What tangible onfield benefit do big rich clubs get from being big and rich these days?

[RichLeMonde]

That is not going to change. In Melbourne there are reasons trotted out over club memberships based on the same notion - was it Hawthorn that was the latest team into the VFL ? 100th years in 1924.

No argument about the location of clubs that simply reflect the economic state of the game in both WA & Vic in the '80s.

Membership of the Eagles is in WA, what the MCC is to Melbourne - you dont let it lapse, because there are plenty on the waiting list.
Fortunately the Eagles & Freo both contribute to running WA footy.

No the market situation won’t change, but the on field benefits that accrue from it could change, hence this thread

 

[wedgetail]

The structural economic advantage provided by having an entire state as a market, shared only with one competitor, who came into the market much later in the picture. Compare that to the structural economic disadvantage of a state-based market being shared between 10 clubs.

So there are too many teams in Victoria?

 

[Pistol Night]

We get free dressing gowns at nightclubs

 

[master bate]

Its not just finals.

Same kind of reply. Brisbane and Sydney get great crowds. Gold Coast - see if they can ever put on a good product. GWS - no matter how much they won it was going to be a multi decade project for a home crowd that really spurs them on.

 

[Kwality]

Same kind of reply. Brisbane and Sydney get great crowds. Gold Coast - see if they can ever put on a good product. GWS - no matter how much they won it was going to be a multi decade project for a home crowd that really spurs them on.

In tough times, they dont have the depth of fans that go 'every week' & play 9 of 11 home games against travelling clubs. Remember how the Suns, then GWS were going to get a run of flags ... but thats why they are development States.

 

[Godzke]

Certainly being able to offer playing in front of big crowds in marquee match ups is a drawcard for some players.

Was interesting though that Bobby Hill said he wanted to play in the Dreamtime game itself, rather than the big crowds.

Again, cultural stuff coming to the fore.

Bobby Hill was just told to say that, and anything, to justify the attempted Essendon move.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[RichLeMonde]

So there are too many teams in Victoria?

Nah, its fine now that rich clubs have been brought back to the field

 

[The Warlord]

Nah, its fine now that rich clubs have been brought back to the field

On this, it should be noted that three of the four smaller Melbourne clubs have dramatically improved their financial positions over the last decade.

Dees, Dogs and North are all debt free and making profits.

Which again begs the question of how clubs provide competitive onfield advantage from extra cash.

 

[juss]

On this, it should be noted that three of the four smaller Melbourne clubs have dramatically improved their financial positions over the last decade.

Dees, Dogs and North are all debt free and making profits.

Which again begs the question of how clubs provide competitive onfield advantage from extra cash.

To phrase the question in a more challenging way, what's the point of a club (any club) striving for off field financial strength and security when there is no tangible on field benefit, and the AFL will likely just support a less financially stable/viable club whenever needed?

The AFLs soft cap/tax makes it less rewarding for that financial strength, and is really just rewarding off field mediocrity.

 

[Kwality]

To phrase the question in a more challenging way, what's the point of a club (any club) striving for off field financial strength and security when there is no tangible on field benefit, and the AFL will likely just support a less financially stable/viable club whenever needed?

The AFLs soft cap/tax makes it less rewarding for that financial strength, and is really just rewarding off field mediocrity.

Perhaps the Victorian clubs could contribute to local footy as the WA & SA clubs do.
Remember when training in the US was a 'must do' fad for some clubs, to hell with the expense.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

If what are you are saying is true, the single best thing about it will be that West Coast will be the most impacted. I look forward to them accepting that loss of privilege with grace and equanimity..

I guess the Eagles will just keep storing cash reserves and just wait for the inevitable privatization of clubs in the future.

 

[RichLeMonde]

I guess the Eagles will just keep storing cash reserves and just wait for the inevitable privatization of clubs in the future.

Lol that is probably pretty accurate!

 

[Tarkyn_24]

We get to pay Adam Treloar

1

Adam Treloar

Age

31

Ht

185cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

28.2

5star

K

12.9

5star

HB

15.3

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.9

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

30.3

5star

K

16.3

5star

HB

14.0

5star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.3

4star

CL

5.8

5star

D

18.0

5star

K

11.2

4star

HB

6.8

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

1.6

4star

’s salary for him while he plays for another club

 

[BF Tiger]

A tangible off-field benefit for fans of small poor clubs is that fans of big rich clubs can't say too much otherwise they get accused of trolling by mods.

 

[GeelongFTW]

To phrase the question in a more challenging way, what's the point of a club (any club) striving for off field financial strength and security when there is no tangible on field benefit, and the AFL will likely just support a less financially stable/viable club whenever needed?

The AFLs soft cap/tax makes it less rewarding for that financial strength, and is really just rewarding off field mediocrity.

On-field competitiveness should be prioritised over off-field matters. In any case we shouldn't be introducing positive feedback loops.

 

[The Warlord]

To phrase the question in a more challenging way, what's the point of a club (any club) striving for off field financial strength and security when there is no tangible on field benefit, and the AFL will likely just support a less financially stable/viable club whenever needed?

The AFLs soft cap/tax makes it less rewarding for that financial strength, and is really just rewarding off field mediocrity.

Good post, but the bit I've highlighted is where it is interesting imo.

The link between off field finances and onfield success is the key.

Richmond only came good onfield when equalisation really kicked in.

North had a period of sustained success back in the 90s when the gap between rich and poor was greatest.

Essendon have been a financial powerhouse for two two decades, yet famously have issues winning finals of late.

The Dogs won a flag when they were in a financially perilous position in 2016.

I honestly don't think you can say there is a clear link between off field financial stablity and onfield success.

West Coast would have won more than two flags in the last 25 years if there were a clear solid link.

There was a period around 2010 when it became obvious footy department spending was going to upend the carefully worked out decades old equalisation model all clubs signed up to.

That was sorted out and a level playing field has returned.

So clubs can't just buy an onfield advantage.

That doesn't mean they don't exist or can't be made.

The Tiges seem to have created quite a niche in recruiting (often mature age) Noongar players - Pickett, Stack, Parker - and backing in the Tiger culture to help them flourish in Melbourne.

Culture like that requires financial stability and strength.

Given you can make a compelling argument that some of if not the best big men (Polly Farmer, Stephen Michael, Lance Franklin) and little men (Barry Cable, Peter Matera, Jimmy Krakouer) to play the game are Noongar, then that's quite the tangible onfield advantage Richmond have developed.

 

[The Warlord]

I guess the Eagles will just keep storing cash reserves and just wait for the inevitable privatization of clubs in the future.

What makes the privatisation of clubs "inevitable"?

It is probably the last thing I can see happening in the AFL.

 

[juss]

I guess the Eagles will just keep storing cash reserves and just wait for the inevitable privatization of clubs in the future.

Given the softcap/salary cap etc. Where does that money actually go? Bigger pay packets for the club exec or better schmoozing for the sponsors and big ticket members?

 

[The Warlord]

Given the softcap/salary cap etc. Where does that money actually go? Bigger pay packets for the club exec or better schmoozing for the sponsors and big ticket members?

Surely the Eagles should be pumping it into juniour footy in WA.

Rather than stacking it up hoping to buy a Victorian club or some other inane fantasy.

 

[blueboy25]

Surely the Eagles should be pumping it into juniour footy in WA.

Rather than stacking it up hoping to buy a Victorian club or some other inane fantasy.

The eagles do put a lot of money back into footy in WA including the amateurs.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

The eagles do put a lot of money back into footy in WA including the amateurs.

Fremantle?

 

[Red Bull]

Meanwhile didn't StKilda move their training facilities and then decide to renovate the old one and move back again not too long ago?

Archie had a dream but was never given a chance …

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Given the softcap/salary cap etc. Where does that money actually go? Bigger pay packets for the club exec or better schmoozing for the sponsors and big ticket members?

Probs a bit of both, they are simply just printing money at the Eagles. Quite obscene what they have stored away right now and it goes up by 6-8million every year.

 

[RichLeMonde]

We'll always be bigger and better than you because we don't rely on a bandwagon to get by

You're about to go irrelevant again for 50 more years...watch that member base drop in half again lmfao

Tiges are a loser club supported by dirty, front running dregs

If you're a WC fan, why is your username 'TheSwans' in German?

 

[The Warlord]

Probs a bit of both, they are simply just printing money at the Eagles. Quite obscene what they have stored away right now and it goes up by 6-8million every year.

It is a systemic failing of the competition and does both West Coast and WA footy a major disservice.