THE AFL has called on supporters around Australia to supply their next big idea to propel the game of Australian football forward over the next 150 years.
At the 2008 Toyota AFL premiership season launch on Thursday night, Demetriou said the game of Australian football had started 150 years ago on the back of an “outrageous and courageous” idea by a group of Australians eager to create a game of their own.
In a season that celebrates 150 years of Australian football, the AFL wants to hear from football supporters who have made the game what it is today and to gather their ideas on where the game could head – and how to get there.
“We must remain single-minded, and courageous as we develop our game, and remain open to ideas from all directions to continue to grow our game for another 150 years,” Demetriou said.
He said the game was in the middle of the most successful era in its history and it was a perfect time to invest in the game. He said the game must be aggressive but must also care and respect for the history of the game.
“We must be courageous. This is a perfect time to reflect on where we have been, where we are, and where we can go. Where we have been is one unyielding curve of growth based on one idea after the other,” Demetriou said.
He invited all Australians to visit www.150years.com.au to submit their ideas. The ideas will be reviewed and will be discussed at an Australian Football 150 years industry conference later this year involving players, coaches, administrators, media, corporate partners and supporter representatives.
In his season launch speech in front of more than 500 people at Docklands, Demetriou said the foundations of Australian football in its early days had been built on some core ideas:
- Let’s have a game of our own
- Make sure the game is entertaining and available to all.
- Celebrate the champions, and celebrate the game, and its evolution.
- Take the game beyond the boundaries of Victoria
Demetriou said there were a number of key factors that the AFL had to take into account in its ambitious plans for the growth of the game over the next 150 years:
- As we seek locations for new teams, we will make it our No.1 priority to engage with the local community.
- Whatever we do will take into account the needs of our supporters, old and new.
- We will continue to work with our clubs to find ways to make them stronger, to make them secure against outside forces.
- We will never lose sight of the fact that our game is the ultimate, engaging entertainment experience, and our ever-evolving rules will always reflect those guidelines.
- Every policy we enact with our players will take consideration of its impact on the broader community.
- Work with governments across the land to assist in any social endeavour that can benefit from the strength of Australian football.
To provide your ideas for the next 150 years of Australian Football visit www.150years.com.au
