Bear's Gridiron in Australia Forums

In NSW this year we paid about $1400 to go to Victoria for a week to compete at the GA Nationals and play three games of Football, we also had to take a week off work. On top of that we still had to buy food etc and pay for our airfares so realistically it cost each player about $2000.

Now if we had a  yearly National Competition where each state plays each other once with a regular season of 5 games that would mean that each state would need to travel a maximum of three Flights per season. Teams could fly in and fly out the same day of the game (except for the trip to and or from Perth to the Eastern Seaboard which could require 1 night of accommodation and meals $100 extra pp.).

The benefits of this would be

1. More state games.
2. Annual intersate competition.
3. every state gets to play each other every year.
4. Top level players get to play with committed teamates and a higher standard of play.
5. No Time off work needed.
6. The standard of state football would improve.
7. there would be some positive flow on affect to the clubs.

The Concept could be the same as what they do in the Rugby Super 14's, the national comp could be played in Autumn (April and May) and then the state players could return to their clubs for their local state comps.

How much would this concept cost each player?

In comparing the flights if NSW had to travel to Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne return (3 away games) and 2 home games vs ACT and QLD.

Sydney to Perth Return plus 1 night accommodation and Meals $700
Sydney to Adelaide return same day $250
Sydney to Melbourne Return same day $200
Canberra would travel to Sydney $0 for NSW Players
QLD would travel to Sydney $0 for NSW Players..

Total projected travel cost $1150 in airfare, basically NSW is able to play an extra 2 games than what they did at the GA Nationals for approximately half the cost and no time off work.. Now if you compared this over 2 years vs the national Championships every 2nd Year. NSW would be able to play 10 Interstate Games vs 3. Basically each state could play 3 times as many state games for the same cost as attending the GA Nationals every 2 years.

I think that is pretty good value for money....

let me know your thoughts on this..... Is it something that you think is practical for us?

Would you like to see it happen?

p.s. not against it, but this is one of the resisting arguments you will get

p.s. not against it, but this is one of the resisting arguments you will get]

Mr T this is a very good point and thanks for bringing it up.  With the cost of the Perth Players always being a factor I would reccommend that WA Team only Travels twice to keep their costs even with everyone else.

I have just checked the Webjet website for flights in April and Perth to Brisbane return ranges from $500 to $700 return. Perth to Adelaide Return ranges from $300 to $400 return. Perth to Sydney return is ranges  from $400 to $700 return.

If WA played 3 Home Games and 2 away games then their costs would be anywhere from $800 to $1100 which is on par with all the Eastern Seaboard states.

Youve been Fritzeled

A far as I am aware most states play Saturday or Sunday games  in their local state competitions. The Only team that would need to stay overnight would be the Eastern Seaboard Teams that Travel to Perth. or when perth travels to the Eastern Seaboard. The majority of games would need to be played on saturdays..... There would only be 5 regular season games per year....  Some Sunday games would be possible as well eg, when sydney plays Brisbane or Melboure as the flight is only an hour. in saying that i think that there would be a majority of players who would prefer playing on saturdays and having Sunday as a rest day, either way I am sure that there could be some flexibility.....  Sunday Afternoon Flights are usually more expensive than saturday afternoon Flights as everyone is returning home from their weekend away....

In regards to the Officials i am sure that there would be enough officials in each state we could run with a 5 to 7 man crew depending on what is more practical... for us....

Game times I would reccommend a 3pm Kick Off, 6pm Finish and an 8pm flight home for the travelling Team......

The GA Super 6

Bring on the GA Big 6!!

To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.. but conquering thousands is waaayy more fun!!

I have been informed that all states will be moving to August December season which means that we would need the national Competition to  be done in February to May. The Competition could be promoted when the Superbowl is on.....