FEARLESS 2022: Round 17 – The proposed Tassie team’s big elephant in the room…

 

 

Hi all, coming to you from next to the television, the refuge of the isolated! Yes, 2nd time…oh well…it’s not that warm outside…just trying to prevent it from spreading within the house!

 

Tassie team. Good idea. Not a good idea. Take your pick…Personally I think it’ll happen, but the AFL are going about it the wrong way. Calls for the State Government to finance the construction of a new stadium at $780million in any way, in full or in part, is just plain wrong. There are other aspects to funding and expenditure in the public domain that take priority, namely hospitals, education, transportation and roads, especially in the smallest state population in the country.

 

Having regularly been to the AFL footy in Tasmania, both in Launceston and Hobart, the stadium isn’t necessary to establish the team. Current capacities are at 20-21000. The Tasmania team can play out of these venues pretty easily for the next decade at least.  Yes, there are renovations required to both venues, but $780 million is a massive ask of any state government. Maybe elevating capacity at both venues up to 30000 is a better option for now. Maybe a new venue is a possibility down the track.

 

My concern is that the AFL is pushing an agenda that is a complete furphy and tying the Tassie team to it. The AFL is concerned with a 19-teams model. Dead media space due to a bye is unattractive, given the tv broadcast rights value. A 20-team competition is probably a better team model (including Tasmania and the Northern Territory) for the next 10 -50 years +, maybe starting in 5 years time (2028). That way Eddie McGuire and others can stop with ridiculous theoretical models designed to promote ideas that sides other than Collingwood get relocated interstate to a state that genuinely wants its own team in the AFL. One thing is certain – 20 teams and nowhere else will want one. That would be a truly national comp.

 

The stadium economics do not work from the public purse. Any subsequent requests do not do justice to the Tasmanians desire to have their own team, despite the advocacy of Premier Jeremy Rockliff (and previous Premiers Gutwein and Hodgman). This will be underplayed by the AFL. It shouldn’t be. Infrastructure for the AFL should ideally be funded by the AFL, they’re in a much better position to do it. Especially once the lost revenues from Covid are earned back into the coffers at AFLHQ.

 

U-Tas Stadium in Launceston and Blundstone Arena in Hobart aren’t in bad condition at the present. The locals most certainly won’t be complaining if they get an AFL team. The silvertails however at AFLHQ might. Get over it! Get over yourselves! Don’t be afraid to mix with allcomers – that’s one of the joys of going to the footy anywhere in Australia!

 

Cheers PT

 

 

 

 

2022 FEARLESS Rd 17. Does anybody at AFLHQ really know what a jumper clash is?

 

I thought Bruce Nankervis was going to run out when Geelong entered GMHBA on Thursday night in a vintage collared jumper. Melbourne entered wearing their indigenous Christmas jumper and this really was a jumper clash of a different type. Cats at the Cattery saluted by 28pts against the top of the table Dees, but did anyone learn anything? Yes. A grand final preview, except for the venue. which won’t host a Grannie.

 

With Swans and Dogs coming off losses, who hit the ground running first. By qtr time, Sydney shot out to a 37pt lead with 15 scoring shots. A 53pt Sydney win would suggest the Bulldogs struggled all night and that would be worrying for coach Bevo on the eve of maybe missing the finals. Had Buddy been accurate, rather than 2.5, and his team followed suit then the Dogs would’ve been destroyed. 35 scoring shots to 22.

 

AFLHQ needs to comprehend clash jumpers #1. Two teams featuring symbols and stripes…mmm yep good idea! Almost the upset of the year, said some. North’s hold on their more fancied opponents looked strong at 3/ 4 time, a Roos lead by 26pts, well deserved. The Pies followed the leaders, Pendles, Steele, Daicos boys…and won by 7pts. Roos tired, Pies resolve strengthened..a 5 goal last qtr. Larkey 5, Pies Cameron 3.

 

Tigers had been leading comfortably at Club Metricon, prompting Suns coach Big Dewy to say his charges weren’t trying! What an insult…errr…well it worked. A 34pt Tigers lead at the half slowly got whittled down by more Suns players “trying”. Amazing! The Tigers famed composure eroded to the point where Noah Anderson had the classic childhood moment of kicking the winner after the game. Suns by 2pts.

 

It appeared for the first half that the Saints were on a mission to prove their finals credibility against Freo on Saturday night at Marvel. An 8pt Saints lead the proof! Freo seemed intent on destroying the Saints credibility in the 2nd half whilst enhancing theirs. It worked alarmingly well. Led by the skipper Nat Fyfe, the Dockers 11.5 to 3.4 was emphatic as to where both teams sat in relation to the finals. Fyfe 3, Freddy 3.

 

Ping! There goes Phil Davis’ hamstring. Ping!  There goes the faint GWS finals’ hopes…Port powered away from the mango tsunami well before unlucky Phil’s injury. Except for a small period in the 2nd, the Power lead just increased as the Port players ran amok. Port home by 55pts, keeping the Giants to 4.5.29, a solid team defence. Rozee 4 goals, 24 stats. A young gun. Coniglio 32, Kelly 27…stats for stats sake!

 

Covid had cruelled Brisbane. 9 of best 22 out. Bombers had the guillotine ready. Never give a sucker a chance! After an even 1st qtr, the Bombers took the sword to whatever holes were in the Lions 22 and enlarged them. In the end a 10pt win for the Bombers was a testament to the difference between the two teams. Wright 5, Langford 4 made the most of Merrett, Shiel and mates handiwork further up the ground.

 

Clash jumpers#2. Two evenly placed teams. One dominates from the outset. Hawks led by 31pts at qtr time and won by 32pts. 1stqtr = Premiership qtr! Mentally you’ve gotta be on from the start! The Crows paid by the price for a slow start and Mitch Lewis’ 3 goals in the 1st qtr set up the win. Credit to Rory Laird 42 stats for the Crows, supported by Keays and Crouch. That 1st quarter was just far too costly! Hardwick 32.

 

Blues got off to a flyer at Optus, holding the Eagles scoreless and a 34pt lead at qtr time. A day out was looming! And the Eagles showed up in the 2nd…7.3 to 3.3. Game on! A reduced lead at the half, down to 10pts in what many regarded as a Carlton danger game. The Blues 9.7 to 1.2 in the 2nd half left the locals heading for the turnstiles from early in the last! So much for danger! 63pt Carlton win.  Curnow, McKay 5.

 

 

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