Wouldn't need that amount of money if they didn't have such a bloated headquarters.
The thing is that Gil represents the neo-liberalisation of our great game. Yes there is a pile of money for those in the industry, meanwhile those not involved in the elite competition get starved. There is a complete lack of transparency, effectively a small boys' club has privatised the game for their own agrandisement. The mighty dollar trumps the interests of the average supporter. There is no balance between the interests of the average club member and the pursuit of riches.
Will the AFL continue to be able to suck at the teat of Murdoch and Stokes, or will this be the final emptying of the trough of riches from the media rights? Who knows, but the model of hitching the game's future to the riches from broadcast rights is not forward looking given the trends away from watching live TV. The neglect of the supporter base, especially club members, could well come back to bite them.
Plus, the rule changes are changing the game away from its roots. Australian football has always been a game where player movement is unrestricted unlike most football codes. I am very unconvinced that we won't end up back at rolling mauls once the coaches sort out how to game these rules. What is needed is an evolution of the game whereby it is strategy and tactics which open the game up more, not silly rule changes.
DS
The thing is that Gil represents the neo-liberalisation of our great game. Yes there is a pile of money for those in the industry, meanwhile those not involved in the elite competition get starved. There is a complete lack of transparency, effectively a small boys' club has privatised the game for their own agrandisement. The mighty dollar trumps the interests of the average supporter. There is no balance between the interests of the average club member and the pursuit of riches.
Will the AFL continue to be able to suck at the teat of Murdoch and Stokes, or will this be the final emptying of the trough of riches from the media rights? Who knows, but the model of hitching the game's future to the riches from broadcast rights is not forward looking given the trends away from watching live TV. The neglect of the supporter base, especially club members, could well come back to bite them.
Plus, the rule changes are changing the game away from its roots. Australian football has always been a game where player movement is unrestricted unlike most football codes. I am very unconvinced that we won't end up back at rolling mauls once the coaches sort out how to game these rules. What is needed is an evolution of the game whereby it is strategy and tactics which open the game up more, not silly rule changes.
DS
