Speak for yourself OP. We'll be OK, thanks.
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First things first - this is not the 1980s, and so the Big Four are Collingwood, Hawthorn, West Coast and Adelaide. If a "big" team starts losing, it starts falling back to the pack in terms of supporter base, and so they are no longer the biggest fish in the pond. Back fifty years ago you would have said that Melbourne was a massive club, and that one-flag rabble from Hawthorn was a side for no-hopers. Things change.
Clubs don't carry the competition, the game carries the competition. Kids don't fall in love with footy because they fall in love with Collingwood, they fall in love with footy and they pick a team. If a "small" team starts doing well, they grow their fanbase and become more stable... and isn't that want we want for the competition?
Fans of certain clubs - principally StKilda, Melbourne, Fitzroy, Footscray - came to expect that they'd never see a flag, and could book holidays in September with depressing regularity. Not any more, suckers - and that means that clubs like Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond are now copping what it feels like to be in the lower half of the ladder for longer than a season. Get used to it - most of the rest of us, already have.
With Carlton, Collingwood. Essendon and Richmond entrenched in the bottom third of the ladder, there should be real concerns for the future of the code.
With Carlton, Collingwood. Essendon and Richmond entrenched in the bottom third of the ladder, there should be real concerns for the future of the code.
Carlton and Essendon are there because of penalties for cheating, and it could be argued that they deserve it. Collingwood and Richmond are there because of their own decisions to some extent. For the AFL, the concern has to be that these four teams carry the bulk of the rusted on supporters of the code, and their extended occupancy of the lower reaches must have severe effects on revenue and general support for football.
The expansion clubs are the problem, because they have little support, and what they have is ephemeral. OK when they are successful, but non existant when they are not.
The AFL has looked to recruiting as the solution. The draft was introduced to remedy the problems of power clubs having access to the best talent through their financial strength, minising the chances of success for the others. To expand, the draft was compromised for years to give the new clubs a chance. The former power clubs have been forced down by lack of talent when they chose, and smetimes poor or unlucky choices with what they did get.
Now, the draft is further compromised by acadamies and father son rules. Future trading of draft picks is fraught too. If there is going to be a draft, and it seems necessary to reduce the effects of wealth, then it should be exactly what teh simplest version would suggest. A selection based on reverse ladder position with rigorous prevention of cheating. No acadamies and no father son rules.
The other aspect of acadamies, that they bring in talented players that might not otherwise choose the code, needs an AFL controlled administration that brings on these players in non AFL states.
There are many problems here, and a clear program to solve tehm needs to be prepared. If it is not, then the collapse of the melbourne supporter base that carries the AFL can be expected. A Tasmanian team is an essential part of this, to regain the pathway that once drew most Tasmanian athletes to football. There is probably not a lot of time left for this.
In terms of being a "powerhouse", I don't class my club as being there. We are well set-up, make money and are extremely sustainable in the long-term, but we don't have the supporter base... yet. It'll be interesting to see how it goes after we have a few seasons outside the eight. Hopefully, though, a decade of dominance will have a flow-on effect.Good post. I see it as this in Victoria:
Powerhouse 2: Geelong, Hawks
Big four: the four worst victorian teams on the ladder
Working class four: saints, dees, roos, dogs
The problem with the big 4 clubs is that they still think being big 4 means something.
What we haven't jumped into the national comp because we don't sell our soul for a quick buck playing interstateThe only concern for the league is that they still haven't realised the big 4 hasn't been the big 4 in a very long time
Carlton and Essendon gettiNg done for cheating proves that some clubs are too entitled
Collingwood and Richmond still haven't fully jumped into the national competition
Because the 4 clubs I mentioned believe the league should run through themWhat we haven't jumped into the national comp because we don't sell our soul for a quick buck playing interstate
Otter's spleens! Wolfs' nipple chips, get 'em while they're hot, they're lovely.Yum, battered eyelids.
The big 4 is a crock of s**t. Adelaide, West Coast And Freo are bigger than 3 of the 4 in terms of membership, supporter base size, revenue, corporate partnerships, and impact.
Just merge some Melbourne clubs already.
Then you're ******* demented.
Richmond is second for attendances in 2016. Behind Collingwood, and ahead of Essendon & Carlton in 3rd & 4th.
The Big Four lives!
Not entirely sure if serious but source for this info? I would have thought Adelaide would be #1 or #2Then you're ******* demented.
Richmond is second for attendances in 2016. Behind Collingwood, and ahead of Essendon & Carlton in 3rd & 4th.
The Big Four lives!