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speedy

speedy

Norm Smith Medallist
Veteran
Sep 5, 2001
9,596
14,955
Melbourne, VIC
AFL Club
North Melbourne
BIG FOUR DOMINATE FRIDAY SLOT
THE AFL'S tailored-for-television draw confirms Friday night footy will be bigger than ever.

BLOCKBUSTERS TO STAY
THE AFL's big four -- Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood and Richmond -- will all benefit from the ''blockbuster'' provision in the 2002 draw.


COLLINGWOOD
PRO: They'll love this. First five games at the 'G. All the blockbusters you can imagine.

'We are very happy with the draw. We have got 18 games in Melbourne so we are happy with that.' - CEO Greg Swann.


ESSENDON
PRO: Get to play 17 games at their two home grounds, Colonial Stadium and the MCG.


The AFLs loading of the draw is bordering on criminal. It's so compromised it's a FU**ING JOKE.

Forget about fairness and playing sport on a level playing field, the most important thing is promoting the big blockbusters between the BIG FU**ING 4.

But the worst thing is, the lesser clubs and their fans, just bend over and take it up the A***. We should be tearing down the AFL headquaters in protest!

We have been absolutely brainwashed into thinking that this is for the benifit of the game. OPTIMISATION of the draw for bigger attendances is A BIG AFL WA*K.

Professional sport is completely built on advertising and promotion. Promoting your product means everything. Billions are spent on 30 second adds that nobody watches, so imagine how much blockbuster games and televised Friday night football is worth in the promotion of the Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond football clubs.

We let them rigg the draw so the popular clubs can be promoted even more and then wonder why our clubs are struggling?

IT FU**ING RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!

Make no mistake, this BULL**IT DRAW is a big reason why the weaker clubs WILL DIE!!!


P.S.
Mike Sheahen, is this a FU**ING joke? You call this a "PRO"!

KANGAROOS
PRO: Eight games at Colonial where the narrower ground suits their style of play.

I'd rather you left it null as this comment is a FU**ING INSULT!
 
There is no question that the draw is rigged and hopelessly comprimised. The AFL are at least up front about that these days. The AFL called for submissions from clubs as to what they wanted from the draw. The clubs supplied thier wish lists and I presume they were accommodated where there were no clashed with the AFL's own agenda. I do not think this is ideal and I don't think it can ever be rectified until you have enough rounds to play each team twice. That will not happen in the forseeable future.

As for the big 4 - I was under the impression that the gate sharing arrangements were to change. Perhaps someone can fill me in, but I thought the equalistion fund was going to take the excess proceeds and redistribute them. That would benefit the "poorer" clubs. Anyway, I personally hope it hasn't changed but that's a whole 'nother argument.

As for Friday games, I presume it is largely dictated by the TV stations that paid the big $ for the rights and therefore want ratings. If you want their money you have to give them what they paid for. Not sure what you expect from that.

I really don't understand why there is an argument against blockbusters. It promotes not only the competing clubs but the game. what do you think will happen if they remove the ANZAC day Colling v Essendon game? Do you really think it can be replaced by a North V Freeo game? That should pack in about 12 old ladies and the mums and dads of the little leaguer's.

If you are going to complain about the draw, then what do you think should be done in place of blockbusters etc? And how would you change the effect of not playing all clubs an equal number of times?

I won't even go into the effect it will have on Collingwoods finals chances to play Essendon, Carlton and Richmond twice instead of St.Kilda, Frre and WCE. We have to take the benefite along with the downsides.
 
Yeah, Sheahans article sounds like he wrote it on the train on the way to work, and didnt start until 2 stops before the Hun's offices.

The biggest loosers out of all this are Big Four supporters who either 1) live in NSW or QLD and wont be able to watch their team on either FTA or Pay TV. or 2) like to go out on Fridays or work on Fridays.

There will be a real changing culture with the way the draw is next year. Now, almost every round has the big game first up. I wonder if that will effect the mentality of supporters. Will they keep interested in the rest of the round (except for their own team)?

Swans have done well though. I wonder how early you can start buying tickets to the v Essendon game at Stadium Australia. Could be a sell out if the bloods are travelling well, and Bustling Barry Hall and Cummings are firing. :)
 

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Don't forget
What is good for Carlton is good for football

Seriously though which game would u rather watch either live on Telly on Friday an exciting, close atmospheric Carlton - Collingwood clash, or a dull, boring Geelong - Melbourne game.
Come on get with the times, the big 4 generate more money through gate receipts which other clubs get at the end of the year anyway. Stop whingening the draw's fine.
 
The blockbusters are self fulfiling. I notice Hawthorn is being included in the fri night 'blockbusters' and therefore will have very favourable crowd figures this year. a few years like that and it's not the big four but the big 'five'. OK the Hawks are doing well onfield at the moment and have a largish latent supporter base. But so do St Kilda, Geelong, Melbourne etc.

I think the hawks are being accommodated so that there is a big 5 and the split between 'rich' and 'poor' clubs is 5-5 rather than 4-6 (or even 3-7 when you remember that richmond were struggling not long ago). as a Hawthorn member I would like them to promote the retention of all clubs, rather than pretend to be one of the big boys when it suits them.
 
Originally posted by MarkT


I really don't understand why there is an argument against blockbusters. It promotes not only the competing clubs but the game.
Click to expand...

You don't understand?

How about this-

The AFL load the draw to maximise the BIG 4s attendances via blockbusters and playing in supporter friendly venues.

This has 2 effects:

1. It maximises the BIG 4s revenue earning potential.
(ie they get richer)

2. It protects the long term popularity of the BIG 4 through the greatest promotional tool availabe to them, the BLOCKBUSTER.
(ie they become more popular)

All this while the less fortunate are fixtured with the scraps left over, make losses on their gate recipts, fall millions of dollars into debt and FU**ING DIE!!!
 
Originally posted by speedy


You don't understand?

How about this-

The AFL load the draw to maximise the BIG 4s attendances via blockbusters and playing in supporter friendly venues.

This has 2 effects:

1. It maximises the BIG 4s revenue earning potential.
(ie they get richer)

2. It protects the long term popularity of the BIG 4 through the greatest promotional tool availabe to them, the BLOCKBUSTER.
(ie they become more popular)

All this while the less fortunate are fixtured with the scraps left over, make losses on their gate recipts, fall millions of dollars into debt and FU**ING DIE!!!
Click to expand...

If the Bulldogs, Cats, Kangas, Demons and Saints do manage to sign up a major sponsor, they can't charge top dollar because the sponsors don't get the advertising benefits the "big 4" get.
 
I think we are stucj with the "blockbusters" and in one sense they are "good for the game".

The BAD thing about them them is that they concentrate the revenue in the hands of a few.

The AFL has plans to alter the distrubution formula from gate sharing but so far no changes to the collection side.

I think they should have a policy the 50% of all EXTRA revenue from crowds over 50,000 should go into the fund with this money to be distributed to the struggling clubs. The "blockbusters" could then be nice earners for everyone
 
Originally posted by speedy

The AFL load the draw to maximise the BIG 4s attendances via blockbusters and playing in supporter friendly venues.

This has 2 effects:

1. It maximises the BIG 4s revenue earning potential.
(ie they get richer)

2. It protects the long term popularity of the BIG 4 through the greatest promotional tool availabe to them, the BLOCKBUSTER.
(ie they become more popular)

All this while the less fortunate are fixtured with the scraps left over, make losses on their gate recipts, fall millions of dollars into debt and FU**ING DIE!!!
Click to expand...

I think you have a stilted chicken and egg argument here. the crown pullers - and it isn't confined to Vic. clubs - get the TV slots because they rate. They don't have supporters because they are on TV. I accept the marketing is aided by timeslots but that doens't help attendances. In the long run, arttendances may fall due to the ease of seeing the club on TV - especially if we have a wet winter.

As for supporter friendly venues, well if you mean the G - that depends on the contracts seperately negotiated by the club with the ground owners/managers. If you mean colonial - well those that haven't negotiated a deal DO NOT want to play there at all so being scheduled there is not a plus but a minus.
 
I agree with Speedy.

Richmond shouldn't (and doesn't) need artificial, so-called "Blockbusters" to get decent crowds. All it needs is good management and promotion.

Make it a TRUE draw, with the teams played twice drawn randomly, and with no dates set aside for "Big Threes", "Big Fours" or "Big" otherwise.
 

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Well said Speedy, it's a joke.

I've gone on about the blockbusters too much in time at bigfooty so I'll leave it go and just agree with everything you said. :D

A 30 game season would solve the problem perfectly but unfortunately that's doesn't seem feasible.

But what is possible is a 24 game season where every team that plays each other once one year play the remaining teams twice the following year. It works out well that way.

In St Kilda's case we've been fortunate enough to have been given (probably by default) 7 Sunday games where we are the only game on in town. That should help our attendances although the one thing that would help even more is a few wins. Sadly the way we have gone over the past two years that might be asking a bit much.
 
Well, I reckon the TV deal wouldn't holding the possibility back...

44 less games from two clubs going, but 32 extra games in the additional four rounds.....plus it means their high rating product lasts four weeks longer.
 
Here is one for the stats people. Adelaide, next year is the 12th year in the competition, and guess what, the 12th time we play Carlton at Optus and yet they have only travelled to Footy Park to play Adelaide 5 times. Call me stupid but how the hell can you call that consistent and fair play. Yes, there would be other similar inequities however that one stands out like dogs balls. The AFL draw is a bloody farce. For christs sakes, get rid of two teams and play 26 games per year. Then it will not be comprised.
 
Originally posted by kirky
Here is one for the stats people. Adelaide, next year is the 12th year in the competition, and guess what, the 12th time we play Carlton at Optus and yet they have only travelled to Footy Park to play Adelaide 5 times. Call me stupid but how the hell can you call that consistent and fair play. Yes, there would be other similar inequities however that one stands out like dogs balls. The AFL draw is a bloody farce. For christs sakes, get rid of two teams and play 26 games per year. Then it will not be comprised.
Click to expand...

I agree, Adelaide and umm........
 

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Originally posted by MarkT
There is no question that the draw is rigged and hopelessly comprimised. The AFL are at least up front about that these days. The AFL called for submissions from clubs as to what they wanted from the draw. The clubs supplied thier wish lists and I presume they were accommodated where there were no clashed with the AFL's own agenda. I do not think this is ideal and I don't think it can ever be rectified until you have enough rounds to play each team twice. That will not happen in the forseeable future.

Youve missed your own point; by presuming they were accomodated

As for the big 4 - I was under the impression that the gate sharing arrangements were to change. Perhaps someone can fill me in, but I thought the equalistion fund was going to take the excess proceeds and redistribute them. That would benefit the "poorer" clubs. Anyway, I personally hope it hasn't changed but that's a whole 'nother argument.

As for Friday games, I presume it is largely dictated by the TV stations that paid the big $ for the rights and therefore want ratings. If you want their money you have to give them what they paid for. Not sure what you expect from that.

I really don't understand why there is an argument against blockbusters. It promotes not only the competing clubs but the game. what do you think will happen if they remove the ANZAC day Colling v Essendon game? Do you really think it can be replaced by a North V Freeo game? That should pack in about 12 old ladies and the mums and dads of the little leaguer's.

If you are going to complain about the draw, then what do you think should be done in place of blockbusters etc? And how would you change the effect of not playing all clubs an equal number of times?

I won't even go into the effect it will have on Collingwoods finals chances to play Essendon, Carlton and Richmond twice instead of St.Kilda, Frre and WCE. We have to take the benefite along with the downsides.
Click to expand...

Well there is a lot of them. This smacks of protecting the 4 VFL clubs at the expense of the other Victorian based clubs.

A kind of "backstabbing " if you like.

Meanwhile the AFL must have plans on moving the AFL Grand Final to Footy Park....said what! Yeah right...

Why else do you explain why we dont feature on the MCG until September...Its a joke
 
Originally posted by K9-54

Port Adelaide. Their supporters seem the keenest to see a cull in the number of teams.
Click to expand...

I think the Eagles supporters are up there with Port supporters in wanting Vic clubs to disappear, less clubs to defeat them. I don't know why they don't just stick to their local leagues seeing they are always going on about them & how great they WERE.
 
3 places higher up the ladder, I'd guess.

I reckon anyone that wants to take out the non-Victorian teams really ought to think about going and supporting the VFL.

All Victorian, All the time.

The national comp is for a national game...don't feel obliged to watch it.
 
With the now obvious exception of Tasmania. Haha.
 
Originally posted by Cornellia


I think the Eagles supporters are up there with Port supporters in wanting Vic clubs to disappear, less clubs to defeat them. I don't know why they don't just stick to their local leagues seeing they are always going on about them & how great they WERE.
Click to expand...

Its an age old arguement.
AND....they havent played at Windy Hill,Moorabin,Western Oval or Collingwoods cauldron yet!!!:D
 

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