Rocker fronts Kangas' resistance to AFL Gold Coast push
Martin Boulton | November 2, 2007
Tim Rogers, You Am I frontman and dedicated North Melbourne fan, will organise a benefit concert to raise funds and support for his club.
Photo: Peter Rae
MUSICIAN and passionate North Melbourne supporter Tim Rogers has joined a rearguard action of Kangaroos fans who want to stop their club being moved to the Gold Coast.
A day after AFL boss Andrew Demetriou set a 30-day deadline for the Kangaroos board to decide whether to leave town, Rogers has revealed plans for a benefit concert to raise money and support for keeping the club in North Melbourne.
Rogers, who fronts rock band You Am I, told The Age it was "crisis time" and the league's agenda placed "big business and money" ahead of the Kangaroos' rich history.
"That might be a very simplistic way of looking at it, but I'm a simple person and this makes me sick," he said. "Imagine if this was happening to your club."
Working with members of the newly formed We Are North Melbourne supporters group, Rogers has called together friends and musicians to stage a concert at the Prince of Wales in St Kilda. A date is yet to be set.
"It's a rally for North Melbourne and I know North people will support it.
"There's been talk we're going down without a whimper, which is not the case," Rogers said. "We've been lied to and we're sick of what we're being told."
On Wednesday Mr Demetriou revealed the Kangaroos debt had reached $4.25 million and urged the board to give "serious consideration" to relocation, or the league would issue a separate licence for a 17th club based on the Gold Coast.
"We've got a responsibility and obligation to all our clubs to grow the game nationally and we think it's an exciting opportunity," Mr Demetriou said.
"We're not telling the Kangaroos to do anything (and) we didn't threaten the Kangaroos with anything in relation to withdrawing funding."
The club receives annual funding of $1.4 million through the league's annual special distribution payments, which is due to be reviewed at the end of 2009.
Next year the club will play four games at Carrara as part of a three-year deal worth $400,000 per match.
Kangaroos chief executive Rick Aylett said the board would "evaluate all options" over the next month in an effort to secure "the best long-term future" for the club.
Martin Boulton | November 2, 2007
Tim Rogers, You Am I frontman and dedicated North Melbourne fan, will organise a benefit concert to raise funds and support for his club.
Photo: Peter Rae
MUSICIAN and passionate North Melbourne supporter Tim Rogers has joined a rearguard action of Kangaroos fans who want to stop their club being moved to the Gold Coast.
A day after AFL boss Andrew Demetriou set a 30-day deadline for the Kangaroos board to decide whether to leave town, Rogers has revealed plans for a benefit concert to raise money and support for keeping the club in North Melbourne.
Rogers, who fronts rock band You Am I, told The Age it was "crisis time" and the league's agenda placed "big business and money" ahead of the Kangaroos' rich history.
"That might be a very simplistic way of looking at it, but I'm a simple person and this makes me sick," he said. "Imagine if this was happening to your club."
Working with members of the newly formed We Are North Melbourne supporters group, Rogers has called together friends and musicians to stage a concert at the Prince of Wales in St Kilda. A date is yet to be set.
"It's a rally for North Melbourne and I know North people will support it.
"There's been talk we're going down without a whimper, which is not the case," Rogers said. "We've been lied to and we're sick of what we're being told."
On Wednesday Mr Demetriou revealed the Kangaroos debt had reached $4.25 million and urged the board to give "serious consideration" to relocation, or the league would issue a separate licence for a 17th club based on the Gold Coast.
"We've got a responsibility and obligation to all our clubs to grow the game nationally and we think it's an exciting opportunity," Mr Demetriou said.
"We're not telling the Kangaroos to do anything (and) we didn't threaten the Kangaroos with anything in relation to withdrawing funding."
The club receives annual funding of $1.4 million through the league's annual special distribution payments, which is due to be reviewed at the end of 2009.
Next year the club will play four games at Carrara as part of a three-year deal worth $400,000 per match.
Kangaroos chief executive Rick Aylett said the board would "evaluate all options" over the next month in an effort to secure "the best long-term future" for the club.