http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 25,00.html
It's a very Sheedy idea, I will give him that.Way to get a golden result
FOOTY needs to have a presence on the Gold Coast, so the AFL has got that right.
But with this 17th team we need to think wild and wide.
Of course you would need some strong Queensland people involved and football identities who know how to recruit and develop.
When they formed the Brisbane Bears the list was pretty average and it quickly became a farce.
We're talking about 20 years ago and I know it was tough times for Peter Knights, Robert Walls and Shane O'Sullivan.
I think the AFL is in a much better position now to look at it. My blueprint for success would include the following:
GIVE them the first 10 draft choices. (Well, ok)
INCREASE the list size to 50. (If you must)
OFFER reduced contracts for say 12-15 games. (Don't know about this one)
NO salary cap. ()
Imagine if you could offer James Hird a contract for 12 games and there's no pressure because he has to get his body right for just half the season.
It would be a boon for our ageing greats.
If you're keen to get into that market place on the Gold Coast, then don't have a cap. The players are definitely winners, but it's the right message.
Some clubs sent up no one to the Bears and it absolutely made a mockery of it all.
Every club is trying to win a premiership, so they don't want to jeopardise their chances. (Damn straight)
But it's more about caring for the game than the clubs themselves, who are, at times, very, very pathetically jealous.
The growth of the game is paramount, so the AFL will ensure it thrives.
My suggestions may seem far-fetched, but the simple equation is that clubs have got to make up their mind whether they want to develop the game in the fresh, best market places in the world.
The most important thing is if the AFL and Eddie McGuire and all the major people are saying we must match major sports in Queensland on the Gold Coast, which is a huge growth area, you've got to consider that.
The property development from Brisbane to the Gold Coast is better than from Melbourne to Geelong. Right along the coast you see development after development.
The AFL could even set up a website for fans to offer their ideas, like a blueprint from the people. (Yeah, since when have the AFL given a shit about the fans opinion)
If they go that way - and it's a big if - you've got to be really well planned and make sure that you've got the flexibility in the rules of recruiting to manoeuvre a team into that position.
That will be very exciting.
While his ideas would probably help the Gold Coast win a few flags and gain a few fans, is it worth it?
Is it worth selling what's left of the game's integrity down the river to make a quick buck?
I'd hate to lose a Grand Final to the Gold Coast Whatever's a few years down the track because Vlad thinks it's a good idea to gift them a few flags to grow the game on the Gold Coast. I would be pretty pissed off.
