23 teams set for IC14, AFL 9s scrapped

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23 teams set for IC14, AFL 9s scrapped

Authored by: Ian Hill
on Tuesday, February 25 2014 @ 02:15 pm ACDT

Have to agree with Niels on all counts and it certainly should be once every four years. I've been out of the loop for a few years but I would think that the net effect of the IC on some leagues would be negative. I would also like to see it held in Europe or North America one year. I can accept that just travelling to Australia with the chance to attend AFL games is a large part of the attraction for many international players, but it would be interesting to see the effect of the travel burden being reversed for some countries.

23 teams set for IC14, AFL 9s scrapped

Authored by: Jörg Pareigis
on Tuesday, February 25 2014 @ 05:37 pm ACDT

I also think that it is a big ask and am amazed how many dedicated players and officials we have. But if your assumptions are right Niels, shouldn't Germany be "outperforming" all other leagues in Europe by now by far and is that really the case?

And could it not be the case that the IC instead gathers a lot of people around a cause, spreading enthusiasm and creating publicity around the sport, which it would not have received otherwise?

23 teams set for IC14, AFL 9s scrapped

Authored by: Niels Schønnemann
on Sunday, March 02 2014 @ 02:45 am ACDT

@ Jörg - I agree it can be a common goal and it can be a good thing for some. The national teams in general is a good way of uniting leagues for a common pupose rather than the dividing nature of local competition. Regarding if Germany should be the rocket of growth in Europe by now, it would rather turn the argument around. Where would they be if they had attended? we know its a struggle for them to send full sides to the the Euro Champs. From an outsider, it seems they are making the right decision.

@ Brett - No dissaproving tone - have seen your work on here, but was curious if you had groundwork experience as well. An issue like this is always coming from what experiences you have seen or been around.

Having attended two ICs I like the idea and I agree with others that qualifiers are not whats needed, unless you wanted a higher quality at the IC. From my point of view, the AFL has the following agendas with the IC:

1. Promote to their main stakeholders, that their limited international ressources has been stretched far and wide - and its paying dividends.

2. Asses to themselves what progress they are making with their specific investments (we all know, that its not a fair competition, when certain countries gets their trip paid for/organised)

3. Learning from the attending countries about their challenges

4. The competition itself.

Regarding why the IC is held every 3 years, I think its obvious - from the above agenda, every 4 years makes for fewer cases of the above agenda, and only Europe has a proper local senior championship going, so most other countries only have this to look forward to as proper international competition, so they want as much as possible - and three years suits them. So from everyones perspectives (apart from Europes) every 3 years makes more sense.

23 teams set for IC14, AFL 9s scrapped

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Sunday, March 02 2014 @ 08:39 am ACDT

@Niels - ok understood.

@Peter - good to see you haven't lost your passion for the 9s.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

23 teams set for IC14, AFL 9s scrapped

Authored by: Harley Vague
on Sunday, March 02 2014 @ 09:21 pm ACDT

Jarren, yes I'd already considered the fact that holding qualifiers could eliminate potential participants and I wasn't seriously proposing it for the IC atm moreover it was directed at lengthing the interval of the IC to four years and creating a WC in the middle. ATM we have the Euro Cup and with a bit of financial help for zone qualifiers you could create a WC. the IC is not going to change in a hurry. Coming to Australia is expensive but most participants see some value in coming to the "spiritual home" of football. If the IC became mobile, then there would be different countries that are travel winners and travel losers, approximating to no nett gain in participating countries, Some countries might drop out because they weren't travelling to the home of football.To balance that, IMO, atm, there is probably more promotional potential in an IC outside of Australia. So it makes sense to me to target the Euro Cup. Yes it requires some funding to bring qualifiers to a WC but it it is a loss less in amount and political fallout in trying to do something for all the IC teams. I mention the Euro Cup because they are becoming increasingly successful however it could be a world 9s tournament held every four years interleaved with the IC. The irony is, that because of the cost in travelling (to europe)you could invite Aussie teams to participate(and not be flooded with responses). Personally, I'd like to see IC matches played around Australia but this simple change would greatly increase costs in most cases. I believe it is incredibly important for Australians to make a noise about this event.not only to generate some financial underwriting but some emotional underwriting as well.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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