Journey from Canberra to Gold Coast - chronological order

Event Horizon

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Posts
18,714
Likes
6,613
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Arsenal, Victory
Thread starter #1
I have done some quick research on the chain of events and lies that have lead us to where we are now. I only used quotes from articles, never opinions from journos.
Here it goes in chronological order.


Geoff Walsh (June 2 2006) talks about the choice between Canberra and Gold Coast.

"We have no complaints," he said. "But we're also in the business of if we are going to remove three home games from our Melbourne base, logic says we will do it to create the best possible environment and the best possible circumstances for our footy club.

"The AFL have gone on the record that by 2015 they want to see AFL matches every week in Queensland and in NSW.

"The Gold Coast and western Sydney over that period of time will be targeted as areas that will increase AFL prominence, there's no doubt. In terms of population and corporate opportunities, the Gold Coast seems to be growing at a quick pace. I'm not sure Canberra is growing at the same pace."

Geoff Walsh (June 10 2006) – first hint we’re in trouble and that he wants out.

"Sometimes you look at other clubs and you wonder what life would be like in someone else's shoes.

"Is the whole North Melbourne community tired of continually supporting the team against the odds? Can your supporter base run out of steam?"

Rick Aylett (December 12 2006) – Rick’s first comment re Gold Coast.

"No one has said to me that we are relocating," Aylett said.

"I haven't seen any long-term strategies that we are relocating and I'm going to refocus on the next three months to make sure that when we play our first match up there that we have everything in place to make sure it's successful and we work on that from there on in, (but) I haven't looked beyond that.

Mark Dawson (February 1 2007) – Dawson’s famous pro Gold Coast declaration.

"Potentially, they are in the best position that I have ever seen them," Dawson said.

"Potentially. The Queensland opportunity has the potential to allow them to rid the baggage of debt.

"The opportunity to play games out of the Gold Coast is being supported by the AFL and its whole infrastructure.

"Does the AFL want to make it work? Yes, it does. Therefore, will it work? Yes, it will."

"After three years, (the decision facing the club) won't be grey, it will be black and white," Dawson said.

"And I think it will be so obvious we should play more games the next year (2010).

"But more games might be five and a North person doesn't need to be frightened of this. The North supporter has nothing to be afraid of.

"He will have a ticket that gets him to any venue."

Andrew Demetriou (June 28 2007) – 10 games cap promise – already proven to be a lie

"The Kangaroos' crowds at Carrara have been excellent …," Demetriou said.
"We're thrilled with what's happened there. But everyone knows the deal with the Kangaroos, and I'll repeat it again: there are 10 games over three years; that's what it is.

John Witheriff – Gold Coast advisory group (August 11) – for the first time 2010 Gold Coast target is officially mentioned.

"What we have been asked to do is consider every facet of the new licence, and that includes a relationship with a team like the Kangaroos, or a stand-alone licence, where we essentially start from scratch, like the Titans did," he said.

"We are not opposed to the linkages and synergies that come with a relationship with the Kangaroos.

"They already bring to the table a big fan base. But it has to be made clear that this would be a Gold Coast team, based here and with the board comprising a majority of Gold Coasters.

"That is the reality of our proposal."
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Arden

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Oct 17, 2002
Posts
10,014
Likes
31,357
Location
On your couch
AFL Club
North Melbourne
#5
I"But more games might be five and a North person doesn't need to be frightened of this. The North supporter has nothing to be afraid of.

"He will have a ticket that gets him to any venue."
There's a quote for the ages folks. I love that one from Dawson.

Now I'm assuming he was referring to an airline ticket that comes complimentary with every membership, otherwise he's just talking out of his arse. That's proof that they don't give a toss about the average member, because you are more than welcome to come to Carrara, that will now be the benefit of your membership, just find your own way there.

And they have the nerve to think that members from Melbourne (and everywhere else for thst matter) will keep financially supporting the club :rolleyes:. Hell, they will be playing 5 minutes from me, but the second they announce a relocation to the GC, I disown them.
 

Horace

Premium Gold
Joined
Dec 2, 2001
Posts
9,472
Likes
13,832
Location
Mitcham
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Fitzroy
#6
There's a quote for the ages folks. I love that one from Dawson.

Now I'm assuming he was referring to an airline ticket that comes complimentary with every membership, otherwise he's just talking out of his arse. That's proof that they don't give a toss about the average member, because you are more than welcome to come to Carrara, that will now be the benefit of your membership, just find your own way there.

And they have the nerve to think that members from Melbourne (and everywhere else for thst matter) will keep financially supporting the club :rolleyes:. Hell, they will be playing 5 minutes from me, but the second they announce a relocation to the GC, I disown them.
Perhaps he is suggesting that we could become members of another Melbourne based club.
 

GoNorth

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Apr 13, 2003
Posts
5,567
Likes
2,428
Location
Arden St - HOME of NMFC
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
North Melbourne
#7
There's a quote for the ages folks. I love that one from Dawson.

Now I'm assuming he was referring to an airline ticket that comes complimentary with every membership, otherwise he's just talking out of his arse. That's proof that they don't give a toss about the average member, because you are more than welcome to come to Carrara, that will now be the benefit of your membership, just find your own way there.

And they have the nerve to think that members from Melbourne (and everywhere else for thst matter) will keep financially supporting the club :rolleyes:. Hell, they will be playing 5 minutes from me, but the second they announce a relocation to the GC, I disown them.
Exactly! That quote stood out for me as well. Plus the bit where he said, "The North supporter has nothing to be afraid of." Oh yeah???? :(
 

yioughtta

Team Captain
Joined
Oct 22, 2007
Posts
361
Likes
0
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
#8
There's a quote for the ages folks. I love that one from Dawson.

Now I'm assuming he was referring to an airline ticket that comes complimentary with every membership, otherwise he's just talking out of his arse. That's proof that they don't give a toss about the average member, because you are more than welcome to come to Carrara, that will now be the benefit of your membership, just find your own way there.

And they have the nerve to think that members from Melbourne (and everywhere else for thst matter) will keep financially supporting the club :rolleyes:. Hell, they will be playing 5 minutes from me, but the second they announce a relocation to the GC, I disown them.
Good post :thumbsu:
 

Event Horizon

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Posts
18,714
Likes
6,613
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Arsenal, Victory
Thread starter #9
damn...it looks a lot more sinister laid out like that.we really were getting set up for this were'nt we?
That's exactly how I felt, hence the reason for searching through the news articles over the last year and a half.

There were of course much jucier bits to be cut out from Cowro Wilson's articles, but I refused to do it, as I wanted to stick to the quotes of what the people actually said. There aren't any in her articles. I am just not interested in "The Age believes..." or "our sources tells us" type shit.
 

Howard Littlejohn

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
May 30, 2006
Posts
13,361
Likes
6,756
Location
Canberra
AFL Club
North Melbourne
#10
damn...it looks a lot more sinister laid out like that.we really were getting set up for this were'nt we?
Right from the moment the AFL was prepared to put up more money for us to play on the GC than in Canberra. Remember, they had to put up the extra money because without it when North did the maths, Canberra gave a better return.
The only thing surprising me is the speed, I expected the AFL would push for 2012 to coincide with the new TV deal.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Hearts to hearts

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Mar 16, 2001
Posts
18,897
Likes
27,034
Location
Melbourne VIC
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Wales, Eastwood, West Ham
#12
I"But more games might be five and a North person doesn't need to be frightened of this. The North supporter has nothing to be afraid of.

"He will have a ticket that gets him to any venue."
Thanks for the memories. I hope we get this visionary onto the Board. As well as the ticket thing being ridiculous given the distances involved, a fair proportion of North supporters are women, and we do love to be ignored.
 
Top Bottom