Expansion Tasmania's hostile takeover plan.

[Rookie]

Okay, so Tasmania wants an AFL club but the big bad AFL seems to be blocking the plan.

What if the Tasmanian government put forward a bid to buy out one of the small, Melbourne-based clubs by buying a majority share of their membership?

I realise this might cost upwards of $20 million.

My question is, if Tasmania was willing to do this, would this be a surefire way of getting an AFL license (even if it involved the death of a Melbourne club)?

And if Tasmania put the money on the table and said "We are getting a club in this state one way or another," would this provide any extra motivation for the AFL to consider and grant Tasmania's proposal?

I know this is an expensive and unpopular way of gaining a license for Tasmania. I am just wondering if it is possible, even if it is not probable.

Thoughts on the hostile takeover option?

 

[Gibbke]

1) It would cost a helluva lot more than $20m...

2) This ready to sign up possible future member will not help hold the knife driven into the back of a team supported by hundreds of thousands of fellow footy fans. I wouldn't back a relocated side in nice circumstances, let alone a hideous travesty like this would be...

Any footy fan who goes on about the "right" of Tassie to field a team should also recognise the "responsibility" a fully-fledged footy state has for the game, and if we dare compare ourselves to the Big 3, we never would be involved in a situation like this...

 

[Ingall]

The best way to get a Tassie team is to have first get a team in the NRL and have all our kids start following rugby league. Wait a few years and they'll be throwing licenses this way.

 

[Hawkk]

PR disaster aside, alot of people seriously under estimate the 'people power' of supporters and the costs associated with running a competitive footy club - upwards of $30 million a year.

Even if the Tasmanian government looked into buying a small club - who still has 25-30000 members, they'd probably have to buy 60-70000 club memberships to cover the existing members if it came to a vote.

The best hope Tasmania has got is if they beat West Sydney to the chase (unlikely), the AFL looks to expand the competition to 20 clubs (equally unlikely) or one of the current/future clubs goes out of buisness opening up room for one more license.

 

[ARES]

The best way to get a Tassie team is to have first get a team in the NRL and have all our kids start following rugby league. Wait a few years and they'll be throwing licenses this way.

ROFL

RL in Tassie

 

[Gibbke]

When I left Tassie in 1996, there were about 6-7 Union teams in the state, 3 league sides - and 4 playing gridiron!

 

[Kingpin]

1) It would cost a helluva lot more than $20m...

2) This ready to sign up possible future member will not help hold the knife driven into the back of a team supported by hundreds of thousands of fellow footy fans. I wouldn't back a relocated side in nice circumstances, let alone a hideous travesty like this would be...

Any footy fan who goes on about the "right" of Tassie to field a team should also recognise the "responsibility" a fully-fledged footy state has for the game, and if we dare compare ourselves to the Big 3, we never would be involved in a situation like this...

I would never involve myself with or support a team that came about in that manner to be truthful.

 

[Professor Knowall]

When I left Tassie in 1996, there were about 6-7 Union teams in the state, 3 league sides - and 4 playing gridiron!

And now? No league sides (it folded), no gridiron (also folded). Union stills exists, but I'm unsure how many clubs (and can't be stuffed googling to find out).

Though it's doubtful the "hostile take-over" plan would work in reality, it's sound in theory (but would probably have to have #40,000 members to work). This would cost no more than $8 million (at an average $200 per membership. The hardest part will be getting 40,000 individual Tasmanians to put there names down.

Also, it would not technically mean the "death of a Melbourne club", as it would remain the same club - just at a new location. It would simply be the end of it as a Melbourne based club.

Actually, perhaps this just might work in reality ...

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Kingpin, is that why you have nothing to do with the shell that was once the proud Hobart Football Club?i

 

[bradrowe#32]

I really feel for Tassie. They have been waiting for years for a team, and then these newcomers get instant licenses.

 

[Kingpin]

Kingpin, is that why you have nothing to do with the shell that was once the proud Hobart Football Club?i

Yes that's one reason, amongst a few others.

 

[foxdog50]

Id rather see a Tassie team then another team in Sydney...

 

[Dont be a lemon]

The Tasmanian government has no real interest in having an AFL club, it is merely supporting the current The Mercury-led bandwagon for an AFL club because it is an extremely easy way to look good (at least to the simpler folk of Tasmania) and every bit of a media coverage on "a Tasmanian AFL club" is a bit of coverage that isn't about bad things in the Tasmanian government.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

The Tasmanian government has no real interest in having an AFL club, it is merely supporting the current The Mercury-led bandwagon for an AFL club because it is an extremely easy way to look good (at least to the simpler folk of Tasmania) and every bit of a media coverage on "a Tasmanian AFL club" is a bit of coverage that isn't about bad things in the Tasmanian government.

That's pretty much spot on. And in about ten years time, The Mercury will once more start off a futile campaign that all Tasmanians can be thankful will fail.
Lennon's just happy something is keeping the links with Gunns off some pages of the Mercury. Of course, in the north, the Examiner is still blatantly promnoting everything do with Gunns, and is yet to mention the (im)possibility of a Tasmanian AFL team.

 

[cos789]

The Tasmanian government has no real interest in having an AFL club, it is merely supporting the current The Mercury-led bandwagon for an AFL club because it is an extremely easy way to look good (at least to the simpler folk of Tasmania) and every bit of a media coverage on "a Tasmanian AFL club" is a bit of coverage that isn't about bad things in the Tasmanian government.

It's certainly worked well (and still is) for rl and it's associates in NSW .

.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

It's certainly worked well (and still is) for rl and it's associates in NSW .

Can you please expand on this? I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

 

[cos789]

Can you please expand on this? I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

When influental people in Sydney realised that Australian Football
could be serious threat to rl they bagan to see the ramificattions
and started to panic . Basically they would be out of a job .
So the government spent a huge amount upgrading every rectangular
ground around and installed rl people in charge of the SCG .
Then proceed to build their main stadium exactly next door to the SCG
and sheduled matches in direct opposition to the Swans .

 

[Hass]

When influental people in Sydney realised that Australian Football
could be serious threat to rl they bagan to see the ramificattions
and started to panic . Basically they would be out of a job .
So the government spent a huge amount upgrading every rectangular
ground around and installed rl people in charge of the SCG .
Then proceed to build their main stadium exactly next door to the SCG
and sheduled matches in direct opposition to the Swans .

Oh dear.

I suppose that's the reason why the State Government spent 100 million dollars on making the Olympic Stadium suitable for Aussie Rules. As a result it is a less than perfect venue for the rectangular codes.

There's four Rugby League matches in Sydney every round. What do you expect them to do, play every game mid-week to avoid a clash with the Swans?

 

[Rookie]

And now? No league sides (it folded), no gridiron (also folded). Union stills exists, but I'm unsure how many clubs (and can't be stuffed googling to find out).

Though it's doubtful the "hostile take-over" plan would work in reality, it's sound in theory (but would probably have to have #40,000 members to work). This would cost no more than $8 million (at an average $200 per membership. The hardest part will be getting 40,000 individual Tasmanians to put there names down.

Also, it would not technically mean the "death of a Melbourne club", as it would remain the same club - just at a new location. It would simply be the end of it as a Melbourne based club.

Actually, perhaps this just might work in reality ...

Thanks for the replies of everyone responded. It IS a nasty way of developing a Tasmanian team, but if Tasmania was serious about pursuing it, it could be used as a bargaining chip... "We WON'T buy out Melbourne FC and relocate it if you grant us a license..."

 

[TigerCraig]

Union stills exists, but I'm unsure how many clubs (and can't be stuffed googling to find out).

Eight - Hobart Lions, Glenorchy, Harlequins, University, Taroona, Eastern Suburbs, Launceston, Devonport