$500,000 footy brawl

SUE NEALES | May 25, 2011 12.01am

THE union movement has lashed out at plans by the State Government to use $500,000 of taxpayer funds to bring two matches of AFL football to Hobart next year.

Public sector union boss Tom Lynch yesterday accused the Giddings Government of skewing priorities by its relentless pursuit of "extravagant" matches at Bellerive Oval ahead of jobs.

He also questioned the logic and compassion of a government that could not find $100,000 to keep the long-running Colony 47 drop-in centre for disadvantaged adults in Hobart open in its preference for football games.

"I can't see how these decisions add up. Who is saying that football is more important than jobs and helping the most vulnerable Tasmanians?" Mr Lynch said.

"I think a lot of Australians would say if you're funding football but cutting nurses, teachers and drop-in centres, it's a bit like having Austar at home but cutting out meals for the kids."

The union attack coincided with claims by Premier Lara Giddings in Parliament that the Tasmanian economy was already showing signs of early recovery.

Ms Giddings said her government was "getting on with the job".

"There are positive economic indicators. We are actually seeing job numbers growing, businesses growing [and] exports growing," she said.

Ms Giddings maintains two AFL football matches involving North Melbourne in Hobart next year is a good investment of $500,000, stimulating the local tourist economy in winter.

Former premier David Bartlett last year guaranteed "not one cent" of government money would be spent to attract an AFL team to Hobart.

The Government has flagged cuts to services and public-sector jobs in an austere State Budget on June 16.

"How can you fund football matches by saying it's about a broader economic return when keeping someone with a family in a job or getting them a hip operation quicker also has a broader economic return?" Mr Lynch said.

Liberal finance spokesman Peter Gutwein branded Ms Giddings' talk of a recovery as "all spin". He said the Government was in denial, with more Tasmanian businesses going bust and in external administration now than at any time since 2002.

Ms Giddings said a decision about whether to fund the Hobart football deal was likely to go to Cabinet next week.

nealess@news.net.au
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/05/25/232721_afl.html

AFL boss hits Tassie rivalry

JAMES BRESNEHAN | May 28, 2011 12.01am

THE AFL has voiced its disappointment at anti-Hobart sentiment coming from the state's North over the proposal to play AFL games at Bellerive Oval from next year.

AFL chief operations officer Gillon McLachlan took the unprecedented move of calling the Mercury yesterday to say residents in the state's North should not be threatened by North Melbourne's bid to play in Hobart.

State Cabinet will decide on Monday whether to help fund two games a season for the next two years at Bellerive.

Half of the $1 million cost has already been raised by the Hobart City Council, the Hobart Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.

"It's well known that thousands of supporters travel for every game," Mr McLachlan said.

"They normally stay two nights and it's well established now about the number of tourists and therefore the economic impact of AFL games in cities and towns. That's why Hobart is fighting to get Kangaroos games.

"This has been many years in the making and we hope the Government and Cabinet support that."

Comments on Thursday by Launceston Mayor Albert Van Zetten, who is vehemently against AFL games in Hobart, prompted Mr McLachlan to say enough is enough.

"I understand parochialism but it's disappointing," McLachlan said.

"Hobart people have been supportive of games in Launceston, so I don't understand why people in Launceston wouldn't be supportive of games in Hobart."

Mr McLachlan said football fans in northern Tasmania had no reason to fear North Melbourne games in Hobart.

"There is absolutely no relationship or impact on games in Launceston by having games in Hobart," he said.

"This is about a positive economic impact by having games in Hobart.

"Parochial comments only cloud the issue.

"People in Hobart deserve to have AFL football as much as the people in Launceston."

Premier Lara Giddings said yesterday the Government was looking at replicating in the South the economic boost AFL football generated for Launceston.

"Businesses in northern Tasmania know the benefits that can flow from AFL games," she said.

"The State Government has been keen to explore whether those economic benefits can be replicated in southern Tasmania."
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/05/28/233531_afl.html

Port Adelaide's money crisis hits flashpoint

Michelangelo Rucci From: Herald Sun May 31, 2011

THE SANFL can no longer bankroll the debt-ridden Port Adelaide Football Club - and may take over the AFL club.

The Power's financial crisis hit a flashpoint last night when the SANFL declared it had no reserves and no line of credit to underwrite the AFL club's shaky finances.

This was met with the instant resignation of John Irving, the independent adviser appointed by the SANFL to the Power board in June last year.

Club president Brett Duncanson and chief executive Mark Haysman will be under pressure to resign as the SANFL prepares to protect the AFL licence from being forfeited to the AFL.

No senior Power executive or board member would comment last night after lengthy rounds of meetings with the South Australian Football Commission.

Insiders at Alberton say Port's financial shortfall was identified to the commission last year when the SANFL and AFL underwrote the Power with a $5million debt-reduction package.

The SANFL had to borrow $4million for its part in the cash investment in the club.

Now the SANFL says it cannot lift its debt profile, currently at $27million, to borrow more money to underwrite the Power.

Port, the 2004 premier, says it has improved its financial performance by $2.5million in the past year, but is still falling short of break-even as it suffers from poor crowds to its home games.

Only 16,376 attended Port's most recent home game against Fremantle and the club struggles to draw more than 25,000 to AAMI Stadium except for Showdowns.

Port also has stepped up its own debt-reduction plans this year with the "Back in Black" campaign. So far it has raised $1million to work against the $3million of debt on the Power's books.

The Power's only option - if there is not an SANFL takeover today - is to have the AFL cover the shortfall in its finances.

This would then increase tensions between the SANFL and the AFL on the future directions of the licences at both SA-based AFL clubs, Adelaide and Port.

Both clubs wish to be independent clubs, in line with AFL clubs in Victoria.

The SANFL wants to maintain control of the two licences, a model of governance the Crows and Power say is flawed and hindering their financial strength.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-money-crisis-hits-flashpoint/story-e6frf9jf-1226066011719

What rule would that be? :lol:

:lol:
There's no such rule, I think he's confused with the concussion rule where if the club doctor thinks the player is concussed in any way, he can't come back on. An afl player could by rule go off by stretcher and come back on quicker than a soccer player in treatment.

AFL demands Ten explain why offensive Paul Chapman banner was on TV

Carly Crawford From: Herald Sun June 03, 2011

THE AFL has asked the Ten Network to explain why it aired footage of a Cats supporter's banner inviting a star player to have sex with his wife.

The sign read: "Paul Chapman I'll let you shag my wife."

It was shown briefly towards the end of the weekend match between the Cats and the Suns at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Ten said the broadcast was unintentional and assured the AFL it would not happen again.

Campaigners against domestic violence commended the league's response but demanded more from Geelong.

"I'm not prudish and I think people should be able to express themselves but that's just not on," White Ribbon ambassador Warwick Leeson said.

"It's a complete putdown, it reduces women to being something a man owns."

Mr Leeson has written to the Cats, but has yet to receive a response.

"If they were to find that he was a member, he should be stripped of his membership," Mr Leeson said.

An AFL spokesman said staff at Metricon Stadium had been reminded of AFL policy ordering the removal of offensive banners.

A Ten spokeswoman said the match was broadcast live and the banner was shown accidentally.

A friend of the man holding the banner said the phrase was a line from a well-known war-cry among Cats supporters and the man was not actually married.

A Cats spokesman described the drama as "unfortunate".

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/afl-demands-ten-explain-why-offensive-paul-chapman-banner-was-on-tv/story-e6freuy9-1226068590478

this is a joke! what does the afl want geelong to do? a please explain jesus chirst and mr leason lighten up what if it was his wife who put it up to him ? the afl are a joke

AFL: Take umpiring more seriously

Drew Petrie

BEFORE every game at AFL level, and I assume most levels of football around the country, the umpires visit each team's change-rooms.

They shake hands with each player and occasionally engage in some brief banter before their final preparation for the match.

It is a great initiative because it allows the players to become more familiar with the person behind the whistle.

Every week, I grab the AFL Record and check which umpires are officiating our game.

I like to do this so that I can greet them by name and show them respect in acknowledgement of the difficult job they do.

Umpires frequently come under fire and are criticised, but we have to remind ourselves that they don't make the rules, they just enforce the rules.

It is also worth noting that the rules are often changing, being amended and adapted — making their jobs ever harder.

Australian Rules would have to be one of the most difficult sports to umpire, given the nature of the game and the fact so many decisions require "interpretation".

The rules are not simple nor are they black or white. They have to be interpreted and this can vary greatly depending on the official. What he or she sees can be vastly different to what the supporter, television viewer, or player sees on the day.

Umpires, like all people, make mistakes. I have made plenty of mistakes on the football field. My mistakes are sometimes the difference between me being selected and being dropped, winning and losing.

I have to be careful when I write this because we walk a very fine line when it comes to discussing such things as umpires. When we voice our interpretation of a rule or decision, we can be fined.

There were a few much talked about decisions that went against us (North Melbourne) in the dying minutes of our one-point loss to the Sydney Swans a week ago. I am still coming to grips with them.

I accept the fact that the umpire missed the moment Brent Harvey was being held without the ball and they did not see me being impeded in a marking contest, but what I struggle with is the failure of umpires' boss Jeff Gieschen to acknowledge it. He appeared in a video on the AFL's official website, claiming the decisions made on the day were correct.

This is where that word interpretation comes into play.

In light of my frustrations — this week in particular — I have decided to throw my weight behind the call for full-time field umpires.

Thinking about it, I cannot believe it is not a full-time position already.

The AFL has more than enough money to make it happen with a billion dollar media rights deal now in the bank and they constantly speak of the need to be a professional organisation. It is one of the most crucial and highly scrutinised departments in the league, yet each week the officials in bright green, yellow, orange or whatever colour, have to go off to other employment.

They should be allowed to review their games properly, like players do, instead of in airport gate lounges on their laptops.

They should be afforded the time to get out to more clubs during the week and officiate training drills like they do over the holiday periods.

They should follow up on their pre-game ritual and get to know the players better.

They should be encouraged to get to other games and watch more footy like we are.

Footballers were part-time too at one stage, up to about 10 or 15 years ago.

I think it's time we caught up to the rest of the world and started taking this area of our game much more seriously.



•Drew Petrie played his junior football with Ballarat Swans in the Ballarat Football League. North Melbourne selected him from North Ballarat Rebels as a second round choice (number 23) in the 2000 AFL national draft. He made his AFL debut in 2001 and is Kangaroos vice-captain Petrie's column is published exclusively in The Courier every second Saturday.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/blogs/drew-petrie-2011/afl-take-umpiring-more-seriously/2185081.aspx?storypage=0

why would i critise them if they did nothing? im a afl fan myself why would i care if a supporter held up a sign that had some form of in joke from the fans ?

the afl are a joke

Report backs Hobart AFL games

JAMES BRESNEHAN | June 03, 2011 12.00am

A SECRET report has backed the case to support AFL games in Hobart.

The report, compiled by the consulting firm of former Essendon player and now coach James Hird, says the best economic outcome from AFL games in Tasmania was to have games played in both the North and South.

A copy of the gemba report, commissioned by the State Government in July 2008, delivered in August last year, was obtained by the Mercury yesterday.

It also revealed that: "Hobart shares a very similar passion for sport with Melbourne and both cities are highly passionate about AFL".

The investigation adds weight to North Melbourne's push to play in Hobart starting next year and the AFL's willingness to schedule games at Bellerive Oval.

It also vindicates the push by the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and the Hobart City Council, who have raised half the money to secure AFL in Hobart because of the economic boost games would deliver.

The State Government will hold a Cabinet meeting in Hobart on Monday to decide whether to commit the other half of the $500,000-a-game to secure AFL games for the South.

Consultant gemba told the Government it must expect to pay a "fair market rate" for additional AFL games and while it pays Hawthorn $900,000 a game in Launceston, games at Bellerive would cost it only $250,000.

The document recommended Hawthorn remain in Launceston and if a second team comes into the Tasmanian market it should be based at a "second venue", again supporting North Melbourne's bid to play at Bellerive.

The report outlined a scenario in which Hawthorn played two games at Aurora Stadium and two at Bellerive, and another team playing two additional games at Aurora, but favoured the Hawks staying put.

The gemba report was commissioned as part of the State Government's bid for its own AFL team.

The report investigated three scenarios: An AFL team relocating to Tasmania. The State Government continuing to back AFL games in Tasmania and acquisition of more games. A new AFL licence being granted to Tasmania.

The report says that in a one-team scenario, as with Hawthorn playing solely at Aurora Stadium under its agreement with the State Government until 2016, that team should play only in the one region.

However, with two teams playing here, they should adopt an approach it calls the dual venue strategy and play AFL in Launceston and Hobart.

Gemba says additional AFL games in Tasmania would most likely be "low priority" home fixtures of the host club, as Launceston has encountered with some of Hawthorn's games at Aurora.

It says that under a dual venue strategy, southern consumers would be less likely to travel north, and northern supporters less likely to head south.

The AFL said last week Hawthorn games at Aurora consisted of 85 per cent of people from the Launceston catchment area, making the South a largely untapped market.

After reviewing Tasmania's bid for its own team, the AFL doubted the club's viability if it played games only in Launceston.

"The successful implementation of a dual venue strategy would allay some of these concerns," gemba said. The AFL wants games in the North and South to boost participation and game development.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/03/234921_afl.html

North-South footy war

NICK CLARK | June 04, 2011 12.01am

THE battle over AFL games in Tasmania turned to war yesterday, with northern politicians gathering at Aurora Stadium to lobby against State Government funding for Kangaroos games.

Legislative Councillors Ivan Dean, Kerry Finch, Rosemary Armitage, Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten and general manager Robert Dobrzynski, plus alderman Robin McKendrick all spoke against possible Government funding of $500,000 for two games at Bellerive.

Ald McKendrick said it was not a matter of parochialism and of Launceston wanting all AFL games.

"The parochialism is coming from the people in the South and from Marti Zucco, who is just a mouth - that's all he is - he's just looking after his electorate," he said.

"We have never been parochial over cricket in southern Tasmania, we have accepted it and travelled to Hobart, why can't they accept that a $60-70 million investment of taxpayers' money into this ground," he said.

"These people want it in Hobart because they are the capital."

Hobart City Council Alderman Peter Sexton hit back last night, accusing the northern politicians of being scared they might be expected to make a financial contribution towards future AFL games at Aurora Stadium.

Ald Sexton said the northerners were used to Government handouts because they were in the politically unstable electorate of Bass.

"They have just expected handout after handout after handout," Ald Sexton said.

He said the precedent set by the South, where local governments and the private sector had raised money to stage the AFL games at Bellerive, was terrifying for the North because they did not want to follow the example.

"They are terrified that they will have to put their hands into their own pockets," he said.

"They are scared to death this will set a precedent and the State Government might ask them to make an effort to pay for something themselves."

Ald Zucco said he was not the parochial one but had written to the Launceston Mayor trying to settle parochial issues.

"If McKendrick wants to go to low-level politics and play the man, let's hope he doesn't get suspended," Ald Zucco said.

Ald van Zetten said Hawthorn was a strong brand for Tasmania and brought people to the state.

He said North Melbourne would not bring so many people to Tasmania.

He added crowds at Hawthorn games could suffer by 20 per cent if North Melbourne games were played in Hobart
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/06/04/235221_afl.html

Jesus that was humilating. Actually left before the game ended. Didn't feel like the boys deserved any appreciation at the final whistle.

I'm sorry: 14-year-old Jyrah Miller's remorse at umpire assault and five-year ban

Sarah Mennie and Chaise McCardle From: Sunday Mail (SA) June 05, 2011 12:00AM

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has warned other young footballers to keep control of their tempers after he was banned for five years for punching an umpire.

Jyrah Miller, 14, who was playing in the seniors for Encounter Bay Football Club against Mount Compass last weekend, said he deserved to be punished - but a five-year Australia-wide ban with an additional five years on probation was too long and had destroyed any chance of a future in footy.

"A two-year or one-year ban would have been long enough for me to think about it, but five years has taken everything away from me," he said.

Jyrah has written an apology to the umpire and is warning other young players to think before they act.

"If an umpire says something (you don't agree with) let it go, otherwise it leads to worse stuff," he said.

"I learnt to play footy when I was five; my pop and brothers taught me. All I want to do is play AFL and I feel like it's been taken away from me," Jyrah, from Port Elliot, said.

But he says he knows he is responsible.

"I'm sorry for hitting him, I shouldn't have done it. I'm shocked and upset about what's happened and I'd do anything to play footy again,'' he said.

Jyrah pleaded guilty in the Great Southern Football League's tribunal on Tuesday night to striking, spitting and indecent language.

He told the Sunday Mail when umpire David Marks ordered him off the field he lost his temper and hit him.

"I was just trying to break up a fight," he said.

Jyrah, who has dropped out of school to work part-time at the Port Elliot Bakery, admitted he had an anger problem.

"I'm going to anger (management) classes now and hopefully I can think before I do silly stuff," he said.

Jyrah's father, Roger Richards, said the tribunal hadn't looked at the bigger picture.

"There's no doubt about it, hitting the umpire was wrong. But five years is a long time, and they've wiped out any chance to start a career," he said.

The umpire, David Marks, has quit umpiring since the incident and declined to comment yesterday.

Jyrah wasn't sympathetic when venting on his Facebook page earlier in the week.

"Not good work man haha hell regret it ay because now I can't play footy for about 5 to 10 years," he wrote.

"I can't play till I'm 20, that's f--ed."

League president Gordon Tonkin said the tribunal had been left with no choice but to impose a severe penalty on Jyrah, who had received multiple yellow card warnings - where a player is sent off for five minutes - and been reported for four offences this season alone.

"If he was a senior player he would have got life," Mr Tonkin said.

Sports Minister Tom Kenyon said it was imperative that umpires be protected.

"Sport can't happen without them. Almost all are volunteers and if people see these kind of attacks they won't want to umpire," he said.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/im-sorry-14-year-old-jyrah-millers-remorse-at-umpire-assault-and-five-year-ban/story-e6frea6u-1226069326259