I don't know why some CEO types get the credit they do.

A guy like Demetriou at the AFL would have an absolute abundance of consultation resources helping him through decision making. Put him in a different system and he may not succeed. You never really know. It's just like a politican -- they get all the credit, but it's actually hundreds of people collaborating for the one idea/motion.

I've never seen demetriou answer a question directly. It's always annoyed the hell out of me

Then again, you can't take away a guy's ability to lead and empower, which is half the battle -- especially for a place like the NBL, where we seemingly need a total whole culture change...when you look at it from the outside in.

David Stern just stepped down too; we should play him and Demetriou against each other for the opening. Have them bid each other down.

It CAN'T fail.

he loves his kids too much to go for this gig

Has said no more sport jobs

I'm not sold on Demetriou. I mean I like the guy but he was set up in a system that can't fail. I mean was there any chance that the AFL would not contain and grow on there competitive advantage in his time? Did he take the AFL to another level? How does the growth of the AFL shape up to the growth of Soccer in the past 10 years? I don't know these answers but I feel like the AFL is so intertwined with Australian culture that it is unlikely to fail and will grow naturally.

Forget Demetriou. Cant afford him and wouldnt take the job even if basketball had the money.Strong family man with his kids coming into there teens.

Wouldn't want him anyway. Didn't take any accountability for any issues that reared it's head whilst in his tenure at the AFL. Let's be honest the amount of money & resources that he had at his disposal at the AFL certainly wouldn't be available at BA!

If he goes to the Australian Open or something cushy, why on Earth would he drop back to the challenge of the NBL?

no thanks

Hes not passionate about basketball like he was about AFL so why bother, get someone who cares and knows about the NBL and basketball (Kristina cared but knew jack sh!t). Getting someone from Asia with connections into China and other Asian leagues would be ideal.

#461077

Is BSA actually worse than BASA? Serious question btw. Would like to get some objective responses!

Which gig is worse: St Kilda or Basketball Australia?

BA, by far Happy Days.

When a football club is struggling, it still has a significant number of rusted on fans. I am not sure ANY job in ANY of the football codes in Australia would be harder than BA.

HO, Are you prepared to put your hand up for the BA role :)

Worst suggestion i have ever heard...
*has single handedly ruined aussie rules football (it is not even the shadow of the game it used to be)
*rule change after rule change has morphed the game to be an "athelete's" game not a "footballer's" game.
No need for skill...all u need to do is run...
*Most arrogant individual i have ever encountered
*Can never trust anything he is saying to be the truth
*GWS...Really?? there might be more money in Sydney than NT or TAS, but they dont have the interest and core love of the game that they do in TAS or NT. This will never work... Historically sydneysiders have NEVER flocked to follow and code in a live setting (including Rugby)

No Happy Days, besides not being remotely qualified, its too hard a job!

Seriously, we are in an horrific state at the administration level. Keneally is an embarrassment as a CEO and the BA Commission need to get serious and bring in people who know what they are doing before we end up without an elite women's competition or the NBL take it over. Demetriou , whether you like him or not, would fix basketball. He has the profile for attracting sponsors, knows the free to air network decision makers, understands how to market (or at least knows people who do), all the things we don't have. We don't need him to understand basketball, there are plenty of people who know that, that isn't the problem. It is the underfunding and lack of any ability to run the organization as a business. Hope his girls play basketball!

Demetriou has been very effective.

#461287, if you don't understand the move into West Sydney then you will grapple with many of the issues of modern, professional, commercialised sport. It had to happen. There is no threat to AFL in Tasmania and none on the horizon, why invest loss making $ there?

As for him fixing Basketball. No way. He, and Gallop to some degree, along with some others, have been successful because they drive money down sports.

When you have the gold, you make the rules. The AFL is not hampered by the factional state based thinking of so many of the second tier sports, including basketball.

When was the last time the AFL or CA or NRL unable to do something because their states said no?

Just like with David Stern, you can't judge Demetriou on a few "mistakes" towards the end of his tenure, when for the 20 or so years prior to that he has been very good for the game.

HO is on the money, pun intended, if you can't grasp the bigger picture anon' you won't be able to understand why and how the AFL is where it is today, largely because Demetriou had the kahunas to put his neck out.

Yes, he admits to mistakes, but the big picture is a growing league with multi million dollar contracts and as HO has mentioned, he comes from a dollar down business model where the dog wags the tail...

Think about it, why would he spend the last working years of his life battling the basketball red-tape inundated and small minded brigade, seriously?

The difference I see with the AFL as opposed to the NBL or NBA (Oklahoma City reference) with expansion is that the AFL wants to be seen as a big city big market league. It does not want to invest in small centres like Tasmania, Townsville etc because its driven by TV and TV wants maximum exposure in the big markets.

Gold Coast is a growing market, and WS is a heavily populated area. Both areas are large and not big on AFL yet. The AFL wants to change that.

Its prepared to lose millions and also have a lower attendance average as it tries to build up a base in these "rugby and soccer" areas, rather than tapping into the traditional strongholds when it doesn't really need to.

No doubt the AFL could comfortably add teams in Tasmania, a 3rd team in Adelaide and Perth, but it wants to be as national and dominant as possible, without going bush league.

Demetriou's objectives over the last few years are not in the same line of thinking as the NBL's.

I dont mean to disrespect Tasmania by calling it bush. I love Tasmania and would love to see an NBL team there in 2 years time. My reference to bush was more an explanation that Hobart and Launceston are only regional centres and not viewed as a major city.

No doubt the whole state will get behind a Tassie AFL team. Its just not seen as a priority for them. Besides, they already have a presence there with Hawthorn playing several home games there and "Tasmania" being a sponsor of them.

The NBL would do well with a team in Tassie however, as they're objectives are different to that of the AFL.

I think Collins is wrong. The AFL is not hemorrhaging for a start. They just announced a 15m surplus, despite supporting two fledgling teams generously - incredible result.

What Collins fails to address is what the scenario would be if the AFL had not moved into Sydney and Brisbane. Quite possibly for a start, that is a TV deal worth half the current one. TV deals start in Sydney, get value added in Melbourne and then rapidly run out of steam. Hence NRL are always in a very strong position and have signed a better TV deal than AFL this time around.

West Sydney was about a large number of things. TV for a start, presence, to combat soccer (the most concentrated participation base of any sport in Australia is West Sydney soccer), etc. It can make a operating loss for the next 30 years and the AFL will likely see it as a good investment. That is how broadly they think about markets.

Tassie is not $$ waiting to happen. I genuinely doubt they can support an AFL team properly, and you have St Kilda (traditionally) and now Hawthorn strongly embedded there.

#461347

One of the best retorts I have ever seen here. Brilliant, incisive stuff.

Looney Bin - what are you on? As for Demetriou not being good by a number of you??? WHAT? He has overseen the AFL clearly become the number one sport in the country by a mile. Yes, he has had help but you need a leader and a figurehead and he has led the league through an astonishing period of growth. I cannot believe anyone could question his success. As for coming over to basketball?? He ain't stupid.

Horseshit anon. AFL has created a massive gap between it and any other sport over the last ten years. Credit where credit is due. He has absolutely nailed the role. He even laughed at the dwarf gag which was extremely funny despite the do gooders who don't want anyone to laugh. Which sport has made any ground on the AFL? Soccer does some damage around World Cup time and that is it.

Horseshit anon. AFL has created a massive gap between it and any other sport over the last ten years. Credit where credit is due. He has absolutely nailed the role. He even laughed at the dwarf gag which was extremely funny despite the do gooders who don't want anyone to laugh. Which sport has made any ground on the AFL? Soccer does some damage around World Cup time and that is it.

Seems he will sit on several boards. Tennis likely. Basketball unlikely.