WOOF plug on SEN

[Missing-Dog]

Re: WOOF plug on SEN

I do. It's a massive free kick for those 2 clubs. They exclusively share the gates of the most heavily promoted game on the closest thing to the National Holiday amidst a resurgence of interst in the ANZAC legend/tradition and the other clubs, including ours, are forced to contribute to it by being fixtured to play our games, less so this year, on days other than that day. The consequence is that it's impossible for clubs other than Essendon & Collingwood to market their games on that weekend. The real money made from games is from the attendance of non members. On that weekend, they all go to the Essendon-Collingwood match. Consequently, both those clubs make more profit out of that one game than we make out of a whole season's trading !

It's another big game for players at those 2 clubs, not earned because of their play but by the privilege of having that particular day to themselves. The atmosphere at Friday night's game was flat. This afternoon, it'll be electric.

It's the event of the year in a sport promoted around events. The AFL doesn't run an even competition, it runs a finance oriented fixture. The allocation of games, events and stadia all ensure that the few well supported clubs remain well supported and less well supported remain less well supported.

Sunday games against interstate clubs, twilight games, games interstate, having to sell 2 gaes a year, I can cop as the club can improve its position by performing better and it's character building but Anzac Day is beyond reach and it's the greatest prize of them all.

I agree with all of this. What a thoughtful and articulate person you are.

[comrade]

Re: WOOF plug on SEN

I agree with all of this. What a thoughtful and articulate person you are.

Yep, I'm with you FDOTM. Great post, D Mitchell.

[mjp]

Re: WOOF plug on SEN

It is the sponsorship $ value of the game.

Every year, public holiday, single game (tv monopoly - LIVE broadcast)...it would be worth an extra - well, it would be worth a LOT - to a major sponsor to have this guarantee in their contract. It is basically like being able to guarantee a sponsor that you will appear in the grand-final every year.

[Bornadog]

Re: WOOF plug on SEN

I do. It's a massive free kick for those 2 clubs. They exclusively share the gates of the most heavily promoted game on the closest thing to the National Holiday amidst a resurgence of interst in the ANZAC legend/tradition and the other clubs, including ours, are forced to contribute to it by being fixtured to play our games, less so this year, on days other than that day. The consequence is that it's impossible for clubs other than Essendon & Collingwood to market their games on that weekend. The real money made from games is from the attendance of non members. On that weekend, they all go to the Essendon-Collingwood match. Consequently, both those clubs make more profit out of that one game than we make out of a whole season's trading !

It's another big game for players at those 2 clubs, not earned because of their play but by the privilege of having that particular day to themselves. The atmosphere at Friday night's game was flat. This afternoon, it'll be electric.

It's the event of the year in a sport promoted around events. The AFL doesn't run an even competition, it runs a finance oriented fixture. The allocation of games, events and stadia all ensure that the few well supported clubs remain well supported and less well supported remain less well supported.

Sunday games against interstate clubs, twilight games, games interstate, having to sell 2 gaes a year, I can cop as the club can improve its position by performing better and it's character building but Anzac Day is beyond reach and it's the greatest prize of them all.

There is also another factor. When young fans watch these teams at prime times on TV they become the future member base, and those clubs just keep getting bigger and bigger. Look at Collingwood's membership base, over 50,000. With the amount of exposure they get, its no wonder they have a big following.

[LostDoggy]

Re: WOOF plug on SEN

First, thanks FDOTM and comrade. Second, I agree fully with both bornadog and mjp. Don't tell me that Essendon and Collingwood don't hawk the day around to potential recruits and sponsors. More galling is the perception that those clubs are responsible for the Anzac revival ! Brian Taylor said as much on the radio yesterday although he later denied it when a couple of callers pulled him up on it. I once read some fool, admittedly on bigfooty, post that when the troops played football in the Middle East, they only wore Essendon and Collingwood jumpers !