

As long as this North deal sticks around, its supposedly only lasting for 3 years at this stage.
North could easily turn around and say no thanks after that.

Need something long term.

If the AFL mandated that 2 vic clubs every year will go to WA and spend 3 weeks there per year(so each Vic team does it once every 5 years) I think we'd have a winner, assuming the 3rd wa team doesnt happen

 

[sydney_gws]

Why not? If you opt to sell games this shouldn't impact your away game roster.

I bet they have agreed this with the AFL.
Wouldn't you if you where a norths official?

 

[oak79]

If a team needs to sell home games, maybe they shouldn't be in the AFL.

I am for all reducing travel for Fremantle but having an extra home game isn't fair.

Adelaide and Port both get an extra game at AO.

Bunbury is not an extra home - would you be happy for Freo the Bunbury game instead?

 

[Jeremias]

If you guys believe in this, I have some magic beans to sell you.

This is 1 thing. North Melbourne launching a absurd proposal in order to shake down the AFL to get better/more funding from them. AFL will nevet go for this. They will simply pony up the 5 million they are after in funding and this will never be spoken about again

North Melbourne are deserving of it in the end. Brisbane Lions receive 7 mill more per year then them despite having 10x the assets North have. Give them the money and stop being hypocrites.

 

[eastfreo75]

I bet they have agreed this with the AFL.
Wouldn't you if you where a norths official?

The reality is that North Melbourne would play 1-2 away games in Perth each year anyway.

Not much difference to them.

Fremantle and Wet Toast would get a massive leg up.

 

[eastfreo75]

Adelaide and Port both get an extra game at AO.

Bunbury is not an extra home - would you be happy for Freo the Bunbury game instead?

Bunbury would be fine for me.

 

[oak79]

Never been to WA so I just assumed they would as Freo is a southern suburb

West Coast were established and had a big following in Bunbury and most countries area before Freo existed.

Freo is just another part of Perth - no direct correlation to any country area. Even the whole "north/ south" thing - I would argue outside of Freo itself, WC have a bigger following in most southern suburbs.

 

[oak79]

View attachment 2154573
This is the important bit

That would likely reverse in 2026.

 

[stallon]

That would likely reverse in 2026.

Yeah for sure

 

[oak79]

Sorry but Hands Oval is not up to AFL standard even with the redevelopment just finished. It's in the middle of nowhere in suburban Bunbury,

I went to Swans v Eagles at Mt Barker - now that was literally in the middle of nowhere - just fields around it.

Hands oval has a lot more infrastructure near it.

 

[eastfreo75]

I went to Swans v Eagles at Mt Barker - now that was literally in the middle of nowhere - just fields around it.

Hands oval has a lot more infrastructure near it.

What is the capacity of the ground? Would they bring in portable stalls?

 

[Canberra Pear]

As long as this North deal sticks around, its supposedly only lasting for 3 years at this stage.
North could easily turn around and say no thanks after that.

Need something long term.

It could become longer term.

If North are able to replace the Tasmanian deal, while playing fewer games outside of Victoria, then Melbourne-based fans will be getting a better deal than they're getting now.