ACT, NT may lose matches

Caroline Wilson
March 8, 2009

THE AFL's national footprint is in danger of being reduced, with games in Canberra and Darwin no certainty to be fixtured beyond 2009, and at least one travelling Victorian team signalling its intention to pull out of selling home games.

The AFL has not yet started talks with the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory governments, with both agreements expiring at the end of 2009. The Western Bulldogs, fixtured to play a home game in each territory this year, have told the AFL they plan on doing so for the last time.

Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose signalled his club's intention with AFL boss Andrew Demetriou when Demetriou toured the Bulldogs' new training facility three days ago.

Rose reiterated his push to play 11 home games in Melbourne beyond 2009 at a subsequent meeting on Friday with Demetriou's No. 2 Gillon McLachlan.

It is understood the AFL gave the Bulldogs no assurance, but Demetriou said he would endeavour to give the club an indication of the AFL's future intentions as soon as possible.

"We ideally want to continue fixturing a game in every state and territory in Australia," Demetriou said. "As soon as we have a firm idea of where we're headed next year, I have given them (the Bulldogs) an assurance to make them aware of our plans."

The Bulldogs have been travelling interstate to play home games since the start of this decade in a bid to improve their financial position, which has been further eroded by a poor stadium return from the recently renamed Etihad Stadium.

Although the Bulldogs' average home attendance at Docklands went from 11,000 in 2002 to 33,000 last year, the club's annual return from the stadium in that time went from an annual $240,000 to $380,000.

This season the club will play in Canberra and Darwin and, according to Rose, will net around $500,000 in total from the two games. The AFL has conceded the challenging financial situation posed by the agreement and is fighting Docklands for a new deal for its home club. It is also waging a separate battle with the MCG.

■The Western Bulldogs' community festival and family day gets under way at the Whitten Oval from 10.30am today.