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Kennett urges AFL team for NZ

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Tuesday, April 05 2011 @ 06:13 pm ACST

If we can start to get 5 to 10 draftees out of NZ each year over the next 10 years, and return to having regular exhibition matches leading up to a match for premiership points, and have things like the Hawks Cup start to grow the current leagues to have more depth, then I suspect there could be a demonstrable demand in Auckland.

As I've said before, I'd love to see Tasmania and NZ as the next two AFL sides. NZ would only happen if the AFL is emboldened by success with GC and GWS, so I hope they are successfully, especially financially.

P.S. I added to the above article for non-Australians that Jeff Kennett was formerly premier of Victoria. He is widely (but not unanimously) credited with revitalising Melbourne, which is why his comments at conferences such as the one in NZ have some extra pull above just being President of an AFL club.

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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

Kennett urges AFL team for NZ

Authored by: Cam Homes
on Thursday, April 07 2011 @ 09:46 am ACST

Maybe Hawthorn should ultimately become the NZ team :-) One less team in Melbourne one less team running at a loss? :-)

Cam

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Kennett urges AFL team for NZ

Authored by: Timothy J Scott
on Thursday, April 07 2011 @ 01:44 pm ACST

Hawthorn have made a $13 million profite in the last 3 years, they are not running at a loss, anyway they have been tipped to move to Tasmania in 10 to 15 years.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Kennett urges AFL team for NZ

Authored by: Aaron Richard
on Thursday, April 07 2011 @ 02:35 pm ACST

I'd be surprised if Hawthorn left Melbourne, even in 10-15 years. I'd tip they're just looking to spread the franchise out a bit, expand on what they're already doing with games in Tasmania to include a few games in Auckland or elsewhere in NZ.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

Kennett urges AFL team for NZ

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Thursday, April 07 2011 @ 03:56 pm ACST

Hawthorn are doing very nicely. You could imagine them playing a few games in NZ to grow their membership base, especially if Tassie ultimately gets its own AFL club. But in terms of a permanent move, no, I reckon Cam was just stirring the pot.

If it was North Melbourne we were talking about, then who knows. They are trying to get into Tassie now, after their previous efforts in ACT, NSW and QLD. So maybe in 10 years the rumours will start linking them with NZ.

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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