Martin flanagan's "in defence of grass roots football"

[westdog54]

MARTIN FLANAGAN'S "IN DEFENCE OF GRASS ROOTS FOOTBALL"

LISTEN LIVE


AFL
MARTIN FLANAGAN'S "IN DEFENCE OF GRASS ROOTS FOOTBALL"
BY SEN 9 HOURS AGO


Distinguished football writer Martin Flanagan recently delivered the Norm Smith oration at the MCC, reading a piece he’s written called “In Defence of Grass Roots Football.”

His words were so good we had to share them, so Martin dropped into the SEN studios to record the oration for the SEN audience.


If you weren't fortunate enough to be listening to SEN when this was put to air, do yourself a favour.

[jeemak]

I have a soft spot for Tassie. It's a wonderful place full of wonderful people.

There are many examples of moral contradictions and hypocrisy when it comes to the AFL, though none more so poignant than the way it treats Tasmania - a state of people who have given the competition its love and support throughout its iterations.

Tasmania deserves a team, the AFL positions itself as a community based organisation. Without an AFL team and a local environment closely touched by elite standards, the junior ranks and grass roots won't prosper.

[westdog54]

I have a soft spot for Tassie. It's a wonderful place full of wonderful people.

There are many examples of moral contradictions and hypocrisy when it comes to the AFL, though none more so poignant than the way it treats Tasmania - a state of people who have given the competition its love and support throughout its iterations.

Tasmania deserves a team, the AFL positions itself as a community based organisation. Without an AFL team and a local environment closely touched by elite standards, the junior ranks and grass roots won't prosper.

One draftee in two years, and the state league unable to find a financial sponsor at the same time a record TV rights deal was being signed by the AFL.

There's a reason sponsors are walking away from the game in Tasmania. They see the utter contempt that the AFL is treating it with, and they know there is no value in it long term.

I don't know how to write to the Hall of Fame committee, but if Martin Flanagan isn't in there in the next five years for his media work over many decades there is something very wrong.

[comrade]

My fingers are crossed that the GC experiment is terminated early and the license is granted in Tasmania. Would be a huge coup for the state and the game in general.

The biggest problem in trying to shoehorn a new franchise into a foreign market is the utter lack of passion surrounding the club. The players must hate turning out in front of 3 men and a dog each week.

That wouldn't be a problem in Tassie.

[bornadog]

I think either the Hawks or North should relocate to Tassie.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

My fingers are crossed that the GC experiment is terminated early and the license is granted in Tasmania. Would be a huge coup for the state and the game in general.

The biggest problem in trying to shoehorn a new franchise into a foreign market is the utter lack of passion surrounding the club. The players must hate turning out in front of 3 men and a dog each week.

That wouldn't be a problem in Tassie.

The AFL will continue to pour big money into GC and GWS because it dictates its huge National TV sponsorship. The Tassie State Government is happy to pour nearly $5 million dollars into Hawthorn and North Melbourne at the expense of financially supporting local Tasmanian Football which is now controlled by the AFL, which has proved to be a disaster. Tassie football will continue to struggle given the current policies of its Government and the AFL.