BARASSI DEBATE 2010
THE world of modern football and high finance proved a winner for the branch when 300 guests defied a Tassie winter to rock up for a breakfast at Wrest Point with celebreties and controversy on the menu.
The event was the eighth annual Ron Barassi Senior football debate, the branch's biggest fund-raiser and drew a legendary panel of both Aussie Rules and Rugby League figures to debate which code had the fairest salary cap.
The AFL trio comprised John Elliot, Age footy writer Caroline Wilson, and former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas. Their CVs are on the plus side of stunning. Big John Elliot, former Carlton president and long-time supporter of the Taverners in Tasmania; Caroline Wilson, a brilliant reporter and writer on football for close on 30 years; Grant Thomas, only the second coach to take St Kilda to three successive finals series.
Their rugby league opponents lost nothing in comparison. Roy Masters led their team with a huge list of achievements – award-winning coaching, a long careeer in both print and electronic journalism. Then there was Robbie Kearns, former captain, now marketing specialist with the Melbourne Storm – the team almost destroyed for salary cap infringements. Tim Cox, one-time Sydney Bears fan and now national award-winning ABC broadcaster based in Hobart.
Ron Barassi had the role of moderator and scored the good humoured and wide-ranging jibes, jokes and hints of times past as a draw.
He also made the very passionate argument that victory in sport shouldn't belong to the most cashed-up club.
Three independent judges, Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett, Opposition Leader Will Hodgman, and Sports Minister David O'Byrne scored it 2-1 in favour of the rugby league team.
On one issue, there was no argument – both sides agreed that Tasmania should have an AFL team.