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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 28/09/2007 5:44:24 PM
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Hello All,Long time listener, first time caller. I would just like to hear what all states and players would think about having an australian national league, similar to what the AIHL (australian ice hockey league) have going. What would be good about it and what would make it a bad idea!
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Post #14753
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 27/09/2007 6:29:29 PM
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Rusty,
I don't want to sound ignorant, but could you explain a bit about the ice hockey league (NIHL) and how its run ?
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Post #14754
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 28/09/2007 5:44:24 PM
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The Aihl is the national ice hockey league thats played between teams formed in various States areas of OZ. there is one team in Adelaide, one in Brisbane, one in vic and the remaining teams are in NSW ACT. each team was formed from their local competitions. They compete a home and away season weekly or bi weekly by travelling to each home teams stadium. The AIHL is going well from what i hear in that it is attracting some high class import players inculing Steve McKenna an ex NHL player. I personally think this would be the next step in raising the competition and the profile of our beloved sport.http://www.theaihl.com.au/
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Post #14755
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 8:54:15 AM
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Who is funding this National league?
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Post #14762
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/07/2009 8:00:16 PM
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A friend of mine played in the AIHL, at a huge cost to himself.The biggest hurdle is transport, a Ice Hockey team is the third of the size of a football team, the cost involved in getting a full team to even melbourne would be very hard to overcome in the current user pays system we have around the country.
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Post #14763
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 28/09/2007 5:44:24 PM
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I do know that when the AIHL first started the cost was covered by the players mostly, but as the clubs and players got sponsorship the cost was reduced for the players. Fundraising helped as well as major sponsorship. Transport would be an issue for players due to the bigger teams, but i am only putting it out there to see what others think in terms of level of competition and perhaps an increase in interest.
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Post #14764
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/05/2012 9:12:36 AM
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Its a great idea and one needs to have them and goals. BUt, this sport is 20-30 years from being able to sustain anything like it. Local comps struggle to maintain current numbers now and costs are a killer. Look at Vic probably down to 5 Teams in 2008. The standard is not as good as people think either. Lets build local clubs and leagues before going 10 steps too far.
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Post #14765
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:47:02 PM
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Glenn Parke was telling me about how he thought a national league would be a good idea. Basically, you merge all the teams together into one state side (basically the top 50 players) in each state, buy bulk group airline tickets on the cheap months in advance, then schedule venues and go. Logistically, it's 100x easier than what we're currently doing in local comps - trying to get 30-40 players for each team, sourcing our own venues, scheduling multiple locations, etc.
The problems with a national comp is that it all but eliminates growth in the sport. Obviously, each capital city can field one team, and sydney/melbourne probably two competitive ones, but after that? What room for expansion would there be? A single team from Geelong/Newcastle/Gold Coast? Also, you have to deal with the fact that players at the senior level have low turnover. Most people of skill that would make up these teams have been playing for some time, and will likely keep playing for a while. How will rookies get game time? What makes them stay in the sport if they stay on the bench behind a 5 year veteran? In local comps, at least they have a shot with the high level of turnover there.
I think it's a great idea, one that should really be looked at with serious consideration, but not at the total expense of local competition.
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Post #14782
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/05/2012 9:12:36 AM
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[quote]OlderDan (30/09/2007)
Glenn Parke was telling me about how he thought a national league would be a good idea. So to hell with rookies then!!!!!!!!! To hell with the clubs!!! To hell with those on low incomes!!! This idea of Glenns is not new it was thought of by the Paul Hills and Mark Levin in the mid '90's. (wanted it to be called Melbourne Rebels) EVERY national league in any sport in Aust. has minor leagues and ours is very minor indeed. as I have said before good idea unsustainable for a long time. Keep it all in perspective people.
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Post #14803
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 11:32:06 PM
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Darren sorry to correct you but the idea as presented in this forum was nothing like what we envisaged in the Mid 90's with the Rebels.The Rebels ultimatly become the name of the GAV organisation representative team. When it was first thought of it was in the context of having a claxton shield type comp as a suedo National club comp to be run in conjuction with the exisitng league and its Juniors. The same juniors that wasn't wanted by the then VGFL. The national club competition was looked at as an after the regular season event holding open tryouts for all players from all clubs to make the team to participate in a round robin style comp with similarly made up teams in the other states. A short post season activity who's main driving force at the time was Gafney Sports I think their name was the people who at that time held the NFL license for Australia. They where looking to help fund it. It was not to be as a replacement to club/local football or indeed interstate football but as purley a possible way of increasing American Football / NFL awareness to sell more stuff and it might just have dragged the sport along with for a while. It didn't get past the concept stage as we came to the realisation of its unworkability with different season times and lack of concrete support from the NFL license holder. Enough of the history lesson I am still of the opinion that we recently blew our best chance of any form of a higher than local community based football when we let the Arena form of the game slip through our fingers so to speak. This modified indoor version had the potential to showcase a smaller number(Smaller team numbers less travel costs) of the clubs athletes across the country with genuine US possibilities for some of them. We dropped the ball with a piss poor effort in running and promoting the first event here in Sydney which caused a general apathy through the rank and file to any future event. Those who particiated in it and the subsequent tour in the US had nothing but praise for it. The Arena organisation where keen to get stuck in so to speak but we again lacked the unity across the country we should have to the sport itself as an overall guiding factor rather than what is best for me and my team. Time will tell. Most leagues across the country are at least stable at the moment or expanding slightly (ACT for example) And I think only VIC are still on the roller coaster loosing two teams this year. Again I am forced to agree with Darren that the focus for now is to not loose more local teams. Solidify the local comp at both senior and junior level, sort out the officiating and coaching issues some states are experiencing. Get all states to attend and participate in both senior and junior nationals and perhaps then we can start looking forward as to where we might go from there as for this to happen individual clubs, leagues and National organisations will have to get their houses in order. my 2c worth
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Post #14805
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