This story originally appeared on afl.com.au.
PORT ADELAIDE chairman David Koch has weighed into the international expansion debate, saying his club's commitment to China could bolster Australia's relationship with its 'biggest trading partner' over the long-term.
Koch was one of several club leaders who challenged Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett at Wednesday's annual AFL club briefing over his comments that the AFL's push into China and India was 'an absolute waste of time and money'.
Port and Gold Coast will play their second consecutive premiership game in China's biggest city, Shanghai, in round nine this year.
Koch told AFL.com.au his club's commitment to China went "well beyond jumping on a plane and playing one game a year in Shanghai".
"We have commenced a long-term journey of building meaningful relationships in China that has great potential for our club and the broader AFL competition," Koch said.
"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 Malcolm Turnbull and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang have been pivotal supporters of our China project and are encouraging us to take it even further.
"I simply reiterated this point to Jeff and the other AFL club presidents at yesterday's
Kennett said on Tuesday he would vehemently oppose Hawthorn playing in an overseas game, even if it was an exhibition over the off-season, believing it would jeopardise the club's primary goal of winning premierships.
"My job, the board's job, is to play the game seriously in the environment in which it lives. It will never live in India, it will never live in China. It's just an absolute waste of time and money," Kennett said.
"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."
Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane also tackled Kennett over his comments at Wednesday's briefing.
"Quite a few presidents felt the need to reprimand Jeff over his comments," Cochrane told AFL.com.au.
"It doesn't gain anything by having pot shots at AFL clubs.
"There was a collective feeling around the table they were in poor taste. They're not in the spirit of the competition, where it is now and where it wants to head."
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