Power president David Koch fires back at Hawthorn counterpart Jeff Kennett saying the Hawks will one day embrace international money

PORT Adelaide president David Koch and his Hawthorn counterpart Jeff Kennett are to meet in Melbourne on Wednesday after Kennett blasted the Power’s China strategy.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett labelled AFL international expansion - that includes a study trip by the Crows to India this week - as “an absolute waste of time and money”.

PORT Adelaide president David Koch will have a face-to-face with Hawthorn counterpart Jeff Kennett tomorrow to fire back at the latest hit on his China dream.

And Koch will warn Kennett that as soon as a Chinese backer opts to sponsor the Hawks: “There will be an invoice from the Port Adelaide Football Club demanding a commission.”

Kennett on Tuesday labelled AFL international expansion - that includes a study trip by the Crows to India this week - as “an absolute waste of time and money”.

Kennett’s strategic statement - as he aims to stop the AFL pushing Hawthorn out of Tasmania to leave the island to North Melbourne - prompted Koch to immediately demand a meeting in Melbourne tomorrow when the 18 league club presidents meet at AFL House.

“I’m happy to sit down with Jeff to explain the big picture in China - and open his eyes,” said Koch. His invitation - by text message - has been accepted by Kennett.

But Koch is surprised the man who, as Victoria Premier, changed a state’s thinking to embrace international sporting events - such as the Formula One Grand Prix - would be so negative on taking Australian football to the world.

“Here is a man who brought the big events to Melbourne, yet he cannot see the big picture in sport today,” Koch told The Advertiser.

“That’s why I am really surprised at Jeff’s comments. I’ve always seen him as a lateral thinker.”

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett labelled AFL international expansion - that includes a study trip by the Crows to India this week - as “an absolute waste of time and money”.

Kennett’s outburst on AFL international expansion follows the AFL last week announcing it was committed to follow Port Adelaide’s China dream in the “medium term” - at least the next five years. The second Power-Gold Coast game in Shanghai will be played for AFL premiership points in May.

At the same time, Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney, Richmond and Sydney have representatives in India this week with AFL international consultant David Stevenson to measure the game’s commercial prospects on the sub-continent.

Kennett blasted AFL international objectives saying: “It (Australian football) will never live in India, it will never live in China. It’s just an absolute waste of time and money.

“The AFL should be focused on what it does well and why it was established, which was to oversee the operation of the code here in Australia.”

The AFL’s major goal is to use its new short-form, seven-a-side game - AFLX on rectangular fields - to encourage major backing of the Australian game from Chinese television that is searching for new sports content and Chinese tycoons such as the Power’s major benefactor, Shanghai real estate billionaire Gui Guojie.

“And when that moment delivers a Chinese commercial partner to Hawthorn, I’ll be asking Jeff Kennett to pay the Port Adelaide Football Club a commission,” Koch told The Advertiser.

Of the multi-million dollar cost of the Shanghai game, Koch responded: “It is completely underwritten without AFL money - with new money to Australian football from China.”

Of Kennett’s “waste of time” jibe, Koch said: “If we want to remain a myopic game in Australia, we will never go any further nor flourish.

“China is Australia’s biggest trading partner - and sports diplomacy is a key pillar to building relationships between China and Australia. It connects two countries, two societies and two business sectors.

“That is why (Australian) Prime Minister Turnbull and (Chinese) Premier Li have been pivotal supporters of our China project - and are encouraging us to take it even further.”

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