Caring, Sherrin approach
Todd Balym
From:The Daily Telegraph
June 30, 201112:00AM
Handy partnership: NSW Sports Minister Graham Annesley handballs to AFL boss Andrew Demetriou. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: The Daily Telegraph
THEY are Australian sport's new - but unlikely - bedfellows.
Former NRL No.2 and now NSW Sports Minister Graham Annesley working hand-in- hand with AFL head honcho Andrew Demetriou.
Demetriou, renowned for his powers of persuasion, passed a Sherrin with the former rugby league referee to announce a major deal of bringing the AFL draft to western Sydney on November 24.
It is enough to make NRL boss David Gallop go weak at the knees. Annesley used to be on the front line for league - now he's sleeping with the enemy.
But the minister insisted there was no awkwardness helping the AFL in his ministerial role, despite plotting its demise just four months ago.
"David (Gallop) knows I'm the Minister for Sport, not the Minister for Rugby League," Mr Annesley said. "My job is to try to increase the profile and participation of sport throughout NSW. But we do have a major commitment to Sydney's west and the AFL is ploughing in a lot of resources (that) will benefit the people of NSW."
While 12 months ago, Mr Annesley was cursing Demetriou's name for poaching Israel Folau, he sees the sense and value in pursuing the AFL rookie.
And he likes what the AFL is doing in Sydney's west.
"Obviously rugby league is well established out there but there's definitely room for other sports," he said.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6084515617
