The Monday Soapbox - R9, 2025

[Dogs 24/7]

My soapbox question is given there were a number of close games this weekend is it a sign that the competition is starting to even out?

[Pleather Sole]

You can get Sherrin shaped Nutri Grain!?

Its a matter of time Squirrel. Perhaps there'll be just a few extra, ultra, extreme protein and caffeine infused sherrin nuggets in each box and if you eat all three suddenly you can kick accurately off each boot!

[angelopetraglia]

Super Saturday on Fox is still a schemozzle. It is such a bubble and squeak mess. If you're tuning in just to watch your team's game, too bad you'll be lumbered with a magazine style bunch of segments all irrelevant to you and it will ruin the build up and the post match coverage is likely to be gone despite if you win or lose.
Worst invention in years. Such a wankfest of blowhards. I despair.
Its unforgiveable that Pox Footy has sole rights of every Saturday game, but to then cock it up so badly and aim it only at fans who would buy Sherrin shaped Nutri Grain if they could is criminal.
I have already circled my calendar with a smile for our non Saturday games.

100% this.

They should have dedicated teams for the pre and post of each game. It’s shambolic what they are doing.

They would not do that if they had to compete with channel 7 on Saturday night. But because they don’t, they serve up an inferior product and we don’t have a choice.

[Flamethrower]

With all the angst about the fixture, it still amazes me that we are the ONLY AFL club who have NEVER played a home ground final.

North, St Kilda, Geelong, Hawthorn and Essendon have all hosted finals at Marvel Stadium, but not us. And I bet when the Suns finally earn a home final, it will be at Carrara.

[Prince Imperial]

With all the angst about the fixture, it still amazes me that we are the ONLY AFL club who have NEVER played a home ground final.

North, St Kilda, Geelong, Hawthorn and Essendon have all hosted finals at Marvel Stadium, but not us. And I bet when the Suns finally earn a home final, it will be at Carrara.

A while back I looked at all our finals we played in our VFA days and not one was at the Western Oval. Instead, many were at Arden St, Port Oval and the now defunct East Melbourne Cricket Ground.

[Uninformed]

We have played on a number of different grounds although Ballarat is a bit of an own goal.
Is there a fairer system or is it just the price you pay for being a smaller club?

34 games - 17 home and 17 away.
Scrap the pre-season.
More content, more money, more for the fans, more fun for the players.

[Mantis]

34 games - 17 home and 17 away.
Scrap the pre-season.
More content, more money, more for the fans, more fun for the players.

When Tassie come in does that mean it pushes out to 36 games?

[SquirrelGrip]

34 games - 17 home and 17 away.
Scrap the pre-season.
More content, more money, more for the fans, more fun for the players.

And with this a push for shorter games? It's back up for discussion this week.

Maybe we go like cricket and have two different formats one full season with 17 home and away games of standard four quarter footy, the other a T20 equivalent (but NOT AFL-X) with 17 games of 2 30 minute halves each. Could have double headers and/or Gather Rounds around the place. Plus finals for both types?

[Uninformed]

When Tassie come in does that mean it pushes out to 36 games?

Scrap Tassie and get rid of GC and GWS in an ideal world.

But 36 would be about as much as you could squeeze in.

[Uninformed]

And with this a push for shorter games? It's back up for discussion this week.

Maybe we go like cricket and have two different formats one full season with 17 home and away games of standard four quarter footy, the other a T20 equivalent (but NOT AFL-X) with 17 games of 2 30 minute halves each. Could have double headers and/or Gather Rounds around the place. Plus finals for both types?

Not a fan of the shorter games. But you would probably need bigger lists for player management through such long seasons.

[EasternWest]

100% this.

They should have dedicated teams for the pre and post of each game. It’s shambolic what they are doing.

They would not do that if they had to compete with channel 7 on Saturday night. But because they don’t, they serve up an inferior product and we don’t have a choice.

We do have a choice

[Happy Days]

I will take up arms and storm AFL house if they bring back 16 minute quarters

[hujsh]

I will take up arms and storm AFL house if they bring back 16 minute quarters

Happy Days rallying the crowd to march on AFL House from the Yarraville nets

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[Happy Days]

Happy Days rallying the crowd to march on AFL House from the Yarraville nets

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It’s true I’m the guy in the Shaman outfit

[jazzadogs]

I will take up arms and storm AFL house if they bring back 16 minute quarters

Negotiate for 16 minute quarters at Whitten Oval?