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Cape Town canned - again!

Authored by: Stephen Anthony Funder
on Wednesday, September 02 2009 @ 05:13 pm ACST

The canning of the match in Cape Town again is appalling.Its this dithering,fence sitting,spineless,risk averse inaction which explains why Australian Football has attempted to get a foothold overseas before and invariably failed.The financial crisis has not stoped the AFL from moving ahead in Western Sydney and the Gold Coast,nor should it,but when they are presented with a golden opportunityto develop a potentially booming market ripe for Aussie Rules at minimal cost compared to other markets,they immediately fallover at the slighest adversity.I thought the AFL administrators had some much needed gumption and vision but this decision clearly indicates they haven't.Its a disaster.
Stephen Funder
Stafford
Qld

Cape Town canned - again!

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Wednesday, September 02 2009 @ 05:43 pm ACST

I know how you feel. My reaction when the first one was cancelled was certainly that it was a very bad sign. I guess this cancellation, or continued postponement, bothers me a little less. The first one was essentially confirmed and all systems go, so will have created a lot of disappointment, whereas this time it was never really promised to occur and was probably never likely - if the global financial crisis stopped the first attempt (sponsors pulling out) then nothing will have changed.

It is quite understandable in some respects when you break it down. There is a lot of criticism mainly from Victoria about money being wasted on overseas trips, even the International Rules which supposedly pays for itself through sponsorship. The AFL has several ailing clubs and has to justify to them the money it spends because at the end of the day, perhaps unfortunately for the game overall, the clubs can rise up and overthrow. The AFL was at pains to warn clubs to reduce their costs and vowed to do the same themselves. So if sponsors pulled out then the only other option would have been to spend a lot of money they had promised not to spend.

I think GC and WS are go because the AFL convinced the clubs it was in their long term interest - an extra game per week and more TV revenue. There was a critical meeting leading up to which the clubs were very critical - they came out glowing and all aboard expansion.

But as I wrote at the time that Cape Town was canned, it really is disappointing for the message it sends and because I think it's just the time when a cashed up sport can take the initiative and push forward when others are hesitating.

Like you say, Aussie Rules has failed in the past because it hasn't sustained the effort, when things got tougher they bailed out.

I've been told by many people it is not an issue, but I do worry that the soccer World Cup in South Africa in 2010 could rattle the FootyWILD program there. Let's be honest, FIFA can do a lot of rattling if they want to.

I guess what I will look for is, okay, the showpiece has been canned, but is the grassroots stuff still there, is it still expanding? The information this year was that it was one of consolidation, with modest growth within the existing structures in the 4 provinces. I would certainly hope to see that then start to expand in 2010.

Given the political realities the AFL faces, I think what we're looking for pragmatically is a stronger show of leadership on the issue. It has sensibly grown its international commitment, slowly bringing the clubs and public with it. At some point, just like over the GC and WS expansion, the AFL may well face a powerful test of its commitment and then we will see whether the key people have the courage of their conviction. I guess they've decided this game is not the time and place to make a stand. If I put emotion to the side and look at the growth curve of the last 5 years, it is just a blip.

That's how I see it anyway. Contrast it with a lot of good things they are doing in Oceania. The sum of the parts is still overall a positive growth in a tough year for most organisations. I think 2011 will be critical. Hopefully no excuses of the global crisis, and an IC year. And the proposed exhibition in Shanghai is also the other key game I'm keen to see confirmed.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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