tasboy wrote:
Hawks - i am not a fan - have taken their opportunity as gifted by the Tasmanian government. Tasmania has received a good return in marketing. In fact a great return.
The Hawks have embraced the state, all the kids go for them and they run clinics everywhere, from King island to Queenstown. They go to places that typical Tasmanians don't even go to.
One can't fault their return to the state, and the fact they have maintained their fans in Victoria is a tribute to how well they are run. Consider this - if Carlton were offered the same deal in a similar zone, would you be for it or against it? its one to whinge but what have we done to match this? Nothing. Too big to go regional. Complain when others do so and get an advantage. We had Princess park, that was our fortress. they have created one in Launceston. Hate them but respect what they have done. Smart.
If I was offered $35 million as a football club I would well and truly "embrace" the state, and go to clinics in Timbucktoo if I had to.
Burnie, Penguin, or any shanty town in between a mining town wherever they want.
If Carlton was offered the same deal back in the early 2000s they would have been mad not to take it. I don't see it as being "smart" I see it as the AFL offering a scenario that opened up a money honeypot, a licence to print money, and the AFL should have had contingencies in place to prevent such a situation..or at the least had foresight...that's what we pay them for right? forward planning.especially as they keep going on about "equalisation".
You know I didn't whinge once about this whole "equalisation" con until the final straw for me was that "equalisation tax". That was the Boston Tea rebellion/Battle of Bunker Hill moment for me. The gall of claiming Carlton should pay taxes almost equivalent to Hawthorn after all the club has been through. Sorry, I just couldn't hack that moment.
p.s it is relatively easy to run a club well with the benefit of over $35 million. I am excluding the financial benefit of 8,000-10,000 extra members they get each year due to the Tasmanian deal. Hawthorn aren't geniuses...a pot of gold in front of your nose, is still a pot of gold. They should send a nice Christmas card to the AFL head office every year, with a bottle of Bollinger champagne. They deserve it.