My proposal to League Survive, And be stronger

[bianc]

AFL is big in Darwin.
Not a good choice to move a team to. Climate for one reason would have too many whingers from the teams.
Perth is the go but we have to go in with a strong team like Storm have in Vic.
Central Qld just love their league as well and would work. Strong local comps in areas in and around Rocky,Mackay mining towns etc.
Forget the Comets, any player worth anything doesn't play for them cos they did the smart thing and moved out of Rocky into the NRL or QRL in Bris. Should they get their own team though they would have a lot stay and they do have a great ground and club.

 

[Hamm.0]

Like I said, I am convinced the first Professional outfit in Darwin will score massive. AFL is big in Darwin, but so is RL and Union. Territorians love their sport. As for climate, things like that can be worked out with the draw.

Perth was once a great bet, however, I'm less than convinced that a Union (and the Force are now well embedded) and an NRL team could survive there.

The greater population base of Rockhampton and Mackay combined is only 192000. Mackay is approx. halfway in travel time between Townsville and Rocky, so that will effect the support base of the Cowboys. Not to mention, Mackay is a transient population. I am less than convinced the greater CQ could support an NRL franchise.

IMHO, if we want a frnchise, in a growth place, that will continue to grow for the next 10 years at least, NT is a sure thing. Matty D would have them @ $1.05 to succeed.

 

[bianc]

Hammo when you live in towns like Rocky and Mackay etc. you must take into account all the country towns to the West.
Travel to them means nothing and everyone of those smaller towns have a league team. AFL is now even moving into those towns.
Mackay people are bigger supporters of the Broncs than they are of the Cows in what I have seen and by merchandise sale.
Sure they travel to the Cows games but also the planes are usually packed for the Broncs games to.
I wouldn't recommend Mackay they are too slack at doing anything but I would take Rocky into consideration. They have the facilities already.

Personally don't think that N.T. would work unless maybe in the distant future and by then the game will be stuffed if someone doesn't take control.

 

[dukey]

Darwin would be a better bet than Adelaide or Perth. Both of those cities have established AFL teams and a population that doesn't know or care about league. They would have nothing but fairweather fans like the Swans and Lions.
I know that everyone is concerned about the money our game has, but a rapid expansion along these lines will do more harm than good. Moving teams out of Sydney will just alienate their fanbases. I still know Norths and Wests fans that refuse to even buy the Daily Telegraph, let alone attend an NRL match.

 

[Coxy]

Disagree about your assessment of Perth. They have a lot of Kiwis and east coasters who have moved. They have an established local league.

And I hate to break it to you, but I would estimate that 80% of league fans are fairweather friends. Just look at how crowd numbers dwindle when a team is losing *cough* Souths *cough*.

Perth would be as good as Darwin, but with more corporate support.

 

[dukey]

I know what you mean about League fans being fairweather, but it's still far better established in Sydney than it will be out west. Not so much in Perth, who do have a strong local league, but in Adelaide. They are mad about AFL there and I can't see any SA based NRL side being strongly supported without immediate, overwhelming success.
If the NRL wants to move into new territory I'd suggest Darwin first, perhaps that joint venture Darwin-PNG team that was mooted recently, simply because its a population that has not yet aligned itself with a particular code. The Titans have been a great success because the Gold Coast had no top flight sports outfits to compete with. Darwin are even more starved for a nationally competing sports team. And before you get the corporate support, you need the support of the locals.

 

[Hamm.0]

I was very interested to hear in Pukeface's News ambush of Gallop, that Gallop doesn't believe that their is enough of a base in Perth for an NRL team anytime soon.

Someone mentioned Adelaide, to which I just laughed. That person has obviously never been to Adelaide. So this leaves NT!!!! w00t, NT or maybe a 2nd NZ team....either way I'm happy [icon_wink


P.S. The idea of a 2nd NZ team, which plays some games in Samoa/ Tonga/ New Caledonia/ Vanuatu is a very tantalising option IMO.

 

[dukey]

I'd personally get a Darwin side in to take control of NT, then perhaps a Pacific Islands team as you've suggested Hammo, while strengthening the existing strongholds of the NSW Central Coast, Logan, and far north Queensland.

 

[Clintos]

Perth Reds have to come back. Look at the crowds they are pulling in the NSW Cup. I suggested to GCBRONCO that a team in NT would be a great idea. Don't know how it would go with crowds, but it wouldn't do any worse than some of the NSW teams.

I like Hammo's idea about a Pacific Islands team. How many talented players do we have in today's competition that have Islander heritage? A great deal. All is not lost yet friends.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

Includes the prospect of 3 x 30 minute periods, a return to Saturday arvo footy, an entire round in SE Qld, and so on.

 

[Kimlo]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24104692-23214,00.html

Includes the prospect of 3 x 30 minute periods, a return to Saturday arvo footy, an entire round in SE Qld, and so on.

3 x 30 minutes sounds VERY interesting, It would certainly increase the broadcasting deal.

 

[Hamm.0]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24104692-23214,00.html

Includes the prospect of 3 x 30 minute periods, a return to Saturday arvo footy, an entire round in SE Qld, and so on.

3 x 30 minutes?

Man what is with the News media monkeys of late?? There must be something in the water at every News Limited Company.

I can't remember a single period (other than the SL years) where so many crack pot ideas have been brandished about! Do whatever you have to do to market the game, but leave the actual game alone.

 

[Clintos]

I'm not fussed about the whole 3x30 minute thing. It's not the game that is creating problems, it is the marketing and condensed geographical location of some of the clubs.