Official Club Stuff essendonfc.com.au joins the Telstra network.

[Kong]

I'm not saying that they didn't sign the papers. I'm saying it's of my belief - and I'm not stating this is fact - that the decision was made for them.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'm not saying that they didn't sign the papers. I'm saying it's of my belief - and I'm not stating this is fact - that the decision was made for them.

If they signed the papers it IS their fault. They have the right NOT to sign the papers and do what is right for the fans. Put it this way it will cost me 100 times more to view the games this year due to this stupid decision..and they want more members. I am sorry but I just told 3 people to wait before they consider it- and I actually recommended the AFL membership and I hatred doing it.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

If they signed the papers it IS their fault. They have the right NOT to sign the papers and do what is right for the fans. Put it this way it will cost me 100 times more to view the games this year due to this stupid decision..and they want more members. I am sorry but I just told 3 people to wait before they consider it- and I actually recommended the AFL membership and I hatred doing it.

Actually agree with this.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

That is the whole point, we are not a poor club and sometimes the club should do what is right for the fans...hell a mjor change SHOULD have been brought forward at teh AGM for voting by the fans.

 

[Kong]

It's easy to say that from the outside, but the Essendon Football Club is a business. If they're being told by the governing body they need to sign something for the betterment of the club, or else..

Again I'm going off a few things I've heard, but I'm sure they weighed up the pros and cons in a business sense; I doubt many are going to refuse to sign up as paid members because of the quality of the website, whereas the financial benefit of having the AFL onside would be quite significant.

You then may say that they sold out, but I'm sure you'd be quite unhappy if we continued to have sub par facilities and football departments. They're on the way to being resurrected, but businesses need money to do this.

I'd rather have a powerhouse club and a generic website than the alternative.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

We hae sold our soul, and you know it. The day we do things PURELY for money is the day this club dies. That is my personal view. Sure it is a business, but there is a line. The fans should be your no1 priority. This club has lost 3 fans today as I flat out told them, don't sign up, as this is such a poor decision. I'd love to know how it is better for the club if members are refusing to sign up becuase there is no way to view games within a reasonable budget. I mean I am not poor, but I have a baby, and my first priority is my baby. I can't be spending thousands of dollars in 3 months becuase the EFC decided to screw me over. Telstra is horrid, I will be very happy if it collapses to be honest.

The main point is..were the fans even consulted? Or do they flat out just don't care..because that is what I am feeling!

 

[OzBomber]

If 'fans' aren't going to support the club because of a website then they dont deserve to be supporters of the this great club no matter how much we hate it.

Sure protest by not visiting the website, but there really is something wrong with you if this makes you change your allegiances.

Whomb's final sentence is 100% correct. I would much rather be in our shoes than a club such as North Melbourne which is hanging on by a thread.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

If 'fans' aren't going to support the club because of a website then they dont deserve to be supporters of the this great club no matter how much we hate it.

Sure protest by not visiting the website, but there really is something wrong with you if this makes you change your allegiances.

I have my membership but these three girls who happen to work with me and are also going away for 3 months with me for work asked me what membership they should get. I flat out said, don't bother with an Essendon one this season as the website is horrid and you are not getting any value for money considering the games we are missing anyway. I told them to enquire about an AFL membership as at least there are benefits when we get back from Paris. I have a MCC Gold membership and an Essendon one as well so I give enough to the club. The least they can do is not screw me over when I have to go away for work!

 

[84859300]

It's easy to say that from the outside, but the Essendon Football Club is a business. If they're being told by the governing body they need to sign something for the betterment of the club, or else..

Is this the same as the clash jumper incident??

 

[Kong]

I should reiterate that I'm not speaking on behalf of the club, I'm not stating that this is fact; this is what I believe to be the case.

 

[yaco55]

Think we are confusing two different issues

1) Independence of the website

2) Watching games from overseas

Dont agree with the decision to hand over the EFC website to the AFL. The club run AFL sites are infinitely less professional than the EFC website and dont have the personal touch of an independently run club site.

Living overseas for the last 9 years, you find different ways to watch the footy. I am blessed IN HK - knowing that i will receive 13 to 15 Ess games on TV. The other games I watch through streaming or 24 hours later on the AFL site. Costs about $60 Australian to subscribe for 12 months. Receive all games, panel shows, etc etc. It is oustanding value - and the video service is at a more than acceptable level.

Bombers No 1 may be able to buy a weekly game live through ( sentanta sports ) - Think it costs 5 pounds.

 

[smcateer]

FWIW, this mantra of "it's a business" isn't quite right. It's a club, which is an entirely different sort of entity. A club is a collection of members. Sure the club has finances and will operate in many ways in a similar way to a business, but at it's core it should never be about anything other than what's good for the members.

BTW, just stating "it's business" doesn't mean anything - there are good decisions and bad decisions.

Now, we do not know enough to say for sure that this decision is not in the best interests of the members. But this is largely because we are being kept in the dark about the details of the decision.

Here are the points
* The website formally had club generated content including video
* ... formally was the only independent club website
* ... formally had video which worked smoothly
* There is a financial windfall which we have been forgoing as a result of insisting on an independent website, and it also costs money to maintain the site itself; web designers, writers, video production, hosting, etc.
* The AFL's contract with Telstra is due to expire at the end of this year (I don't think it has been extended)
* The AFL has had recommendations from a consultant from an American sport with an acclaimed website (can't remember if it was NBL, NFL or NBA); the recommendation was "run your own website - get rid of Telstra"
* So maybe things will get better soon (although it would be more on form for the AFL to just re-sign with Telstra)
* Fans/members are largely disappointed about the decision
* ... are not being told why this has happened
* With the emergence of Twitter/Facebook we still have an opportunity to get inside gos directly from the club (not to mention the well connected ppl on here!)
* We the fans/members are being treated like mushrooms

All I would want is some information from the club as to exactly why this has happened, and why it's the right thing for the members. Still not happy but have gone from angry

to confused

 

[Kong]

FWIW, this mantra of "it's a business" isn't quite right. It's a club, which is an entirely different sort of entity. A club is a collection of members. Sure the club has finances and will operate in many ways in a similar way to a business, but at it's core it should never be about anything other than what's good for the members.

And if conforming with a website means its members get to visit the best facilities in the entire league, have the best football department in the league, the most "member friendly" games in the schedule?

It'd make it seem kind of trivial, no?

BTW, just stating "it's business" doesn't mean anything - there are good decisions and bad decisions.

I've addressed my point several times now. I give up.

But once again, I'm happy for the club to either correct me, confirm what I've said, or elaborate on it.

Also, let me reiterate that I think the new website is bollocks. I hate it. However if what I've heard is true, I don't blame the club. I'm not that myopic.

 

[smcateer]

And if conforming with a website means its members get to visit the best facilities in the entire league, have the best football department in the league, the most "member friendly" games in the schedule?

It'd make it seem kind of trivial, no?I've addressed my point several times now. I give up.

But once again, I'm happy for the club to either correct me, confirm what I've said, or elaborate on it.

Also, let me reiterate that I think the new website is bollocks. I hate it. However if what I've heard is true, I don't blame the club. I'm not that myopic.

I didn't mean to question what you say, just wanted to summarise. You're perfectly right of course, if it's good for the members, then good. But the silence from the club on this is deafening.

Until I hear better, I'll be taking your word for it.

 

[Kong]

I doubt they'll be saying much on the matter, either, which sucks.

 

[DapperDon]

For the people who get a working video, is there a secret way to press the play button? Do I need to sing a secret song to make it load?

Video doesn't work from home nor from the office. I have a macbook pro at home, I tried firefox and still got nothing.

Have a PC at work, windows xp professional and still nothing loads.

Essendon Insider, do you have any hints on how I can get it working?

 

[stugots]

* The AFL's contract with Telstra is due to expire at the end of this year (I don't think it has been extended)
* The AFL has had recommendations from a consultant from an American sport with an acclaimed website (can't remember if it was NBL, NFL or NBA); the recommendation was "run your own website - get rid of Telstra"

These points are of interest & I suppose with the new tv rights deal the AFL may well incorporate a website upgrade, which they must be aware is desperately needed.

It would then follow that the EFC, with such an assurance from the AFL & nice cheque, would commit to the change & at this point confidentiality probably would be an issue, leaving fans in the dark.

The EFC is heading in the right direction so for now I will trust that long term the decision on the website is best for us all long term.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Bombers No 1 may be able to buy a weekly game live through ( sentanta sports ) - Think it costs 5 pounds.

I wish it was that cheap, unfortunately I'm in Paris not in London. If I were in London I could get around this stupid decision, but in Paris it is more difficult.

 

[Synth]

My dreams of www.essendonfc.com.au being as good as www.mcfc.co.uk are now gone.

It's bloody annoying.

 

[Blind Turn]

Feel slightly screwed over in that my yearly membership to bombertv (yes I know it's a minimal cost) is now essentially void because I have no f'ing idea of how to watch videos on Bigpond. I'm obviously not the only one so can someone please enlighten us plebs on the way to watch any video on the AFL website... or should we ALL JUST GIVE UP AND BEND OVER TO THE WILL OF THE MIGHTY DOLLAR.

 

[yaco55]

I wish it was that cheap, unfortunately I'm in Paris not in London. If I were in London I could get around this stupid decision, but in Paris it is more difficult.

Y0u can access Setanta sports anywhere in Europe.

 

[Lotch]

Chairman David Evans has spoken about the switch during an interview.

Link

Pre-Season Q&A with Chairman David Evans
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au

...
BomberTV: This interview is of course being played on the new Bigpond TV platform. There have been a number of teething issues the Club has experience since making the transition over to the Bigpond and Telstra network.

Evans: This has been slightly disappointing and I know as a frequenter to the website myself, it has been frustrating. The partnership with Telstra was an important one for the Club, but at the same time we have been disappointed with some of the functionality. We can give the guarantee to members that we are going flat out to make sure we get that remedy very quickly, so we can get back to what fans and members have been experiencing over the last few years by our innovative and what I think is the best practice website.

Full interview

Doesn't seem very happy with the transition

 

[Kong]

Yeah, almost seems as though they were forced to do it

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Shouldn't have signed then, David.

 

[Phone]

who says he signed it? for all we know there could be some Bond-villain shit going on here. is that really David Evans? or just an impostor?