bornadog
18-02-2016, 11:49 AM
link (http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-equalisation-former-hawks-president-andrew-newbold-wants-western-bulldogs-premiership/news-story/3590937cf04b24e70daf30e9a79f557f?from=public_rss)
NEWLY appointed AFL commissioner Andrew Newbold has revealed his desire to see the Western Bulldogs win their second premiership as part of his equalisation vision.
The Dogs’ solitary premiership came in 1954, while other clubs such as Hawthorn have won numerous flags since.
Newbold, who became a director at the Hawks in 2003 and president in 2011 before resigning earlier this month, revealed he made contact with Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon on Wednesday.
“I left a message for Peter Gordon yesterday saying I’d love to see the Bulldogs win their second flag while I’m on the commission,” Newbold told SEN.
“Hawthorn knew we wouldn’t win every year. It would be great to see someone else have a go. Those little things I think would be very satisfying.”
Newbold has been critical of the AFL’s equalisation measures in the past and, even in his new role working for the governing body, he remains steadfast in his views.
He even ventured to the USA on an equalisation fact-finding mission in 2013 alongside Collingwood president Eddie McGuire in a bid to improve the league’s system.
“That’s something closer to my heart — turning up every week and getting a competition where you don’t know who is going to win,” he said.
“At the moment we have the ‘has’ and the ‘has nots’ and I think it’s really important we reach a position where the clubs are not looking over their shoulder wondering what is going to be their (financial) position at the end of the year … there is a lot more to be done.
“We are getting closer to that but there is still some work to be done. If I can assist with that then it will be very satisfying.”
In June last year, Newbold called for a full-scale review of the league’s equalisation measures, citing the unevenness of the AFL’s model.
Clubs such as Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn voiced their displeasure at a bloated AFL administration that was making millions from stripping their revenue streams, while still taxing them and then distributing that money to rival clubs.
And even without a brown and gold bias, Newbold’s position on equalisation has not changed.
“I think there is a better mechanism than the revenue tax,” he said.
“My point about that is that we have only shifted about $4.5 million from some clubs to the others. I think it’s more a disincentive for the clubs that are paying the tax. I think there are other ways of equalising revenue distribution.”
While unsure whether the AFL intends to buy Etihad Stadium back before the current deal expires on March 8, 2025, Newbold conceded the current agreement was crippling its tenant clubs.
“The acquisition of Etihad is obviously a big piece of the puzzle,” he said.
“I haven’t even been to one meeting yet so I’m not really in a position to speak about how close that is (the purchase of Etihad Stadium).
“I think it’s key to making clubs like St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs more self-sufficient and profitable. I think it is a key plank.”
Newbold joins the AFL Commission alongside former GWS director Gabrielle Trainor. The pair will replace Chris Langford and Sam Mostyn in March.
He was director when Hawthorn won the 2008 premiership and has been president for each of the club’s last three flags in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
NEWLY appointed AFL commissioner Andrew Newbold has revealed his desire to see the Western Bulldogs win their second premiership as part of his equalisation vision.
The Dogs’ solitary premiership came in 1954, while other clubs such as Hawthorn have won numerous flags since.
Newbold, who became a director at the Hawks in 2003 and president in 2011 before resigning earlier this month, revealed he made contact with Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon on Wednesday.
“I left a message for Peter Gordon yesterday saying I’d love to see the Bulldogs win their second flag while I’m on the commission,” Newbold told SEN.
“Hawthorn knew we wouldn’t win every year. It would be great to see someone else have a go. Those little things I think would be very satisfying.”
Newbold has been critical of the AFL’s equalisation measures in the past and, even in his new role working for the governing body, he remains steadfast in his views.
He even ventured to the USA on an equalisation fact-finding mission in 2013 alongside Collingwood president Eddie McGuire in a bid to improve the league’s system.
“That’s something closer to my heart — turning up every week and getting a competition where you don’t know who is going to win,” he said.
“At the moment we have the ‘has’ and the ‘has nots’ and I think it’s really important we reach a position where the clubs are not looking over their shoulder wondering what is going to be their (financial) position at the end of the year … there is a lot more to be done.
“We are getting closer to that but there is still some work to be done. If I can assist with that then it will be very satisfying.”
In June last year, Newbold called for a full-scale review of the league’s equalisation measures, citing the unevenness of the AFL’s model.
Clubs such as Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn voiced their displeasure at a bloated AFL administration that was making millions from stripping their revenue streams, while still taxing them and then distributing that money to rival clubs.
And even without a brown and gold bias, Newbold’s position on equalisation has not changed.
“I think there is a better mechanism than the revenue tax,” he said.
“My point about that is that we have only shifted about $4.5 million from some clubs to the others. I think it’s more a disincentive for the clubs that are paying the tax. I think there are other ways of equalising revenue distribution.”
While unsure whether the AFL intends to buy Etihad Stadium back before the current deal expires on March 8, 2025, Newbold conceded the current agreement was crippling its tenant clubs.
“The acquisition of Etihad is obviously a big piece of the puzzle,” he said.
“I haven’t even been to one meeting yet so I’m not really in a position to speak about how close that is (the purchase of Etihad Stadium).
“I think it’s key to making clubs like St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs more self-sufficient and profitable. I think it is a key plank.”
Newbold joins the AFL Commission alongside former GWS director Gabrielle Trainor. The pair will replace Chris Langford and Sam Mostyn in March.
He was director when Hawthorn won the 2008 premiership and has been president for each of the club’s last three flags in 2013, 2014 and 2015.