Leigh Matthews calls for only one team in SE Qld.

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Be
Maybe, and I think most people do assume that but I don't see much proof. I'm sure we lost a little but our attendance figures didn't change much after they came in and if they did it could probably be explained by some declining performance in that period. Our membership numbers did drop so it could be there. I suspect (again without any real proof) that apart from people who were newly drawn to footy a lot of their fans/members probably came from those who were into footy and living on the Gold Coast but maybe following a Melbourne team. This was the case for a lot of Bears fans at team creation.
Being someone who lives on the GC and has supported the bears and now the lions I know from experience catching the train up to Brissy that we have lost substancial numbers to the suns. There were so many travelling up to the games that QLD rail often put on another train or else it was standing room only. So we are talking hundreds if not thousands of fans. Now how many of them were members only the club would have those figures. Personally all my mates and people I used to travel with no longer do so as they support the Suns. Most afl followers on the coast come from elsewhere so they have another team but they mostly want to see live footy. So this idea that the AFL has been pushing from the beginning that the sun's haven't cost us supporters is not supported by my observations.
 
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Being someone who lives on the GC and has supported the bears and now the lions I know from experience catching the train up to Brissy that we have lost substancial numbers to the suns. There were so many travelling up to the games that QLD rail often put on another train or else it was standing room only. So we are talking hundreds if not thousands of fans. Now how many of them were members only the club would have those figures. Personally all my mates and people I used to travel with no longer do so as they support the Suns. Most afl followers on the coast come from elsewhere so they have another team but they mostly want to see live footy. So this idea that the AFL has been pushing from the beginning that the sun's haven't cost us supporters is not supported by my observations.
thanks, backs up my anecdotal observations/experiences. the AFL have a huge and long fight on their hands to win over the gold coast public if history is anything to go by.

http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2015/07/09/gold-coast-australias-sporting-graveyard/
 
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Being someone who lives on the GC and has supported the bears and now the lions I know from experience catching the train up to Brissy that we have lost substancial numbers to the suns. There were so many travelling up to the games that QLD rail often put on another train or else it was standing room only. So we are talking hundreds if not thousands of fans. Now how many of them were members only the club would have those figures. Personally all my mates and people I used to travel with no longer do so as they support the Suns. Most afl followers on the coast come from elsewhere so they have another team but they mostly want to see live footy. So this idea that the AFL has been pushing from the beginning that the sun's haven't cost us supporters is not supported by my observations.

Anyone who swaps teams due to geographic reasons or a team being closer to home, is a wet weak. I just can't compute how anyone could be dedicated enough to get a train to Brisbane for games, drape them selves in our colours and then because it's convenient.. they one day just swap teams. I just don't get it. How can the see us running around and just change the channel, maybe it's a different subset of supporter I don't understand but If the Lions was moved to Kazakhstan, I follow them there. This is coming from a Fitzroy supporter though, obviously my perception might be a bit different having being forced to adopt a team that is based interstate.
 

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Anyone who swaps teams due to geographic reasons or a team being closer to home, is a wet weak. I just can't compute how anyone could be dedicated enough to get a train to Brisbane for games, drape them selves in our colours and then because it's convenient.. they one day just swap teams. I just don't get it. How can the see us running around and just change the channel, maybe it's a different subset of supporter I don't understand but If the Lions was moved to Kazakhstan, I follow them there. This is coming from a Fitzroy supporter though, obviously my perception might be a bit different having being forced to adopt a team that is based interstate.
I was a Crows fan growing up in Brisbane during the merger and really got on board the Lions in the couple of years before the flags because we went to all the games. Convenient because in 7 years my teams one 5 flags. But I can understand supporting the club you can actually get to and watch on a weekly basis..
 
Anyone who swaps teams due to geographic reasons or a team being closer to home, is a wet weak. I just can't compute how anyone could be dedicated enough to get a train to Brisbane for games, drape them selves in our colours and then because it's convenient.. they one day just swap teams. I just don't get it. How can the see us running around and just change the channel, maybe it's a different subset of supporter I don't understand but If the Lions was moved to Kazakhstan, I follow them there. This is coming from a Fitzroy supporter though, obviously my perception might be a bit different having being forced to adopt a team that is based interstate.
IMO there are not that many rusted on supporters of AFL in the qld market. they are bandwagon jumpers, if the suns start winning and making finals there support will jump just as ours did in the early 2000s and they jump off just as quickly.

i would think that 99% of people who go on and post regularly on forums like BF are rusted on. after all i was one of those bandwagon jumpers 15/16 years ago but i am definitely rusted on now, would never go anywhere even if the AFL expanded and created the Scenic Rim Wombats.
 
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Being someone who lives on the GC and has supported the bears and now the lions I know from experience catching the train up to Brissy that we have lost substancial numbers to the suns. There were so many travelling up to the games that QLD rail often put on another train or else it was standing room only. So we are talking hundreds if not thousands of fans. Now how many of them were members only the club would have those figures. Personally all my mates and people I used to travel with no longer do so as they support the Suns. Most afl followers on the coast come from elsewhere so they have another team but they mostly want to see live footy. So this idea that the AFL has been pushing from the beginning that the sun's haven't cost us supporters is not supported by my observations.
And Henry.:cool:
 
Taking the emotion out of it, I do see merit in shutting the whole fn thing down.

A) 13 mill in debt
B) No support from state gov
C) In real terms we arent fighting on a level playing field, all of the other northern clubs have advantages we dont. Melbourne and interstate clubs are from football environments. We are effectively fighting with one foot nailed to the ground
D) Training facilities are second rate and dont appear to be rectified any time soon
E) poor second cousins at the Gabba. Seriously there is still a cricket pitch in the middle of the ground, where every other ground has gone to drop in pitches
F) if we cant be competitive on the field, the club loses money hand over fist

If we shut it down
A) the AFL would be shamed into admitting they have royally screwed us and if they started again would be doubly sure to make it work
B) it would be a huge failing for this state government, not that they care because their whole strategy seems to be do nothing.
C) the gabba isnt viable without the Lions
D) clear the debt

Start again
a) with the type of arrangement for GWS for recruitment
b) full backing from the AFL with a retention allowance in place
c) pulling the finger out by the State Gov and development of proper training facility from the start
d) be able to train on our actual home ground, without a cricket pitch in the middle
e) might take 10 years but the club should then be viable and economically sound


Not going to happen and it is cutting off your nose to spite your face. But seriously there needs to be a massive kick up the arse to the AFL and State gov to rectify the situation, a situation that has been going on for many years while everybody has stuck there head in the sand or up McGuires ass.
 
If we shut it down
A) the AFL would be shamed into admitting they have royally screwed us and if they started again would be doubly sure to make it work
B) it would be a huge failing for this state government, not that they care because their whole strategy seems to be do nothing.
C) the gabba isnt viable without the Lions
D) clear the debt
.
A)The AFL would admit nothing. The horrendous financial failure of this club is largely the fault of the previous adminitration, and the AFL will lay total blame there.
B) I don't think it is the responsibility of any state government to provide life support to a sporting team. As a tax payer, if I weren't a Lions supporter, I'd be unhappy about the government forking out too much for a club of just 25000 who are attracting just 20000 people to a game. (Similarly, I'm not happy about the money about to be poured into the Cowboys). I can't see it as a failure, and in a state of over 4.5 million, no-one will care about a club of 25000.
C)The Gabba is owned, so maintenance is the cost they have to cover, and could do so with corporate rent.
D)The debt will be the AFL's problem if we shut up shop.
Start again
a) with the type of arrangement for GWS for recruitment
b) full backing from the AFL with a retention allowance in place
c) pulling the finger out by the State Gov and development of proper training facility from the start
d) be able to train on our actual home ground, without a cricket pitch in the middle
e) might take 10 years but the club should then be viable and economically sound
What would be the point of starting again if the pin is pulled on an existing entity?
Some of these things could happen (not the recruiting concessions) as we are. I just don't understand the concept of closing one and opening a new other club. Send all the unemployed players away, then ask for special rules to recruit new ones?:huh:
 
Taking the emotion out of it, I do see merit in shutting the whole fn thing down.

A) 13 mill in debt
B) No support from state gov
C) In real terms we arent fighting on a level playing field, all of the other northern clubs have advantages we dont. Melbourne and interstate clubs are from football environments. We are effectively fighting with one foot nailed to the ground
D) Training facilities are second rate and dont appear to be rectified any time soon
E) poor second cousins at the Gabba. Seriously there is still a cricket pitch in the middle of the ground, where every other ground has gone to drop in pitches
F) if we cant be competitive on the field, the club loses money hand over fist

If we shut it down
A) the AFL would be shamed into admitting they have royally screwed us and if they started again would be doubly sure to make it work
B) it would be a huge failing for this state government, not that they care because their whole strategy seems to be do nothing.
C) the gabba isnt viable without the Lions
D) clear the debt

Start again
a) with the type of arrangement for GWS for recruitment
b) full backing from the AFL with a retention allowance in place
c) pulling the finger out by the State Gov and development of proper training facility from the start
d) be able to train on our actual home ground, without a cricket pitch in the middle
e) might take 10 years but the club should then be viable and economically sound


Not going to happen and it is cutting off your nose to spite your face. But seriously there needs to be a massive kick up the arse to the AFL and State gov to rectify the situation, a situation that has been going on for many years while everybody has stuck there head in the sand or up McGuires ass.
understand your frustration although i feel we only need a few measures to see the lions ship righted.

1. we must secure AFL financial support in conjunction with a level or 2 of government support/funding to get our administration and training base up and running ASAP. whatever happened to the idea that was floated a month or so ago re logan city council donating land + $15,000,000 for a base at logan? was that a too good to be true offer?

2. a retention allowance on a sliding scale depending on the percentage of interstate players on your list, to save whinging this can apply to all clubs not just the northern clubs. once the lions had for example 60%-70% local talent the retention allowance is no more.

3. once we start a successful era again we must not plummet like post 2004, the swans are the benchmark we must strive to be in terms of consistency and they show sustained finals appearances is possible. if supporters have genuine hope every year that we are a chance of a top 4 spot i would be confident crowds and membership would rise dramatically.
 

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A)The AFL would admit nothing. The horrendous financial failure of this club is largely the fault of the previous adminitration, and the AFL will lay total blame there.
B) I don't think it is the responsibility of any state government to provide life support to a sporting team. As a tax payer, if I weren't a Lions supporter, I'd be unhappy about the government forking out too much for a club of just 25000 who are attracting just 20000 people to a game. (Similarly, I'm not happy about the money about to be poured into the Cowboys). I can't see it as a failure, and in a state of over 4.5 million, no-one will care about a club of 25000.
C)The Gabba is owned, so maintenance is the cost they have to cover, and could do so with corporate rent.
D)The debt will be the AFL's problem if we shut up shop.

What would be the point of starting again if the pin is pulled on an existing entity?
Some of these things could happen (not the recruiting concessions) as we are. I just don't understand the concept of closing one and opening a new other club. Send all the unemployed players away, then ask for special rules to recruit new ones?:huh:
Well really my last paragraph is the crux of the matter. As I said not going to happen.

Though I will point out the previous administration is still largely the same as this administration.
 
Well really my last paragraph is the crux of the matter. As I said not going to happen.

Though I will point out the previous administration is still largely the same as this administration.
I was referring to Kelly & Bowers and Johnson & Holmes. Chuck in people like Milner and this administration is nothing like those.
Not sure that the directors will do a much better job, but I think Matthews & Swann is a much better team.
 
I was referring to Kelly & Bowers and Johnson & Holmes. Chuck in people like Milner and this administration is nothing like those.
Not sure that the directors will do a much better job, but I think Matthews & Swann is a much better team.
Agreed Matthews and Swann a much better team, than either "and their racing" Holmes or "pikey wont headbutt me" Bowers. This has just been going on for so long and Gill seems to be more interested on going onto 360 and delivering the odd zinger.
 
Agreed Matthews and Swann a much better team, than either "and their racing" Holmes or "pikey wont headbutt me" Bowers. This has just been going on for so long and Gill seems to be more interested on going onto 360 and delivering the odd zinger.
Agree with that last part, and now it seems Swann & Matthews are making more noise/demands of the AFL than previous appointees, it is up to the AFL to act.
 
I heard he was talking Merger?

Which I could see happening TBH. Eventually. GWS will be sustained by the biggest population base in Australia.

Issue I forsee is the Brisbane based fans or Fitzroy fans get burnt.

It's either the Brisbane Suns = no fitzroy and no lion.

Or the Goldcoast Lions = No Brisbane No Bears

Maybe the South East Queensland Lions Suns bears "I go for the SEQLSB"

Imagine the logo - a lion with the sun shining out its arse.
 
Anyone who swaps teams due to geographic reasons or a team being closer to home, is a wet weak.
You've just described a pretty big proportion of Brisbane based Lions supporters over the age of 30. Most of us supported a different side prior to the entry of the Bears.
 
At least with the inflatable Lion at the Gabba the players could be mystically running towards the sun rather then up a Lions behind.....

Are there any mythological constructs already in place where you have a Lion with divine and/or sun like rays coming from its mouth? Or maybe just add a halo or a small lines radiating from the current Lion symbol?

One advantage to the annoyingly similar colours of the GCS is that if there *was* a merge you could change it to Qld Lions, keep maroon/red, blue and gold/yellow and make the line in the song "We are the pride of Queensland's sun" (not sure we can add GCS in the we shall always fight for victory but hey) and keep part of all three clubs until the next time we merge with someone comes along!
 
I agree with the rusted on idea. Frankly I could not jump teams like my mates. Understood their reasons but just couldn't do it myself. Also I hate the suns with a passion. Back to what Matthews was saying. I believe he was making the case that only one team can survive and grow naturally in this market. Any other teams planted here will only survive with substancial ongoing feeding from outside. At the moment I don't think the AFL understands this. I believe their view is that if they plant it with good initial help then it will be sustained naturally. This is why when they planted the suns they believed that the Lions would not be affected. Now there are two weak clubs needing assistance. And this will continue until one disappears or many years pass. Frankly I believe the AFL should buy the CM as the best strategy to help at the moment. Instead of attacking Matthews the new CEO of the suns should join him trying to get the AFL to understand the realities here. But he is not a footy guy so he doesn't understand how the old boys club works and probably doesn't even know that this is what it is. Our previous CEO was a great administrator but was outside the boys club so got absolutely nowhere. Now we have Matthews and Swan we have two top operators in this boys clubs. And that is why they are making statement like this.

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I think the AFL have an opportunity to perhaps move one of the clubs to Tasmania. Even though the population of Tasmania is small, the enthusiasm for AFL is huge. I dont know how it would roll financially - Tasmania is often ignored as a viable position for an AFL club.
 

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Leigh Matthews calls for only one team in SE Qld.

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