Page 4893 - Week 11 - Thursday, 21 October 2010
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that had been allocated to it by the AFL. Peter Taylor talked Gary Buchanan into joining him to formulate a strategy and campaign. Their plan involved corporate sponsorship and community involvement as well as the support of the major local Aussie Rules clubs in Canberra. The target of 5,000 members was set to show the AFL that Canberra was serious about supporting this venture, and the number to date is already a significant show of support and commitment, especially when compared to the Gold Coast, whose membership stands at 7,000.
From the information I received from the ACT 4 GWS team, the Canberra community has taken up the challenge well and truly. In fact, the Belconnen Cats’ last president, Rob Kelly, was leading the charge in signing up supporters for the ACT 4 GWS campaign around a month ago. Peter had secured, at that stage, almost 60 pledges in his efforts to help secure AFL in the region. The lifelong Carlton supporter said that motivation was not a problem when he heard about the campaign to have team GWS build a home in Canberra. He thought it would be fantastic to see a team commit to our region. That seems to underline the sentiments of most AFL supporters in Canberra—Mr Barr too, I would hope. While they have a historical allegiance to their favourite team, they want to see Canberra get the opportunity to be involved at the national AFL level.
The importance of ACT 4 GWS is obvious. If the campaign succeeds—Peter tells me that it is not if but when the campaign succeeds—GWS will play up to 20 games in Canberra over the next five years, four games per year. AFL in Canberra and the region will have a seat on the GWS board and GWS will continue to invest in local talent academies. GWS will establish a training base in Canberra and GWS will conduct community camps. GWS will field a team in the AFL Canberra competition or in a second-tier AFL competition that will feature Canberra clubs.
One of the tangible benefits to Canberra tourism would be having approximately 4,000 Sydney-based supporters coming to Canberra four times each year. The greater western Sydney-based supporters would, according to predictions, increase over the years, especially if the areas around Campbelltown and greater western Sydney catch the enthusiasm that has already been engendered amongst the fans by some of the AFL legends like Kevin Sheedy.
I attended a function at Manuka Oval a couple of months ago. Along with around 100 or so other supporters, including my colleague Mr Brendan Smyth, we were given an example of the persuasive power and enthusiasm of Kevin Sheedy and his interaction with the junior players. He talked at length about the virtues of a Canberra link with western Sydney as a means of ensuring the involvement of the once predominantly Australian football city that Canberra was—one that has produced champions such as Carlton icon Alex Jesaulenko and Essendon great James Hird. He pointed out to all of us that ACT 4 GWS is a great opportunity for Canberra and also for the AFL to once again regain a foothold in our national capital—that the capital city should be a part of truly national competition.
This is a message that other codes have delivered to their respective code administrators and have capitalised on for mutual benefit. The Canberra Raiders have
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