The relationship between sport and betting will be a subject of political debate throughout 2011 as various interest groups put their points of view on the possible impact of increased wagering on the game (and the advertising of such options) more and more vociferously.
The issues are varied and multi-layered, moving from poker machine licences, advertising of betting odds at AFL venues and within commentary during games, the effect of regulations and strategies to protect the integrity of the game as well as the social impact of such betting.
The first political intervention came last night when the Federal Government announced measures to reduce and control the promotion of live betting odds during sports coverage. Sporting codes, broadcasters and betting agencies will have to adhere to the deal made between state and federal gambling ministers that will eventually ban such promotion. Current contracts will be allowed to play out but no new deals can be signed.
The Australian reports that the AFL - who had already expressed concern about the impact such promotion was having on a 'day at the footy', or as the marketing boffins might say, the 'matchday experience' - supported the Government's initiative. AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said he appreciated the Government's intentions: "We’ve been very proactive about having some protocol around this advertising and try to do it a bit more sensitively and sensibly."
Other issues are more complex with many grassroots clubs concerned about the impact to their club's bottom line that might be caused if further restrictions are placed on the use of poker machines. The AFL, however, is committed to working with Government on this issue to gain an outcome that is suitable to a range of community stakeholders.
In relation to the headline-grabbing topics of match-fixing or spot-fixing, the AFL is very confident it has the measures and resources in place to ensure anyone thinking of engaging in corrupt behaviour of this sort will be caught and exposed.
When answering a question at the National Press Club of Australia on Wednesday, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou made the AFL's philosophy clear.
"One of the greatest threats to our game that we have identified is protecting the integrity of our sport," said Demetriou. "If your supporters or your fan base start to doubt the integrity of your sport, then it is a long way back."
"We are absolutely obsessed with putting in measures to protect the integrity of our code. Having a relationship with the betting agencies is far more advantageous to our code, to protect the integrity of our code."
The AFL is working with Governments to ensure the process is transparent and seeking support where it might help to strengthen their resolve to keep the game clean. During the week AFL Football operations manager Adrian Anderson also suggested that criminal sanctions should apply to deter anyone wishing to influence the result or deliberately manipulate an event within the game.
The raw, the new, the experienced
Some familiar themes emerged in the profiles written this weekend in the morning's papers. The raw, the new, the old and the emerging all had similar tales to tell when it came to assessing the reasons behind their good form on the field this season.
Gold Coast Suns' high profile former rugby league star Karmichael Hunt, Geelong's Andrew Mackie, Richmond's Robin Nahas and Tyrone Vickery and the Eagles' Quinten Lynch all confirmed that forging an AFL career takes time, persistence, resilience and eventually the ability to reinvent oneself, adapting as the game changes.
Caroline Wilson's profile of Karmichael Hunt in The Age painted a portrait of a coachable, humble, determined athletic talent who had impressed everyone at the Suns from the moment he arrived. He is prepared to go back to the reserves to work on the offensive side of his game, more focused on mastering the difficult art of the AFL game than being interested in the stardom and pats on the back that might come with being able to play three codes at the elite level.
He even concedes he might have underestimated the challenge but that reality has made him even more determined to succeed. "The hardest thing has been trying to get my head around AFL football. It's such a complex game," said Hunt.
Jon Ralph's discussion in the Herald Sun with Richmond's improved onballer Robin Nahas revealed that the only way to success is to combine hard work with talent. "It's all about work-rate for me," said Nahas.
Nahas's agility and pace suits the demands of the modern game but in the final year of his contract the penny dropped. He trained alongside the club's best and placed himself on a self-imposed ban on playing PlayStation.
Early results are encouraging for Nahas, as they are for teammate, Tyrone Vickery, profiled in The Age by Michael Gleeson.
Vickery said the new substitute rule had helped him cement a spot in the team as the club needed a forward/ruckman. He was given confidence in pre-season as the club emphasised to him they were expecting him to provide another target up forward to take the pressure and focus away from Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt.
Mackie and Lynch are at the other end of the football road.
Both premiership players had to deal with the uncertainty of being dropped last season but now acknowledge it was the wake-up call they needed. Mackie and Lynch both understand that a good game now is not about individual statistics but how they support their teammates and fit into the overall structure.
As Mackie told the Herald Sun: "I'm now excited by doing things that mightn't get noticed as much but help the team achieve."
Mackie is not the only one excited about where his career his heading. Former premiership teammate and Cats' great Gary Ablett is looking forward to the prospect of lining up against his old team for the first time tonight when Gold Coast - the team Ablett now leads - writing "I’d be lying if I said it wasn't a strange feeling."
In Brief
North Melbourne and the AFL will be interested in the Tasmanian Government's decision on Monday that may see the Kangaroos play six games in Hobart during the next three years.
Essendon key defender Tayte Pears is back through the seconds this week
After 10 goals last week against the Bulldogs, Eagles key forward Josh Kennedy is expected to earn a hefty pay rise as the club moves to re-sign its key forward.
The opinions in this article are that of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
