2013 Fixture Discussion

[Roylion]

My line is "well I'm an old Royboy, so I'm on the Brisbane Lions".

That battle you face with kids is what this is about. There won't be future generations of supporters generated down here if the link can't be maintained, and seeing games is a vital component to that.

Which is why I'm convinced that the Lions need to use the Fitzroy Football Club as a conduit to gaining and maintaining future support in Victoria, as well as their own initiatives. (family days etc.). If I had been charge of the Lions in the last fifteen or so years, there's quite a few things I would have done very differently.

 

[Loyal Lion]

It's passion that kept Fitzroy going and will keep it going, we got shafted we know that, but we don't want to keep on getting reamed by the AFL. We are either a merged club or we are not. Sadly, many Fitzroy people elected not to jump on because they saw it as a merger in name only. Some of us did and I am happy with that.

But if the club doesn't truly believe that we are a merged club and its only keen on tokenism then clearly, I have been a fool and should probably opt out.

Yere there weren't many of us left at the end mate; but we were passionate & vocal.

Geez remember the day against Essendon when we were 0.0 at half time ??? It was at that god forsaken ground - Western Oval. Might have been Bernie Quinlan's first game as coach too.

The Brisbane Lions have given me some wonderful memories over the past 15 or so years. I'm certainly glad I jumped aboard.

But I can see how you feel there. After the Bowers/Kelly fiacso, you find yourself mistrusting the club's motives & direction now.

 

[western royboy]

Yere there weren't many of us left at the end mate; but we were passionate & vocal.

Geez remember the day against Essendon when we were 0.0 at half time ??? It was at that god forsaken ground - Western Oval. Might have been Bernie Quinlan's first game as coach too.

The Brisbane Lions have given me some wonderful memories over the past 15 or so years. I'm certainly glad I jumped aboard.

But I can see how you feel there. After the Bowers/Kelly fiacso, you find yourself mistrusting the club's motives & direction now.

The greatest day of my supporting life was the Sunday before the 2001 GF. Knowing I had a GF ticket I drove to the G to line up to get it. When I got there it was a sea of familiar faces and the deep maroon and yellow Fitzroy Scarves from my days at Princes Park 1992. I was more happy for them than anyone else.

For Bears supporters there are enough narks down this way that continually chip us about the merger really being a takeover and the like. We don't need our own club and supporters pushing this line. I hate the division but the club needs to be strong.

I don't in any way shape think the current Execs are even close to Bowers/Kelly, but please stand up for us strongly!

 

[Loyal Lion]

The greatest day of my supporting life was the Sunday before the 2001 GF. Knowing I had a GF ticket I drove to the G to line up to get it. When I got there it was a sea of familiar faces and the deep maroon and yellow Fitzroy Scarves from my days at Princes Park 1992. I was more happy for them than anyone else.

For Bears supporters there are enough narks down this way that continually chip us about the merger really being a takeover and the like. We don't need our own club and supporters pushing this line. I hate the division but the club needs to be strong.

I don't in any way shape think the current Execs are even close to Bowers/Kelly, but please stand up for us strongly!

I know what you mean! I lined up or should I say, camped overnight at the MCG for our 4 grand finals...didn't get any sleep, but it was worth it. Yes getting those GF tickets in your hand was awesome, especially for 2001.

 

[LionKing]

The greatest day of my supporting life was the Sunday before the 2001 GF. Knowing I had a GF ticket I drove to the G to line up to get it. When I got there it was a sea of familiar faces and the deep maroon and yellow Fitzroy Scarves from my days at Princes Park 1992. I was more happy for them than anyone else.

For Bears supporters there are enough narks down this way that continually chip us about the merger really being a takeover and the like. We don't need our own club and supporters pushing this line. I hate the division but the club needs to be strong.

I don't in any way shape think the current Execs are even close to Bowers/Kelly, but please stand up for us strongly!

And who could forget the chant of 'Fiiiitzroooooy' against the doggies at Etihad this year. It was spine tingling!

 

[Toffee Lion]

And who could forget the chant of 'Fiiiitzroooooy' against the doggies at Etihad this year. It was spine tingling!

Close enough LK.



Was fun to be apart of though.

 

[LionKing]

Thanks BeamStar17 for uploading that! We maybe small in numbers but we are a passionate bunch. Geez that was a brilliant afternoon. Singing the club song in the locker room bar amongst all the doggies supporters was memorable as well

 

[Hollow Knight]

Thanks TheBrownDog for uploading that!

EFA.

 

[Toffee Lion]

EFA.

Well TECHNICALLY I did upload it into my post.

 

[Fatcat08]

Certainly don't agree with only having 4 games in Melbourne and 1 in Geelong, definitely think that it should be 6 in Melbourne (Geelong shouldn't count).

What I'm wondering is whether we did indeed make a strong demand for the 6 games in Melbourne, however we have had to be a bit more circumspect on our language in the public eye due mainly to the fact that we are extremely reliant on the AFL for additional distributions to survive at the moment, and will also soon be seeking additional support from them for the construction of our new training base. Not saying this is the reason for what I consider to be fairly weak public expression but I would imagine it is a possibility.

People talk about Eddie being outraged and always expressing his opinion strongly, but its easy to do that when you have a degree of financial independence. Those who tend to be the loudest in club administration tend to be those who can afford to be.

Not saying its an excuse for what has happened but maybe a reason we've not heard stronger language?

 

[western royboy]

Certainly don't agree with only having 4 games in Melbourne and 1 in Geelong, definitely think that it should be 6 in Melbourne (Geelong shouldn't count).

What I'm wondering is whether we did indeed make a strong demand for the 6 games in Melbourne, however we have had to be a bit more circumspect on our language in the public eye due mainly to the fact that we are extremely reliant on the AFL for additional distributions to survive at the moment, and will also soon be seeking additional support from them for the construction of our new training base. Not saying this is the reason for what I consider to be fairly weak public expression but I would imagine it is a possibility.

People talk about Eddie being outraged and always expressing his opinion strongly, but its easy to do that when you have a degree of financial independence. Those who tend to be the loudest in club administration tend to be those who can afford to be.

Not saying its an excuse for what has happened but maybe a reason we've not heard stronger language?

Sorry I don't buy that - you need to stand up for your club and members and not be a suck to the AFL.

 

[Fatcat08]

Sorry I don't buy that - you need to stand up for your club and members and not be a suck to the AFL.

Not saying its right, just possible.

 

[chopperduck]

I can't understand how much complaining is going on against the club not being more vocal publicly, when all this attention should be directed at the AFL for not delivering the 6 games. Wasted and misdirected aggression towards the club, who are also trying to get 6 games in Melb. I'd rather not have my club scream like a stuck pig when they don't get their way in the fixture. Truth is, i don't think any club gets exactly what they want, except maybe Collingwood.

Time to have a look back and reply to all this angst i've caused today

 

[Loyal Lion]

I can't understand how much complaining is going on against the club not being more vocal publicly, when all this attention should be directed at the AFL for not delivering the 6 games. Wasted and misdirected aggression towards the club, who are also trying to get 6 games in Melb. I'd rather not have my club scream like a stuck pig when they don't get their way in the fixture. Truth is, i don't think any club gets exactly what they want, except maybe Collingwood.

Time to have a look back and reply to all this angst i've caused today

Yep I must give it to you Chopper. Your trolling in this thread has been impeccable. You got your desired reaction. Well done!

 

[chopperduck]

It's not how I see things. Don't think you'll get support from the Victorian supporters with those comments. The Brisbane Lions are supposed to be representing Fitzroy & the Brisbane Bears - directly linked to both clubs.

I agree, have had said previously, i'm a pro-Fitzroy person. I'm not saying i agree with what's happening, only that that is the way it is. It is not an easy task to represent 2 teams at once, 1 in a non AFL state and 1 that has roots very deep in AFL.

The club under Bowers & co WAS heading in a new direction; seemingly cutting itself adrift from the Fitzroy deadwood. Even though we are not massive in numbers down here, I don't think that the Brisbane Lions can afford to lose their Victorian membership.

Whether or not the club can afford it doesn't matter. Priority #1 is the Brisbane base of the supporters, and being a Brisbane based team this is the way it should be. Don't read into this that it means forget everyone else, it just means, for the club to survive, it needs to be strong here. The club won't survive with a strong base in Melbourne and bugger all up here. Now after saying that, being in a town that doesn't give a rats ass about AFL makes that hard. While i don't agree with some of the things the club is doing, i can half understand the reasons for it. Our club won't be run the way a club would be run in Melbourne, simply because it wouldn't work in sporting environment up here.

Can the club do more to bring more Fitzroy fans back into the fold? Yes they can, and i really hope they continue what they started last year, but having people going off their head at the club for things outside their control won't bring Fitzroy back.

The sentiment that is coming through from some of the Brisbane members here is that, the Victorian members/supporters are whingeing over losing a game in Victoria & that we should get over it; forget about if you will. It's only a minor issue!

Some maybe, but not all. And most are of the point that you can whinge all you will at the club, but it won't change the draw. I firmly believe we should have 6 games in Melbourne each year as per the merger agreement. It is something the club asks for every year, the AFL simply won't give it to us. Potting the club for not crying louder about it won't help. If you want your voice heard on the matter, take it to the AFL, back the club up in it's requests for those games. A big public statement about the merger and Melbourne games would probably confuse some members, as i'm sure a good portion of them up here would know nothing about the merger agreement, some probably don't even know that we are half Fitzroy. Hopefully reconnecting with our roots will help educating members up here, but many new members for our club, are also new to the sport, so the reality is, a good portion of our members simply won't care about this topic.

Again, i'm not part of this crowd, but that is the cold ugly truth. The club has done a good job releasing a detail statement about the draw and they have said they are disappointed. If the Fitzroy people want to keep their tin hats on and believe the club is doing nothing then knock yourself out, but do you really think the AFL is going to bend to the requests of a club that draws bugger all crowds.

I wonder how the Brisbane based members/supporters would feel in 2014, if the AFL scheduled 9 matches at the Gabba, 6 in Victoria & the rest scattered all over the place ?

Anyways we're seemingly going around in circles here. I gotta go & feed the cat!

The same way the Fitzroy fans feel about not having 6 games in Melbourne, and rightfully so. Again, i agree Melbourne fans should be getting their games, so this is kind of a nothing point. I do also have a cat though, and do have to feed the thing each day

 

[chopperduck]

Yep I must give it to you Chopper. Your trolling in this thread has been impeccable. You got your desired reaction. Well done!

Funny, i haven't done any trolling. I do find the backlash i'm getting pretty entertaining considering i on the same side as the Fitzroy fans on everything, except the rage at the club for not publicly blasting the AFL over the draw more. That's the one thing i don't agree with.

 

[chopperduck]

In my view, if for any reason, the minimum number of games that were guaranteed cannot be met in any given year, then the Lions need to 'compensate' their Melbourne based supporter base in some way. There are plenty of ways that this could be done.

More hate against he club over draws. Seriously, why should the club have to compensate Melbourne fans for something they can't give you and aren't responsible for. I think you mean to say AFL instead of Lions. But i agree with the principle. We should have 6 Melbourne games each year, and if we don't get that because the AFL wants to do the draw in another way, then there should be some kind of compensation.

Don't hate the player, hate the game comes to mind.

 

[Loyal Lion]

I agree, have had said previously, i'm a pro-Fitzroy person. I'm not saying i agree with what's happening, only that that is the way it is. It is not an easy task to represent 2 teams at once, 1 in a non AFL state and 1 that has roots very deep in AFL.




Whether or not the club can afford it doesn't matter. Priority #1 is the Brisbane base of the supporters, and being a Brisbane based team this is the way it should be. Don't read into this that it means forget everyone else, it just means, for the club to survive, it needs to be strong here. The club won't survive with a strong base in Melbourne and bugger all up here. Now after saying that, being in a town that doesn't give a rats arse about AFL makes that hard. While i don't agree with some of the things the club is doing, i can half understand the reasons for it. Our club won't be run the way a club would be run in Melbourne, simply because it wouldn't work in sporting environment up here.

Can the club do more to bring more Fitzroy fans back into the fold? Yes they can, and i really hope they continue what they started last year, but having people going off their head at the club for things outside their control won't bring Fitzroy back.



Some maybe, but not all. And most are of the point that you can whinge all you will at the club, but it won't change the draw. I firmly believe we should have 6 games in Melbourne each year as per the merger agreement. It is something the club asks for every year, the AFL simply won't give it to us. Potting the club for not crying louder about it won't help. If you want your voice heard on the matter, take it to the AFL, back the club up in it's requests for those games. A big public statement about the merger and Melbourne games would probably confuse some members, as i'm sure a good portion of them up here would know nothing about the merger agreement, some probably don't even know that we are half Fitzroy. Hopefully reconnecting with our roots will help educating members up here, but many new members for our club, are also new to the sport, so the reality is, a good portion of our members simply won't care about this topic.

Again, i'm not part of this crowd, but that is the cold ugly truth. The club has done a good job releasing a detail statement about the draw and they have said they are disappointed. If the Fitzroy people want to keep their tin hats on and believe the club is doing nothing then knock yourself out, but do you really think the AFL is going to bend to the requests of a club that draws bugger all crowds.




The same way the Fitzroy fans feel about not having 6 games in Melbourne, and rightfully so. Again, i agree Melbourne fans should be getting their games, so this is kind of a nothing point. I do also have a cat though, and do have to feed the thing each day

Good post Chopper. I find myself in agreeance with nearly all of your points; not that that is a big deal!

That will keep the pig quiet for awhile.

 

[Loyal Lion]

Funny, i haven't done any trolling. I do find the backlash i'm getting pretty entertaining considering i on the same side as the Fitzroy fans on everything, except the rage at the club for not publicly blasting the AFL over the draw more. That's the one thing i don't agree with.

All tongue in cheek mate

We're still part of the one family. We may even share a beer one day!

 

[chopperduck]

Chopper - You like everyone else are entitled to your opinion - but I really suggest you re read this post and consider deleting and or amending some aspects of it as it really is putting one ahead of the other. Fitzroy supoporters have gone from being able to see their team 16-18 times a year in Melbourne to 4. We were bent over by the AFL - no one stuck up for us. Is it to much to ask that the merged club fly the flag or are we wasting our time?

Who says the club isn't? Granted the club dropped the ball big time with Bowers and Kelly, at least Holmes and Co have started some repair work. Lots more needs to be done to make Fitzroy fans feel like part of the pride though. I don't need to change the comments, why should i? I'm not saying that is what i believe or agree with, i'm being sympathetic. I'm simply giving a commentary of what is happening, or at least appears to be happening. I wasn't around for the merger, but as a fresh Brisbane supporter now, and seeing how much is ignore by the AFL itself, i can only assume they considered it more of a take over than a true merger. If they were serious about it being a merger a lot of things would be different. 6 games in Melbourne for a start would be followed. Am i wrong in saying that the Lions haven't had Fitzroy count to the club stats or something like that recently ? I seem to recall something about this. Again, why wouldn't this be done from day dot. I dont' think the AFL has ever been really supportive of this 'merger'.

 

[chopperduck]

All tongue in cheek mate

We're still part of the one family. We may even share a beer one day!

I hope so. perhaps in a couple of years on grand final day

 

[Roylion]

More hate against he club over draws.

Errr...no. The AFL is responsible for the draw, something I've already acknowledged.

Seriously, why should the club have to compensate Melbourne fans for something they can't give you and aren't responsible for.

Because the Club (Brisbane Bears/Lions) wrote the merger agreement and promised a minimum of six games in Melbourne. With the connivance of the AFL, the Bears forced Fitzroy to 'merge' with their club, (and sign the agreement), instead of Fitzroy's preferred merger partner, North Melbourne.

I think you mean to say AFL instead of Lions.

No. I meant the Lions.

We should have 6 Melbourne games each year, and if we don't get that because the AFL wants to do the draw in another way, then there should be some kind of compensation.

And who's going to provide that compensation? Fitzroy Football Club does not have an agreement with the AFL. It has an agreement with the Brisbane Bears/Lions. Brisbane have obligations under the terms of the agreement. Supposedly.

Don't hate the player, hate the game comes to mind.

You're misconstruing what I am saying. I'm a member of the Brisbane Lions. I don't hate the club. The 2013 AFL draw is not the fault of the club. The paddlepop lion is...but that's another story.

However Fitzroy has an agreement with Brisbane (part of which has not been met). Therefore Brisbane, as an AFL licencee, should provide some compensation to Fitzroy in lieu of that agreement being broken. Whatever the circumstances of the agreement being broken was.

If the merger agreement no longer exists, could Brisbane kindly return all the Fitzroy memorabilia it currently has to its rightful owner? The address to send it to is:

Fitzroy Football Club
c/o Brunswick Street Oval
Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065

 

[chopperduck]

Self fulfilling prophecy right there chopper. If the club does not get more pro-active with respect to the AFL stepping on a clear clause in one of the club's foundation documents, then yep, soon enough it won't be a problem anymore.

I agree it pretty much is. I certainly hope we continue to have Fitzroy fans in 20 years time, and hopefully the club continues to build a relationship with Fitzroy. Having the Lions playing games in Melbourne is also a big part of this. Until the AFL wants to listen to this, there isn't a lot we can do about it. I made the point in another post, we aren't a big drawing club, our influence on the draw is very small. No amount of complaining in the public realm is going to change this. And again, instead of people complaining about the clubs lack of bitchiness on the draw, put that pressure on the AFL.

For those getting antsy about those complaining - does the lack of games in Melbourne impact on you? You might make the effort to travel to games from Mars once a year. Great, good for you and even better for the club. But are there too many other Martians the club has a written commitment to or a merged history with? Does your commitment and practical capacity to travel from Mars mean those complaining are out of line? Not in my view.

It also makes no sense to me to say "look at the bigger picture" and "the club needs to focus on SEQ" and in the next breath say "but it's all the AFL's fault". Is this a club matter or an AFL matter?

Doesn't impact on me personally no, but i'm sympathetic to those it does. Truth is this simply shouldn't be an issue. My statements about the club focusing on SEQ is exactly that, the club doing what it has control over. We don't have control over draw. The club has said it will try and add value for the Melbourne fans for missing a game, it's something the club doesn't have to do, but is doing. I'm sure for some Fitzroy people, no matter what the club does do, it simply won't be enough though, and that's pretty sad to me. At least the club is trying.

Truth is though, the club needs to get a lot stronger than it is in SEQ. If that doesn't happen, the Melbourne fan base is pointless because there won't be a club (although in saying that i know the AFL won't let us fold when they are trying to expand). This view doesn't help Melbourne fans, but it is big picture stuff for the club. There simply is bigger things to worry about than the Melbourne supporter base, and that is said with no disrespect meant, and again, is my view on the clubs actions, not my personal belief.

Also, for those getting antsy - at what point is it ok by you for Vic fans to be outraged - bearing in mind 4 games is the least ever, post merger. 3 games? 2 games? No games?

I expect all the outrage that is happening, i just wish it was focused and directed better.

I appreciate the ultimate decision is out of the clubs hands, but am disappointed by the club's response. Sympathy is fine - but going in to bat is where my expectation was. Not legal action, but something a little firmer than "we're disappointed, we'll organise a NAB cup game". Do you believe for a second that Eddie McGuire, for all his faults, would adopt the same attitude? Or would he rabbit on about it like a 2 bob watch to at least make his point?

It's the response bit that we wont' agree on, and i respect your stance. I do appreciate it is hard for Fitzroy and Melbourne based fans to swallow, no arguement about that. I guess my point is, the club is trying. They weren't going to get that extra game, so they lobbied to try get the next best thing for the Melbourne fans, and plan on making it a bit of a thing with a fan day. It's not meant to make up for it, it's just the club doing what it can. I don't believe the club needs to be any more firm in the public eye. The club is a business, and it's not great to air the dirty laundry out in the open. Hopefully though, the more it's talked about, the more people will speak up and hopefully the AFL might listen to the club + supporters.

 

[chopperduck]

[quote="Roylion, post: 26292245, member: 372"

You're misconstruing what I am saying. I'm a member of the Brisbane Lions. I don't hate the club. The 2013 AFL draw is not the fault of the club. The paddlepop lion is...but that's another story.

Certainly is, and hopefully one that will have an end sometime soon.

However Fitzroy has an agreement with Brisbane (part of which has not been met). Therefore Brisbane, as an AFL licencee, should provide some compensation to Fitzroy in lieu of that agreement being broken. Whatever the circumstances of the agreement being broken was.

Ok, we are half on the same page, progress . I can't fault most of that, except good lucky getting compensation from the club for not getting the games in Melbourne. What kind of compensation do you even have in mind ? From what i can see, the club is trying to get 6 games every year, they are trying to give fans better value to make up for the lack of games this year, and they have got a NAB cup game down there also to try make up. To me, they've tried to do what they can, keeping in mind they don't have control of the draw.

 

[chopperduck]

Geeze Chopper is catching some grief. Reread his post, he doesn't support this view he is just putting forward a view on what has been happening.

I personally agree with him, lets get more supporter backlash at the AFL as they are the ones who have the control and can fix this. We don't know how hard the board lobbied the AFL, but they do have to toe the line in public and probably can't afford to be stepping on too many toes at the moment with our financial woes.

Thank you, at least 1 person got the point of most of the rubbish i was dribbling.