Put the legends in charge

FOOTBALL

I HAVE read some excellent critiques of AFL football and its administration but legendary administrator Ron Joseph’s views are in my opinion just so close to the home truth (“Fury at special favours to Suns,” Mercury, August 29). As Ron points out resuscitation of the Gold Coast Suns will continue for another 20 years and the Gold Coast is a beach resort not a fanatical football town. It is also in a predominantly rugby league state with NRL a much higher priority for footy fans.

His suggestion of getting rid of the AFL commission and appointing experienced footy legends such as Brian Cook, Leigh Matthews, Jeff Kennett and Richard Colless, all with excellent footy brains, does make sound sense.

In the interim our Aussie rules fanatical Tasmania is putting much effort into a plan that will hopefully spearhead our state into the big league sooner than later. I have always believed the AFL’s obsession for two teams in Queensland and NSW is to endeavour to remain competitive with rugby league clubs and an NRL team in Tassie would greatly enhance our chances of fielding our very own AFL team. Nest program, run in conjunction the Salvos. This well established scheme provides accommodation for 125 people, including women and children in 46 homes, providing physical and emotional support. As they say in Magpie land, side-by-side we stick together.

Singing my song

WHAT a great footy club song from reader Steve Bailey (Letters August 27). I’m very honoured to have my name in the lyrics, thank you. It’s all about having a bit of fun, but I’m sorry Mr Bailey was wrong when he said Simon Bevilacqua’s article about a Tassie AFL team was outstanding satirical commentary. Bevilacqua’s article was full of sarcasm and parochialism and he, like Brian Ayers (Letters August 27), fell for the old trick of saying a Tassie AFL team should play in Hobart because it’s the capital. At the moment there isn’t a suitable facility and according to Mr Bevilacqua nothing will be built soon because government money is coming north. Very good letters from Greg Blake and Daniel Webb (Letters, August 28, 29) and if that’s all Raymond Harvey has got (Letters, August 29), he hasn’t got much of a case.

Cricket in the South

LAUNCESTON Mayor Albert Van Zetten gave on ABC Radio what could be interpreted as an appropriate veiled response to Simon Bevilacqua’s column on Saturday, saying he believed former premier Jim Bacon got it right with his “Cricket in the South, Football in the North” attitude. Mayor Van Zetten would be cognisant of the parochial scare campaign by the Liberals at the March election when they said an AFL team would be based in Hobart. Mayor Van Zetten talked about financial benefit, ie $30 million for the Launceston economy.

He could have brought to the attention of AFL side proponents Tasmania’s transport deficiency, eg, how Western Bulldogs versus Adelaide at Ballarat Oval was filled to capacity on Sunday, with an excellent passenger rail service from Melbourne. Hobart has serious congestion and should emulate federal Housing Minister Michael Sukkar’s solutions, steering apartment towers away from low-rise areas. Sydney’s first station project is an 1100home venture at Tallawong Station. New Town, Moonah, Elwick and Brighton are begging for such development.

Just a distraction

COULD not agree more, Brett Robbins (Letters, August 27). “Devoid of vision” is too polite a term for a government that fails to address the real issues facing this state. Sadly only some 48 per cent of Tasmanians are capable of reading the article. Distracting people from the real issues is one way spin doctors achieve their aim. The narrow-minded views of this Government and failures of successive governments have created a financial shortfall along with myriad problems that will certainly not be aided by having an AFL football team. Financial intervention from the Federal Government is imminent or the situation will deteriorate further. The answers are there yet our leaders will refuse to listen until ballot box time.

That should scare everyone

MARTYN Goddard’s statement scared the crap out of me — as it should for every citizen of this city and state (Talking Point, August 29). To dismiss Michael Pervan at a critical and dangerous time in our health system seems a disaster in itself, then to further cut money from a gasping dying patient is murder. What is wrong with this Government?

Put sports on Domain

SURELY we deserve something more creative at Macquarie Point than a sports stadium. Reinvent the Domain Sports Oval, plenty of parking and easy access with space to eliminate congestion. Great views for TV cameras. Perhaps we should concentrate on building a team to AFL standards first, otherwise we will have the cart and not the horse.

Despairing of TV

IS there anyone else who thinks the rubbish being offered to us as entertainment by our TV channels is pure crap!? Or am I just an old misery?

Choosing to be locked away

IF prisoners don’t like being in lockdown, then they should think really hard about the reason they ended up in the prison in the first place. I’d bet that the people who are still suffering the most are the poor victims of the reason they aren’t enjoying their incarceration. And to Greg Barns, stop whining about prisoner conditions. They chose to end up locked away, behind bars and concrete.