Mr BONSON - 2003-10-07
Can you please advise the House on recent announcements regarding the AFL schedule for the next three years.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner. As members would be aware, as recently as yesterday, there was a video conferencing link-up with Andrew Demetriou, the new CEO of the AFL. We have proudly announced and agreed to, in that historic announcement that, for the next three years, we have secured for the first time a game that will be played for competition points. That will be on 14 August, between the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide. Port have a large following, no doubt because of the connections through the Burgoyne boys - whose mother’s family side is Hazelbane and also connected to the Cubillos - they are well-known Territorians. Western Bulldogs should be congratulated for the manner in which they have chosen to take one of their home games out of Melbourne and bring that to Darwin. We would like to think we will have an attendance above 12 000 people for that game on that historic day.
We also have been able to secure in the agreement three Wizard Cup matches for Central Australia. No doubt, Madam Speaker, you will remember some eight years ago when Adelaide Crows played the Essendon Bombers at Traeger Park, there were some 11 000 to 12 000 people there. Almost half of Alice Springs turned out to watch that historic match. We can now proudly say that we have been able to stitch up, for the next three years, a match there. Albeit it is a Wizard Cup losers match, so we do not know who those teams are going to be. They could be top teams that get toppled in those Wizard Cup matches that will have to - and have no choice – journey to Central Australia.
In February, we will have Essendon Bombers playing the Fremantle Dockers. We will also have the pre-season camps, no doubt, for these teams, as Carlton came this year. Also, for the mid-season, we are working to have Collingwood, who came up this year. Mind you, Collingwood did well. It is a pity they were not able to win the Grand Final but they kicked on. As I said in my talk to Daryl Manzie this morning, these teams put in the hard yards and wish to come to the Northern Territory to promote and exhibit their skills, not only in the major cities or towns, but also to the remote comminutes. I have a lot of respect for them, as I do have with other clubs.
We have gone one further and have been able to lock in the ATSIC Allstars matches for 2005 and 2007. That is great for the Northern Territory, because we have seen the display when the Allstars took on Carlton and gave them a bit of a hiding. As I said to Daryl Manzie this morning, those players in that match with the Allstars all went on and, basically, had a pretty good year. Carlton went back and continued to get flogged. My sympathy goes to the Carlton supporters. We have stitched that up for the years 2005 and 2007.
For the next three years, our commitment has been $250 000 - $100 000 of that is being spent in the Territory with the Bulldogs promoting themselves and the game. We will also receive 25% of the gate takings for that match between the Bulldogs and Port Power. If 12 000 people turn up and spend an average of $10 per head, we would be guaranteed of something like $30 000 return. All up, quick calculations, about $120 000 per annum to be able to bring a range of good football matches, at the top level, to the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner. As members would be aware, as recently as yesterday, there was a video conferencing link-up with Andrew Demetriou, the new CEO of the AFL. We have proudly announced and agreed to, in that historic announcement that, for the next three years, we have secured for the first time a game that will be played for competition points. That will be on 14 August, between the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide. Port have a large following, no doubt because of the connections through the Burgoyne boys - whose mother’s family side is Hazelbane and also connected to the Cubillos - they are well-known Territorians. Western Bulldogs should be congratulated for the manner in which they have chosen to take one of their home games out of Melbourne and bring that to Darwin. We would like to think we will have an attendance above 12 000 people for that game on that historic day.
We also have been able to secure in the agreement three Wizard Cup matches for Central Australia. No doubt, Madam Speaker, you will remember some eight years ago when Adelaide Crows played the Essendon Bombers at Traeger Park, there were some 11 000 to 12 000 people there. Almost half of Alice Springs turned out to watch that historic match. We can now proudly say that we have been able to stitch up, for the next three years, a match there. Albeit it is a Wizard Cup losers match, so we do not know who those teams are going to be. They could be top teams that get toppled in those Wizard Cup matches that will have to - and have no choice – journey to Central Australia.
In February, we will have Essendon Bombers playing the Fremantle Dockers. We will also have the pre-season camps, no doubt, for these teams, as Carlton came this year. Also, for the mid-season, we are working to have Collingwood, who came up this year. Mind you, Collingwood did well. It is a pity they were not able to win the Grand Final but they kicked on. As I said in my talk to Daryl Manzie this morning, these teams put in the hard yards and wish to come to the Northern Territory to promote and exhibit their skills, not only in the major cities or towns, but also to the remote comminutes. I have a lot of respect for them, as I do have with other clubs.
We have gone one further and have been able to lock in the ATSIC Allstars matches for 2005 and 2007. That is great for the Northern Territory, because we have seen the display when the Allstars took on Carlton and gave them a bit of a hiding. As I said to Daryl Manzie this morning, those players in that match with the Allstars all went on and, basically, had a pretty good year. Carlton went back and continued to get flogged. My sympathy goes to the Carlton supporters. We have stitched that up for the years 2005 and 2007.
For the next three years, our commitment has been $250 000 - $100 000 of that is being spent in the Territory with the Bulldogs promoting themselves and the game. We will also receive 25% of the gate takings for that match between the Bulldogs and Port Power. If 12 000 people turn up and spend an average of $10 per head, we would be guaranteed of something like $30 000 return. All up, quick calculations, about $120 000 per annum to be able to bring a range of good football matches, at the top level, to the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016