Outrageous and downright annoying

[Voice of Reason]

I have just finished the laborious and tedious task of transcribing the Eagles and West Perth fixtures for 2003 into my diary.

Being the good supporter I am, I have bought memberships to both clubs - Eagles magnificent seats with the whole family just behind Mr Q and West Perth a ground entry pass that gets me in to all home games at Joondalup (and a $1 discount on away entry). When i bought the WP membership, the fixtures weren't available.

The first two home games at Joondalup are against East Perth (the big derby and GF rematch) and East Fremantle (top 4 and a great final last year). Both clash directly with Eagles home games at Subiaco (v Port and St Kilda).

There is one more direct clash with home games later in the year and two days where we can (just) see both away games at Swans and Perth if we can drive from Bassendean and Lathlain in less than an hour to Subi. On many occasions the Eagles games interstate on TV prevents all but those (yes, me again) who are prepared to a) watch the TV in a bar at the WAFL ground or b) watch at home, jump in the car, race to the ground, watch the end in the bar or miss the end of the game.

Why?

Why can't the WAFC, the WAFL and the AFL get their act together?

Clearly the AFL have multiple scheduling difficulties and a process which saw them announce their fixtures ages ago. Fair enough, they're set.

WAFL? WAFC? Do you care about the future of football? How hard is it to schedule the games on different days?

I am actually wasting money by buying a WP membership (I don't care - I view it as a non-tax-deductible donation). It would be easier and cheaper just to turn up when I can be bothered and pay.

How do I explain to my daughter, who goes to both, that of all the many days you could play, they've put them on at the same time?

It's pathetic.

Once again, the fans lose out.

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by Voice of Reason
The first two home games at Joondalup are against East Perth (the big derby and GF rematch) and East Fremantle (top 4 and a great final last year). Both clash directly with Eagles home games at Subiaco (v Port and St Kilda).


Certainly fixturing EP v WP to clash with an AFL game is shooting yourself in the foot. Particularly if its an Eagles game, a Freo game may be OK as you'd guess most Freo supporters are SF or EF supporters.

I know most footy supporters don't go to both leagues (whether through lack of interest or lack of time), but it doesn't make sense to anger those who do as they are the core of football support in WA.

[Voice of Reason]

Originally posted by Mr Q
Certainly fixturing EP v WP to clash with an AFL game is shooting yourself in the foot. Particularly if its an Eagles game, a Freo game may be OK as you'd guess most Freo supporters are SF or EF supporters.

I know most footy supporters don't go to both leagues (whether through lack of interest or lack of time), but it doesn't make sense to anger those who do as they are the core of football support in WA.

I reckon that the WAFL/AFL clubs have got it wrong about "most footy supporters don't go to both leagues". I remember that was the finding of a survey last year, but there weren't many respondents and those that did respond seemed to be substantially the hard core WAFL fans who hate AFL commercialism.

I know lots of people who go to WAFL who also go to AFL - and these are the people who the WAFL loses by such clashes. Even if it's only 1000 a game, that's 20% of the crowd!

Sad to see it only gets one response too - I guess WAFL really is dying.

Q - Looking forward to seeing the gloating post butcherer at the Port game.

[iceman]

The introduction of Saturday afternoon Eagles / Dockers games is signalling the beginning of the end of the WAFL competition

Although hard core AFL fans might think its great, the WAFL is going to be hit very badly.... only solution i see if having some of the WAFL games as curtain raisers for the AFL games

[vicki]

I am an Eagles member and an East Perth member - I am also furious at the number of games that are going head to head. I don't know if it is the fault of the AFL or WAFL but I seem to remember reading somewhere that the WAFL had decided to not try to avoid clashes with the AFL games. I know a lot of people who like to go to both. I feel that the WAFC should make every effort to ensure big drawing WAFL clashes (i.e EP v WP, SF v EF) do not clash with an AFL game in Perth.
The WAFL fixtures this year are a joke. The first week EP play SD in Bussleton, the second week EP v WP in a direct clash with the Eagles v Port at Subi and a bye in week three.
I read that with the lights at Leederville, that some games may be transferred to Friday night. Let's hope the WAFC get that right. I'm pretty sure the Eagles don't have many Friday night games so perhaps that would be a good thing. Other teams could also choose to play their "home" games at Leederville at night to take advantage of the facilities.
I will continue to always pay my East Perth and Eagles memberships but I'm sure the two codes could co-exist a little better than they do.

[masai]

I think you can aim your darts directly at the AFL. The WAFL has really been forced into a corner and is trying to make do.

I'm not happy with AFL games starting "mid" afternoon because it comprimises supporters of AFL & WAFL teams, plus both W.A. AFL teams use support staff also involved with WAFL teams.

Come on the Black Ducks.

[Eagle_Fan]

Originally posted by masai
Come on the Black Ducks.

Seconded.


This is maybe a question for a separate thread, but are others here in favour of the whole Saturday afternoon AFL games concept? I was told the reason for Saturday games was so Channels 9 and 10 both got a reasonably even number of our games, is that true? Saturday Afternoon Fever is a Melbourne syndrome, ours has always been an extension of the Sunday session imho.

[eagleskickass]

I wanna see a East Perth VS Subi GF!!!;) East Perth being the team ive followed in recent times(call me gandwago all ya want, i jumped on when the eagles joint to them for that reason;)) and Subi cause i know and am friends with a guy who plays for them.

[Voice of Reason]

Originally posted by Eagle_Fan
Seconded.


This is maybe a question for a separate thread, but are others here in favour of the whole Saturday afternoon AFL games concept? I was told the reason for Saturday games was so Channels 9 and 10 both got a reasonably even number of our games, is that true? Saturday Afternoon Fever is a Melbourne syndrome, ours has always been an extension of the Sunday session imho.

My vote is:

Eagles & Dockers home AFL games: Sunday afternoon and the occasional Friday night (to accommodate interstate TV requirements - say 3 a season)

WAFL: Saturday afternoon.

It's not difficult, they used to do it, it'll encourage footy's survival.

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by Voice of Reason
My vote is:

Eagles & Dockers home AFL games: Sunday afternoon and the occasional Friday night (to accommodate interstate TV requirements - say 3 a season)


I don't like the idea of Friday nights reappearing. The games tend to be on too early (6.40pm), and since I'm often at work until 6.00, I can't easily get home and back in time for the footy.

However if the games are pushed back to 7.30 then I'd be all for it.

I would suggest Saturday nights, but the games must be late enough that WAFL games are completed, done and dusted and people have had time to go home and return before the game starts. Possibly the WAFL could go with a 1.00 kick off in these weeks?

Really this shouldn't be an issue - its not like there are 100 AFL games to shedule in Perth each year, and you'd think the AFL would want to talk to the local leagues about scheduling matches. Obviously not.

[Mr Eagle]

Why did the AFL ever start moving games to Saturdays? Anyone recall the logic behind it (or lack thereof)?

[Voice of Reason]

Originally posted by Mr Q
I don't like the idea of Friday nights reappearing. The games tend to be on too early (6.40pm), and since I'm often at work until 6.00, I can't easily get home and back in time for the footy.

However if the games are pushed back to 7.30 then I'd be all for it.

I would suggest Saturday nights, but the games must be late enough that WAFL games are completed, done and dusted and people have had time to go home and return before the game starts. Possibly the WAFL could go with a 1.00 kick off in these weeks?

Really this shouldn't be an issue - its not like there are 100 AFL games to shedule in Perth each year, and you'd think the AFL would want to talk to the local leagues about scheduling matches. Obviously not.

I'd be happy with either of those solutions too.

The problem for Fridays though is the TV issue. When it's daylight saving, that's 10.30 in Melbourne, which is too late. Then again, why not wait till it's not DS, then have the game on at 9.30 EST, so people can go out for a drink after work on a Friday and go back to watch the footy on TV if they want to?

I don't like Friday nights in Perth for footy either, but I've been brainwashed into the TV into Melbourne is God. Which to Wayne Jackson & Co., it is. (I think we have only 1 or 2 Friday nights this year? which isn't too bad).

[Voice of Reason]

Originally posted by Mr Eagle
Why did the AFL ever start moving games to Saturdays? Anyone recall the logic behind it (or lack thereof)?

Tradition, they said. The way it used to be. Always was. People like it.

They missed the fact that the football world changed the day WA got an AFL side.

[GoEagles]

Terrible move to have so many WAFL and WCE clashes - the AFL is really doing a good job at killing our grassroots footy league.

I heard that the WAFL is partly to blame too - they say that some footy followers are only interested in the WAFL and don't support the AFL which is why attendances wouldn't decline if Saturday afternoon games were introduced in Perth. Last season proved that the average WAFL crowd (usually 2000) dropped down to 1,000-1,500.

For me, it's always been:
WAFL - Saturday afternoons 2pm (or 2.20pm in the olden days)
AFL- Sunday afternoons 3pm (so the kids can play their junior footy without having to rush off to a Midday AFL start).

[Mr Q]

Hey VoR

When I get the fanzine site up and running (and since I have now paid for ADSL I can run it from home from a couple of weeks), would you be interested in doing an "Eagles in the WAFL" review each week? You seem to be our WAFL expert (plus it gets another article writer on board :))

Anyone else out there who goes to enough WAFL would be welcome to contribute of course.

Hopefully I'll have the basic site complete by the middle of next week.

[Mr Eagle]

Originally posted by Mr Q
Hopefully I'll have the basic site complete by the middle of next week.


Eeeeexcellent :)

[Voice of Reason]

Originally posted by Mr Q
Hey VoR

When I get the fanzine site up and running (and since I have now paid for ADSL I can run it from home from a couple of weeks), would you be interested in doing an "Eagles in the WAFL" review each week? You seem to be our WAFL expert (plus it gets another article writer on board :))

Anyone else out there who goes to enough WAFL would be welcome to contribute of course.

Hopefully I'll have the basic site complete by the middle of next week.

Happy to contribute on Eagles playing for or against the mighty Falcons (on the few occasions I actually get to see them - see above whinge and bitch).

Good thing you didn't ask me to do it last year - Andrew Williams would have got a couple of terrible bakes for WAFL performances.

[vicki]

Information from the East Perth Message Board.

The WAFC leaves it up to clubs to decide when to play their homes games if they clash with a Saturday aftenoon AFL clash at Subiaco. East Perth have chosen to play our home games on a Sunday when this occurs.

Several clubs, including West Perth and East Fremantle, have chosen to go head to head with the AFL.

Perhaps VOR, you should contact your club to ask their reasoning behind their decision.

I think the WAFC should make the decision - and not play WAFL games live against AFL games in Perth.