Page 1 of 1
AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:34 am
by QueenslandISAFL
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/AFL ... 6607101619
A Q-CLASH to kick-off the 2014 season in a shotgun start with the NRL's fixture list is in the pipeline as the AFL plans its latest assault on rugby league's stranglehold on the northern states.
The AFL is planning a downgrade of the NAB Cup and re-scheduling the premiership season opener to go head-to-head with the NRL to help the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions, as well as the two Sydney AFL sides, gain a stronger foothold in the expansion markets.
The pre-season tournament is an annual headache for the game here in Queensland.
Roughead gives advice on The SuperCoach Show
The unavailability of the Gabba and a marginal commitment from broadcasters ensures the Lions and Suns fans rarely get a chance to see their sides play.
The Lions and Suns start their premiership seasons on Saturday, 22 days after the year's first NRL game in Queensland, which was at Suncorp Stadium.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou admitted the code could no longer afford to give its major winter competitors such a head start.
"I don't think it is sustainable for our competition," he said at the Gold Coast yesterday. "We are four weeks behind the NRL and the Super 15 competitions and that makes it very hard for the two clubs in this state to generate any oxygen.
"We have to do something about it."
Cricket commitments at the Gabba and SCG would make an earlier start a scheduling nightmare for the AFL, but Demetriou said there was enough alternative venues and the option of staggered opening rounds to make it achievable.
Talks are progressing with the MCC to get access to Melbourne's No.1 stadium earlier, which would pave the way for the competition to start in the second week of March.
Suns chief executive Travis Auld said his side wanted the opportunity to kick-start the season and there is an understanding at AFL House the earlier push into Queensland would only work with a blockbuster at Metricon Stadium.
"To make it work we have to give some thought to opening the season up with a rivalry game against the Lions," Auld said.
Demetriou also defended the decision to stage the NAB Cup grand final between Brisbane and Carlton at Etihad Stadium and claimed greater gate taking was not the incentive despite claims to the contrary made by AFL staffers.
"We felt that the Brisbane Lions deserved a home final and their home ground is the Gabba," he said.
"We did not think their support would have translated to the GC Suns football ground.
"There is going to be a rivalry between the Suns and Lions and if we try and trick up this ground and pretend it is the Brisbane Lions game for a grand final I don't think it would have had the same effect."
His comments cast immediate doubts over the ongoing credibility of the NAB Cup, given Brisbane will never have access to the Gabba.
"That is a point that we have thought about," he said.
"While there is no doubt there is a plus for a pre-season competition going forward, what shape and form that takes to give us some credibility we have to consider.
"Should we be thinking about having a smaller pre-season competition and maybe and extend the season, should we look at have a different competition, we have to keep an open mind."
game over weaguetartds!!
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:06 am
by Beaussie
Case put forward for an early start in Sydney too. Would love to see footy on Good Friday in Sydney.
Giants boss David Matthews wants early AFL campaign start
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph
March 27, 2013 12:00AM
GIANTS boss David Matthews wants to start the AFL season at least two weeks earlier to combat the head start the NRL gets with its season.
With Good Friday falling on April 18 next year, Matthews believes the 2014 season would be the perfect year to take the initiative.
"Our preference would be to start the season at Skoda Stadium," Matthews said. "You would love to get started well before Easter because it can be a very disruptive time.
"There's a real case for an early start in NSW and Queensland.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6607133833
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:13 am
by Rabbit
Didn't the NAB cup final rate 9k & 34k in Sydney & Brisbane?
Starting earlier will do jack shit.
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:59 am
by Raiderdave
Rabbit wrote:Didn't the NAB cup final rate 9k & 34k in Sydney & Brisbane?
.
did it
really ?
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:06 am
by Raiderdave
well I just hope the VFL do this
remember the last time the VFL tried this in 2008 ... putting the Wions & Collinscat , up against the QLD derby
a pounding the likes of which hasn't been seen handed out to the Victorian game by the NRL
but yes by all means
line yourselves up again for another dose
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:09 am
by Raiderdave
Beaussie wrote:Case put forward for an early start in Sydney too.
Would love to see footy on Good Friday in Sydney.
Giants boss David Matthews wants early AFL campaign start
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph
March 27, 2013 12:00AM
GIANTS boss David Matthews wants to start the AFL season at least two weeks earlier to combat the head start the NRL gets with its season.
With Good Friday falling on April 18 next year, Matthews believes the 2014 season would be the perfect year to take the initiative.
"Our preference would be to start the season at Skoda Stadium," Matthews said. "You would love to get started well before Easter because it can be a very disruptive time.
"There's a real case for an early start in NSW and Queensland.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6607133833
unlike every other code in the land
yr backward shit game doesn't play on this day ...
if you want to see football on this day in our nations largest city
it will have to be one of the 3 more popular codes in Sydney ... not the least relevant one
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:51 pm
by ParraEelsNRL
The almighty Vfl has ballsed up more or less everything else to do with the clubs in the North, they'll balls this too cause it doesn't matter what they do, the game is on the nose North of the Murray and the Vfl know it and have known it for a long while.
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 6:02 pm
by Fred
Seems to be doing okay here on the Gold Coast. Strong local leagues , strong participation numbers, strong community presence (suns just on news ... No titans). Funny that people who don't live here seem to comment lol
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:35 pm
by Raiderdave
Phelpsy wrote:Seems to be doing okay here on the Gold Coast. Strong local leagues , strong participation numbers, strong community presence (suns just on news ... No titans). Funny that people who don't live here seem to comment lol
seems to ..... but its not
your told it is by the Lying scum at the VFL
& you believe them
Re: AFL plans to go head-to-head with NRL in Queensland
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 10:17 pm
by Fred
No I live here Dave. There is a strong local competition, there are locals playing at AFL level, media coverage in print and tv, decent crowds comparable to the titans . They make a profit . There is plenty of people who talk about AFL and the suns .. Watercooler talk if you will. Plenty if car stickers and merchandise sales . Not sure what suns and AFL have to do to be seen as doing okay here. I guess you could say AFL was already popular with there already being a strong presence before the suns came but in my time here the profile of AFL had grown considerably with the suns leading that growth.
So given that Dave I would be curious as to what you say would mean success... Remembering success isn't the defroning of rl or ru. Or to be as big ... I would love to know as what I have mentioned seems to me to be a considerable presence.
I'm trying to have a serious discussion if you can , and in sure you can, but living here this is what I see every day re the suns. And AFL is getting larger every year as well re clubs and players.