2018 AFL Season

[LMA]

Every loss this will get brought up.
Soft underbelly.

C'mon guys give JJ a break, he's copped it all off season

[MW]

Every loss this will get brought up.
Soft underbelly.

C'mon guys give JJ a break, he's copped it all off season

Come now mate, you've recruited four players with the softest underbelly going around!

[LMA]

Every loss this will get brought up.
Soft underbelly.

C'mon guys give JJ a break, he's copped it all off season

Come now mate, you've recruited four players with the softest underbelly going around!

Is that you Browny, just watching On The Couch and he said the same thing 'Soft Underbelly'

[MW]

ok if that's not a wake up call to change my ways I don't know what is

[Booney]

THE injuries to Melbourne duo Jack Viney and Tom McDonald are worse than first thought, with both players set to miss another six to eight weeks.
Viney and McDonald were originally ruled out of the Demons’ Round 1 clash against Geelong, but coach Simon Goodwin confirmed to reporters on Thursday that both could be sidelined for a further two months.

McDonald has been battling a toe injury while Viney’s foot injury ensured a frustrating pre-season for the co-captain.

[Jim05]

Shouldn’t have squibbed their training camp

[Booney]

MILLIONS of Chinese will get a taste of AFL football with the League securing television deals with three free-to-air channels in China.

The round-nine Shanghai clash between Gold Coast and Port Adelaide will be broadcast on Guangzhou TV, Shanghai TV and Shandong TV, broadening the AFL's reach in China.

The deal means local television audiences could reach well into the millions given Shandong province has a population of about 91.8 million people, while Guangzhou (14.5 million) and Shanghai (24.15 million) also have the potential to capture huge audiences.

Last year the game was aired by CCTV, the Shanghai Media Group and Guangzhou TV, with a deal struck by the League just days before the game.

The League has also secured a deal with Guangzhou TV, which will see the broadcaster air one game per round of the 2018 AFL season.

Port Adelaide will feature in 11 of the 23 games broadcast, with the finals series and Grand Final to also be shown on free-to-air television in China.

All games, as well as a weekly highlights and preview show will be telecast in Mandarin.

AFL general manager of clubs and broadcasting, Travis Auld, said the new deals demonstrated interest in football was growing in China.

"We're in the privileged position to be able to host a premiership season match in China, and we feel that even more with our new television broadcast arrangements for the season with Guangzhou TV, Shanghai TV and Shandong TV helping us to increase the AFL's footprint into an important market and to support our international strategy," Auld said.

"Interest in our game in China is increasing, which is reflected with Guangzhou TV making a commitment to broadcast at least one game a week on top of a weekly highlights show.

"I'd like to thank Guangzhou TV, Shanghai TV and Shandong TV for their support in showcasing our exciting game to so many in mainland China."

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas said the broadcast deal was a big win for the Power.

"We believe that to grow the game in China, the AFL has to be front and centre and be seen on commercial television consistently each weekend," Thomas said.

"We appreciate the support from both the AFL and Guangzhou TV in helping us deliver weekly television content to mainland China," he said.

The Gold Coast-Port Adelaide match will be telecast into Australian by Fox Footy and simulcast on Telstra's AFL Live app.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-04/n ... o-millions

[DOC]

Any idea how much they paid?

[Booney]

Any idea how much they paid?

Nope, no mention anywhere.

[gadj1976]

MILLIONS of Chinese will get a taste of AFL football with the League securing television deals with three free-to-air channels in China.

The round-nine Shanghai clash between Gold Coast and Port Adelaide will be broadcast on Guangzhou TV, Shanghai TV and Shandong TV, broadening the AFL's reach in China.

The deal means local television audiences could reach well into the millions given Shandong province has a population of about 91.8 million people, while Guangzhou (14.5 million) and Shanghai (24.15 million) also have the potential to capture huge audiences.

Last year the game was aired by CCTV, the Shanghai Media Group and Guangzhou TV, with a deal struck by the League just days before the game.

The League has also secured a deal with Guangzhou TV, which will see the broadcaster air one game per round of the 2018 AFL season.

Port Adelaide will feature in 11 of the 23 games broadcast, with the finals series and Grand Final to also be shown on free-to-air television in China.

All games, as well as a weekly highlights and preview show will be telecast in Mandarin.

AFL general manager of clubs and broadcasting, Travis Auld, said the new deals demonstrated interest in football was growing in China.

"We're in the privileged position to be able to host a premiership season match in China, and we feel that even more with our new television broadcast arrangements for the season with Guangzhou TV, Shanghai TV and Shandong TV helping us to increase the AFL's footprint into an important market and to support our international strategy," Auld said.

"Interest in our game in China is increasing, which is reflected with Guangzhou TV making a commitment to broadcast at least one game a week on top of a weekly highlights show.

"I'd like to thank Guangzhou TV, Shanghai TV and Shandong TV for their support in showcasing our exciting game to so many in mainland China."

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas said the broadcast deal was a big win for the Power.

"We believe that to grow the game in China, the AFL has to be front and centre and be seen on commercial television consistently each weekend," Thomas said.

"We appreciate the support from both the AFL and Guangzhou TV in helping us deliver weekly television content to mainland China," he said.

The Gold Coast-Port Adelaide match will be telecast into Australian by Fox Footy and simulcast on Telstra's AFL Live app.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-04/n ... o-millions

I'd hate to watch AFL via CCTV!

[mighty_tiger_79]

Ryder has performed under the CCTV broadcasts...

[DOC]

Melbourne Football Club has committed to cutting its gambling ties, announcing it will end financial dependence on poker machines.

The Demons on Wednesday announced the Leighoak Club, with 92 poker machines, had been sold to Moonee Valley Racing Club effective from July 31. The club will still be backed by 88 machines at the Bentleigh Club until August 2022, when those gaming entitlements end.

Chairman Glen Bartlett said the announcement was a “significant day” for the club.

“Gaming isn’t our core business and whilst it has been a financial imperative to operate within this space in the past, we feel the time was right to take action to exit the industry,” Bartlett said in a statement.

CEO Peter Jackson said the club would need to claw back about 10 per cent of its overall revenue after losing pokies income.

“Over a two- to three-year period, we will be able to re-adjust and grow, and we have several ideas on how to do that,” he said on Wednesday.

The club’s 2017 financial report put revenue for the year ending October 31 at $51,988,711 and reported ‘social and gaming revenue’ of $11,641,049.

Poker machines at the Leighoak club raked in $7,747,207.34 in the 2016/17 financial year. Machines at the Bentleigh club brought in $2,564,945.12 in the same period, according to Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation figures.

Bartlett said the club was “in the strongest financial position it has ever been in” and said the decision was securing “the best commercial outcome” while “prioritising the community sentiment”.

“With our members support, we are well-placed to grow football-related income and to refocus our business to make the transition from our reliance on gaming to ensure that we are financially strong and stable for our next generation.”

He said the AFL did not pressure the club to end its pokies dependence.

“This was the best business decision for our football club,” he said.

[PatowalongaPirate]

ONE of the leading contenders to be taken with Pick 1 in the loaded 2018 draft has suffered a suspected knee injury. Max King, a 200 centimetre key forward, went down in pain on Saturday while playing for his school side Haileybury College. King was pushed into the behind post in the incident. He was then stretchered off the ground as club recruiters watched on. King’s TAC Cup side, the Sandringham Dragons, were facing the Murray Bushrangers in the northern part of the state when news of his injury filtered through. The Dragons will know more about the extent of King’s injury later on Saturday afternoon and will also await scans, but early reports aren’t promising.

[PatowalongaPirate]

AN ANNOUNCEMENT on the start time for this year's Grand Final is imminent with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan set to front the media in Perth this afternoon.

A news conference has been scheduled for 5.10pm AEST, 3.10 AWST. The AFL Commission has been meeting in the west ahead of Sunday's first derby at the new Optus Stadium. After years of debate, the AFL Commission could be about rubber stamp the first-ever twilight Grand Final. Alternatively the Commission could decide to keep the bounce for the biggest game of the year at 2.30pm AEST. McLachlan declared earlier this month that the April Commission meeting would be where a call was made. Central to the decision will be whether the League has been able to secure a high-profile act for a half-time entertainment spectacular. This year's Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday 29 September. Sunset is scheduled for 6.22pm on that day, making a preferred bounce between 5pm and 6pm to ensure fireworks and lighting can be maximised for half-time and post-game shows.

The MCC is already on board.

[Wedgie]

Cool, about time!

[Wedgie]

Got my hopes up for no reason, the AFL said its still starting at 2.30pm.

[stan]

Geez there would be some pretty pissed people by the time the game starts. If it does some day go to a 5pm start, it will be a big day.

[Spargo]

Geez there would be some pretty pissed people by the time the game starts. If it does some day go to a 5pm start, it will be a big day.

It’ll eventually go twilight (probably next year) then it will go to a night game within 5 years.

[bennymacca]

Classic AFL, hype up a decision not to do anything

[PatowalongaPirate]

Classic AFL, hype up a decision not to do anything

It was a dry run to gauge reaction. Will definitely happen next season.

The only aspect I don't like is the yellow ball, albeit unavoidable in the inevitability.