Talking Footy

AFL in talks to make Gold Coast permanent home of national draft

Andrew Hamilton
The Courier-Mail
November 20, 2013 2:35PM


THE draft is set to find a permanent home on the Gold Coast with the AFL entering talks with the Queensland Government on a new long-term deal.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has also floated the prospect Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium could be the base for a revamped International Rules series.

The recent series was a flop with an Indigenous All Stars team losing 2-0 to the Irish in Ireland and the tour attracting negative publicity over the Australian side's off-field behaviour.

But Demetriou said the concept had been a major discussion point at this week's AFL Commission meeting.

He said there was a push towards making the All-Australian side the team to compete in the series to add prestige to the event.

"I hope we don't finish the International Rules on that note," he said.

"It was disappointing what happened in Ireland but our Irish counterparts are very keen to come to Australia.

"We are committed to working through that issue and trying to get it right."

Demetriou was at Metricon Stadium on today with Queensland Major Events minister Jan Stuckey to officially launch the draft.

He has long held the view the Gold Coast was the perfect venue for the biggest off-field event on the AFL's calendar.

"It is a really wonderful fit having the draft on the Gold Coast," he said.

"It really is a fantastic place to be this time of the year and hosting one of our premier events, the national draft."

The existing deal with the Queensland Government expires after tomorrow night's annual player lottery.

But Minister Stuckey revealed premier Campbell Newman's LNP Government were open to extending the deal.

"We are thrilled to have the draft here, it is a major media event on the national calendar," she said.

"The Newman Government proudly supports a number of events but particularly sporting events that recognise young talent and we have an explosion of it right here.

"We'll be sitting down in the near future to discuss the future, we welcome the AFL draft here on the coast."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6764464004

NRLCrap1 wrote:

Didn't we try the All Australian side before and it was a disaster?

NRLCrap1 wrote:

Didn't we try the All Australian side before and it was a disaster?

cos789 wrote:

NRLCrap1 wrote:

Didn't we try the All Australian side before and it was a disaster?

Just the opposite. It was hugely popular.
IMO the the IR series got derailed when they moved away from using the best footballers and started using the best players suited to IR.

cos789 wrote:

The big question is , will the draft get better ratings than the rlwc IN Australia.

Raiderdave wrote:

cos789 wrote:

The big question is , will the draft get better ratings than the rlwc IN Australia.

hmmm
pop it on at 2am & lets see cockhead ?

:_<> :_<>
how fucken dumb are fumblers :_<> :_<> :_<>

Swans4ever wrote:

Raiderdave wrote:

cos789 wrote:

The big question is , will the draft get better ratings than the rlwc IN Australia.

hmmm
pop it on at 2am & lets see cockhead ?

:_<> :_<>
how fucken dumb are fumblers :_<> :_<> :_<>

How fucking dumb are you -

AFLcrap1 wrote:

NRLCrap1 wrote:

Didn't we try the All Australian side before and it was a disaster?

Yeh these so called athletes(well in the Victardian bubble they are)getting flogged by some amateurs who take time out of their busy spud picking schedule to smash the derpers,is piss funny to those who don't live in the AFL propaganda world.

It shows how fucking useless these uncos really are.

Phelpsy wrote:

Swans , you continue to respond to the forum idiot ??? You reap what you sow lol. I am I sure why he is anti anything Victorian but he is and that's his cross to bare I guess. I'll guess we will never know.

As for AFL crap and his chameleon efforts of challenging Dave... In particular that Aussie rules is confined to a small part of Australia .. Mainly Victoria ??? I would hazard a guess that if Demetriu is saying he is for it and the government are saying they are keen then we can be sure that's what is going to happen.... Albeit stranger things have occurred ... But that's what they both want.

The draft up here hasn't got too much press but to be honest I've been devoid of a little local news of late.