Melbourne Sports Capital of the World-NOT!

[hertryk]

It has sbeen reported in the press that some members of the board of the ARU have said that the ARU were weak when they granted Perth the new franchise instead of Melbourne because Melbourne is the Sports capital of the World., and the ARU were weak in that they didn't want to take the AFL on...
What a load of rot..how can they speak about our "international" game in the same breath as Ariel Ping Pong"

[lara93]

WHATTTTT!!!
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING MEEEE!!!

[jargan83]

have you got a link to said press articles?

[mudskipper]

Melbourne is just full of it... But do they believe their own Sh-t? well likely.

I'm pleased Perth got the franchise, Melbourne didn't get it together for the pitch would be closer to the truth...I would think... This MUPPET was a total wanker looking for a cheap shot while JON is OS...

[travelling_gerry]

ARU branded 'soft' for Force Super decision


AAP and Caroline Wilson | November 21, 2008

CARLTON chief executive Greg Swann yesterday branded rugby union administrators as weak for their decision four years ago to avoid a head-on confrontation with AFL when awarding Australia's fourth Super rugby franchise to Perth.

Swann, talking on a panel organised by the Victorian Rugby Union to discuss whether the Victorian sporting landscape could support a Super rugby team should the elite southern hemisphere provincial competition be expanded, said the ARU had missed the boat and had no one but itself to blame. The SANZAR rugby nations - South Africa, New Zealand and Australia - are working on plans to add a 15th team to the Super competition in 2010 with Australia expected to gain a licence for a fifth franchise.

However, Melbourne, which had for so long been favourite to claim the berth, is now being challenged by the options of Gold Coast and western Sydney. It is also possible that an expansion team could be set up in Japan.

Swann said the ARU had shown its hand when it flinched four years ago.

"From the AFL perspective, we actually thought the ARU was soft when they put the new team into Perth," Swann said. "We thought they were very soft in that there was the [comment] that they didn't want to come and take the AFL on.

"You can't have a code that's run like that. You've got to get in. It [Melbourne] is the sporting capital of the world.

"They've actually maybe missed the boat because in the meantime the AFL has gone from strength to strength."

Swann was joined on the panel by representatives of Australia's four football codes, with Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron (rugby league), Victorian Rugby Union president Gary Gray, Melbourne Victory chairman Geoff Lord (football) and former Wallabies utility Julian Huxley.

Gray agreed that bypassing Melbourne - a decision made by an ARU that was then led by Gary Flowers, who has since been replaced as chief executive by John O'Neill - had been a "wrong decision and it lacked quite a bit of foresight about the importance of this market of growing this game nationally".

"I think we've been pretty weak-kneed. I think we are our own worst enemy. I think we've given them all a start, but surely that contention [of the AFL being too strong] is nonsense," Gray said.

�¡ The Kangaroos re-emerged as contenders to draft Ben Cousins only to be thwarted three days ago by the club's major sponsor, Mazda. Brisbane have also gone cold on Cousins, leaving St Kilda as the only likely home for the former drug addict. He is expected to nominate for the draft.


http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...770651818.html

[blueandblack]

....
Gray agreed that bypassing Melbourne - a decision made by an ARU that was then led by Gary Flowers, who has since been replaced as chief executive by John O'Neill - had been a "wrong decision and it lacked quite a bit of foresight about the importance of this market of growing this game nationally".
....

"we really only want the eastern seaboard states (aka those with big traditional money and advertising and commercial bases) to be the ones running national sport. the other less important states will have to accept what they are given." - Gary "Mr Creosote" Gray.

[Flamethrower]

Well done Greg Swann. You have just shown how far your head is stuck up your own arse. Butt cheeks for shoulder pads.

Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world.

[robyn <3]

I think Carlton are in need of some serious bashing with the super-cool bashing emoticon I found! Mwahaha.

(Puts on serious face) That article is a piece of rubbish. I fail to see what some idiotic gayFL coach knows about rugby, or has to do with rugby, or WHY his stupid opinion matter to ANYONE! I COULDN'T CARE LESS IF HE WANTS MORE RUGBY IN MELBOURNE FOR HIM TO WATCH! GOOD GRIEF! SMH, this is low even for your standards. UURGH! A bloke who wore his IQ on his shirt, now teaching other guys to run around in shortshorts and feel each other doesn't DESERVE to write articles about OUR sport. You go puke in a corner about AFL in WA and people might listen, but screw your ideas on rugby Greg Swann

Utter bollocks!

Phew, that felt good

[laura]

Robyn you're an absolute cracker!

Greg Swann you're a dead-set tool.

"wrong decision and it lacked quite a bit of foresight about the importance of this market of growing this game nationally"

How on Earth would having a super 14 team in Melbourne (another Eastern States city) have developed the game Nationally? It would only have meant more competition for AFL and heaven-forbid that happening! Melbourne is not the centre of the Nation nor does it control the Nation.

Is WA no longer part of Australia? You tool! Bringing rugby to WA has now not only to get more people in to rugby union in perth, but the recent trip by Sam Wykes and Matt Hodgson to the Kimberley would never have happened if there wasn't a Super 14 team in WA. It has benefited the whole state not one city!

My goodness have a pint of cement and get over it, the Nation's sport doesn't revolve around how many sporting teams can be crammed in to Melbourne.

[jargan83]

is dickhead in the article having a go at Rugby or the Eagles and Dockers? Last time I checked they were AFL sides, pretty well supported one (when they're winning at least )

I keep reading that 9 clubs can't survive in Melbourne, and give that Carlton only recently got it's house in order maybe maybe Greg Swann should be thankfull the decision that was made in favour of Perth, or his Carlton side would be on the Gold Coast now or followed Eitzroy into oblivion.

AFL is a simple game, played by simple people, it stands to reason that simple people would be the target Audience, but at least Victorians keep trying
Posted via Mobile Device

[Darren]

If it had gone the other way (Force in Vic) and failed to live up to expectations, Swann would be saying they should never have given it to Melbourne as they are than AFL state and rugby wouldn;t get a look in.

I think a lot of media and other folk are forgetting that no matter how mucg the member base has dropped since 2006, it was only ever expected/budgeted to reach 4000 in the first place!

Whatever the vics would/could/should have done with a Super14 side doesn't really matter.

The Force are a sucess in Western Australia.

That is all.

[oxleymoron]

Greg Swann has forgotten the obvious success of the Collingwood Warriors and Carlton in the NSL (the world game, no less).

[robyn <3]

Robyn you're an absolute cracker!

I am? See what these crazy AFL people do to me!

[GIGS20]

everybody join the chorus

"greg Swann's a bloody wanker!"

The siting of the fourth rugby franchise in WA was certainly a soft decision...in 2006 when we had the HOTTEST AFL TEAM IN THE NATION playing here.....yeah, taking on the best the AFL has in ot's own backyard, yeah that's soft. Dickhead!

OK I know in the last couple of years it's been proven that the success of WA football was based upon stimulants, organised crime and high priced hookers, the house of cards has well and truly fallen, but in 2006 melbourne football was SHIT! and the ARU obviously didn't consider it a threat worth bothering with!

Hear endeth the (slightly pissed) rant!

[frontrow]

I reckon this article will send TIF over the edge, what , with referecnces to "the sporting capital of the world"... Give me a break...The Melbourne Storm made the grand final now two years running (sheee-it, it could be more i don't really care), yet have a look at thier home ground attendances and i bet they pale into insignificance against the Forces stats, and we don't even have a proper facility to view matches from...( Yet as we know they are getting a world-class facility anyway, nice work vic govt)...With the best membership in the super14 competition as our fanbase i'd say the ARU got it right, you d*ckheads....