The NT have to address local issues related to their own domestic comp before committing to joining the SANFL. He then went on to say "It has got to happen at some time" and when asked when he said "in the next 12 to 18 months".
I found this all a bit ambiguous as the headline seemed to be back pedalling but to say that they would join in the next 12 to 18 months is tanatmount to saying next season. I mean no-one would expect them to join this season and they can't join mid-season so the only option within the parameteres mentioned is next season - which means they had better get down to some serious planning.
therisingblues wrote:But I think the greatest thing about the proposal is breaking out of the Adelaide mentality. I feel very strongly that if people make the SANFL expansion in to the NT work there will be spin offs we haven't considered. Doggies 4 eva alluded to it when mentioning economic spin offs. Expansion in the NT is a way of making an SA product (the SANFL) stand out more, with the right thinking and the right marketing businesses will be queing up to become a part of it.
I think you've hit the nail on the head rising blues - I don't think the SANFL (or the WAFL or NTAFL) have yet come to terms with the impact that AFL is having on the sport. AFL is now dominating the media, hence getting the bulk of sponsorship and crowd income to the point that the traditional urban comp is in my view dead in the water. Unless we come to terms with this and stop wishing for the good old days when the SANFL match of the day attracted a crowd of 15,000 and media attention all week then we are as dead as Fitzroy. We need a new concept - something which gives new interest for crowds, media and sponsors.
In my view this is either a div 2 and 3 AFL (won't happen cause all they care about is their own clubs) or some sort of regional comp. I would like to see the AFL show some leadership and have say three regional comps - Qld/NSW, Vic Tassie and SA/NT/WA. There would then be an annual carnival where the top 1 or 2 in each regions played for the Aussie regional championship. It won't happen cause the AFL lacks the vision or leadership. Failing that the various non-AFL comps will have to do it themselves. For the SANFL, having the NT join takes it above a suburban Adelaide comp. - I would like to also see regional representation form the other strong SA regions that others have mentioned.
Or you could just do nothing and hope that the good times return. It worked for Fitzroy didn't it?
