North to play Subiaco in South Africa

[Wedgie]

I'd be keen to go but J'Berg which is the closest major centre to where the game is (100kms away) is the worst place in the world for crime.
South Africa has something like 18,000 murders a year and J'Berg is reknown for its organised crime, they even follow tourists from the airport so they can rob them at their hotel so I don't know if I'd be too keen.
Kudos for North though, excellent way to get around the salary cap.
And derr to KG and Cornes who asked tonight where the money was coming from. FFS guys, have you kept up with any SANFL news in the last 5 years?

[Dutchy]

40 players???? How many on the bench?

[Wedgie]

40 players???? How many on the bench?

"40 players, support staff, officials"

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

So will the Roosters use this tour as a means of recruiting the next
Damian Cupido into the SANFL?
He's South African ain't he?

[Dutchy]

40 players???? How many on the bench?

"40 players, support staff, officials"

still sounds like 40 players when you read it..

[topsywaldron]

How do Subiaco afford to pay the costs involved? Thought most WAFL clubs were struggling financially..

[Wedgie]

How do Subiaco afford to pay the costs involved? Thought most WAFL clubs were struggling financially..

Dunno, good question, haven't looked them up but I'm assuming the costs from Perth to the North West of South Africa aren't that great?
If its half as good as our Darwin trip it'd be great but I'm still weighing up the crime aspect in South Africa, certainly wouldn't take the family there.
Good promotion for the SANFL, might make a few AFL supporters in this city stand up and take notice when they see an SANFL club can afford what a couple of AFL clubs couldn't.
Hopefully with expenditure like this it keeps us classed as a sporting organisation for taxation purposes.
Also a great exercise for recruiting, be a bit easier to draw someone to Prospect with the likelihood of going to South Africa as apposed to a club that might be going to Mount Gambier or Victor Harbor.

[BPBRB]

I'd be keen to go but J'Berg which is the closest major centre to where the game is (100kms away) is the worst place in the world for crime.
South Africa has something like 18,000 murders a year and J'Berg is reknown for its organised crime, they even follow tourists from the airport so they can rob them at their hotel so I don't know if I'd be too keen.
Kudos for North though, excellent way to get around the salary cap.
And derr to KG and Cornes who asked tonight where the money was coming from. FFS guys, have you kept up with any SANFL news in the last 5 years?

Well the club will have to ensure they take along a Security expert who has busines dealings with J'Burg in relation to security. Hmm, think I know someone, I'd better let them know!

[Wedgie]

Dunno, good question, haven't looked them up but I'm assuming the costs from Perth to the North West of South Africa aren't that great?

I take that back, from $1985 from Perth to J'Berg with the Flight Centre!
(only $14 more to go to London!)

[MUNGO JERRY]

Dunno, good question, haven't looked them up but I'm assuming the costs from Perth to the North West of South Africa aren't that great?

I take that back, from $1985 from Perth to J'Berg with the Flight Centre!
(only $14 more to go to London!)

Bewdy, I know where I'm off to!

[topsywaldron]

Bewdy, I know where I'm off to!

London?

[Rushby Hinds]

Not that it matters, but the distance from South Africa to Perth is not a lot different from the distance from Perth to Sydney.

Just thought i'd share that.

Are many South AFricans living in WA.

[am Bays]

Are many South AFricans living in WA.

Who do you think was calling the Seth Efricen crekket pleyers Kaffer lovers last year?????

Voices that originate from the veldt not the Gascoyne or the Swan.....

[dash61]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21138886-21543,00.html

Roosters take footy abroad

EXCLUSIVE:

DOUG ROBERTSON

January 30, 2007 01:15am
Article from: The Advertiser

NORTH Adelaide is heading into the South Africa wilderness to take the great Australian game to the heart of one of the most vibrant growth areas for Aussie Rules.
The intrepid Roosters - who took SANFL football to Tasmania in the 1940s, Sydney in the 1950s and Darwin in the 1960s and again last year - are planning to play WAFL premier Subiaco in South Africa, probably in October.

The proposed one-off promotional match at Potchefstroom, a one-hour drive south-west of Johannesburg, is geared to add some glamour to their state leagues and provide some gloss and incentive for the semi-professional players.

Arrangements are yet to be finalised for a 10-day tour and North general manager Glenn Elliott said it might still be delayed until March next year. But whatever the date, Subiaco chief executive Jeff Lind says the match is "a goer".

Lind broached the forward-thinking proposal when North innocently inquired about holding a pre-season trial between the clubs in Perth. "We've already made a provision for it in our financial statement for this year," Lind said. "We're totally committed to it."

Both clubs will cover their own expenses for about 40 players, support staff, officials and two umpires. Players will help pay their way through fundraising. The AFL has said it will lend a helping hand with logistics in South Africa through its established AFL-South Africa organisation. North and Subiaco players and coaches will be involved in several football clinics for the estimated 2500 locals who are already hooked on the game in South Africa's North-West Province.

Lind said the proposed trip was one way of rewarding the club's players for their considerable input over a season against the backdrop of a tight salary cap. Elliott said North did not support end-of-season "junkets" and the proposed trip had benefits for the club and players.

News of the proposal brought smiles from Roosters and former AFL midfielder Chris Ladhams, who said the trip to Darwin last year had long-lasting benefits for the club.

"It's also a fantastic promotion for North Adelaide to put the club out there," he said "Four years ago we were looking at relegation but now we're a force in the SANFL. Definitely, North Adelaide is the closest club I've been at."

SANFL chief executive Leigh Whicker enthusiastically backed the idea and said the league would seek ways to offer support.

"Who knows what opportunities will come out of this for players in South Africa, in this state and nationally?" he said.

"It is exciting for a South Australian club to be profiled in that way. The AFL sees South Africa as a very important part of their program as far as international promotion is concerned." The AFL predicts 28,000 South Africans in the North-West Province will be playing Australian football by 2009.

Norths send a total of 40 people @ $5000 a head, you would suggest $200,000, this would include players, coaches,training staff & a few top sponsors.

Question : Why would you outlay that sort of money when the financial returns look slim?????

Spare a thought for the two eastern clubs in Adelaide that are struggling or have been to pay electricity bills etc,,, no i dont think it should go on to the salary cap as it is a promotion but to a couple of clubs that are down and out at present it is a real slap in the face.

[Leaping Lindner]

Are many South AFricans living in WA.

Who do you think was calling the Seth Efricen crekket pleyers Kaffer lovers last year?????

Voices that originate from the veldt not the Gascoyne or the Swan.....

Like Punky said we are the "away" team. Playing in South Africa has got to be a home game for any team from "East Johannesburg".

[Squawk]

This trip should mean that a $5,000 contribution from the Roosters to fund Total SANFL in 2007 is an absolute shoe in.

Will the two clubs be taking a full compliment of trainers? Would seem reasonable that the clubs could share trainers and have local clubs provide a few trainers and the water runners.

As for security, a local expert would be needed IMHO - I have relatives living there and some of the crime committed there isn't heard of here yet - eg car robberies where a spark plug is used to disintegrate a car window, and the driver is either robbed, beaten, shot, hauled out, has their car stolen or all of these together whilst they sit in traffic. A lot of people wont even stop for a red light there.

If Norf really wanted to spend some money then they should play in Zimbabwe - for starters, petrol is $21 litre there at the moment and cash has expiry dates printed on it!

[JK]

Norths send a total of 40 people @ $5000 a head, you would suggest $200,000, this would include players, coaches,training staff & a few top sponsors.

Question : Why would you outlay that sort of money when the financial returns look slim?????

Spare a thought for the two eastern clubs in Adelaide that are struggling or have been to pay electricity bills etc,,, no i dont think it should go on to the salary cap as it is a promotion but to a couple of clubs that are down and out at present it is a real slap in the face.

I understand the point you're trying to make Dash, but as a Norwood fan (and Im sure Blues fans will feel the same), we're not looking for sympathy from anyone, and something like this should just provide further motivation to increase our financial standing so that one day we might be in a position to enjoy similar spoils.

Good luck to North, it's their money, they earnt it through successful planning and implementation rather than handouts and can therefore spend it however they see fit IMHO and it shouldn't be of concern to other clubs.

[BPBRB]

Norths send a total of 40 people @ $5000 a head, you would suggest $200,000, this would include players, coaches,training staff & a few top sponsors.

Question : Why would you outlay that sort of money when the financial returns look slim?????

Spare a thought for the two eastern clubs in Adelaide that are struggling or have been to pay electricity bills etc,,, no i dont think it should go on to the salary cap as it is a promotion but to a couple of clubs that are down and out at present it is a real slap in the face.

Dash, it won't cost that much - group discounts go along way to knocking off the overall price. You can't base an estimate overall cost on what a quote might be for a lone traveller having to fork out on airfares and accomodation! Don't you think the NAFC have done any homework on this before it was allowed to go to press! I don't think Robert Gerard will charge too much for a couple days stay at his opulent Safari Lodge in SA either!

There is benefit long term you just need to think abit more laterally than you are presently. Again don't you think this was factored in when weighing up whether this trip would be a justifiable spend/investment?

As for your last section about other struggling clubs what is that supposed to infer? Are North (or any other club) not entitled to spend their income as they see fit if they are in a strong financial position? Would you like North to give their money to poorer performing clubs? Without getting into a slanging match about past "evils" I didn't see any of those types of quotes bandied about when North were really stuggling financially in 2001 and parts of 2002 before our "resurrection"? That turn around was not due to any financial assistance whatsoever from any other club or the SANFL.

[Jimmy]

Norths send a total of 40 people @ $5000 a head, you would suggest $200,000, this would include players, coaches,training staff & a few top sponsors.

Question : Why would you outlay that sort of money when the financial returns look slim?????

Spare a thought for the two eastern clubs in Adelaide that are struggling or have been to pay electricity bills etc,,, no i dont think it should go on to the salary cap as it is a promotion but to a couple of clubs that are down and out at present it is a real slap in the face.

I understand the point you're trying to make Dash, but as a Norwood fan (and Im sure Blues fans will feel the same), we're not looking for sympathy from anyone, and something like this should just provide further motivation to increase our financial standing so that one day we might be in a position to enjoy similar spoils.

Good luck to North, it's their money, they earnt it through successful planning and implementation rather than handouts and can therefore spend it however they see fit IMHO and it shouldn't be of concern to other clubs.

from a blues fan, well said.

im sure north are putting money into more local ventures to support footy in their area so this is seen as something they can afford to do. And good luck to em.

[Jimmy]

I didn't see any of those types of quotes bandied about when North were really stuggling financially in 2001 and parts of 2002 before our "resurrection"? That turn around was not due to any financial assistance whatsoever from any other club or the SANFL.

was there safooty around then??? or any other website

jk