2013 Fixture Discussion

[Roylion]

I know Fitzroy fans are passionate, get the chip off you shoulder and engage your brain. I'm sick of my club being under siege by disgruntled 'fans' putting the boot in about every little thing.

This isn't "every little thing." All most Fitzroy fans want is for the merger agreement to be kept. Fitzroy were forced to 'merge' with Brisbane under terms set by the Bears / Lions. So I don't think its unreasonable that Fitzroy fans insist they be held to those terms down the track.

And while I accept that the AFL is to blame in this instance, I would hope that the Lions take steps to:
1) compensate Fitzroy fans by doing something "Fitzroy-ish" for one of the four Melbourne based games this year, involving the Fitzroy Football Club. I have a number of suggestions.
2) protest in the strongest possible manner to the AFL. (Not that it will do much good)

 

[Last of the Roys]

Most of the arguments that are being posted here in response to the fixturing of our Victorian games are valid - and have already been raised by the Club in their discussions with the AFL.

But it's the AFL that makes the final decision - not the Club.

If the Club was able to dictate terms, I assure you the Lions would be playing both Melbourne and Hawthorn in Victoria rather than interstate (with no disrespect to our fans in the Northern Territory and Tasmania).

Legal action against the AFL is also not possible, as they don't consider the Club's merger agreement to be a binding document in terms of the annual fixture.

Supporters have every right to vent their concerns about the scheduling of Lions Victorian matches in 2013 - as we have to the AFL. We can only hope that the final outcome doesn't impact too heavily on our Victorian membership numbers (even though I suspect it might).

While I'm posting, I might as well advise that a potential Victoria Family Day has been pencilled in for Sunday 10 March - the morning after our NAB Cup match against Collingwood. Other details will no doubt be confirmed early in the New Year.

Well Lions Insider, you have opened up a can of worms with that one.

Firstly the obvious rebutal is the AFL, regardless of how big their heads might get, do not actually determine what legal action can and can not be taken or what is the legal / lawful upholding of the Merger Agreement and what is not (or in fact who are legal parties to that agreement).

That the AFL takes this position is just that - their position. That can and may be legally tested one day. If it takes Lions supporters to lobby Fitzroy Football Club to do it then so be it.

Unfortunately it seems increasingly clear that our own Club continues to refuse to fight for its own heritage.

 

[Last of the Roys]

Hard to argue with this. Swans and Lions should be the first 2 teams to get games in Melb. We should be top priority, not bottom.

Exactly.

Perhaps it is time to join forces with the Swans to make sure this is always the case in the future.

 

[Gibbo_88]

We have the same kind of fixture that set Adelaide up for a good season this year. If Leuenberger and Moloney can have similar seasons to 2011 then I will be disappointed if we aren't even a mathematical chance of finals going into the last round.

 

[____]

Lions_Insider

Could the club talk to Melbourne FC about the Darwin home game, would it be possible for both clubs to request that a different game gets moved to Darwin?

I know changes to the fixture are possible because the away Qclash last year was going to be at the Gabba and the away game against Port in 2010 was originally going to be at night. Surely it would be possible for the Darwin game to be moved back to Melbourne, and they can send a different game up there. Beneficial for all involved.

 

[blueiris]

So only four games in Melbourne this year yippy great work AFL . And before any one say's we play Geelong at Skilled melbourne supporters of Brisbane can never get tickets for that game

 

[Loyal Lion]

Well Lions Insider, you have opened up a can of worms with that one.

Firstly the obvious rebutal is the AFL, regardless of how big their heads might get, do not actually determine what legal action can and can not be taken or what is the legal / lawful upholding of the Merger Agreement and what is not (or in fact who are legal parties to that agreement).

That the AFL takes this position is just that - their position. That can and may be legally tested one day. If it takes Lions supporters to lobby Fitzroy Football Club to do it then so be it.

Unfortunately it seems increasingly clear that our own Club continues to refuse to fight for its own heritage.

Shows you how arrogant the AFL is. For the Lions to take them on; It would be a David & Goliath scenario. Just don't think that we would have the funds to pursue that avenue.

I'd be curious to know though, how much of a priority, our request to play the 6 Melbourne games, was presented to the AFL ? It obviously is a very important consideration for the Vic members; but was it given the same consideration by the Lions board themselves ?

 

[Toffee Lion]

4 Melbourne games?!

Very bloody hard to even bother buying a membership to see 4 games when I can use my friends AFL membership to go and sit in really good seats as well.

 

[wabaa]

As I understand it, the capactiy of Kardinia Park will be increased by about 12 000 when the new stands are completed during next year. As we play there in the last round, I would think it probable that Lions fans would have a much greater chance in obtaining tickets to the game than we have in the past.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Lions play Crows in round 2 on my Birthday. Hope we are up and about for that one. Disappointing fixture for the Victorian fans once again.

 

[Bert Man]

Did the Lions break the agreement, or did the AFL break it? The Lions did not write the fixture.

AFL didn't care about Fitzroy in 90s so why would they care now. Geez Demitrio is a dhead

 

[Loyal Lion]

This isn't "every little thing." All most Fitzroy fans want is for the merger agreement to be kept. Fitzroy were forced to 'merge' with Brisbane under terms set by the Bears / Lions. So I don't think its unreasonable that Fitzroy fans insist they be held to those terms down the track.

Always the voice of reasoning Roylion! I guess the Paddle Pop lion is a little thing as well.

 

[chopperduck]

This isn't "every little thing." All most Fitzroy fans want is for the merger agreement to be kept. Fitzroy were forced to 'merge' with Brisbane under terms set by the Bears / Lions. So I don't think its unreasonable that Fitzroy fans insist they be held to those terms down the track.

And while I accept that the AFL is to blame in this instance, I would hope that the Lions take steps to:
1) compensate Fitzroy fans by doing something "Fitzroy-ish" for one of the four Melbourne based games this year, involving the Fitzroy Football Club. I have a number of suggestions.
2) protest in the strongest possible manner to the AFL. (Not that it will do much good)

I agree with all that, but especially in this case, it appears the merger agreement is worth bugger all. As a Brisbane fan, and someone who is new the the sport, i personally love having the Fitzroy heritage to our club, and i hate seeing it wasted or worse yet, ignore like it has been in years past. Whilst steps have been taken to reconnect by the club currently, we must continue to keep encouraging them to do so. There are several things like the fixture that are outside of their control though. Even though we are still part Fitzroy, we are based in Brisbane and are a Brisbane club, and the focus needs to be there first and foremost. The club still has bigger issues than just the Melb side of things. Hopefully the club continues its good work the past year in bringing Melb members back to the club, despite the downfalls of things like the draw.

I'm sure the club will be trying to add some value for Melb members in light of having less games. The other part, i don't think it is in the clubs best interest to go on a public campaign against the AFL over it. It creates negative attention for them, and will still change nothing.

 

[chopperduck]

Always the voice of reasoning Roylion! I guess the Paddle Pop lion is a little thing as well.

No, the paddle pop is a big thing, as such has been the noise about it the past few years, or more so the way it was changed, but that is getting off topic. Doesn't change the fact that people complain to the club because we don't have Melb games, or surely they could have lobbied harder and had a game changed, or the club doesn't complain publicly enough. These are seriously little picky things that people are taking out on the club.

I'm supportive of Fitzroy fans and getting our club more involved with them, and the Fitzroy connections. But taking anger out of the club over petty crap isn't going to give them any incentive to change.

The question everyone should be asking is why of all the interstate teams, do we lose Melb games when we Melb roots. Why isn't priority given. Not why isn't the club bitching enough on the website.

 

[lionbear]

Scheduling problem. The Bulls may need the Gabba that Day. That one is genuinely out of our hands.

A point just made to me, could the Bushrangers also need the G that day?

 

[lionbear]

Its hard for the club to have a go at the AFL for breaking the agreement when we disregard it ourselves:

Paddle pop Lion
Melbourne's home game at the GABBA.

The club can't go to the AFL and say "We want you to honor this agreement, and just turn a blind eye when we break it"

 

[Cousin Jed]

They don't need it that day - I believe it is booked until either the Monday or Tuesday before Easter for a potential Shield final. Obviously having the centre square in a fit state for football 2 days after a cricket game isn't possible.

Easier to do when they have drop in pitches.

 

[lionbear]

They have done it before, thats the excuse the AFL are saying, but reality is they needed to offer Richmond and Carlton a compromise.

 

[Brisbane2013]

I feel very sorry for our victorian fans but on the good side, we don't really play our best footy in victoria

 

[Dylan12]

It's one thing to be frustrated, which most of us Melb based supporters are, but threats of withdrawing financial support to the club over things like fixturing are not only pointless and misdirected but also reek of a lack of the loyalty and passion that you say you have.

I know many family and friends who have been supporters and members for many generations that have withdrawn their financial support, yet are way more passionate than a lot in Brisbane who only turn up when the club is winning. There are numerous reasons why many have withdrawn their financial support, and most were changes brought about by our very club and its willingness to treat the merger agreement and many issues in it like toilet paper. But for god's sake, get off your high horse.

 

[western royboy]

Most of the arguments that are being posted here in response to the fixturing of our Victorian games are valid - and have already been raised by the Club in their discussions with the AFL.

But it's the AFL that makes the final decision - not the Club.

If the Club was able to dictate terms, I assure you the Lions would be playing both Melbourne and Hawthorn in Victoria rather than interstate (with no disrespect to our fans in the Northern Territory and Tasmania).

Legal action against the AFL is also not possible, as they don't consider the Club's merger agreement to be a binding document in terms of the annual fixture.

Supporters have every right to vent their concerns about the scheduling of Lions Victorian matches in 2013 - as we have to the AFL. We can only hope that the final outcome doesn't impact too heavily on our Victorian membership numbers (even though I suspect it might).

While I'm posting, I might as well advise that a potential Victoria Family Day has been pencilled in for Sunday 10 March - the morning after our NAB Cup match against Collingwood. Other details will no doubt be confirmed early in the New Year.

I understand your point - but i'm three hours away from Melbourne and apart from supporting the Lions I do have a few other things on so it's not that easy to get to all the games, particularly NAB Cup worse still if you are involved in other sports. The club's response came across as a bit weak and maybe even a bit condescending. All we are asking is the club to really appeal to the AFL as a merged club that six games in Melbourne is the bare minimum. Other clubs agreements should not mean that the Vic Lions supporters get shafted every second year and that's what we want the club to show a bit of spine about. Why do we have to go to Darwin (Melbourne @ the G in Round 1 was the highlight of the year) and Tassie to get flogged by Hawthorn each year?

Geelong is closer to me, but getting in there at the minute is hard due to the redevelopment and the large cats supporter numbers.

There is a latent Fitzroy supporter / potential member base out there, however things like this will continue to be the excuse that people don't become financial members or cease to be. "Over deliver benefits" all you want but we already get a selection of crap fixtures (Bulldogs / North - usually cop a belting from Carlton or Essendon) every year and reducing them will not help the cause. We need to be strong on this and I cannot understand why we just bend over so easily. Please take that back.

 

[wabaa]

North Melbourne interim CEO Cam Vale might want to check this year's ladder.

"Overall it’s a good draw however it definitely presents a strong challenge football-wise. The only bottom four side we play twice is Brisbane but we play team’s like Geelong, Adelaide, Collingwood and Hawthorn twice."

 

[Chezzalenko Reborn]

My initial reaction is that its a very tough draw. Starts off nicely (5 good chances to record wins, but we have to take them all, and then 2 very, very tough months.

That said, fair draw. But once again, very very soft draws for the Victorian superpowers. Sigh..... Might have to watch European Football fulltime if this doesn't stop soon

 

[adey115]

The 4 games things in Melbourne is harder to swallow on account of the fact we are being sent to both Tassie and Darwin.

Either/or would have been fine. Sending us to both is a total pisstake by the AFL.

.

Exactly.

I'm almost surprised its not 3 games and we've also been sent to New Zealand to play because its "close to Melbourne" like Tassie is. Seriously.

The incentive to be a Melbourne based member is now down to "c'mon you're not supporting the club if you aren't". Keep in mind that most of our games are on Foxtel - so there is a subscription there if you want to see all the Lions games at home, and a membership (that gets you the opportunity to see your club 4 times in Melb plus a trip to Geelong) that just doesn't deliver based on the cost. It will be vastly cheaper again to just pay at the gate, especially if you can only attend 2-3 out of the 4 plus Geelong. That's leaves the emotional incentive I've mentioned above, but our emotions are still a little raw down here because of the godforsaken Paddlepop.

Clearly the AFL doesn't give a fat rats clacker. And while LI and Malcolm Holmes have publicly said the club oppose the AFL's decision, I would like to see some passion and spirit in that rebuttal of the AFL's decision. As a PR exercise, its coming across to me as "we sheepishly asked", rather than a "we heavily lobbied, here is what we did, hear is what we tried and offered, but it's wholly and solely the AFL's decision to screw you Melbourne folks over".

Disappointing result.

 

[Dylan12]

Proves what we all think, AFL doesn't care and the agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on.

I suspect the club doesn't either...the rancid jumper is evidence of that.