Melbourne Rebels

[Messenger]

Had a night out with my brother and a couple of his mates at AAMI Park tonight. Very enjoyable evening. The Rebels are an interesting case study in presenting entertainment. If I was involved with the Melbourne Storm, frankly I'd be terrified of these guys.

* First visit to AAMI Park. Brilliant venue. We had seats in the Melbourne Rebels members area (organised by a friend with connections), sixth row on the 22. I'd say the crowd was in the 18000-20000 range with a big NZ expat population to draw on. Very involved crowd; went off when the good guys crossed the line. Only seven or eight home games a season means attending is an event.

* Plenty of knowledgable rugby people in the audience. There is a died in the wool union community here and while there were tyre kickers in the audience like your truly, plenty of people arrived in the ground in Rebels kit.

* Very good use of time. Kick off at 7.40, game is done by 9.15-9.30. You can take the kids and have them in bed by 10.30 on a Friday night. It was a 6 try to 3 game (42-25) conducted in the same time frame as a the 3 goal first half shitfest the Cats and Saints put on at the G.

* Marketers wet dream. A crowd skewing towards the higher end of the socioeconomic scale; the Richmond cheer squad it ain't. Rabobank is EVERYWHERE on match day.

Worth having a visit people. Good product.

 

[Arkadia]

I am glad you enjoyed it Messenger. UNION is a much better game than league. Ok this a biased opinion as i come from a family who adores the game and my mums uncle played the game at the highest level in NSW.

I haven't been to AAMI stadium yet or watched the Rebels live, this is one of my priorities for this year. Family commitments lately have stopped me from watching them live. I have seen every game of the Rebels on Fox sports but i wouldn't say we are all from the higher end of the socio-economic scale.

Yes i do enjoy the finer things in life, like my convertible sports car, or sipping my Caffe-Latte for brunch on Sunday while reading the Sunday-Age, and Bird watching in my bush infested back-yard .

But in all honesty i hope the Rebels do well, i certainly will be supporting them when i get a chance.

 

[SNAITHY]

Hey i've got mates in the Melbourne Rebel Chapter. Did you meet Red Dog and Bootleg and Big Cheese?
Shit wait......wrong Rebels

 

[go hawks!!!]

Hey i've got mates in the Melbourne Rebel Chapter. Did you meet Red Dog and Bootleg and Big Cheese?
Shit wait......wrong Rebels

They may have a club house Geelong way mate.

 

[Goady138]

Hey i've got mates in the Melbourne Rebel Chapter. Did you meet Red Dog and Bootleg and Big Cheese?
Shit wait......wrong Rebels

I would love your mates to meet with Melbourne Rebels CEO Ross Oakley.
They could create another chapter in the history of the ex Hawthorn board member, come AFL CEO, come backer of the Melbourne- Hawthorn merger.
I wonder if any old Fitzroy supporters would consider becoming a member of the rebels?

 

[SNAITHY]

I would love your mates to meet with Melbourne Rebels CEO Ross Oakley.
They could create another chapter in the history of the ex Hawthorn board member, come AFL CEO, come backer of the Melbourne- Hawthorn merger.
I wonder if any old Fitzroy supporters would consider becoming a member of the rebels?

Very good. Excuse my ignorance but i had no idea that Oakley was ever on the Hawthorn board. Every day is a school day. That snippit of information gives a strange angle to a quote which i still recall. It was Dermott that said, i think after another suspension, ' i hope I play long enough to play against Ross Oakley's son'. I think i have it right. Perhaps someone else recalls it and can correct me if i am wrong.

My mates in those circles are just normal guys. After a loss, instead of swearing at the tv, they shoot it. This comparison pretty much sums it up. Picture if you will a 130kg biker riding every bump witha grin.....funny stuff. Agreed however, he deserves a visit for pushing the merger. Thank God, hey.