Cash must keep rolling in for level playing field

Patrick Smith From: The Australian May 04, 2011

THE AFL reckons that if your club is not competitive then it has no one else to blame but itself. It is not an insult.

League boss Andrew Demetriou is not using lazy, the word of the week; it is not said to ignite the latent passion of wearied supporters. It is a mathematical formula.

The commission is content that all 17 clubs - soon to be 18 with the addition of the Giants - now have and always will have in the future the right amount of money to be premiers in any given year.

While figures seen by The Australian yesterday might not shout that fact, AFL chief executive Demetriou is confident that it will not be money that condemns your club to mediocrity or, dare we whisper the words, the wooden spoon.

Back in August 2009, The Australian revealed the commission's ambition to have every club well-placed to spend the required amount of money to be competitive with any other club.

Demetriou said at the time: "The commission would want the scheme within two years. Because there is work yet to be done, it is not possible to say whether the new plan will be in place for next year.

"This is the direction that clubs support. Rather than taxing the richer clubs to support the poorer-performing ones, the idea is to bring the less-advantaged clubs up to a level that will allow them to compete with the very best," Demetriou said. "For the first time, clubs would be able to go head-to-head on the football field."

Despite Demetriou's enthusiasm, the 2010 figures suggest that there is still work not accomplished. North Melbourne spent $5.5 million less than Collingwood on all things football department. Collingwood won 17 games to top the ladder and then went on to win the premiership, North won 11 and a wretched percentage kept the club out of the finals fight.

But Demetriou confirmed to The Australian yesterday that at a recent meeting with North Melbourne officials, the club indicated that money was not restraining the club's football department at least.

It is believed coach Brad Scott told the meeting that he considered North spent enough money on assistant coaches, medical staff, recruiting, development and IT services to not concede the opposition an advantage. But the coach emphasised his concern that the club needed enough money to pay the full amount of the salary cap. He was wary of losing his best players in an increasingly competitive market that has an additional two teams (Gold Coast and Sydney Giants) as well as the introduction of limited free agency from the end of next year.

He has a point. In 2010, North spent 92 per cent of its salary cap (set at $7.95m) and very little of its Additional Services Agreement (maximum $555,000) and this year will pay its players 96 per cent of the cap (set at $8.21m) and again not much of its ASA allowance ($573,000). It is believed Scott assured the league that any extra money the AFL might give the club for football expenditure would go directly to paying the full amount available to its players.

Demetriou said yesterday: "We have done what we said we would do. And we will continue to investigate ways to ensure that all our clubs have enough money for their football departments to be competitive. The footy spend is going up."

Demetriou said the work the AFL had done to improve the return to clubs from their stadium deals had been a significant factor in improved economic competitiveness. The deal announced yesterday to refurbish Adelaide Oval into a new home for local teams the Crows and Power will give those clubs the opportunity to earn each an extra $3m and more.

The AFL is guided by the mean expenditure of clubs, the mid-point of extremes of spending both high and low. It seems everybody concedes that wealthier clubs tend to indulge themselves (Arizona here we come) and the poorer clubs scrimp (it's a hill, isn't it?)

Demetriou argues there willalways be a gap between club revenues - money begets more money - but that in itself will not automatically reflect a team's position on the ladder. Last year, West Coast spent $18.1m on its football department, second only to merchant bank Collingwood, for just four premiership wins and last place. Only two clubs spent less than the Bulldogs, yet they recorded 14 wins before playing in the preliminary final.

According to Demetriou, the gap is closing. North has upped its salary cap expenditure 4 per cent in the space of one season. "We have moved to a position where all clubs will soon be paying 100 per cent of their cap, 100 per cent of their ASAs, have a full rookie complement," he said yesterday. Just as the AFL believes the clubs have no excuse not to be competitive, the AFL with its $1.25bn broadcast deal has no excuse to not deliver its part of the bargain.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/cash-must-keep-rolling-in-for-level-playing-field/story-e6frg7t6-1226049430755

$50 million still stadium asking price

Simon White
May 4, 2011 - 8:30AM

The state government still intends to ask the cashed-up AFL for $50 million towards a new football stadium, as league boss Andrew Demetriou declared WA a great unconquered venue frontier.

Mr Demetriou was in Melbourne yesterday, lauding a member vote in favour of a $535 million upgrade of Adelaide Oval, a development to which the AFL has contributed an unspecified amount.

He also made reference to WA's proposed new stadium, which does not yet have a location, a budget or firm financial commitments from the AFL or federal government.

"Again, we'll be there to help if we can and help get the best football outcome for the state and of course for our clubs and the West Australian Football Commission,'' Mr Demetriou said.

"And if this can be achieved, we can honestly say we've got football being played in every state and territory in first-class stadia."

As Mr Demetriou talked up football's return to the city in Adelaide from 2014, WA sports minister Terry Waldron reiterated the government's intention to ask the AFL for $50 million towards a new Perth stadium.

Mr Waldron said the government would not ask the AFL for more despite the league last week sealing a whopping $1.25 billion TV rights deal.

"The Premier has indicated that $50 million would be an appropriate AFL contribution to a stadium,'' Mr Waldron said.

"The Government will continue to talk with the AFL about a financial contribution as well as utilising their expertise in stadium design and use."

Mr Waldron said he had renewed an invitation for federal Sports Minister Mark Arbib to visit WA and discuss stadium proposals and that the pair's offices were trying to schedule a mutually convenient date.

A federal government pledge of $250 million towards the new stadium was taken off the table when Australia lost its bid to host the 2022 soccer World Cup, but Premier Colin Barnett has said he still hoped to procure $150 million from Canberra for the project.

The current State Tennis Centre at Burswood, a site favoured personally by Mr Barnett, has been reported to be the most likely location for a 60,000-seat stadium, at a cost of more than $1 billion.

Mr Waldron met last week with Tennis West officials, who told him they were open to moving to a greenfields or existing site, providing the facilities were equal to that of the STC.


Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/50-million-still-stadium-asking-price-20110503-1e6ln.html#ixzz1LLT9T7Yl

Collingwoood Magpies spend $20m to buy flag

EXCLUSIVE Greg Denham From: The Australian May 04, 2011

AFL premierships do not come cheap and Collingwood's flag last year came at a record cost of almost $20 million.

The Magpies achieved the ultimate result after spending an extra $2.48m on their football department last year - the biggest single increase across all clubs.

According to confidential AFL figures obtained by The Australian, Collingwood's football department expenditure rose from $17.022m in 2009 to $19.5m last year.

It is certain to become the first club to break the $20m barrier in football department spending, after smaller increases of $700,000 between 2007-08 and just over $600,000 between 2008 and 2009.

While the Pies' spending rose in most areas within the club's football department, their players earned $1.12m more than in 2009 for a 2010 total of $10.7m.

Collingwood players were paid more than their counterparts at all other clubs, as fellow grand finalist St Kilda's inflated total player payments of $11.5m is understood to include anomalies, such as a one-off cash payment to sacked midfielder Andrew Lovett.

Three of the top-four spending clubs - the Magpies, Saints and Geelong - took three of the final four finishing positions.

However, the chief concern is the increasing gap in football expenditure between the competition's rich and poor.

The gap in overall football spending between Collingwood and 16th-ranked North Melbourne was $5.5m last year.

The Kangaroos increased their spend by a moderate $460,000, but still lagged behind the rest of the clubs with all-up expenditure of $14m.

The competition's average cost of operating football departments last year was $16.4m.

But six clubs - Adelaide, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and North - all came in under that figure.

The gap in 2009 between the highest spender (West Coast) and the lowest (Western Bulldogs) was $3.98m.

Collingwood was also the league leader in spending on other football department investment in such areas as recruiting, list management and fitness and conditioning, outlaying $8.8m.

The Bulldogs were the least competitive club in this area, which is not capped by the AFL, spending just $4.7m, $4.1m less than the premiership club.

West Coast continued to be an anomaly because of its high football department expenditure for little result.

The rich West Australian club last year spent $18.1m, second only to Collingwood, to finish last with just four wins from the campaign.

In the past three years, the Eagles have invested $51.6m in football for a return of 16 wins and finishing positions of 16th, 11th and 15th.

During the same period, the thrifty Bulldogs played in three straight preliminary finals and won a combined 47 matches after spending $40.9m on their football department.

Total club football expenditure last year increased by $16.2m.

Richmond, which finished 15th, was the only club to record a decrease in football spending, down from $14.5m in 2009 to $14.2m last year.

In 2009, the only two clubs that had decreases in football department spending were Sydney and Melbourne. And they finished 12th and 16th.

Four clubs last year - the Tigers (down $750,000), Geelong ($460,000), Sydney ($400,000) and Hawthorn ($200,000) spent less on their players than in the previous season.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/collingwoood-magpies-spend-20m-to-buy-flag/story-e6frg7mf-1226049430571

Leigh Matthews has urged Greater Western Sydney to target an experienced champion such as Lenny Hayes, Brent Harvey or Matthew Scarlett for their first season.

The AFL legend says the Giants should learn from the mistakes of Gold Coast Suns and provide an experienced leader to guide the team's young list in their early AFL years.

Among the names suggested by Matthews as ideal for that role were Hayes - recruited from Sydney suburb Pennant Hills - Harvey, Scarlett, Simon Black and Jude Bolton.

And he says those players could boost their retirement package with a lucrative short-term deal at the Giants likely to be well above what they would receive playing out their career at their current club.

"No one could possibly question an iconic veteran not far short of retirement for accepting an offer that would shore up his family's financial future while affording him the opportunity to be part of growing the game in the northern states," Matthews said.

The rumoured GWS recruiting hit list is headed by stars in the early 20s such as Collingwood pair Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas and Adelaide Crows forward Taylor Walker.

The recruiting theory is the new club doesn't want to spend big money on a player who will be retired once their crop of young talent develops.

But Matthews says it would be a disaster for the Giants, and the AFL, if they suffered repeated humiliating defeats like the 139-point drubbing Essendon handed to Gold Coast last Sunday.

"What the new clubs will need initially is a couple of iconic veterans like Simon Black and Lenny Hayes in the thick of things to help steer the very youthful expansion teams through these inevitable onslaughts," Matthews wrote in his AFL website column.

"Others in this small elite group of veterans might include Brent Harvey, Jude Bolton and Matthew Scarlett - not just good players but absolutely champion football people whose value to the expansion clubs would go far beyond their playing talents.

"With the Suns experience in mind I wonder now if Greater Western Sydney isn't thinking that its recruiting philosophy should include some of these 30-something players of exceptional football character who, while fading as on-field performers, can provide much-needed on-field leadership to a young and raw side.

"It will be critical for the Giants as they look to be competitive enough in the early stages to avoid the sort of humiliation the Suns suffered last weekend, which would be disastrous for the AFL's 18th franchise in the tough western Sydney market."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/greater-western-sydney-should-target-experienced-stars-brent-harvey-or-lenny-hayes-leigh-matthews/story-e6frf3e3-1226049736875

Michael Voss fires back in Qclash slanging match

Margie McDonald From: The Australian May 06, 2011

TENSIONS between south-east Queensland rivals the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions ahead of tomorrow night’s historic AFL derby continue to boil.

Lions coach Michael Voss today accusing his counterpart Guy McKenna of inappropriate comments during the week.

The attacks McKenna made on the Lions accusing them of leaving a mess on the Gold Coast with the Brisbane Bears venture, did not sit well with Voss this morning ahead of the Lions’ final training run at the Gabba.

“That’s your origins isn’t it? So when you feel they’re attacked … probably the responses from some across the club have been aimed a little at that,’’ Voss said. “You certainly don’t like your origins having a crack taken.

“I would have thought more thanks would have been a more appropriate response.’’

Asked if he felt McKenna was out of line with his remarks, Voss said: “Probably… yep, probably.’’

It all started when veteran Lions midfielder Simon Black accused Suns pair – and former Lions players – Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan – of being mercenaries for chasing bigger dollars on offer down at Carrara.

McKenna defended them and the Suns existence but ended up a adding a little more fuel to the fire.

McKenna said Black's memory was selective as Rischitelli had only wanted to leave the Lions after the 2010 best and fairest winner had been offered as trade bait.

It all makes for a fiery clash when the players lock horns at the Gabba tomorrow night.

Voss looked around the stadium this morning and noticed the different Suns sponsors signage as the round seven match is a home game for the Suns before they move into their revamped Metricon Stadium.

“I guess when you’ve got your own home turf invaded a little bit, you can’t help make it feel a little personal,’’ Voss said.

The Lions are looking for their first win of the season, while the Suns hope to erase some of the memories of their 139-point thrashing at the hands of Essendon last week. The Gold Coast club did win four points back in round five over Port Adelaide.

The historic first Queensland derby is being dubbed the “Qclash” in all pre-match advertising and publicity.

It also goes head-long into the top of the table Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm NRL game over at Suncorp Stadium on the same night.

But while the Suns and Lions play tit-for-tat with each other, there seems to be no cross-code aggression.

Storm head coach Craig Bellamy and football manager Frank Ponissi were guests at the Lions training this morning to observe the club’s training operations.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/michael-voss-fires-back-in-qclash-slanging-match/story-e6frg7mf-1226051060254

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey ignores talk of crisis

Matt Windley From: Herald Sun May 06, 2011

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey says he is unflustered by the continuing speculation about his job.
Bailey said he welcomed the input of president Jim Stynes in the football department and dismissed suggestions of a rift at the club.

While the Demons remain in the eight, the club has endured a week of scathing criticism following its 53-point loss to West Coast in Perth last week.

But Bailey said the external scrutiny was something he could not control.

"You can only control what you can control and that is to get to training, continue to coach the players and make sure that your preparation coming into every game is the best it can be,'' Bailey said before training at Casey Fields today.

"This week we’ve made a couple of changes in the sense of our training program. We altered a few things, so we could get an extra football session in.

"We’ve got flexibility in our program to do it and we’ll continue to try and prepare them as well as we can.''

Bailey said he accepted the pressures that come with being an AFL coach.

"It comes with the job,'' he said.

"All of the coaches are getting examined every week. Every day they get examined on what they’re doing and what they’re saying.''

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-coach-dean-bailey-ignores-talk-of-crisis/story-e6frf9jf-1226051117966

QClash's pre-game fireworks steal oxygen from NRL showdown

Margie McDonald and Greg Denham From: The Australian May 07, 2011

TONIGHT'S battle for south-east Queensland was supposed to be a cross-code clash between the NRL and AFL. Instead it has turned into a civil war with players and coaches from AFL rivals Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions trading insults all week.

AFL headquarters wouldn't have it any other way. While the Suns and Lions go head-to-head for the first time, across town the NRL's Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm face off, two heavyweight teams whose star players will either be absent or heavily fatigued after playing in a Test match the night before. Having the AFL's Queensland siblings throw their toys at each other couldn't be more perfectly timed.

It continued yesterday, with Lions coach Michael Voss getting fired up. He insisted Guy McKenna was out of line when the Suns coach said his team had to clean up the stain on the AFL's image left behind by the Brisbane Bears.

"That's your origins isn't it? So when you feel they're attacked, you don't like it," Voss said, before the Lions' final training run yesterday morning at the Gabba. "I would have thought more 'thanks' would have been a more appropriate response."

Was it all an exercise to make sure a bigger crowd came to the Gabba tonight than the one 10km away at Suncorp Stadium where NRL heavyweights Brisbane and Melbourne face off?

Since the AFL added a second team on the football code war's frontline, four years after the NRL did with the Gold Coast Titans, we have been waiting to see which game the fans would prefer. The Broncos-Storm game is a top-four clash, and should rate attract more than the clash of the cellar-dwelling Suns and Lions. But at least AFL superstar Gary Ablett will be on the field. The NRL stars such as Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater, Justin Hodges and Sam Thaiday are likely to be absent tonight after playing in last night's Test match between Australia and New Zealand.

Broncos chief Paul White was reluctant to buy into the argument that a bigger crowd at Suncorp - he is expecting in excess of 35,000 compared with the Gabba's 28,000 - means the NRL can take bragging rights.

"I don't look at it that way. I know we've got a great product in an exciting stadium," White said. "I don't want to throw rocks over the fence into their backyard. We're confident of what we're offering the fans on Saturday night."

Confident or not, the Broncos have 50 junior rugby league teams from across the Brisbane metropolitan area as part of the pre-game entertainment. That means more mums and dads in the crowd.

"We look at ticket sales and actual revenue, not giveaways and marketing ploys," White said, in reference to the Suns giving out a host of free tickets this season. "If you want to take bragging rights from a game I'd argue you'd need to look at spending per head rather than crowd size.

"We proved with our $1 game last year, it's easy to fill a stadium."

Gold Coast chairman John Witheriff believes the Suns' popularity at the Gabba cannot be measured in terms of bums on seats because most local fans are loath to travel from their Gold Coast base. The club has already attracted 13,000 members, but Witheriff said more than half did not attend the match against Melbourne at the Gabba in round four.

This is the last "home" game for the Suns in Brisbane as its revampedstadium at Carrara will be open for business in three weeks. Voss felt the AFL v NRL popularity contest tonight was for the administration offices of both codes and of no interest to anyone else.

"It's an admin chest-thumping thing," he said. "We're not only competing with down the road, we're competing cross-town. We're used to that so there's nothing abnormal about that. But I know which game I'd like to go to."

Storm chief Ron Gauci said from his scan of the Melbourne media this week, no one outside Queensland much cared about the Suns and Lions.

"I don't think there's any excitement about this game apart from whether the Lions will actually win a game or can the Suns win their second game, and what that might mean for Voss."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/qclashs-pre-game-fireworks-steal-oxygen-from-nrl-showdown/story-e6frg7mf-1226051450025

Eddie's clever deal may cost Mick a flag

Patrick Smith From: The Australian May 07, 2011

THIS is what we know so far. Who in the hell is going to God knows where. That's for sure and certain. It is the details we are having a little difficulty with. We can't keep up.

Not now anyway. Not after we discovered that Nappy Myles might be leaving Sydney Roosters. And not just Nappy but as many as five other blokes with him. Salary-cap pressure apparently. And then there is our favourite Rabbitoh Chris Sandow. Parramatta-bound. Please no.

Wayne Bennett is heading to Newcastle next year - not for the money, mind you - and that is one move that stuck. Jotted it down, well that move was jotted down. The Bennett move stuck not so much because he was Newcastle-bound, or that he might coach in the colours of Patinack Farm, but it was the bit about him being the best coach in the country. Of anything. Cricket, tennis, trampolining, AFL footy, soccer, archery.

Not sure that boast is actually right. In Melbourne the sporting community is not certain that Bennett is even the best coach in rugby league. Since taking over in 2003, Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has taken the club to three grand finals for two titles (2007, 2009). He was able to hold the club together through the awfulness of the salary-cap scandal last year when the club played week after week in ignominy.

And all this has been done with an unsympathetic rugby league heartland and in a hometown initially ignorant about anything NRL. Bellamy has produced champions too - Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cam Smith were picked to play for Australia last night. Of course, we bow to Bennett's record, but we salute that of Bellamy too. Perhaps the most perplexing thing about the swapping of players and coaches during the season - the NRL website has a segment devoted solely to track the 2012 transfers - is that it is both commonplace and accepted by the sport's community.

It has long been considered anathema to the soul of the AFL. But it is an attitude that is softening, partly because of the exposure through Storm to the NRL so we have a better understanding of that culture and partly because it is happening on a limited scale in the AFL. The Gold Coast came a'poaching 12 months before its debut this season and knowledgeable minds in the AFL believe the Giants have already signed up as many as seven players for their entry next year.

Still, it can be disruptive. The breakdown between then-coach Mark Thompson and Gary Ablett at Geelong last year was due mainly to Ablett's unwillingness to deny he was heading to the Gold Coast. The pair barely spoke by season's end, a remarkable situation given that Thompson had already made his mind up to do a runner from Geelong himself and join the Fork Tongues at Essendon.

That said, Collingwood could be headed towards a similar scenario as the end of this season looms and coach Mick Malthouse contemplates his future. No matter how the Magpies fare - they are tipped enthusiastically to collect consecutive premierships - Malthouse must move on from the coaching role he has held since 2000.

No doubt as that moment grows closer Malthouse, now unconditionally one of the sport's greatest coaches, is becoming both tetchy and outspoken. He knows that he is at the peak of his powers and that Collingwood can still not come up with a suitable role - one that does not reduce him to being a well-credentialled greeter - for him when he steps away from the coaching box.

Before the Collingwood-Essendon Anzac Day fixture last month, Malthouse abandoned the Collingwood mantra that it should always be a game between the two clubs. McGuire and his board have fought to keep the fixture the private property of their club and the Forked Tongues.

Malthouse's calculated departure from the policy irked Eddie McGuire and a robust discussion followed. The same week Collingwood presented the coach with a tentative outline of life after coaching. He was less than impressed.

The Buckley-Malthouse deal was struck around the middle of the 2009 season when the side was barely winning more matches than it was losing and Malthouse's 10th year looked likely once more to fail to collect a premiership. At the same time North Melbourne was wooing Buckley for its senior position.

The deal to contract both men to the club was hailed as a coup by respected football journalist Mike Sheahan and few senior commentators disagreed with him. But there was obvious tension from the start of the next season as Malthouse was determined to ensure his role was not impinged by Buckley. It led to some awkward vision and a deepening rift between the two men.

By round three of last season all sorts of things had gone wrong for Malthouse. There was the belligerent and uncompromising manner in which he sought to keep Buckley in his place, a second-round win by a point against the Melbourne kids and a disastrous loss to St Kilda in which Collingwood could score just 41 points. Worse, at quarter-time as the players swapped insults on the way to their huddles, Malthouse called the little irritant Stephen Milne, the St Kilda small forward, a "rapist." After the game Malthouse denied without qualification that he spoke to Saints players. However, Malthouse was found guilty of making the remark and fined by the AFL. Somehow Malthouse said he objected to the suggestion that he had, in fact, lied after the game.

It was a sensitive time at the club, though president McGuire emphatically denied to The Weekend Australian yesterday that it escalated to anything more serious than that.

All of that is now trivia because Malthouse coached Collingwood to a game plan that delivered chaos to opponents and a premiership to supporters. It is obvious that Malthouse does not consider he has any role at the Pies after this season. McGuire knows this and has faded from the frontline as much as an effervescent, intelligent, lateral-thinking, radio host and TV compere can. He will not discuss Malthouse's future, labelling it the most boring topic in football. That could be code for "we have got no idea".

If Malthouse isn't at Collingwood next year, most likely he will spend at least a year as broadcasting's latest guru. But he might also negotiate before the season is over to accept the coaching role, say at Carlton, for 2012.

As we have said earlier, this dealing on the futures market is not an issue in the NRL. Just whether Eddie would want Malthouse to coach Collingwood into a final series if he has committed to Carlton would seem most unlikely. Especially if Collingwood was to meet the Blues in the grand final.

What looked a clever resolution of a ticklish problem in 2009 may prove to be the itch that scars Eddie's dream of successive premierships. It actually might be the perfect time to move Malthouse on now. What we know about Eddie is that if he thinks that is the right thing for Collingwood, then the gavel is on its way down already.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/eddies-clever-deal-may-cost-mick-a-flag/story-e6frg7mf-1226051414836

WGMG: The Lions. Abysmal. The worst performance (and game, really, since all the good stuff came from horrific skill errors) I have seen our lads involved in. Voss has to start taking some stick now, surely - I fail to see where we can win a game with a lazy, poorly skilled and dispirited list like ours and flooding, u-12 tactics.

Collingwood set to pass 70,000 members

Michael Horan From: Herald Sun May 09, 2011

COLLINGWOOD is on track to pass 70,000 members as it goes into the battle outright ladder leadership against Geelong at the MCG on Friday night.

The Magpies membership tally this morning sits on 69,615 and as the clash with also undefeated Cats looms the magical figure may well be reached before the ball is bounced in front of an expected 80,000-plus crowd.

Geelong recorded its sixth straight win with an emphatic 11-goal thrashing of North Melbourne at Skilled Stadium at the weekensd while the Pies enjoyed after also winning six straight.

The daunting number in the magpie army will be marginally quelled on Friday due to the match being a Geelong home game.

Channel 7 will telecast the clash live at 7.30pm.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/collingwood-set-to-pass-70000-members/story-e6freck3-1226052317937

TV ratings bonanza for Fox Sports as viewers switch on in record numbers to watch Gold Coast Suns play Brisbane Lions

Sam Lienert From: AAP May 09, 2011

THE AFL's expansion is already proving a television winner, with Saturday night's inaugural all-Queensland clash setting a ratings record.

The first-ever meeting between Gold Coast and Brisbane at the Gabba attracted an average of 354,745 viewers to the Fox Sports broadcast, the pay television provider's highest-ever AFL figure.

It topped the 2007 Essendon-Richmond match in which the Bombers farewelled two of their greats, coach Kevin Sheedy and star player James Hird, watched by 328,436 television viewers.

As well as beating that mark, the Gabba match, which was a rare stand-alone Saturday night fixture, also drew a Queensland audience of more than 160,000 on the Ten Network.

That was despite being played on the same night as the crosstown NRL meeting between the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium.

The AFL's expansion, to 17 teams this year and 18 when Greater Western Sydney (GWS) debut next year, has already helped the league sell its 2012-16 television and internet rights for a record $1.253 billion.

Even before the Giants' fully-fledged AFL inception in 2012, they have already delivered Foxtel another of its best ratings results.

The 317,556-strong television audience for their pre-season clash with the Sydney Swans trails only Saturday night's Queensland clash and the 2007 Bombers-Richmond game on Fox Sports' AFL ratings list.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/tv-ratings-bonanza-for-fox-sports-as-viewers-tune-in-in-record-numbers-to-watch-gold-coast-suns-play-brisbane-lions/story-e6frepf6-1226052745142

Have a lot of respect for Collingwood for their achievements on and off the field. I don't get all the hatred that surrounds them. Most Collingwood supporters I know seem okay enough. Also, without Collingwood, I doubt the AFL would be as successful as they are. You gotta respect the crowds and support they get.

Also, nice ratings for the Suns v Lions. You gotta feel for the lions though. Feel sorry for the many lions supporters on this forum (Scouse_Roar, Funky, etc). Always had a soft spot for the lions.

Tigers break membership record

Adam Cooper
May 11, 2011 - 1:47PM


Tiger fans are roaring louder than ever, as Richmond has broken its membership record.

The Tigers this morning eclipsed their previous record of 46,202 members, which was set in 2009 when the club finished 15th. The new record includes more than 10,000 new members.

The record underlines Richmond's stature as a sleeping giant of the competition and comes on the back of three successive wins, including Saturday's demolition of Fremantle.

After running second-last in 2010, Richmond now sits outside the eight on percentage and coach Damien Hardwick has declared his aim of the Tigers reaching a first finals campaign since 2001.

Richmond's resurgence has also been reflected at the turnstiles, as the Tigers have attracted an average crowd of almost 44,000 to their four home games, which included clashes against low-drawing teams Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale was delighted to establish a new membership record.

"These are significant achievements and, on behalf of the club, I would like to express my sincerest thanks to our loyal fans for helping us achieve these goals," Gale said.

"I can't help but be humbled by the amazing support for our club. In 2010, we made a collective promise that we would take no short cuts, on or off the field.

"Achievement of our ambitious membership goals in 2011 ensures that our members have yet again upheld their end of the bargain."

Richmond launched its three-game membership last week, which gives fans the chance to attend three home games of their choice.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/tigers-break-membership-record-20110511-1ei7w.html#ixzz1M2lYxJLy

Haha...Collingwood hate is the same as Man Utd hate. You hate them because they're 'better'. They're richer, they're the most succesful, etc. And most people are grown to hate Collingwood. I know I was.

I was sorta ready for this season. We were always going to have a down period after the 4 Grand Finals. And coz we don't have the money bigger clubs have, that down period will be bigger and tougher than most. But we'll get through it.

Chaos in MCG car park ahead of Collingwood-Geelong blockbuster

Nathan Mawby From: Herald Sun May 13, 2011 7:28PM

REPORTS of chaotic scenes at the MCG car park have emerged as the stadium prepares for one of the biggest clashes of the year.

Up to 80,000 Collingwood and Geelong fans are descending on the 'G for tonight’s blockbuster.

But the grounds car park has been closed due to the weather experienced in the lead up to the event.

The only exemptions to the closure are:


- Those with valid disabled parking permits

- MCG event and catering staff

- Yarra Park car park pass holders

- Those with a valid accreditation such as St John Ambulance and Victoria Police

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/chaos-in-mcg-car-park-ahead-of-collingwood-geelong-blockbuster/story-e6frf9jf-1226055576084