St Kilda - Away - in New Zealand

**Wardy** · 14th September 2012, 08:41 PM

See New Zealand has it all , footy , beautiful scenery , good pubs , nice people and you can pick up! So make the trip!!

**Matty10** · 14th September 2012, 10:18 PM

I'm not a big fan of the AFL doing this - what is the end game supposed to be - what are they trying to achieve? I'd heard a few years ago that they were trying to do the same thing in South Africa (which I thought was a stupid idea too).

I'd prefer the AFL focussed their attention on getting more community groups in Australia playing our sport rather than worrying about international $.

**DamY** · 14th September 2012, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by Matty10

I'm not a big fan of the AFL doing this - what is the end game supposed to be - what are they trying to achieve? I'd heard a few years ago that they were trying to do the same thing in South Africa (which I thought was a stupid idea too).

I'd prefer the AFL focussed their attention on getting more community groups in Australia playing our sport rather than worrying about international $.

Reasons why St Kilda, AFL and Wellington City Council are doing this

To spread the game to an emerging market (a few Kiwis have actually made it into the AFL system, believe it or not)

To enhance the pool of potential AFL players (NZ has shown skill in this area, they perform very well in AFL International Cup)

Groundwork for an NZ-based team (NZ teams are part of the NRL and A-league)

Pre-emptive exposure (the thousands of Kiwis that move over may barrack for St Kilda or Sydney first as that was the first team they saw)

All in all I think it is a low risk move by the AFL so I don't think it's that stupid. As a kiwi that has lived here for 12 years, I wish I had been exposed to it when I was younger, I don't really enjoy rugby union or league near as much as I do AFL.

**Wardy** · 14th September 2012, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by DamY

Reasons why St Kilda, AFL and Wellington City Council are doing this

To spread the game to an emerging market (a few Kiwis have actually made it into the AFL system, believe it or not)

To enhance the pool of potential AFL players (NZ has shown skill in this area, they perform very well in AFL International Cup)

Groundwork for an NZ-based team (NZ teams are part of the NRL and A-league)

Pre-emptive exposure (the thousands of Kiwis that move over may barrack for St Kilda or Sydney first as that was the first team they saw)

All in all I think it is a low risk move by the AFL so I don't think it's that stupid. As a kiwi that has lived here for 12 years, I wish I had been exposed to it when I was younger, I don't really enjoy rugby union or league near as much as I do AFL.

What he said AND its a bloody nice place to go to for a little holiday - so why not incorporate a game of footy with it!

**Dosser** · 15th September 2012, 12:13 AM

And it's the right time with the Aussie $!

**DamY** · 15th September 2012, 12:31 AM

Hehe yup I've never been to Welly before, an AFL game with my dear Swans is a good enough excuse for me! It's what Wellington City Council is hoping for

**sharp9** · 15th September 2012, 02:05 AM

There was once a famous piece of graffiti in Bondi which said

NEW ZEALAND SUX

to which some wag added

AUSTRALIA FIVE

Comedy gold :-)

**Matty10** · 15th September 2012, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by DamY

Reasons why St Kilda, AFL and Wellington City Council are doing this

To spread the game to an emerging market (a few Kiwis have actually made it into the AFL system, believe it or not)

To enhance the pool of potential AFL players (NZ has shown skill in this area, they perform very well in AFL International Cup)

Groundwork for an NZ-based team (NZ teams are part of the NRL and A-league)

Pre-emptive exposure (the thousands of Kiwis that move over may barrack for St Kilda or Sydney first as that was the first team they saw)

All in all I think it is a low risk move by the AFL so I don't think it's that stupid. As a kiwi that has lived here for 12 years, I wish I had been exposed to it when I was younger, I don't really enjoy rugby union or league near as much as I do AFL.

I really hope that this is not the groundwork for a future NZ-based team. If the AFL want to spread the sport to other places so they can start their own competitions that is fine, but I don't see how it improves the game to have an overseas team playing in our national competition.

There are are lots of things that the AFL could do, but that doesn't mean that they should.

**Dosser** · 15th September 2012, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Matty10

I really hope that this is not the groundwork for a future NZ-based team. If the AFL want to spread the sport to other places so they can start their own competitions that is fine, but I don't see how it improves the game to have an overseas team playing in our national competition.

There are are lots of things that the AFL could do, but that doesn't mean that they should.

One of the problems that AFL has is that there is no international rivalry and no Test matches against other nations. We tried it with International Rules but that is more of a curiosity than a competition. Compare that to League, Union and Soccer and we lack that final elite level to which professional sportsmen strive. To be able to provide this level to junior League and Union players should they want to consider AFL would be a big advantage. It is something that the NRL has been saying is their big advantage for years.

I think that, apart from adding more markets for the AFL dollar, the Greek is being visionary here and wants to leave a legacy for long after his tenure. To be the CEO that goes down in history as the man who took the game to the world and began a real international competition is probably something that would appeal to him.

**DamY** · 15th September 2012, 11:42 AM

The NZ-based team is a very long term project, I'm sure they'd do a Tas team before that. I think their goal is to have a third WA team and a third QLD or NT team in the next 20 years. But it is all speculation and they'll be more concerned about bedding down GWS and GCS before any other distractions. All of NZ is closer than WA so logistically it isn't impossible.