Latest news with #Swann
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Swann reflects on Gisborne's Rugby Park redevelopment, surge in player numbers
Swann said the success of locally born-and-bred Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens players such as Renee Holmes, Charmaine McMenamin, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Kelsey Teneti also promoted women's rugby and showed there was a pathway for talented players. He said Horowhenua-Kāpiti was the only one of the other 25 unions to match Poverty Bay's increased player numbers, which came at a time of economic challenges and growing competition from other codes. The Covid-19 era was another testing time, Swann said. 'We were still having matches. Rugby was operating in a bubble. We worked so hard. It was really, really hard to keep going, but we did. 'We were wiping down posts and pads. We were wiping everything. We were breaking people down into groups, but we got there.' Gisborne's Kelsey Teneti in action for New Zealand against France at the Singapore 7s earlier this year. The success of Teneti and other Gisborne-connected female players is a factor in the increase in female player numbers in Tairāwhiti, says Hayden Swann in reflecting on his tenure as Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union chairman. Photo / Jayne Russell, Photosport The annual report said the Rugby Park redevelopment had been impacted significantly by the Covid-19 pandemic, Cyclone Gabrielle and inflation. But the union decided to develop 'our ageing asset' and the $12.5 million grandstand redevelopment, originally costed at $8m, had been fully funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment/ Kanoa Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit and Trust Tairāwhiti. Swann told the Herald the union was showing huge profits for the past two years of around $2.5 million, 'which of course' related to capital project funding for the grandstand redevelopment which had not yet been spent. 'It is not a real profit.' But the union had made an operating profit in 2024 of $45,000. Swann attributed that to an increase in commercial revenue and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) funding being boosted because of increased player registrations. The union retained strong relationships with local sponsors and funders and took a conservative approach to spending, resulting in more revenue and less spending in 2024, he said. The union was now endeavouring to 'put money away'. Swann said interest earned from the union's $500,000 share of the Silverlake equity payout to NZR would be ring-fenced for maintaining assets and would not be spent on staffing or operations. The union wanted to avoid the example of other sporting infrastructure in the district ageing to a point where it was not fit-for-purpose. The grandstand was due for completion next June and would result in a significant uplift in the equity of the union. Swann said the union had assets of only $321,000 back in 2018 and recorded a deficit of $129,000. Swann, who has stepped aside after serving as an independent member of the PBRFU board for the maximum period of three three-year terms (seven years as chairman), said his nine years had been the most rewarding and enjoyable time of any organisation he had served on. 'Being chairman is a privileged position because you are working for New Zealand Rugby,' the Makaraka School principal said. 'There are 25 other provincial union chairmen [and] you learn from their knowledge, experience and capabilities. 'Rugby is such a neat network and such a giving network.' The new union chairman is Trust Tairāwhiti general manager economic development Hayden Green.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
New footy boss Greg Swann issues ‘interesting' demand for own office on day one at AFL House
New football performance boss Greg Swann demanded his own office on day one at AFL House. Swann officially began his role on Monday and has already made a strong impression with a number of media interviews. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Swann issues demand on day one at AFL House. But he also made an immediate request at his new open-plan office, according to Channel 7's Caroline Wilson. 'He got to the AFL today and was showed the open plan, and said, 'nup, I will be having my own office'. He was told that everyone works open plan, he said, 'no, no, I will be having my own office',' Wilson said on The Agenda Setters. 'I thought it was quite interesting.' Fellow panellist Nick Riewoldt said he liked the demand. And while the appointment has been universally applauded, AFL great Leigh Matthews had doubts. 'When you go to work at the AFL, no-one barracks AFL. Whatever decision you make, half the people disagree with. It is a completely different role,' he said on 3AW over the weekend. Matthews also went on to talk about the overcorrection of being a club person and not understanding potentially the role in the AFL. Riewoldt immediately said he didn't agree with Matthews' assessment. 'I hope he doesn't lose that club element ... the rejoicing from football people has been pretty loud, hasn't it. I think we've been so desperate for it. I don't know if I agree entirely with Leigh there,' he said. Wilson noted that Swann was already 'towing the party line' when he faced the media on Monday. 'He's backtracked on a few things already today in his first press conference. One of them being the Michael Christian press conferences,' Wilson said. 'Stuck up for the umpires and that ridiculous 50m penalty with the scoreboard pointing yesterday and in the Freo game, and was just a bit more, you know ... (towing) the party line. 'He's not a club any more. It was just interesting to hear the most pragmatic voice in footy just put a wave of caution on it.' Swann has hinted play could be sped up before the end of the season as he prioritises reducing the length of matches in his new role. Insisting he won't be making 'radical' changes to the game, Swann is also eager to see the umpires throw the ball up rather than bouncing it in the centre of the ground. The veteran administrator has ruled out reducing the 20-minute playing time for each quarter, but believes the league can tighten up in situations where umpires are waiting for players to get to ruck contests and boundary throw-ins. 'There's a chance to actually speed that up a bit,' Swann told reporters on Monday. 'There's good vision and video of ruckmen taking 20 seconds to come from one end of the ground to the other. 'Everyone stands around and waits, so to me that's something that hopefully we can have a look at and maybe address even before the season finishes.' Swann said it was too early to tell whether the ball would be bounced to open the 2026 season, but has received strong support from 'a majority' of clubs for his plan to scrap the bounce. He is also keen to introduce more transparency around key AFL decisions, including those under the match review system.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The AFL's ticking time bomb: The damning numbers forcing the league's new footy boss to act
Swann said that before he took the job the length of games and the umpires bouncing the ball were the two issues other people raised the most. 'It's just around the set-ups and waiting for ruckmen to get to contests and even the boundary throw-ins or if you are waiting for them to get there and there is a chance to actually speed that up a bit,' Swann said. 'There is good vision and video of ruckman taking 20 seconds to come from one end of the ground to the other and everyone stands there and waits,' Swann said. 'That's something that hopefully we can have a look at and maybe address even before the [end of the] season.' The AFL had to revise the starting time of Sunday games this season pushing them forward five minutes to 3.15pm as they were creeping into the 6pm news. The first quarter of Sunday's Cats-Saints game went for four seconds beyond the 35-minute mark and had most scenarios requiring the clock to be stopped other than a 6-6-6 infringement. There were eight goals kicked, 15 stoppages around the ground, nine boundary throw-ins, two kick-ins, two kicks out-on-the-full, plus a recalled bounce, a score review, a 50-metre penalty, a downfield free kick, two kick-ins, a blood rule and a field umpire conferring with a boundary umpire over a decision. Loading Each boundary throw-in takes roughly 25 seconds of time on, bounces around the ground take about eight seconds and the time that elapses between goals and the ball being bounced is around 55 seconds. The score review and the subsequent kick in took 44 seconds. Attendees at the game were there for three hours, 27 minutes and 16 seconds from the first bounce to the final siren including quarter and half-time breaks. Swann estimated a return to about two hours per match, or four 30 minute quarters, plus quarter and half-time breaks was the ideal game length. The AFL's desire to reduce game length is consistent in world sport aware that engagement time is at a premium. Dillon and Swann addressed a range of issues, including: What Tasmania's election means for the Devils Dillon said despite official confirmation of the result of the Tasmanian election over the weekend yet to come, with the Liberal Party likely to form a minority government, there had been an overwhelming endorsement of the new team and controversial Macquarie Point Stadium. While the Liberals will likely need to rely on crossbenchers to form government, Dillon said it was time to begin work on the stadium, a condition of entry for the AFL's 19th team – in 2028. 'Pleasingly over 70 per cent of the votes that were cast in Tasmania over the weekend went to a candidate that was pro-stadium. We are looking forward to a 2028 start date for the Tasmania Devils. It's really clear we will have a stadium at Mac Point with a roof and 23,000 capacity,' Dillon said. Ditch the centre bounce? Swann revealed there was strong support from clubs to discard the traditional centre bounce. He was due to meet with league umpires late on Monday. Bouncing the ball can be difficult for umpires with back issues. 'We will do some work on it. In the next little bit, I will get around to all clubs and get their views,' he said. 'I have had some clubs already ring and give me their views. I would say the majority are in favour of throwing the ball up. Obviously, that's not going to happen until next year, but we will have a look at that as well.' Asked if there was the possibility of having a ceremonial bounce to start games, Swann replied: 'At the grand final last year, the first bounce went sideways, and they had to recall it. You would want to do the ceremonial bounce if it goes straight.' Keep fans in the loop Swann said he wanted the football operations department, including match review officer decisions, to have greater transparency. 'Maybe explaining some of the decisions we make, maybe we can be a bit more forthcoming with that. We are not going to explain everything away because otherwise you would be here all day,' he said. 'But, if there are some things that are a bit contentious, I think people deserve to understand why we have gone a certain way.' Pre-finals bye Swann said the pre-finals bye was also up for discussion. 'That's another one for next year, really. You would have a look at it,' he said. Added Dillon: 'We are talking season structure for next year. How you set that up. When you have your byes, how many of them you have.' Father-sons, NGAs and the draft 'On the academies, having lived through those, they are crucial up there [the northern states] for the development of the game,' Swann said of the northern academies. 'The new DVI [draft value index] index is going to make a big difference to what you pay for those people now. We need to let that run for a year or two. It will make a big difference to how many blokes you can and can't get.' Priority pick for the West Coast Eagles The Eagles have won a combined 11 games in their past four seasons, but Dillon all but ruled out the 2018 premiers being granted a priority draft selection should they apply. Rather, he pointed to the work Swann had done when in charge of rebuilding the Lions, while also acknowledging how Adelaide were set to play finals this year for the first time since 2017. 'The blueprint is there in the work Swanny and the work he did in Brisbane … and if you look at Adelaide at the weekend, they haven't been in the finals since 2017, but through a lot of hard work, some really good decisions, great trading, great drafting, they are poised now for a top four pick,' Dillon said. 'They have got where they have got without a priority pick, and I think you can do it.'
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
The AFL's ticking time bomb: The damning numbers forcing the league's new footy boss to act
Swann said that before he took the job the length of games and the umpires bouncing the ball were the two issues other people raised the most. 'It's just around the set-ups and waiting for ruckmen to get to contests and even the boundary throw-ins or if you are waiting for them to get there and there is a chance to actually speed that up a bit,' Swann said. 'There is good vision and video of ruckman taking 20 seconds to come from one end of the ground to the other and everyone stands there and waits,' Swann said. 'That's something that hopefully we can have a look at and maybe address even before the [end of the] season.' The AFL had to revise the starting time of Sunday games this season pushing them forward five minutes to 3.15pm as they were creeping into the 6pm news. The first quarter of Sunday's Cats-Saints game went for four seconds beyond the 35-minute mark and had most scenarios requiring the clock to be stopped other than a 6-6-6 infringement. There were eight goals kicked, 15 stoppages around the ground, nine boundary throw-ins, two kick-ins, two kicks out-on-the-full, plus a recalled bounce, a score review, a 50-metre penalty, a downfield free kick, two kick-ins, a blood rule and a field umpire conferring with a boundary umpire over a decision. Loading Each boundary throw-in takes roughly 25 seconds of time on, bounces around the ground take about eight seconds and the time that elapses between goals and the ball being bounced is around 55 seconds. The score review and the subsequent kick in took 44 seconds. Attendees at the game were there for three hours, 27 minutes and 16 seconds from the first bounce to the final siren including quarter and half-time breaks. Swann estimated a return to about two hours per match, or four 30 minute quarters, plus quarter and half-time breaks was the ideal game length. The AFL's desire to reduce game length is consistent in world sport aware that engagement time is at a premium. Dillon and Swann addressed a range of issues, including: What Tasmania's election means for the Devils Dillon said despite official confirmation of the result of the Tasmanian election over the weekend yet to come, with the Liberal Party likely to form a minority government, there had been an overwhelming endorsement of the new team and controversial Macquarie Point Stadium. While the Liberals will likely need to rely on crossbenchers to form government, Dillon said it was time to begin work on the stadium, a condition of entry for the AFL's 19th team – in 2028. 'Pleasingly over 70 per cent of the votes that were cast in Tasmania over the weekend went to a candidate that was pro-stadium. We are looking forward to a 2028 start date for the Tasmania Devils. It's really clear we will have a stadium at Mac Point with a roof and 23,000 capacity,' Dillon said. Ditch the centre bounce? Swann revealed there was strong support from clubs to discard the traditional centre bounce. He was due to meet with league umpires late on Monday. Bouncing the ball can be difficult for umpires with back issues. 'We will do some work on it. In the next little bit, I will get around to all clubs and get their views,' he said. 'I have had some clubs already ring and give me their views. I would say the majority are in favour of throwing the ball up. Obviously, that's not going to happen until next year, but we will have a look at that as well.' Asked if there was the possibility of having a ceremonial bounce to start games, Swann replied: 'At the grand final last year, the first bounce went sideways, and they had to recall it. You would want to do the ceremonial bounce if it goes straight.' Keep fans in the loop Swann said he wanted the football operations department, including match review officer decisions, to have greater transparency. 'Maybe explaining some of the decisions we make, maybe we can be a bit more forthcoming with that. We are not going to explain everything away because otherwise you would be here all day,' he said. 'But, if there are some things that are a bit contentious, I think people deserve to understand why we have gone a certain way.' Pre-finals bye Swann said the pre-finals bye was also up for discussion. 'That's another one for next year, really. You would have a look at it,' he said. Added Dillon: 'We are talking season structure for next year. How you set that up. When you have your byes, how many of them you have.' Father-sons, NGAs and the draft 'On the academies, having lived through those, they are crucial up there [the northern states] for the development of the game,' Swann said of the northern academies. 'The new DVI [draft value index] index is going to make a big difference to what you pay for those people now. We need to let that run for a year or two. It will make a big difference to how many blokes you can and can't get.' Priority pick for the West Coast Eagles The Eagles have won a combined 11 games in their past four seasons, but Dillon all but ruled out the 2018 premiers being granted a priority draft selection should they apply. Rather, he pointed to the work Swann had done when in charge of rebuilding the Lions, while also acknowledging how Adelaide were set to play finals this year for the first time since 2017. 'The blueprint is there in the work Swanny and the work he did in Brisbane … and if you look at Adelaide at the weekend, they haven't been in the finals since 2017, but through a lot of hard work, some really good decisions, great trading, great drafting, they are poised now for a top four pick,' Dillon said. 'They have got where they have got without a priority pick, and I think you can do it.'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Greg swans into AFL job with a radical plan to exercise common sense
The Swann era has started, and it sounds more Ian Collins than Adrian Anderson, Steve Hocking or Laura Kane. That is not to say it will be better, worse or otherwise. But it will be more entertaining. Loading For each topic raised, he had an answer, and the answers were reasonable. Most would hold broad appeal on talkback radio. Why do we wait for ruckmen? And why do they have to nominate for the ruck like it's an Auskick game? And what is it with quarters going 35 minutes and longer? Possibly because he had not yet had time to be briefed by his new staff on the myriad reasons why things are the way they are, his answers were pleasingly frank and not hysterical. The AFL wanted challenging views from someone who was a game insider but an outsider at league headquarters, so they hired Swann. They wanted a sop to clubs and to return to speaking openly in the football vernacular to fans. Swann was getting in early to deliver on their request. The AFL wanted someone from 'clubland' as though it is some amorphous beast where Swann speaks the groupthink. Being from clubland and knowing the interests and preferences of all clubs are two different things, but at the very least, Swann has the connections to temperature-check if his views accord with others. Even CEO Andrew Dillon standing next to him at a press conference on Swann's first day laughed at the club man idea, saying 'give it six months'. Amusingly, Swann chuckled up to the press conference and laid out some plans for change, then praised the good work of everyone whose work he had just been saying he wants to change. Some of his preferred changes he reckons he could get in quickly. There is no real integrity problem in refusing to wait for ruckmen, but it could be his first introduction to unhappy coaches when the ball is thrown up before that club's ruckman is there. Simplifying rules like holding the ball and the stand rule, to make umpiring easier, might take more time. Ditto throwing the ball up instead of bouncing. That might need to wait until next year. Resistance might come in surprising places when he presses the issue. He told critics to suck it up about a rare 50-metre penalty for dissent that was paid at the MCG on Sunday when Fremantle's Karl Worner pointed to the scoreboard replay. 'I think everyone knows you're not allowed to do that, so don't do it,' he said, admitting others will complain of similar instances that were not penalised. Oh well, that'll happen. His style was ironically more Peter V'Landys than Andrew Dillon. The AFL ordinarily ignores the belligerent V'Landys, Swann was more unafraid to dare utter the three letters N. R. L. Swann took the lead of Andrew Dillon to remind all that his suggestions were all minor tweaks and that the overall game was in rude health. Best game in the world. He then went where the AFL seldom does and name-checked the other codes. 'From my point of view (AFL) is a fantastic game. It's the best game in the world,' he said. 'I mean, I've moved up to Queensland, obviously, and you get rugby league and everything else, the British Lions were there on the weekend. And our game leaves them in the shade. 'The things (changes) I'm talking about, hopefully are tweaks, there's nothing radical needs to happen.' Loading
