I think we're automatically assuming that we'll beat certain teams but I guess we need to remember that GC, Melb and GWS should make some improvement this season too.
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I think we're automatically assuming that we'll beat certain teams but I guess we need to remember that GC, Melb and GWS should make some improvement this season too.
On field it's pretty good, but that isn't the concern for mine. For all the talk of equalisation this is the crappest outcome for us, as it doesn't give us the chance to grow. Even if we do hit form like your adjustments suggest I don't see how we are going to win supporters because we will never be visible enough for neutrals to sit down and be impressed by us.
And at this point in time on field results are less important so long as we are competitive (ie. we don't have to play finals yet) but being able to build our revenue is very important, especially as we need that money to reinvest in the club both off field now and for the clubs sustainability in the future.
Like Peter Gordon said months ago Hawthorn and Essendon and Carlton aren't the clubs that need to still be growing their membership bases. They have enough. For the sake of the competition the new supporters need to go to us and North and Melbourne. All we are asking is for an equal chance or close enough to it as the big clubs get, but the exposure this draw gives us doesn't give us a chance.
Big clubs will argue the whole "get the good crowds and get the good timeslots" but if we continue to get crap fixtures like we have always gotten that is unattainable.
Has anyone got a worse draw than us from a scheduling perspective? Genuine question.
Another genuine question. The big clubs had their "GGF'd" lunch at Crown Casino where they invited anyone who represented a certain wallet size and that was that.
Why can't we get a block of votes regarding this stuff. Surely the Presidents of the affected clubs should be thinking about holding their own lunch to start messaging collectively. I would think we could get:
North, Dogs, Saints, Brisbane, Melbourne, Port, Freo, Geelong (sympathysers), GWS and GCS to block vote that all those teams get a minimum 1 X Friday night game.
GWS and GCS might look dubious but they would have every reason to support it. They are still minnows living on borrowed money and although they have plenty right now they are unlikely to be self-sustaining in the long term. Even Collingwood seem to be coping with their fair share of travel and are supportive of the situation the smaller (not poorer) clubs remain in.
We need to outvote the arrogant ones as we can't outspend them and by weight of membership they will always win the court of public opinion.
All this draw does is make the bigger clubs even bigger with more exposure, better scheduling. So much for equalisation.
I may be on my 'Pat' here, but I don't see it as bad as everyone is saying. 14 games at Etihad ... six interstate (down from seven last year ... one of which we asked for). Less six day breaks than last year.
Its an improvement ... it's still not the 'ducks-nuts' but it's an improvement.
I think everyone agrees it's a favourable draw from a sporting perspective, but it's absolutely rubbish from a branding and financial perspective. I'd much rather have a far tougher draw and better exposure.
Been in a shitty mood all day because of this fixture. I can't believe how terrible it is! It makes me think what the hell is the point of staying in Melbourne if this is the type of fixture we can expect. How on earth can we be expected to grow our membership base if we can't even get games on free to air prime time slots.
Its even a blow for our sponsors. Sponsors want their brand on free to air & how can we negotiate a better deal when we can't offer them exposure on free to air.
There are a total of 48 Friday & Saturday night prime time free to air games & we are zero from 48 for home games in that category. There is enough games for every team to get a slice of the action.
Its ok for the AFL to use us as part of the 18 team competition to ask for more cash when the tv rights come around but don't want to give us a fair slice of the pie. They then hand us a little compo so we can shut up & think everything is sweet.
I don't care how easy our draw is. I'd rather the toughest draw around so our team can develop quicker.
Also very annoyed at Simon Garlick' comments on our fixture. Be honest Simon & call it what it is!!! Its a CRAP draw & we are being discriminated against because of the size of our fan base. THIS IS BS!!!