All Things Gather Round (Except our game!)

[stevieg1969]

Yeah that's it. Thanks.

Not quite as pretty as I thought, but getting rid of Robodog would be a big improvement.

Best website ever (along with AFL Tables):

Club by Club Jumpers

add your site description here

www.footyjumpers.com

 

[Munnez]

Hey guys,

I may be wrong but I couldn't find a thread for this, so thought I'd create one.

Who's going? How are you getting there, has the current petrol situation made you adjust your plans?

I'm going for the first time ever, I drive an electric car so I'm a bit fortunate in that regard. I'm only planning to go to our game but I assume I'll end up at a few more if tickets allow. What should I aim to do whilst in Adelaide (as a first time visitor). I'm into my walking/trails/exercise but am partial to a beverage as well.

I don't want this to turn into the preview thread, that'll obviously be posted after our game on Sunday.

Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills is a nice drive and some very good food up there. Haven't been there for a long time. Very picturesque up there and isn't a long way out of the way.

 

[MYOB]

Is anyone in Adelaide looking for a ticket to Dogs game.

 

[Bulldog in Kiev]

Dogs training at North Adelaide (prospect) on Friday- 2:30pm. Based on previous years that could mean 3pm or 3:30pm

 

[BulldogMuscle]

Who's joining me on the drive over?

 

[Sharpiesadog]

Who's joining me on the drive over?

Leaving with my son at 11am. Sampling the delights of Nhill overnight tonight. I believe the locals call it ‘Nhillvegas.’

 

[cleveland]

Im flying. Leaving tomorrow morning

 

[BulldogMuscle]

Im flying. Leaving tomorrow morning

Shoot me a DM let’s grab a beer Saturday night

 

[ScottyDogg]

Hey team, would anyone be interested in swapping any seated tickets with two tickets on the Hill for tomorrow nights game?

They were all I could get when they went on sale but I’m worried my 8 year old daughter won’t be able to see as it’s standing room only.

 

[Sentinel]

With another Gather Round concluded, we're now 0-4 across the 4 seasons it's been played, joining current powerhouses North, Richmond and West Coast with this record.

Fair to say we've been completely shafted with the fixture each year, all against top level opponents for our 'neutral' game:

• 2023: Port 10.10.70 def. Bulldogs 8.8.56 - against a top 4 Port at their home ground in a 'neutral' fixture
• 2024: Bulldogs 14.7.91 def. by Cats 14.11.95 - double-up game later in the season at GMHBA Stadium
• 2025: Bulldogs 14.13.97 def. by Lions 18.10.118 - double-up game later in the season at GABBA
• 2026: Hawks 15.17.104 def. Bulldogs 8.16.64 - double-up game later in the season at MCG

 

[Doggy]

With another Gather Round concluded, we're now 0-4 across the 4 seasons it's been played, joining current powerhouses North, Richmond and West Coast with this record.

Fair to say we've been completely shafted with the fixture each year, all against top level opponents for our 'neutral' game:

• 2023: Port 10.10.70 def. Bulldogs 8.8.56 - against a top 4 Port at their home ground in a 'neutral' fixture
• 2024: Bulldogs 14.7.91 def. by Cats 14.11.95 - double-up game later in the season at GMHBA Stadium
• 2025: Bulldogs 14.13.97 def. by Lions 18.10.118 - double-up game later in the season at GABBA
• 2026: Hawks 15.17.104 def. Bulldogs 8.16.64 - double-up game later in the season at MCG

Saturday night was the only one we weren't really in. Could have won all of the others but failed.

Would be nice to be brisbane or Geelong who get a favourable one nearly every year

 

[Sentinel]

Saturday night was the only one we weren't really in. Could have won all of the others but failed.

Would be nice to be brisbane or Geelong who get a favourable one nearly every year

Would also be nice to get to play our opponent at our home venue if we get stuck with a double-up, particularly if they're a strong side.

A 1x neutral/1x away game double-up against a top 4 team is as difficult as it gets fixture-wise and we've copped it three years running.

 

[Doggy]

Would also be nice to get to play our opponent at our home venue if we get stuck with a double-up, particularly if they're a strong side.

A 1x neutral/1x away game double-up against a top 4 team is as difficult as it gets fixture-wise and we've copped it three years running.

Brisbane has played Norf 3 times and us the other time.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Would also be nice to get to play our opponent at our home venue if we get stuck with a double-up, particularly if they're a strong side.

A 1x neutral/1x away game double-up against a top 4 team is as difficult as it gets fixture-wise and we've copped it three years running.

It isn't by coincidence or random chance though.

And it's not a literal "lets screw over the Dogs" filter that they put into the fixture, just that these sort of end results are inevitable when the AFL is motivated by raising as much revenue as they possibly can via the gamut of marquee matchups, fixture requests from other teams, contractual obligations to stadiums, etc. etc. etc.

The pain point I have with this though is that it becomes a negative self-reinforcing cycle. If North had simply had the opportunity to host more home games against Collingwood that a fair fixture would entail, they wouldn't have to have to keep the books balanced by selling home games to Freo and West Coast. That means that Freo, West Coast and Collingwood are all more likely to win the flag against North Melbourne, as a result, because money is more important than a fair sporting competition apparently.

 

[Sentinel]

Brisbane has played Norf 3 times and us the other time.

Maybe we've finally found our new annual blockbuster fixture - Bulldogs vs the reigning premiers at Gather Round, with the assurance that we then play them on their home deck later in the year for the full experience.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Collingwood have had the highest fixture neutral Gather Round attendance four years running I think.

Ergo, as the Adelaide and Port matches are always maximum crowds, the AFL doesn't want to "waste" a Collingwood Gather Round fixture by having them be the away team by Adelaide and Port.

So Collingwood never cop the disadvantage of a 12th away game that the other clubs get, and we got in 2023.

The fine margins matter because look at how many narrow wins Collingwood had in 2023. Who the hell would have known how the 2023 season would have eventuated had it been Collingwood, not us, that lost to Port narrowly in that game.

 

[Sharpiesadog]

Leaving with my son at 11am. Sampling the delights of Nhill overnight tonight. I believe the locals call it ‘Nhillvegas.’

Nhillvegas it ain’t!

Went to 3 games. Freo v Pies, Bombers v Melbs, us.

If you had told me that the highlight of my weekend(any weekend ever), would be watching Essendon win a game of footy, I would have thought you to be mad.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Gather Round was pretty meh this year (we lost like always so that isn't the reason). They need to freshen up the match-ups that's for sure. Absolute farce that Brissy/Roos and Dees/Bombers have played 3 times, Cats/Eagles twice etc...

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Gather Round was pretty meh this year (we lost like always so that isn't the reason). They need to freshen up the match-ups that's for sure. Absolute farce that Brissy/Roos and Dees/Bombers have played 3 times, Cats/Eagles twice etc...

just that these sort of end results are inevitable when the AFL is motivated by raising as much revenue as they possibly can via the gamut of marquee matchups, fixture requests from other teams, contractual obligations to stadiums, etc. etc. etc.

It's not the AFL desiring North and Brisbane to play each other every year. It's the idea that within the constraints that the AFL has with who gets to play who twice etc, that this falls in place once you decide that Carlton and Collingwood need to play each other twice in the year because number go up, AFL executive bonus goes up.

Not AFL fair competition go up, AFL executive bonus goes up.

 

[BulldogMuscle]

Also back from Gather Rouund'

Really do love Adelaide, really relaxed, good people, great food and I hate to say it but AO is my favorite venue in Australia to watch football.

With all that said, really doubt I'll be doing another 1600k round trip just to watch my team lose again, really is starting to get old, generally the weekend is alright because MissMuscles team wins (Collingwood) but even that game was dourer.

Overall, good experience, shit football.

 

[Bulldog in Kiev]

Great event but feel the same with us 0-4 in Gather Round.
In fairness, we have not been treated well with the fixture with Port, Geelong, Brisbane, Hawthorn in Gather Round. Give us Bombers next and I might go, but it is tired to keep losing.