Would you be happy to change our name for stronghold in NZ?

[stkildathunda]

Surely this is a joke... Changing our name just to get a stronghold in NZ? Stuff the sheep shaggers if thats the case...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-spor ... Wellington

One of Australia's top AFL clubs is willing to change its name to get a boothold in Wellington.

The 139-year-old St Kilda team is keen to build a second home in the capital and negotiations are under way between the Melbourne club and Wellington City Council.

Wellington City Council sports and events portfolio leader John Morrison and local businessman John Dow were recently flown to Melbourne for a taste of AFL action.

They watched the Anzac Day match between Essendon and Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, before 95,000 fans.

Negotiations were delicately poised, Mr Morrison said. "To be brutally honest, in principle we have agreed that we will both try and do it. This is not a one-off, they're talking long term."

The club was considering changing its name to The Saints, already its colloquial tag, he said.

When playing in its Wellington enclave, the team would become The Saints Wellington, with hopes the move will build support in the capital.

St Kilda would play three "home" games in the capital during the AFL season, from 2014.

The bond may be kicked off with an Anzac Day match at Westpac next year.

[jonesy]

If the club give up there name for an NZ theme they can comprehensively go **** themselves.

If there is an ounce of truth to this the board needs to be ousted asap

[St Chris]

North Melbourne went down this road, and I dont think their identity has ever recovered fully.

Every time theres more news on this deal, it feels more and more like we're lining up a permanant move down the track.

Wellington can borrow our club, but they can't keep them.

[philtee]

Plenty on it here - http://www.nzafl.co.nz/
And here - http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/a ... 6341209751

AFL must have big expansion plans for NZ to justify the risk and the cost.

Saints members would want rights to three more "home" games in lieu. The Club would want to
be getting some good money for being dropped into an experiment.

And if Morrison and Dow loved being at the Pies-Bombers blockbuster with 95,000, what would they
have made of the ugly Saints-Demons slug-fest last weekend in front of 40,000 on a drizzly Saturday
night ?

Wonder what the Wellington Saints basketball club make of it all ?

[AccidentallyTim]

Well, Footscray became the Western Bulldogs...

Not sure about "The Saints Wellington".

Made my stomach turn

[oh when the]

Maybe the nomads

[oh when the]

Maybe the nomads

[St Chris]

Wellington Wanderers

[skeptic]

i like the move

don't like the name change though

isn't the whole point of the move to seaford + alliance with Sandy to establish our identify down the south east corridor

no name change for mine

[matrix]

the saints wellington?

who in the hell came up with that crap idea for a name?????

f****** no way
that is pathetic

[8856brother]

the saints wellington?

who in the hell came up with that crap idea for a name?????

f****** no way
that is pathetic

If the name changes so will my relationship with the club. Won't be the same. Don't care how the club spins it. My passion will change. Will be time to spend more time with the family.

[Furphy]

A late April Fool's Day prank? Remember in the early 80's when there was a prank where StKilda was sold to an Arab oil Sheik?

[bigcarl]

Wouldn't bother me if it helps us move into a new market and become one of the more powerful clubs.

I already call us the Saints.

[StGoddard18]

Just makes me think of a saints coloured gumboot. I really hope they don't change the name.

[st_Trav_ofWA]

Doubt it will change ... But if it does it's 10000x better then going down the Fitzroy path or Universty ... We haven't been in St Kilda for generations

[The Jeff]

the saints wellington?

who in the hell came up with that crap idea for a name?????

f****** no way
that is pathetic

What about:

New Zealand AFL Mortgage House The Saints Wellington NZ. Personally I think it has a nice ring to it and tradition is so overrated...

FFS...

[saintspremiers]

Lamb Saints?

[dragit]

Aint Gumboots…

[The Jeff]

Sunt Wullingtin?

[Dr Spaceman]

Aint Gumboots…

So I suppose Wellington Boot's out of the question?

[stevie]

As long as Roo kicks sex goals and there's no photos involving woolly bits, no probs...

[Quixote]

the saints wellington?

who in the hell came up with that crap idea for a name?????

f****** no way
that is pathetic

If the name changes so will my relationship with the club. Won't be the same. Don't care how the club spins it. My passion will change. Will be time to spend more time with the family.

wait wut?

[Quixote]

Also - not sure how I feel about that move.

But I think I'm OK with it!!

And Jeez, that Kiwi bloke was talking strongly. Almost like it is a done deal...

[saintspremiers]

Also - not sure how I feel about that move.

But I think I'm OK with it!!

And Jeez, that Kiwi bloke was talking strongly. Almost like it is a done deal...

Sounds like he was about to crack open the chilli bin and celebrate!

[Dave McNamara]

i like the move

don't like the name change though

isn't the whole point of the move to seaford + alliance with Sandy to establish our identify down the south east corridor

no name change for mine

I'm open to playing some games over there - if we can do something of what the P&P are doing in Tassie, then that would be a positive.

Wellington Puss In Boots Saints Clown Side Show though - no fudgen' way!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poodles and Nuff Nuff Melbourne/Roadkill sold their souls with name changes. Toyboys and Swines did even worse by selling out completely and vacating... I still feel sorry for those of their supporters who kid themselves that their team lives on.

If St Kilda FC was to perform some stupid soul-selling name change (or worse) re Kiwiland, then unlike some of the supporters of the above former clubs, I would face reality, and go and find something else to amuse me over winter.

Where's Barks when we need ya - if this is ever truly on the cards - 'Sack the Board' I say.




PS: OK I've bitten, can someone now please tell me that this is just a bit of stirring to get that bite?