Skystyler
29 May 2007, 13:20
'Neutral' should be neutered
29 May 2007 Herald-Sun
Mark Stevens
THE AFL didn't have to look far on Sunday to realise why Victorian fans are losing hope, Mark Stevens writes.
All Andrew Demetriou had to do was flick on Foxtel to watch the Bulldogs play Sydney in a "home" game in Canberra.
It would have taken the AFL supremo a few minutes to realise the stands were full of red and white.
And it was clear inside an hour that the Dogs, away from their Telstra Dome fortress, had no hope.
A day after announcing his concerns about the "heartland" of football, the cruellest of all inequities was on show.
The Dogs pocketed about $300,000 for the one-off game at Manuka, but could lose a lot more. Like a top-four or top-eight spot.
Some might say Sydney would have won in Melbourne anyway, given its gritty, dominant, performance in Canberra.
But it's not that simple.
Consider for a moment, that the Dogs have won 18 of their past 23 games at Telstra Dome.
Yet, because their financial deal at the ground is so poor, the Dogs were forced to give up that advantage to improve their bottom line.
Sydney surely couldn't believe its luck. In recent games against the Saints and Kangas at the Dome, the Swans have put in shockers.
Then, along comes a game on a silver platter. Two and a bit hours down the road, they get to play at a ground packed with their own fans.
As much as the AFL should be congratulated for pushing sold games to what it terms "neutral" venues, Manuka isn't too neutral when the Swans are in town.
And there's another "freebie" coming in Round 18 when the Swans take on the Demons in a Melbourne "home" game at Manuka. That's 13 games for Sydney in NSW/ACT. The stuff of dreams.
Selling one-off games gives Victorian teams a kick in the guts and interstate sides a free kick.
The league, if it is serious, should ban the one-off games interstate. Just support clubs with the extra cash. Give Canberra and Darwin two NAB Cup games each and leave it at that.
Credit to Hawthorn and the Kangas for building a home away from home, but where's the advantage for the Dogs and Dees in Canberra? The Dogs head to Darwin in Round 12 to play Fremantle in a "home" game. Again, zero advantage.
Bulldogs fans are a fairly reserved, unified bunch. They don't grumble much. But if you listened to talkback on Sunday you'd realise there is anger brewing.
We're talking survival versus a shot at the flag. It's a delicate balancing act. The Dogs faithful have been waiting a long time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree with this bloke. Its not fair. As much as I'm glad we're not on the sharp end of the stick, it doesn't sit well with me. No doubt this has been discussed before. Where do people sit on this issue?
29 May 2007 Herald-Sun
Mark Stevens
THE AFL didn't have to look far on Sunday to realise why Victorian fans are losing hope, Mark Stevens writes.
All Andrew Demetriou had to do was flick on Foxtel to watch the Bulldogs play Sydney in a "home" game in Canberra.
It would have taken the AFL supremo a few minutes to realise the stands were full of red and white.
And it was clear inside an hour that the Dogs, away from their Telstra Dome fortress, had no hope.
A day after announcing his concerns about the "heartland" of football, the cruellest of all inequities was on show.
The Dogs pocketed about $300,000 for the one-off game at Manuka, but could lose a lot more. Like a top-four or top-eight spot.
Some might say Sydney would have won in Melbourne anyway, given its gritty, dominant, performance in Canberra.
But it's not that simple.
Consider for a moment, that the Dogs have won 18 of their past 23 games at Telstra Dome.
Yet, because their financial deal at the ground is so poor, the Dogs were forced to give up that advantage to improve their bottom line.
Sydney surely couldn't believe its luck. In recent games against the Saints and Kangas at the Dome, the Swans have put in shockers.
Then, along comes a game on a silver platter. Two and a bit hours down the road, they get to play at a ground packed with their own fans.
As much as the AFL should be congratulated for pushing sold games to what it terms "neutral" venues, Manuka isn't too neutral when the Swans are in town.
And there's another "freebie" coming in Round 18 when the Swans take on the Demons in a Melbourne "home" game at Manuka. That's 13 games for Sydney in NSW/ACT. The stuff of dreams.
Selling one-off games gives Victorian teams a kick in the guts and interstate sides a free kick.
The league, if it is serious, should ban the one-off games interstate. Just support clubs with the extra cash. Give Canberra and Darwin two NAB Cup games each and leave it at that.
Credit to Hawthorn and the Kangas for building a home away from home, but where's the advantage for the Dogs and Dees in Canberra? The Dogs head to Darwin in Round 12 to play Fremantle in a "home" game. Again, zero advantage.
Bulldogs fans are a fairly reserved, unified bunch. They don't grumble much. But if you listened to talkback on Sunday you'd realise there is anger brewing.
We're talking survival versus a shot at the flag. It's a delicate balancing act. The Dogs faithful have been waiting a long time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree with this bloke. Its not fair. As much as I'm glad we're not on the sharp end of the stick, it doesn't sit well with me. No doubt this has been discussed before. Where do people sit on this issue?