Beyond the GF – Why the MCG Contract doesn’t pass the Stink Test

[kranky al]

It isnt the same as Vic Park, that was our home ground...95% Collingwood fans crammed in and the place would be heaving EVERY game.

You play ANZAC day, there is no "home" feeling, it is just an AFL manufactured blockbuster.

Playing other Melbourne teams in the mockbusters at the two generic grounds balances each other out for the most part.

The point is that Melbourne clubs no longer have their 11 home games at preferred home, they FIXture games against non-vic teams at alternate venues. If it is an alternate venue, shouldnt some of the supposed "home advantage" be lost?

Many of your Eagle fans (not you specifically) claim that a Melbourne based team flying and travelling to another state keeps their full "home" advantage (they chose to sell it so somehow that means they keep the home advantage??)....but at the same time complaining about how hard and such a disadvantage travelling is!!

We understand that they have lost home ground advantage when they sell the game.

But they have chosen to do that.

If the eagles chose not to wear sprigs on a wet game in melbourne then whined that it wasnt fair that we couldnt keep our feet - id look like an utter a grade dickhead trying to argue that we were disadvantaged by it.

A real moron. Anyone reading would instantly give me a well deserved bath with a flood of invective and abuse at my utter irremediable stupidity at trying to use a self inflicted disadvantage as raison d’etre.



If we choose to do something that disadvantages us - we cant whine about it.

The fact that you bring this sort of shiite up time after time reflects how few straws you have to cling to and how grimly you cling to those straws….

 

[doppleganger]

We understand that they have lost home ground advantage when they sell the game.

But they have chosen to do that.

If the eagles chose not to wear sprigs on a wet game in melbourne then whined that it wasnt fair that we couldnt keep our feet - id look like an utter a grade dickhead trying to argue that we were disadvantaged by it.

A real moron. Anyone reading would instantly give me a well deserved bath with a flood of invective and abuse at my utter irremediably stupidity at trying to use a self inflicted disadvantage as raison d’etre.

How many times does it need to be repeated to you....Melbourne based clubs are FIXtured away from their prefered home grounds.

You look like a moron because you still dont get it.

In 2000 do you think Richmond and Melbourne wrote to the AFL and requested to not play all their home games at the G like they had done the year before (and for 100+ years in the case of Melbourne). But instead wanted to play 3/4 of their home games at Colonial?

That is what happened.

The AFL imposed a FIXture that meant Melbourne, Richmond played "home" games at alternate venues that weren't their home...and to rub salt into the wounds, many clubs not only lost home advantage but they were also losing money on those alternate games.

Melbourne and Richmond didnt chose to move home games from the G, Hawthorn and StKilda didnt want to move from Waverley and the growing Sth Eastern Suburbs, Carlton had just invested a shit load of money on their own ground....

It appears that despite noting that you understand that they lose home advantage, you somehow refuse to accept that it means that their opponents (almost always a non Melbourne team) also see their away disadvantage reduce...what were you saying about morons?

When you have the same WA wowsers complaining about GF stadium deals, it needs to be pointed out that the stadium deals shaft Melbourne clubs in the H&A FIXture every year.

If we choose to do something that disadvantages us - we cant whine about it.

The fact that you bring this sort of shiite up time after time reflects hiw few straws you have to cling to and how grimly you cling to those straws….

You chose to drop your WAFL team and follow a VFL expansion franchise who you knew would travel more than any other teams because of geography, and that the GF would be in Melbourne and you wouldnt be able to walk down anymore.

Yet you constantly whine about it.

 

[kranky al]

How many times does it need to be repeated to you....Melbourne based clubs are FIXtured away from their prefered home grounds.

You look like a moron because you still dont get it.

In 2000 do you think Richmond and Melbourne wrote to the AFL and requested to not play all their home games at the G like they had done the year before (and for 100+ years in the case of Melbourne). But instead wanted to play 3/4 of their home games at Colonial?

That is what happened.

The AFL imposed a FIXture that meant Melbourne, Richmond played "home" games at alternate venues that weren't their home...and to rub salt into the wounds, many clubs not only lost home advantage but they were also losing money on those alternate games.

Melbourne and Richmond didnt chose to move home games from the G, Hawthorn and StKilda didnt want to move from Waverley and the growing Sth Eastern Suburbs, Carlton had just invested a sh*t load of money on their own ground....

It appears that despite noting that you understand that they lose home advantage, you somehow refuse to accept that it means that their opponents (almost always a non Melbourne team) also see their away disadvantage reduce...what were you saying about morons?

When you have the same WA wowsers complaining about GF stadium deals, it needs to be pointed out that the stadium deals shaft Melbourne clubs in the H&A FIXture every year.


You chose to drop your WAFL team and follow a VFL expansion franchise who you knew would travel more than any other teams because of geography, and that the GF would be in Melbourne and you wouldnt be able to walk down anymore.

Yet you constantly whine about it.

Separate richmond from melbourne for starts.


Richmond get “home games” at etihad

But are compensated by playing “away games vs geelong” at the mcg.


Tell you something - id happily play richmond at the waca if it meant i got to play geelong every game at optus including finals.

You would have to count your fingers id snatch that offer out of your hands so fast.



Melbourne play games in the nt

BCAUSE THERES TOO MANY FUNKING CLUBS IN ONE CITY!!!

you dont catch eagles selling games off - we dont need to - we have a perfect ratio of city size as to teams

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Separate richmond from melbourne for starts.


Richmond get “home games” at etihad

But are compensated by playing “away games vs geelong” at the mcg.

Melbourne play games in the nt

BCAUSE THERES TOO MANY FUNKING CLUBS IN ONE CITY!!!

you dont catch eagles selling games off - we dont need to - we have a perfect ratio of city size as to teams

WA could easily have 4 or more clubs. Christ the entire state once supported 8 clubs in a premier comp.

 

[doppleganger]

BCAUSE THERES TOO MANY FUNKING CLUBS IN ONE CITY!!!

If we choose to do something that disadvantages us - we cant whine about it.

You chose to follow a VFL expansion side who would play against Victorian teams.

Yet all you do is complain and whine about it....what were you saying about morons?

 

[Coolangatta]

Have 20 teams, 3 each in WA, SA, QLD, NSW (inc. ACT team), 6 teams VIC, 1 TAS, 1 NT.

 

[kranky al]

WA could easily have 4 or more clubs. Christ the entire state once supported 8 clubs in a premier comp.

But it would be bad for the comp.

We really should have about twelve or 14 teams total and play each other twice home and away.

 

[kranky al]

You chose to follow a VFL expansion side who would play against Victorian teams.

Yet all you do is complain and whine about it....what were you saying about morons?

We chose to join a league that was advertised to us as becoming a national game.

We thought in time that it would.

Not be administered in such a way as to benefit the big victorian clubs only.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

Then educate us

If they didn't sign the deal they would've been scheduled to play there anyway because the AFL signed a contract to play 44 or whatever it is games a season aat Docklands including a certain amount of high crowd drawing games. What do you actually expect club's to do?

that's part of it.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

We chose to join a league that was advertised to us as becoming a national game.

We thought in time that it would.

Not be administered in such a way as to benefit the big victorian clubs only.

It is a national game, headquartered in Melbourne.

 

[Papa G]

You chose to follow a VFL expansion side who would play against Victorian teams.

Yet all you do is complain and whine about it....what were you saying about morons?

North and Melbourne should have been done away with years ago. Especially North. Neither offer the league anything except less travel for the other viable Vic teams. Would have made the league more representative.

 

[LoungeLizard]

North and Melbourne should have been done away with years ago. Especially North. Neither offer the league anything except less travel for the other viable Vic teams. Would have made the league more representative.

Yep you are probably right, we only really need 1 representative from each city, Port have been a leach since exception, probably get rid of them also.

 

[Aussie in exile]

It is a national game, headquartered in Melbourne.

Only when we have a team in Tassie. A real football state.

 

[Papa G]

Yep you are probably right, we only really need 1 representative from each city, Port have been a leach since exception, probably get rid of them also.

Yeah let's not be silly about this. Melbourne really should have 7 teams for the 7 dustinct areas of Melbourne. Bulldogs have the west, Essendon the North West, Carlton the northern corridor, Collingwood the north east, Richmond the the inner East Hawthorn the outer east and St Kilda Bay side. North and Melbourne don't really fit. They serve no regional or geographic purpose.
Yes I know supporters live everywhere but these are the traditional zones of these clubs. Geelong have Geelong.

 

[LoungeLizard]

Yeah let's not be silly about this. Melbourne really should have 7 teams for the 7 dustinct areas of Melbourne. Bulldogs have the west, Essendon the North West, Carlton the northern corridor, Collingwood the north east, Richmond the the inner East Hawthorn the outer east and St Kilda Bay side. North and Melbourne don't really fit. They serve no regional or geographic purpose.
Yes I know supporters live everywhere but these are the traditional zones of these clubs. Geelong have Geelong.

You want to be reasonable about this do you?

Well why should my team be paying for your team to be playing in our comp?

If you want teams from this comp to be kicked, then lets "not be silly" Port cost the comp, kick all teams that cost the comp.

Let's go further, for all you sooks, let's just have 1 team from each state, then when the go home factor kicks in, there will be no fighting for players, they just have 1 to choose.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

It is a national game, headquartered in Melbourne.

It's a national game which is centred around Melbourne at the expense of other states due to VFL traditions.

Until the highest rank team has a home grand final or It's played at a neutral venue, the AFL will remain the VAFL.

 

[kranky al]

It is a national game, headquartered in Melbourne.

Its a vic-centric comp that wants the money associated with being a national comp but doesnt really want the interstate clubs - reminds me a lot like this;




We dont really want you,

But we want the money.

 

[doppleganger]

North and Melbourne should have been done away with years ago. Especially North. Neither offer the league anything except less travel for the other viable Vic teams. Would have made the league more representative.

The first thing that should have happened is the league actually moved away from 22 rounds....it only made sense in the VFL.

And then follow the lead of US and accept that if you cant have all teams having the same fixture that ranking them against each other on a singar ladder is flawed.

So create smaller groupings where teams are ranked against teams with the same fixture, they play the same teams home and away.

Only downside is that you might get the WA fans sooking abiut how easy the SA teams have it in terms of travel.

 

[kranky al]

The first thing that should have happened is the league actually moved away from 22 rounds....it only made sense in the VFL.

And then follow the lead of US and accept that if you cant have all teams having the same fixture that ranking them against each other on a singar ladder is flawed.

So create smaller groupings where teams are ranked against teams with the same fixture, they play the same teams home and away.

Only downside is that you might get the WA fans sooking abiut how easy the SA teams have it in terms of travel.

We know and understand we will travel longer distances.

Thats just a strawman you throw up in every thread.

In a proper national comp the teams would travel a roughly equal amount of times - naturally we would end up with the most km’s - ce la vie

But right now its nothing like equal amount of flying - the interstate teams do the lions share and then lose out playing vic teams on their home ground on the biggest day of the year.

Less melbourne teams and a rotated gf would even up the travel and reduce the chances of home gfs.

It would make for a much more balanced competition.

 

[Rich01]

Sounds just like the afl then.

Sells the grand final rights for a packet of crisps and a half sucked lollipop with no tender in a behind closed doors decision massively weighted to victorian fans.

Agree Krank.
Now we wait for the states to try to buy them back. Not holding my breath they will do this in our lifetime though mate. Not enough votes in it for them.

 

[LoungeLizard]

It's a national game which is centred around Melbourne at the expense of other states due to VFL traditions.

Until the highest rank team has a home grand final or It's played at a neutral venue, the AFL will remain the VAFL.

Do you think this will change?

So far whatever the AFL/VAFL do, it's met with #VICBIAS.

So how about the other states do something about it, you know, take the initiative and do something.

All I have ever seen happen is, Vic does something and other state supporters cry about it.

 

[The_Wookie]

It's a national game which is centred around Melbourne at the expense of other states due to VFL traditions.

its a national competition which is centred around Melbourne because thats where the competition literaally expanded from - it already had its awards and traditions. The AFL was the VFL from the beginning. All the whining in the world doesnt change this,

 

[The_Wookie]

We chose to join a league that was advertised to us as becoming a national game.

We thought in time that it would.

Not be administered in such a way as to benefit the big victorian clubs only.

It wasnt advertised as becoming a national game, it was advertised as an expanding Victorian competition - and there could be no illusions about it once the VFL announced it wasnt dropping any teams. You chose to join a league that was literally called the VFL, the brand change wasnt even on the cards for another 2 years.

 

[Papa G]

If we had 7 Melbourne teams with 3 based at Marvel and 4 based at the MCG the Marvel teams would only have 2 teams that they dont enjoy Home Ground advantage with and the MCG Tennant would only have 3. If these clubs stated members actually rocked up to their games, the home club would always have vastly higher crowd numbers than the visiting team creating a home ground advantage , even against fellow Tennant clubs, ike they did back in VFL suburban ground days.

 

[doppleganger]

But right now its nothing like equal amount of flying - the interstate teams do the lions share and then lose out playing vic teams on their home ground on the biggest day of the year.

You just cant help yourself.

If we choose to do something that disadvantages us - we cant whine about it.

The same incessant whining about something you chose to do.