Head of AFL NT Sam Gibson says a major review is underway into the competition, with a focus on the fly-in player rules and points system to ensure there is a level playing field for all clubs as well as sustainability

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, the AFL here in the Northern Territory is poised

(00:03):
to make changes to the ntfl's fly in rule and
play a points system with the competitive balance measures causing
issues for some of the clubs throughout last season. Now,
as outlined by the review, the system designed to balance
competitiveness and control spending has led to unintended challenges and speculation.

(00:25):
Now joining us on the show is AFL and T
head Sam Gibson. Good morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Sam, morning Katty. Thanks Hevan.

Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yeah, good to have you on the show. Now, can
you talk us through exactly what the review is all about.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Yeah, it's a big review which we've been looking at
for a period of time, probably around eighteen months, where
we're taking a bit of a forensic look at all
the things that impact competitive balance across the competition. Obviously,
it's a very unique competition the NCFL in terms of

(01:02):
or the fact that all of our clubs are quite different,
some clubs operating venues, some not, and some like the
Tea with bombers sort of traveling in every weekend. And
then obviously the other key thing that makes it different
is the fact that so many people come in from
interstate and participate in the competition. So I guess in

(01:23):
lieu of those things, amongst a whole raft of other things,
you know, it makes it a bit of a challenge
to ensure that the systems in place enable clubs to
strive a success. So we're taking a holistic sort of
view of it, and things like the Flying Rule and
a few other things are obviously key instruments and they'll

(01:44):
be reviewed as part of it.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
So what are really some of the key areas that
you guys are going to be looking into and potentially changing.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
Well, there's probably two ways to look at it, Katie.
There's the on field and off field, And I think
if you look on field, we've got a points system
and we've got things like the Flying Rule, driving all
these things which have been around for a long period
of time and obviously act as a catalyst for the
league in clubs to be able to work within a

(02:17):
framework which aims to provide competitive balance. So we'll look
at those things, and then equally, I think off field
is just the ability for clubs to obviously be sustainable,
that's first and foremost, but also invest appropriately in their
football programs. And as part of that look, we'll look

(02:38):
at I guess different club circumstances, their ability to drive revenue,
the cost base that the clubs have, they are all
very different. As we know. We'll look at the AFL
and t's investment into two community football and we provide
a lot of subsidy across the competition and directly to

(03:02):
clubs indirectly as well, and then we'll look at how
do we simplify this and make it as easy as
we can. You know, clubs put amount of work in
not just during the season, but ultimately twelve years, I
mean twelve months around, So how do we make it
simple for volunteers as well.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
Last year, obviously there was a concern that you know
with Nightcliff Football Club. I know that that was then overturned,
but it's you know, with some of these you know,
with some of the fly in rules and and that
kind of thing, it does look as though it's caused
some issues over the years. How do you think that

(03:42):
could be modified or what do you think could potentially
change in that space?

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, obviously, I mean there's there's cases like that where
where the difficulty for both league and clubs to be
able to administer what a very unique and complex by laws.
You know that that sort of shines a light on
the fact that you've got to continue to look at it,
review it and try and make it easier. And it's

(04:08):
probably too early to be able to speculate around what
it could look like. And I think you know, we're
trying to manage a balance here. We we obviously celebrate
the fact that clubs bring in high profile players and
high quality players from from interstate and that's a it's
a massive part of the competition, and we've got a

(04:29):
balance to manage there with with local players, local talent
to ensure that you know, it is is a local
competition and it's it's purely added to through through interstate players.
And then, as I said, we've got to bring it
back to the fact that our clubs are volunteer run
and we want to make it easier for clubs to

(04:49):
be able to administer, you know that the buying the
by laws and and how do we do that that
that's the question that we're seeking an answer.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
To some of the clubs, Like you touched on the
financials a little while ago, do some of the clubs
sort of potentially have an unfair advantage because their capacity
to bring in money or you know, their capacity to
be more economically viable means that they're they're able to
do more.

Speaker 2 (05:17):
Oh look, I think I'll just bring it back to
the fact that it's a very complex competition and if
you review it in conjunction with the analysis of a
Southern comp So so you know, in count Victoria, for example,
where pretty much all the clubs are the same, have
got home grounds, have got the ability to drive revenue
and very similar cost base behind that. It is very

(05:42):
different here and you know, of course there's the whole
raft of reasons why there's decisions that clubs have made,
there's other circumstances, and you know, we're not going to
take a really granular look at it. I think there
is a whole range of things and there's also a
whole range of things that contribute to club success. It's

(06:03):
not just about being able to fly players in. There's
this club culture and there's the development of local talent
and so on and so forth. So it is it is multifaceted.
But I think as the league, you know, we need
to ensure that every club can concede it's next success
and that's what we're trying to future proof and there's

(06:24):
a few strings that we can pull on.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
So how long is the review going to take and
what's next.

Speaker 2 (06:31):
Through the back end of it. Now, we've sort of
been talking to clubs and different stakeholders for a period
of time, gathering information, data, so on and so forth.
Over the next couple of months there will be a
lot more stakeholder conversations and you know, I don't think
what we'll see sweeping changes immediately. You know, this is

(06:52):
about sort of future proofing our clubs and the competitions
for the next five ten years. And you know, I
must add it off the back of sustained growth over
the last three or four years as well, So we're
not going to swoop in and make drastic changes all
at once, and you know, use about sort of stepping

(07:12):
through it methodically. And you know, I think we will
see some changes in advance prior to the next ENSFL
season kicking off in October, but we'll continue the conversation
as we as we move forward as well.

Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well. Sam Gibson, head of AFL here in the Northern Territory,
good to speak with you this morning. Much appreciate your time.

Speaker 2 (07:33):
Thanks Gattie, preature.

Speaker 1 (07:34):
Thank you,