The AFL's financial hamstringing

[Last of the Roys]

There is no great place to post this, but this seems to be our only current thread on our financial situation. Anyway, did anyone else see the following article in The Age the other day? It is particularly about Gold Coast's financial woes and the AFL's response - but it mentions the Lions as well:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...onstraints-on-salary-cap-20151021-gkf4x8.html

...
While Gold Coast bosses Andrew Travis and Marcus Ashcroft played down the AFL constraints the prevailing club view has been that the head office austerity measures have been counter intuitive towards the struggling clubs in the problematic northern markets.

Not only has Gold Coast been discouraged from meeting its full salary cap potential but the Suns remain in the bottom three clubs in terms of its football department spending and some $2 million below the game's average.

The AFL's new chief financial officer Ray Gunston has repeatedly warned clubs that the industry has been over-spending. With the league looking at enforcing new budget cut measures in 2016 the more financially struggling clubs have been warned their funding requests will not be met.

The AFL Commission appears unlikely to approve the full funding requests from the financially crippled Lions — which is in debt to the tune of $12 million — nor the Gold Coast despite the fact that Australian Rules football in Queensland is battling to retain a place in the competitive northern market.
...

If this really is the AFL's attitude then god help us - we are going to struggle to ever be competitive. I just can't believe they can be that stupid.

The rich clubs keep up the footy department arms race, so lets clamp down on the poor clubs in the non-football state that is struggling big time.

WTF????????????????????????????????????????????????

 

[dlanod]

There is no great place to post this, but this seems to be our only current thread on our financial situation.

Worthy of its own thread IMO, rather than last year's financials.

 

[Bucking Beads]

No doubt we've made a nice hole for ourselves but if the AFL isn't going to help out we may as well shut up shop. There is only so much a club like ours can do to get more $$ in the door.

 

[Ironmonger]

I might be the first to say it, but I doubt I'll be the last:

This club one day will have to go through another merger.

 

[Groo2]

I might be the first to say it, but I doubt I'll be the last:

This club one day will have to go through another merger.

Not the first to think it. I've always thought the fall back if the suns failed long term (ie if the AFL concedes two teams in Qld is one too many) would be to merge with us, don't think they would force another Vic team up

 

[winged1]

Not the first to think it. I've always thought the fall back if the suns failed long term (ie if the AFL concedes two teams in Qld is one too many) would be to merge with us, don't think they would force another Vic team up

I agree and within 7-8 years will probably happen. No sporting team on the Gold Coast has been successful in any national sport that I can think of. NRL teams have come and gone, the titans are pushing it uphill. Basketball failed, the Bears failed.

 

[Balony_pony16]

Interesting thoughts on a merger... If that day ever came I would not support the new club

Really the AFL just uses the QLD clubs to get bigger TV deals. It is clear they don't give our problems much thought.

I once had hope the AFL would get more involved in helping us out with some of that TV rights deal. But tbh when I watch the all QLD NRL GF, I realised we probably have well and truly lost the battle. And if James Aish was watching that game and still had thoughts of staying at the lions, no doubt he would had realised he wouldn'thave a relevant career at the lions

 

[Bucking Beads]

We really need a wealthy benefactor to get us out of our hole. Hard enough getting corporate support as it is but when they probably know how bad of shape we are in they just walk away

 

[Mr Ripper]

We really need a wealthy benefactor to get us out of our hole. Hard enough getting corporate support as it is but when they probably know how bad of shape we are in they just walk away

http://www.brw.com.au/p/brw-lounge/rich_list_lions_takeover_kicks_brisbane_0Y2Ei0poqXCuqvKWMoGUlO

 

[Sherrinator]

I wonder where we would be off field had we joined in with the SLC.

 

[HowYouDoin]

Honestly, what is the point of following this code or club up here in queensland? It's apparent that the AFL doesn't give too shits about us and it's apparent that we will be down the bottom of the ladder for the next 10 or so years. We're also stuck with a mediocre coach and training facilities. For every positive in this club, they're 20 negatives to go along with it.

 

[jackess]

In Swann we trust.

 

[Lovemybrisbane]

This may be far- fetched but in times like these it calls upon fans etc. trying to help. I haven't been a member since 2010 however I'll be re-instating my membership next year and plan on getting corporate boxes to a few games next year. That may only be making the lions back a few-hundred dollars but it all helps in the end.

 

[Schache It Off]

If we merged or folded...This sport will be dead to me.

 

[Schache It Off]

This may be far- fetched but in times like these it calls upon fans etc. trying to help. I haven't been a member since 2010 however I'll be re-instating my membership next year and plan on getting corporate boxes to a few games next year. That may only be making the lions back a few-hundred dollars but it all helps in the end.

We need all the help we can get! Need your support buddy!

 

[Balony_pony16]

I doubt a merger would even work in today's climate... Players would just pack their bags and head home to other clubs

Who would want to play for SUNny Coast LIONS in the AFL?

 

[Balony_pony16]

In Swann we trust.

Meh... How is Carltank going

 

[jackess]

Meh... How is Carltank going

Financially?

 

[Balony_pony16]

Financially?

my daughter could take charger of Carlton and it would still be fine financially. I'll wait and see how swann goes at the Lions. But all the talk about his great connections at AFL HQ has so far amounted to nothing... Leuy Compo, PP, Draw, Go Home problems, New facility funding etc etc

Ill sit on the fence and wait for results

 

[Groo2]

I agree and within 7-8 years will probably happen. No sporting team on the Gold Coast has been successful in any national sport that I can think of. NRL teams have come and gone, the titans are pushing it uphill. Basketball failed, the Bears failed.

If it did happen, what would Collingwood supporters call us, Lions, Suns or still the Bears?

 

[winged1]

If it did happen, what would Collingwood supporters call us, Lions, Suns or still the Bears?

If they knew there place in the world it would be "Sir"

 

[Toffee Lion]

If there is another merge or we fold, AFL is dead to me as well.

 

[Skoob]

http://www.brw.com.au/p/brw-lounge/rich_list_lions_takeover_kicks_brisbane_0Y2Ei0poqXCuqvKWMoGUlO

The chairman’s role at Brisbane will substantially boost the profile of Sharpless, who is not well known in southern states.

All been one way so far (looking from the outside, anyway).

 

[Back2Back2Back]

I honestly doubt we will see a change in the AFL's financial assistance to the non traditional state clubs until the likes of Eddie Everywhere get cleared out. Really, the vast majority of the decisions that have been made that we have been negatively impacted by have started with that type of moron complaining.

Whether we actually last that long will remain to be seen - but I think if another merge or significant change was to happen to this club... I'd struggle greatly to continue supporting the league.

 

[adey115]

I agree and within 7-8 years will probably happen. No sporting team on the Gold Coast has been successful in any national sport that I can think of. NRL teams have come and gone, the titans are pushing it uphill. Basketball failed, the Bears failed.

If the Suns venture fails, I can't see them merging with us. In the unlikely event of a complete failure of the entity, I can only see the GC club shutting down rather than merging. The Lions existed pre-Suns, so I would assume that the AFL would view those Gold Coaster fans who went from the Lions to the Suns when they formed, would switch back quietly to the Lions. I think all involved would realise the difficulties of officially merging an already once merged entity. Another name charge or logo/mascot change for the Brisbane Lions would simply end in tears, and little tangible benefit. So don't change the 'name' via another merger, and a large proportion of those GC'ers would naturally drift back to the Lions.

More than likely, if the Suns fails completely, I think the AFL would encourage the Lions to play 1-2 home games on the GC at Metricon, or conversely offer up 2-3 per annum too good to be true chances to Melbourne teams to "sell" a home game to the AFL itself, to be played on the GC against the Lions, as a win for the Melbourne based club and the AFL.

But us merge with the Suns. Can't see it.

Personally if push came to absolute shove, I think the AFL would bail out the GC. Too much at stake. At the moment I think its more than Mother Bird (AFL) pushing the Baby Bird (GCS) out of the nest and telling it its time to try and flap its own wings. The Mother Bird will catch it if things go truly stuffed.

In my eyes a big key to future AFL funding is the AFL's ownership of Etihad. They can't wait to get their hands on it, and will try and get their hands on it earlier if they can. For two reasons - (a) they can see it needs a facelift in terms of fan comfort compared to the MCG (reality is that it hasn't been touched much since opening, whereas the MCG has since seen extensive improvement), and (b) it will become a cashcow for the AFL, who will be able to control the money it generates, including money from other events like concerts, other sporting events.