- Moderator
- #1
An article by Mike Sheahan in today's Herald-Sun. For once something I entirely agree with.
"IF you're just too young to know, or simply too old to remember, here's a brief history lesson.
Once upon a time, there were VFL clubs named South Melbourne and Fitzroy.
Both of them gradually fell upon hard times and, after prolonged poverty and much heartache, had to leave the family home.
South Melbourne trudged off to Sydney 20 years ago; Fitzroy suddenly joined Brisbane in an arranged marriage five years ago.
In both cases, the rest of the family waved them a sad goodbye, told them to stay well, keep in touch, and visit as often as they could.
Unfortunately for those with strong emotional ties, it has become a case of out of sight, out of mind for the people who make all the major decisions on behalf of the extended football family: the AFL.
This year, neither Sydney nor Brisbane is scheduled to play an Ansett Cup game in Victoria, nor will either of them appear in Melbourne during the first two rounds of the home-and-away season.
In fact, the Swans won't be seen live in Melbourne until Round 5 (April 29) while Brisbane will make its first appearance in Round 3.
The Lions are down to two appearances at both the MCG and Colonial Stadium, and one at each of Optus Oval and Shell Stadium.
That's a miserable offering to those Victorian-based supporters who were promised so much at the time of the merger.
Nowhere near good enough.
Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews said yesterday: ''If there's a reason, I'd like to know why.
''If people are to barrack for a team based outside their city, they've got to see them often enough to feel involved.''
Of course they do, and there is a decidedly healthy number of former Fitzroy people who have embraced or are slowly adopting the Lions of Brisbane.
Similar tale with the Swans, although the wounds aren't as raw.
Player John Stevens told Sport 927's Sports Talk this week he was most disappointed to be denied the chance to visit Melbourne before Round 5.
Apart from the fact he would have been able to catch up with family and friends, he was mindful of the significant number of Swans followers in Victoria.
You could mount a case to say the Swans have as many supporters in Victoria as the Kangaroos, yet those Swans supporters will get just six live appearances from their boys for the year: two at the MCG and four at Colonial.
It's not as if they are consolidating a local market, either, with their three Ansett cup fixtures scheduled for Darwin, Adelaide and Canberra.
Brisbane will play in Wellington, Cairns and at the Gabba.
AFL corporate affairs and communications manager Tony Peek said yesterday: ''In an ideal world, you'd like to have both teams play in Melbourne at this time of the year, but it hasn't been possible.''
(In my opinion what a load of rot!)
He said the AFL was committed to sending clubs to new and developing markets.
(Cairns maybe, but NZ? or Darwin?)
That's fine, but I'm one who sees it as far more important to cater for Sydney's and Brisbane's passionate Victorian supporters rather than expatriates and the curious in Wellington. Or Cape Town. Or London."
Me too. Let's hope we can have an ideal world next year.
"IF you're just too young to know, or simply too old to remember, here's a brief history lesson.
Once upon a time, there were VFL clubs named South Melbourne and Fitzroy.
Both of them gradually fell upon hard times and, after prolonged poverty and much heartache, had to leave the family home.
South Melbourne trudged off to Sydney 20 years ago; Fitzroy suddenly joined Brisbane in an arranged marriage five years ago.
In both cases, the rest of the family waved them a sad goodbye, told them to stay well, keep in touch, and visit as often as they could.
Unfortunately for those with strong emotional ties, it has become a case of out of sight, out of mind for the people who make all the major decisions on behalf of the extended football family: the AFL.
This year, neither Sydney nor Brisbane is scheduled to play an Ansett Cup game in Victoria, nor will either of them appear in Melbourne during the first two rounds of the home-and-away season.
In fact, the Swans won't be seen live in Melbourne until Round 5 (April 29) while Brisbane will make its first appearance in Round 3.
The Lions are down to two appearances at both the MCG and Colonial Stadium, and one at each of Optus Oval and Shell Stadium.
That's a miserable offering to those Victorian-based supporters who were promised so much at the time of the merger.
Nowhere near good enough.
Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews said yesterday: ''If there's a reason, I'd like to know why.
''If people are to barrack for a team based outside their city, they've got to see them often enough to feel involved.''
Of course they do, and there is a decidedly healthy number of former Fitzroy people who have embraced or are slowly adopting the Lions of Brisbane.
Similar tale with the Swans, although the wounds aren't as raw.
Player John Stevens told Sport 927's Sports Talk this week he was most disappointed to be denied the chance to visit Melbourne before Round 5.
Apart from the fact he would have been able to catch up with family and friends, he was mindful of the significant number of Swans followers in Victoria.
You could mount a case to say the Swans have as many supporters in Victoria as the Kangaroos, yet those Swans supporters will get just six live appearances from their boys for the year: two at the MCG and four at Colonial.
It's not as if they are consolidating a local market, either, with their three Ansett cup fixtures scheduled for Darwin, Adelaide and Canberra.
Brisbane will play in Wellington, Cairns and at the Gabba.
AFL corporate affairs and communications manager Tony Peek said yesterday: ''In an ideal world, you'd like to have both teams play in Melbourne at this time of the year, but it hasn't been possible.''
(In my opinion what a load of rot!)
He said the AFL was committed to sending clubs to new and developing markets.
(Cairns maybe, but NZ? or Darwin?)
That's fine, but I'm one who sees it as far more important to cater for Sydney's and Brisbane's passionate Victorian supporters rather than expatriates and the curious in Wellington. Or Cape Town. Or London."
Me too. Let's hope we can have an ideal world next year.
