Former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou backs Port Adelaide’s “China Strategy” as David Koch puts Gold Coast on notice
AS former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou backs Port Adelaide’s “China Strategy” Power president David Koch puts Gold Coast on notice over jumper farce.
PORT Adelaide president David Koch is convinced the Power will play an AFL game in China for at least the next five years.
And he adds the Power — more so than the AFL — will decide next season’s opponent in Shanghai and what it wears.
Koch’s latest warning to Gold Coast — that has annoyed the Power by opting to wear its red-and-yellow jumper in Shanghai next Sunday — follows former AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou backing the “China Strategy”.
Koch told the BBC’s Radio 5 this afternoon: “We will play in China in each of the next five years. And we choose the teams we play against in the future.”
This opens the door for Koch’s second preference in China, Greater Western Sydney, to accept a $500,000 incentive to sell a home game to be the Power’s partner in China. Port Adelaide cannot move any game from Adelaide Oval.
Demetriou told Bruce McAvaney at the Hutt Street Centre business lunch at Adelaide Oval today that China “absolutely” will work for the AFL and Port Adelaide.
“There are significant returns for the club, the AFL and Australia,” said Demetriou referring to the business capital from the world’s second-largest economy and international television rights..
“Not in the first year,” added Demetriou. Port Adelaide will use up all its sponsorship deals to cover the $4 million budget for next Sunday’s game with Gold Coast.
“But it is absolutely good for business and the AFL to connect with China.”
Koch quickly conceded to the BBC yesterday that China would not “have a clue about Port Adelaide and the AFL, but they love Australia — and brand Australia.”
“Port Adelaide is China’s AFL club,” Koch said. “We’re saying if you want to do business in Australia, you need to build relationships in the community.
“And as a football club, Port Adelaide will help you do that.
“Expanding into China is a great commercial opportunity for our football club. And we thought it was reasonable to have a say in the colour of (Gold Coast’s) guernsey. (The Suns) have made it a little narky thing to stir the pot.”
The AFL has reaffirmed Gold Coast as the home team can wear its red-and-yellow jumper that carries the colours of the Chinese national flag.
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas says the Power-Suns agreement to play in Shanghai is for just one season. Koch’s remarks to the BBC put the Suns on notice.