Couldn't help myself

[brisbanelioness]

Glad to hear that you're writing the letter. You're in the perfect position to make many excellent points regarding this issue. Let us know how you go.

 

[cjwalkley]

While I understand some of your sentiments Tim, I think the emotion of the performance of the team in Melbourne is the factor rather than what occurred on Friday with the training and sponsor's evening etc..

Now firstly, I think the team was flying on a commercial airline on Friday, the charter flight was only for the flight home. The fact the team arrived 3 and a half hours behind time really did muck about the whole weekend. They got out for a run about 90 minutes after the scheduled time, and most of the fans had stayed around which was great.

Once the players were this far behind schedule, then postponing the Player's Sponsor Function was the only feasible course of action. It is not fair on people like Tim unfortunately who need to travel etc to get to the rescheduled function, but it was great of the Victorian Lions staff to schedule it again.

The players do need to be given every opportunity to perform to the best of their ability, and that is what the club has given them. This is where I believe Tim has an extremely valid argument. The tripe that is being served up in Melbourne, in contrast to what they provide at the Gabba is astonishing. For the loyal Victorian fans it is getting too much to handle. This is where I feel we are being treated with contempt.

It is high time the Lions selected teams for the venue. There are a few too many players who do not perform on the road, and it is getting to the stage where they should be playing with Suncoast when the Lions play in Melbourne. Maybe as supporters we have over rated our team, as the messages coming from Brisbane aren't of the panic or overly concerned nature I expected.

Hopefully Tim, you and your kids can get back in a fortnight for the Player Sponsor's evening, and letting the Lions know of your disappointment is exactly the right idea. However the football departments efforts to ensure the players have every opportunity to perform at their optimum should not be questioned, rather it should either be the coach or the players for what occurs on the field.

 

[POBT]

This is where I feel we are being treated with contempt.

This part interests me. It seems a common theme that, due to the difference between our Gabba form and our away form, Victorian based fans believe that the players/coaching staff/club are doing the wrong thing by them. Some people seem to be insinuating that it is deliberate, the poor form in Victoria.

There's two points that may be worth considering.

1. Maybe playing at the Gabba gives us such an advantage that it makes the team look better than it really is? Rather than looking at home form and asking why we can't replicate that on the road, maybe we should be looking at our away form and judging the team based on that. I don't think that will go down well with anyone, least of all the team, as it means that they aren't as good as some people have rated them. The Gabba may raise false expectations which simply can't be met on the road.

2. This is not the first time that we have struggled on the road. Moreover, we're not the only developing side that has struggled to buy a win on the road. The theme is always the same - young guys who thrive in familar surroundings and a familar routine, start to struggle as soon as they hit the departure lounge of the home airport.

Keep in mind that I'm not having a go at those who are pissed off with our Melbourne form. The fact that we have so many people in Melbourne who have the same sense of ownership and passion re: the club creates a fairly unique situation when our away form drops. It means those people only get to see poor performances which, inevitably, is going to become frustrating.

Personally I don't think we're as bad as the last few Melbourne games would suggest. I also don't think we're as good as some excited commentators suggested.

 

[cjwalkley]

I have no issue with a team struggling on the road, all teams play much better at home than they do interstate. What my problem is the lack of desire shown by some players and a readiness to fly the white flag much sooner in Melbourne.

I was able to write the Melbourne game off as players taking a mental break prior to the week off, however too many players don't appear to work as hard in Melbourne games as they do at the Gabba.

 

[Grimreepah]

I can understand why people would be pissed off and it's very important for the club to look after the supporters. But when it comes to choosing between meeting obligations for a function and preparing for a match, I would hope the club would put precedence on the latter. To me it seems an unfortunate set of circumstances where Leigh was put in a position where he had to choose, but I think Leigh's first priority is winning games of football.

Also agree with POBT. The players aren't trying to play badly in Melbourne so I wouldn't call it contempt. My bet is they are hurting just as much and are annoyed just as much as the rest of us.

 

[Cousin Jed]

Wow. To suggest they aren't trying in Melbourne is a huge stretch.

Emotional arguments aren't always the best.

 

[knaf]

Goodonya Tim.

I am sure in the long term you will stay loyal and I dont think it would hurt some of the players to get some tough love after the last two weeks. I am usually very careful not to criticise the club and individual players. But it is the same in every profession; if you don’t perform you need to be reminded of the consequences of your poor performance. I hope Leigh wrote down some of the things you said to the players so he can reminded them what their performance looked like.

I agree with other posters that Leigh has to ensure the players perform and may have to cancel events if he thinks the players’ performance will be effected. BUT a club is not just the coach and players. Without passionate supports we are nothing. I hope you get a least a personally composed and signed appology from the club in reply to your letter.

 

[cjwalkley]

Wow. To suggest they aren't trying in Melbourne is a huge stretch.

Emotional arguments aren't always the best.

Definitely not saying they aren't trying, however it just seems that tough games interstate go into the 'too hard basket'. I'm trying to remember when we last won a close, hard fought game in Melbourne?

Carlton this year and Collingwood last year we smashed a team early and went away to good wins, but it seems as soon as a team serves it up to us we find excuses not to do the hard yards. It just gets frustrating not seeing the gut running, hard tackling and pressure so apparent in other games.

It's only a slight drop off, however we aren't at a level we can afford that drop off.

 

[whizkizz]

I'm trying to remember when we last won a close, hard fought game in Melbourne?

Well there aren't really many games to choose from so i have to agree with you there. But to answer your question, last year when we beat the Blues in the 'shoot-out' we came from behind and only won by 12 points. I guess that was pretty well fought, and the previous year we beat the Roos by a point at the dome where we also came from behind and should never have been in a situation to win.

 

[LionKing]

How much shit do you think I get for barracking for an "interstate" club down here? How many people do I explain myself to? How many times do I argue with my wife about the hours I spend away on those very few times the Lions come to Melbourne and also argue the value of the membership for only 5 games a year and then you have to book seats for most of them as well?

Tim that is exactly how I feel . . . I also have to defend why I support an interstate club in Victoria. The snide remarks by vocal opposition supporters about 'takeover not merger' can be very difficult to stand up to when I am constantly reminded about the opening line to the club song 'we are the pride of Brisbane town'...... dont know what its like to support a pro Lions crowd at the Gabba but try supporting them in Victoria against the Melbourne mafia clubs.

 

[cjwalkley]

Well there aren't really many games to choose from so i have to agree with you there. But to answer your question, last year when we beat the Blues in the 'shoot-out' we came from behind and only won by 12 points. I guess that was pretty well fought, and the previous year we beat the Roos by a point at the dome where we also came from behind and should never have been in a situation to win.

The Kangaroos game was the last game we got down and dirty and won in Melbourne. Thanks for that.

The Carlton game was two porous defences and running forward football.

I'd give anything to see a game like the Crows game from this year played in Melbourne. Not pretty, but we won on determination as much as execution.

PS - Sorry for hijacking your thread Tim.

 

[Duritz]

The Kangaroos game was the last game we got down and dirty and won in Melbourne. Thanks for that.

If I remember rightly Akermanis dominated that day in his last ever game for us?

 

[lionbear]

As a Victorian who supported the Bears Prior to the Merger, believe it or not due to the reasons you guys mentioned earlier I did consider changing my teams at the end of 1996. The club was no longer going to be the Bears and I saw it as an opportunity to start following a Victorian club and being able to go to 10 or 12 games a year instead of 6 once I turned 18 and had my license. I was even tossing up between two Victorian clubs. Once I saw the new jumper, and went to the Brisbane V Fitzroy game in round 20, I decided to stick with the new club and became a foundation member. I have never regretted it.

In saying that I went to the Gabba for the first time last year and having a home crowd around me was something I enjoyed a lot, and we were playing Geelong and was never in the game. But experiencing a home crowd for the first time was an experience I really enjoyed and am hungry for more. But I know I could never have the same passion for a team like I do the Lions and thus why I would never support anyone else.

Friday night was very frustrating, I felt for the club as I believe they tried to make the best of a bad situation, and having driven two hours to get there was dissapointing, but I am looking forward to Friday week.

I wish the club could do more for us Victorian Lions supporters, but it is hard for them. I think with the jumper debate last year and other small things (Including the absolute joke of TV and Radio coverage we get down here), I think it is a rough time for the relationship between Brisbane and Melbourne Based Lions supporters. Hopefully we can work hard with the club and the AFL and move forward as the great club we are.

 

[leeshy16]

I was also very dissapointed friday night!!

I am a student, and support my lions, by buying a membership every year and attend every melbourne game. I never use my lions membership, as most games are ticketed and I can use my mcc membership to buy better tickets. I watch every game live on foxtel. I never leave before the end of a match win lose or draw. I even flew up to brisbane this year for the first time. I am truly a Fitzroy/Brisbane Lions fan.

I am not dissapointed in the what happen in the last 2 games, because i know we can play better and we are still a young team. I just enjoy seeing them play live, and love it when they win.

As the after match function was shifted from saturday night after the game to friday night after training, I changed plans, so my brother and I could attend their training for a 4pm start. My brother and I arrieved at the ground at 3:45pm. We found out about 4:30 that their plane was delayed and there training would commence at 5pm. 5pm went and about 5:45pm they appeared. My brother and I stood in the freezing cold for 2 hours waiting!!!

I understand you can't control what happened! But my dissapointment lays with that this was going to be my first and only time this year I was going to meet some players and manage to get an autograph.

My brother and I managed to get a few autographs before training and spoke to one player whom wanted to know how long we had been waiting for and was greatful that we did. But I was shatted moments later when I asked a certain player for an autograph and to be told to wait till after training!!!

We only watched them train for 10 minutes and then left, as leigh was ordering everyone off the oval. It was pitch black and freezing when I left, and I don't know how long they trained for and spoke to fans for.

What makes me very angry and dissappointed is that they go to a lot of effort for the functions in brisbane but they are starting to melbourne fans high & dry.

Alot of people turned up for this event mostly little children, but only 1/4 to 1/2 stayed. Most of these people will not be attending the next melbourne event as you have to pay. The function on friday night was the last free event this year!!

Hopefully the lions can have good win against the eagles on saturday night and make me happy lions supporter again.

 

[Tim the Toolman]

PS - Sorry for hijacking your thread Tim.

By all means! I'm glad I've created some debate here as I was scared I was being selfish after I wrote this and needed to clear my feelings. To see other Victorian members feel the same gives me some courage if I get to actually here from the Ivory Tower.

Also remember, as some supporters here have written, there were those of you whom travelled from Bendigo, Canberra and Tasmania for that function - no mean feat indeed!

I've noticed my Father RSVP'd ono our behalf to the return function and asked my Mother to go in my stead.

And Leeshy, in response to your issue with the next event being a cost for entry one, I agree that as paying members we don't get real value for money in Melbourne for these sorts of things but my personal issue with the venue here is that my Mother-in-law was one of the people who got legionella from the Melbouren Aquarium so there's no way my wife will let our family go there!

 

[Chasing the Dream]

You know, I'm thinking about the letter I'm going to write to Grahame Downie this morning (cc'd to Leigh, Laurie Serafini and Tim Livingstone)

Graeme Downie

Have you jumped ship already? I am guessing you are one of the 20,000 fans then

 

[lionbear]

(Including the absolute joke of TV and Radio coverage we get down here)

This week we are only on SEN and Fox 1 in Victoria, so basically if you live outside of Melbourne No coverage.

Then in 2 weeks time we are a "Victorian Club" playing Hawthorn in Tasmania

It is things like this that gets us Victorian supporters frustrated.

 

[Lockie]

Tim,

Totally agree with you. I wasn't able to get to the training (luckily in hindsight) as I had a sick child. I think if I was Leesy and I had been standing in the cold on a Friday night at that football ground, I would be less than impressed standing in the cold for a couple of hours.

This year I don't think the club have done very much at all to involve the Melbourne supporters.

I know coming home on the train after the losses to the Bulldogs and Melbourne, Brisbane Lions supporters were very angry and lots of people were very upset about the jumper we wore. (thats another story..) Its the first time in a long while I have seen supporters really worked up and openly vocal on the train to other supporters they have never met before. Even on Saturday night with a train full of nutty Bomber supporters, Brisbane Lion supporters are not happy! The conversations were not only those after a bad lose, but more about not feeling as though the club was looking after the Melbourne supporters. A number of people mentioned the Friday night fiasco.

While I can understand that a plane delay can result in things being cancelled, I don't think club has done anything to apologise to its members re this and to the people who went down to the ground. I haven't seen anything on the website.

Melbourne members are not getting value for money from their membership and with games that would be played in Melbourne against the Kangaroos and Hawthorn now interstate games, us Melbourne supporters do hang out to see our team play live. The opportunity to then see some training and 'mingle' with the players for a brief period is great and I still get a thrill whenever there is an opportunity to see the fellas training in Melbourne(which is extremely rare).

Thanks for posting this Tim and good luck with your letter.

 

[Chasing the Dream]

Now even though I live in SE Qld, I do have a heap of respect for the Melbourne based fans, but I do have the need to make a point about a dew of your comments

Brisbane Lions supporters were very angry and lots of people were very upset about the jumper we wore. .

This is not the clubs fault. The AFL tells us what to wear and when. It is a joke, yes, but one hopefully that will be fixed next season after the stupid 2 year for each jumper rubbish.

Melbourne members are not getting value for money from their membership and with games that would be played in Melbourne against the Kangaroos and Hawthorn now interstate games, us Melbourne supporters do hang out to see our team play live.

At least after the club petitioned the AFL they have honoured the 6 games in Melbourne. I know one was in Geelong, but in previous years it has been worse. Thankfully only one trip to SA & WA has meant the six games have been honoured, as it should always be.

I really do feel very much for the people who were put out on the weekend, that is a disgrace, an utter disgrace that as you mentioned should have been met with an apology. Have they resceduled the sponsors function?? If not it is almost unforgivable. I wonder who made the decision? There is a chance I will be meeting a couple of the coaching staff this week, but trust me I would be too scared to ask

 

[notting18]

Have they resceduled the sponsors function??

They have. The Richmond game in a couple of weeks.

 

[Chasing the Dream]

They have. The Richmond game in a couple of weeks.

They better make it good I would have thought.

I really do feel for those who were due to travel for the function last week.

 

[Lehmo87]

They better make it good I would have thought.

I really do feel for those who were due to travel for the function last week.

I'm one of those sponsor who was just as disappointed as the others by the cancellation but I got my invite to the next one today and I was more disappointed to see it will go for less than 2hrs. I don't know if I'm expecting too much but, seeing that they cancelled the last time, they could hang around for longer - especially considering a lot of people come from outside of Melbourne for the event. I hope to see a lot of people there next Friday!

 

[Tim the Toolman]

Now Lethal is joking about the jet breaking down and it was supposed to be a 'special weekend' for the Players, Football staff and Sponsors! (on SEN now with KB)

Well Leigh, thank you for looking after your Brisbane people and I hope you had an enjoyable weekend.

 

[Chasing the Dream]

Now Lethal is joking about the jet breaking down and it was supposed to be a 'special weekend' for the Players, Football staff and Sponsors! (on SEN now with KB)

Well Leigh, thank you for looking after your Brisbane people and I hope you had an enjoyable weekend.

Breathe Tim, Breathe

 

[lionbear]

I can honestly see both sides of the coin here. I think the club is working hard to be there for it's Victorian supporters but at the same time it is a Queensland based club.

I think after the events of Friday, perhaps a full statement from the club explaining what happened. I thought they handled it was well as they could. But perhaps they need to explain that to everyone what happened in full and what is being done to correct it for the Victorian supporters. We all know things go wrong, its what we do after it has happened that counts.