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hansie said:
I’ve agreed we recruit.
They have a 7 point player who basically won them the game.
He probably wouldn’t even know where the balwyn ground is.
They spend heaps and have no support. They are in the deer park/marby park class.
They will kill the comp with the overs they pay.
And like south belly and Donny east, they are cooked when the money dries up (as it will)
Thinking you are a closet balwyn man - you never rip them like you do the other merc clubs
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When will the money dry up though? Balwyn have been doing it for the best part of 30 years. I remember when they played in the Southern League (lower standard and against weaker teams) they had the likes of:
Simon Minton-Connell
Jason Taylor
Anthony Condon
Paul Bulluss
Jason Danilchinko
Sam Cranage
Matthew Banks

* Probably more just can’t think of names *

All fresh out of the AFL system on their books. Always been a club full or mercenaries.
 
Congratulations to Balwyn. Another example of a club with a big cheque book and very inventive on how you pay/ look after players financially. They have been doing it for years.

Recruiting higher profile players and then not playing them due to points issues is farcical. No wonder the place is a revolving door and best described by some that have been there before as a ‘soulless’ club with minimal community support and run by people best described as ‘powerbrokers’ by them.

Interested in others thoughts about the game, whilst close I thought it was a very ordinary spectacle. For such a premier competition I have seen far better games of footy at much lesser levels. The defensive nature of the game at this level is very frustrating to watch (boring too).

As for the missed free it was a bad one at a crucial time but there were errors throughout the game. I would question having an umpire that has been there for many years agin doing the grand final. Says there is a problem with umpiring if the same individual bobs up year after year. Umpiring is a problem everywhere as we know but the standard across the league isn’t good. Seems to be a focus on just getting someone to fill a game rather than improving the standard. A few games I saw this year had guys that just stood in the centre square.

And what were others thoughts about the crowd? Thought it was quite poor.

Maybe they are too busy worrying about having a league medal night at Marvel Stadium that no clubs want due to being mid week and a location nowhere near the league heartland. A ridiculous decision.

Finally as mentioned, Blackburn have taken over the mantle of poaching junior players from other clubs and claiming them as their own.
 
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Given the crowd yesterday, the EFNL do a fantastic job broadcasting on YouTube and one of the only leagues who don’t charges a private streaming fee to watch the game!
We all know the EFNL is money driven do you think they’ll follow other models and go to the paid streaming they’ll make more money off that but then also twists people’s arm to go through the gate and pay money to watch?

I certainly hope they don’t but after seeing the crowd yesterday they will inflat the number and say 10,000 plus but it just wasn’t I can tell you that!
 
thefunnelweb said:
Given the crowd yesterday, the EFNL do a fantastic job broadcasting on YouTube and one of the only leagues who don’t charges a private streaming fee to watch the game!
We all know the EFNL is money driven do you think they’ll follow other models and go to the paid streaming they’ll make more money off that but then also twists people’s arm to go through the gate and pay money to watch?

I certainly hope they don’t but after seeing the crowd yesterday they will inflat the number and say 10,000 plus but it just wasn’t I can tell you that!
Click to expand...

It seems a bit of a trend, last few years it doesn’t look like the crowds have been anything like the heyday when there was regularly 10k - 15k at Bayswater.

Might be wrong but it feels like the weather is shit every year, when was the last time there was a sunny day for it?

AFL Prelim would have a huge impact, they were always Saturday night until the interstate clubs started complaining. Now they’re 5pm.

If the AFL are gonna persist with it (and they are) then maybe the league needs to look at playing on Sunday.
 

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Bunk Moreland said:
It seems a bit of a trend, last few years it doesn’t look like the crowds have been anything like the heyday when there was regularly 10k - 15k at Bayswater.

Might be wrong but it feels like the weather is shit every year, when was the last time there was a sunny day for it?

AFL Prelim would have a huge impact, they were always Saturday night until the interstate clubs started complaining. Now they’re 5pm.

If the AFL are gonna persist with it (and they are) then maybe the league needs to look at playing on Sunday.
Click to expand...
Or does it all need to come a week forward? Is trying to compete with prelims to hard?
Also I feel like in an age when social media marketing (I’m old for it) but I don’t feel like the marketing was up to scratch! Or where it could be thrown in your face and advertised I all platforms!!
 
thefunnelweb said:
Or does it all need to come a week forward? Is trying to compete with prelims to hard?
Also I feel like in an age when social media marketing (I’m old for it) but I don’t feel like the marketing was up to scratch! Or where it could be thrown in your face and advertised I all platforms!!
Click to expand...

Possibly. I think it’s the AFL, all the finals are played at night (expect for one in Week 1, which is usually interstate) which is fine as people can get to the locals then make their plans to head to the game or home / elsewhere to watch it. Then you get to prelim week and there’s a 5pm Saturday game, everyone wants to attend or watch so you’re not gonna make plans to be stuck in Bayswater at 4:45pm.

Today is a footy free day except for the VFL which nobody gives a shit about, so might be worth a try. I’m sure they’re reluctant as they wouldn’t sell as much grog as they would on Saturday, but if the crowd shrinks then maybe it’s worth a try for a year. Or as you say, bring it forward a week. That can be hard to do however as the season already starts at the beginning of April.
 
Bunk Moreland said:
Possibly. I think it’s the AFL, all the finals are played at night (expect for one in Week 1, which is usually interstate) which is fine as people can get to the locals then make their plans to head to the game or home / elsewhere to watch it. Then you get to prelim week and there’s a 5pm Saturday game, everyone wants to attend or watch so you’re not gonna make plans to be stuck in Bayswater at 4:45pm.

Today is a footy free day except for the VFL which nobody gives a shit about, so might be worth a try. I’m sure they’re reluctant as they wouldn’t sell as much grog as they would on Saturday, but if the crowd shrinks then maybe it’s worth a try for a year. Or as you say, bring it forward a week. That can be hard to do however as the season already starts at the beginning of April.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t play on the Sunday but maybe take a look at the Vafa. The Vafa has got the the perfect day. The Friday b4 the AFL GF.
 
Bunk Moreland said:
It seems a bit of a trend, last few years it doesn’t look like the crowds have been anything like the heyday when there was regularly 10k - 15k at Bayswater.

Might be wrong but it feels like the weather is shit every year, when was the last time there was a sunny day for it?

AFL Prelim would have a huge impact, they were always Saturday night until the interstate clubs started complaining. Now they’re 5pm.

If the AFL are gonna persist with it (and they are) then maybe the league needs to look at playing on Sunday.
Click to expand...

It seems the crowd gets less every year.

Although with having Balwyn playing would be a factor.
 
The_General#1 said:
I wouldn’t play on the Sunday but maybe take a look at the Vafa. The Vafa has got the the perfect day. The Friday b4 the AFL GF.
Click to expand...

Yeah a few leagues do this. I’m not convinced by it, it’s still not really entrenched as a public holiday and a lot of people still work.

Plus a six day lead in to a GF is not ideal for the prelim team.
 
24hrs on I'm still trying to work out how Blackburn lost that game, 14 points up going into time on i thought well done Burners you've done it....Unbelievable
 
I think the Friday before is to risky to trial due to you can’t control who makes the afl grand final plus a lot of blokes would find it hard to get the afl grand final to drink piss let alone asking the missus for back to back days at the footy!!! I know mine would have raise eyebrows at it 20 years ago when the kids were little!!!

Where will prem grand final be next year anyways cause it can not be back at Bayswater
 
thefunnelweb said:
I think the Friday before is to risky to trial due to you can’t control who makes the afl grand final plus a lot of blokes would find it hard to get the afl grand final to drink piss let alone asking the missus for back to back days at the footy!!! I know mine would have raise eyebrows at it 20 years ago when the kids were little!!!

Where will prem grand final be next year anyways cause it can not be back at Bayswater
Click to expand...
As long as the ground re surfacing at Bayswater comes up OK short term it is the only suitable venue.Long term I like East Burwood but they will have no rooms next season for themselves and will most likely have to find some where else to play unless portables are used.
 
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Watching the stream, noticed the nueturals on the outer side were mostly made up of middle aged to older people.
Maybe the younger generation are not too interested in local footy when their team is not involved.
It was once tradition to go every year, it was an unofficial reunion of sorts.
Personally, I haven't attended gf day since covid,

Other factors

  • weather
  • costs
  • afl prelim
  • Balwyn being in it
 

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Big John Studd said:
Watching the stream, noticed the nueturals on the outer side were mostly made up of middle aged to older people.
Maybe the younger generation are not too interested in local footy when their team is not involved.
It was once tradition to go every year, it was an unofficial reunion of sorts.
Personally, I haven't attended gf day since covid,

Other factors

  • weather
  • costs
  • afl prelim
  • Balwyn being in it
Click to expand...
Love the last dot point Studd 🤣🤣🤣
 
Big John Studd said:
Watching the stream, noticed the nueturals on the outer side were mostly made up of middle aged to older people.
Maybe the younger generation are not too interested in local footy when their team is not involved.
It was once tradition to go every year, it was an unofficial reunion of sorts.
Personally, I haven't attended gf day since covid,

Other factors

  • weather
  • costs
  • afl prelim
  • Balwyn being in it
Click to expand...
Yeah kind of agree $15 for local footy is a little extreme especially I went to Div 3 grand final $15 for that and $15 for premier doesn’t make sense but I think league keep the gate so no reductions will be coming on that end
 
thefunnelweb said:
Yeah kind of agree $15 for local footy is a little extreme especially I went to Div 3 grand final $15 for that and $15 for premier doesn’t make sense but I think league keep the gate so no reductions will be coming on that end
Click to expand...
Would love to see GF at Box Hill.
Most leagues play at VFL/VFA grounds, train is close and facilities will be sensational after upcoming upgrades
 
I went as a neutral and could not believe how Blackburn lost that game. They needed to control possession and change direction to retain possession to keep the clock running but they kept getting stoppages. Full credit to Balwyn as they kept at it and took their chances.

I thought the Blackburn ruckman was best on and probably would have won the medal if they got up. I could not believe they took him off with 10 minutes to go when you have six months to rest.

The other interesting one was Dorean being helped from the field after a head but cleared to come back on. Love to see the test.

The head high tackle could have been paid but there were a few like that missed when you watch the replay. The first Blackburn goal came from a free kick payed by the crowd behind the goals.

Plenty of players from both teams flashed in and out of the game and neither team could get any Flow into the game.

Haley disappointing again in a big game. Has more cups than possessions in grand finals.

The crowd was down a bit from other years. I think a combination of the lack of trains to Bayswater over the weekend, card only payments and Collingwood playing a final all impacted the crowd.


I can’t believe the government started rail works Friday night across multiple lines.

The other big loser was East Ringwood ressies who gave Rowville the flag with poor kicking at goal.
 
thefunnelweb said:
I think the Friday before is to risky to trial due to you can’t control who makes the afl grand final plus a lot of blokes would find it hard to get the afl grand final to drink piss let alone asking the missus for back to back days at the footy!!! I know mine would have raise eyebrows at it 20 years ago when the kids were little!!!

Where will prem grand final be next year anyways cause it can not be back at Bayswater
Click to expand...
Kilsyth has lapped Bayswater.
 

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thefunnelweb said:
Yeah kind of agree $15 for local footy is a little extreme especially I went to Div 3 grand final $15 for that and $15 for premier doesn’t make sense but I think league keep the gate so no reductions will be coming on that end
Click to expand...
Not sure if I got stitched up but I paid $20 for entry yesterday
 
Some good points have been raised.
My Take:

  1. It's 2025, and you can stream the GF from any device to your Smart TV. If you are interested but not committed to the teams, this is why many don't go. In saying that, if streaming wasn't available, would that force people to go? I doubt it, as there are simply a lot more things to do compared to 20 years ago.
  2. The AFL scheduling the PF at 5.10 pm had an impact on some, not everyone.
  3. Rail works are scheduled to start on Friday night and go over the weekend to minimise the impact on the workforce who travel on the trains from Monday to Friday. It's a pain in the arse, but there's never a right time for major works. As a train traveller to and from the CBD, there's plenty of warning about the works. Even has its own website https://www.metrotrains.com.au/planned-works/
  4. The "card only" payment is annoying for some, but it has stopped the old $1 for you and $3 for me. Pilfering of $$ at Local Footy is now down to the bare minimum. That might be why we can't get volunteers :p
  5. Everyone complains about the entry fee, but is happy to pay top dollar for alcohol. Go Figure.
  6. Everyone has had a crack at Balwyn's lack of supporters. That had no impact as Blackburn has a larger supporter base, and to me, they cancel each other out.
  7. The reality is this is Local Football, not AFL.
 
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