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In regards to the majority of the interviews mention of the corporate beginnings of the WCE
It is misleading to some degree as the set up the company was due to the VFL demanding the 4 million dollar entry fee up front instead of the original terms of over 10 years.
The VFL's change of heart meant that the funds had to be raised unexpentantly in a short period of time so it was bankrolled in the main by a group of businessmen to ensure the club could be part of the AFL. This was covered in the excellent documentry on the formation of the Eagles by Foxfooty last year
In that respect most current AFL clubs are bankrolled by businessman who exert power within the club and always have through the history of VFL, see Pratt as the most recent example, from the Dockers perspective Rick Hart and of course the high profile Gutnick for Melbourne in the past.
In terms of the press treatment of West Coast, it is maginified both ways due to the high profile of the club and it's players compared to the Dockers.
See the first 5 pages coverage of the Cousins booze bus incident in the West Australian compared to the minimal coverage around the same time of H Black assaulting a female Police Officer. In the end Cousins recieved a small traffic infringement whislte whilst Black copped a $5000 court fine.
It is misleading to some degree as the set up the company was due to the VFL demanding the 4 million dollar entry fee up front instead of the original terms of over 10 years.
The VFL's change of heart meant that the funds had to be raised unexpentantly in a short period of time so it was bankrolled in the main by a group of businessmen to ensure the club could be part of the AFL. This was covered in the excellent documentry on the formation of the Eagles by Foxfooty last year
In that respect most current AFL clubs are bankrolled by businessman who exert power within the club and always have through the history of VFL, see Pratt as the most recent example, from the Dockers perspective Rick Hart and of course the high profile Gutnick for Melbourne in the past.
In terms of the press treatment of West Coast, it is maginified both ways due to the high profile of the club and it's players compared to the Dockers.
See the first 5 pages coverage of the Cousins booze bus incident in the West Australian compared to the minimal coverage around the same time of H Black assaulting a female Police Officer. In the end Cousins recieved a small traffic infringement whislte whilst Black copped a $5000 court fine.

