Pies look to Sydney

[Benevolent Ert]

Pies look at Sydney
May 08 2003

Collingwood would play both its matches against Sydney next season at Telstra Stadium, the vast but under-used Olympic venue, in an initiative discussed by club and stadium officials in Melbourne this week

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/07/1052280323300.html

There goes ANOTHER game in Melbourne


I'm getting pretty sick of this!

[SWANSBEST]

A slightly different approach in The Hun . The use of the term "developed a presence of sorts in the inner west" is probably a bit flattering .
08 May 2003


New push for Pie games in Sydney
08 May 2003 Herald Sun
By MIKE SHEAHAN

COLLINGWOOD is preparing a plan that would see it play two games in Sydney every year from 2004.

It proposes an annual schedule of the usual 18 games in Melbourne and four interstate, but with the travelling engagements fixed at two in Sydney, one in Brisbane and one in Adelaide and Perth in alternate years.

Collingwood members would get home-game privileges at one "away" game at the MCG or Telstra Dome in return for the "home" game played in Sydney.

The plan was discussed in Melbourne on Tuesday at a meeting of Stadium Australia officials, AFL department heads Andrew Demetriou and Tony Peek, and Collingwood chief executive Greg Swann.

Stadium Australia, which runs Telstra Stadium, is anxious to share in Collingwood's massive national appeal by offering an attractive deal at the Olympic venue at Homebush.

"There's a fair bit of work to be done, but we are talking about it," Swann said last night.

If Collingwood proceeds, and the plan is adopted by the AFL, the Swans could have 13 home games from next year.

The Western Bulldogs are keen to continue the arrangement in which they play their home game against the Swans in Sydney.

The Bulldogs also are investigating new destinations for one and possibly two more home games.

"We're looking at other venues," chief executive Campbell Rose said last night.

One is Marrara Oval in Darwin and the other is Cairns.

Demetriou said yesterday AFL Northern Territory had requested a home-and-away game from next year, while Cairns has also hosted Wizard Cup fixtures.

Swann said Collingwood and the code would benefit from two appearances in Sydney, predicting crowds of 50,000-plus at both.

"It's not really driven by extra dollars. We just think it's good for the club and good for the game to get extra exposure in the biggest market," Swann said. "It's got to help to grow the game."

The strength of the Collingwood brand was underlined this week by the decision to show the sold-out Adelaide-Collingwood game live into the Brisbane market.

The Magpies played to a full house in Brisbane in Round 4 and are back as the biggest name in Australian sport.

The idea of Collingwood playing its home game against Sydney in Sydney is not new, but has fallen over at least twice during the past five years for various reasons.

The Pies developed a presence of sorts in Sydney's inner-west in a pre-season camp, and are keen to follow-up.

Swann said he had to confer with coach Michael Malthouse and his staff before the plan proceeded to board level.

Demetriou said clubs had until June 6 to respond to the call for fixturing requests next year.

He said he received "nothing official" from Collingwood.

Peek said: "It's been flagged with us as a possibility."

[Charlie]

Can someone tell me how to start a petition?

If Melbourne fans let this happen, we are idiots!

WHAT ABOUT US?

STUFF COLLINGWOOD TO HELL! STUFF EDDIE! STUFF OLYMPIC STADIUM!!!

MELBOURNE FANS DESERVE BETTER!

[robbieando]

Gee at this rate 4 games a season in Melbourne will be the norm. Just how many games does the public of Sydney need??? The club is losing money, yet is willing to pay clubs to play matches here.

TELL COLLESS AND EDDIE TO SOD OFF

[Red]

Yeah, great plan -- for Collingwood. They get more money and sydney-based support, and we lose money and victorian support!

Isn't it ironic how the clubs that top our current @@@@ list are the ones that suddenly decide to muscle in on Sydney. I thought that the very political McGuire would've learned fhe lesson from North & the Bulldogs respective pushes: the only way into Sydney is via the Swans. And you don't get far along that road by trying to systematically strip us of every little leg-up that we have.

If this goes ahead (which is quite likely), I think another 'Boo-a-Roo' campaign is in order, this one aimed at the Dagpies. We need a good name though. Fry-a-Pie? Slag-a-Mag?

[sharp9]

Does someone know for sure who makes these decisions (I mean on how many Melbourne games there are for Sydney and Brisbane)?

If it is someone from the club are they standing up and owning that it their preferred idea?

I have a vague memory of a club spokesperson saying something very weak about not having any power over these matters (as our number dropped again this year) but seeing as no real fuss has been made we must assume that if it is an AFL decision they are doing with the club's blessing.

Another amazing bit of unreality is how Eddie said "Collingwood's 18 home games will be protected." 18!!!! In what sport in the entire world does a side play 85% of it's games at home? Not counting exttra finals and pre-season games also not being spread around equitably.

Yet the Magpie faithful regard it as their devine right.

[desredandwhite]

The problem as I see it is that the club can't win.

If it goes ahead, they alienate Melbourne supporters, and have to hand over cash to Collingwood.

If it doesn't go ahead, they are giving up a game in Sydney.

I would love to have more games in Melbourne, but looking at it from the club's point of view they're stuck in a pretty hard place. Can they afford to give up a valuable home game for the team, an extra game for the MAJORITY of supporters and sponsors? Don't get me wrong, Victorian RWOers, I'm on your side - but the arguments aren't looking good.

Okay, let's have a look at the maths:

11 games at home.

2 games "away" in Sydney - I suspect the clubs can't do anything about these, every club can play its home games wherever the hell it wants, that's not our business. If we say "no we don't want to manage it", they will just go and make their own deals with the SCG trust, or the Stadium Australia admin.

This leaves 9 away games. 1 will probably be in Canberra (again, we can't tell the roos what to do). Worst case scenario is 2 in WA, 2 in SA and one in QLD, leaving 3 in Melbourne/Geelong. Obviously not what we want. What I think is LIKELY is that we have 1 in WA, 1 in SA and 1 in QLD, with 5 in Melbourne/Geelong. What the club might be able to do if they're stubborn and annoying enough is to try to only have to travel to 2 of WA, SA and QLD, leaving 6 in VIC.

[j s]

Don't forget the possibility of one in Tasmania (though that venue seems reserved for visiting teams that draw poorly)

[Mike_B]

IMHO its a ploy to make sure they travel even less! Think about it, 2 games in Sydney, 18 in Melbourne (STILL), leaves only one trip to Adelaide and one to Perth left. Or as I'm sure they'd push for, a game in Brisbane instead of Perth.

IMHO the AFL needs to assess the implications on maintaining equal amounts of travel for the Victorian teams.

As for Swans fans, I'd be happy with just the one game in Sydney v the Pies and one in Melb. Gotta be fair here. This of course would assume that Collingwood would play Sydney twice each year, meaning they would be playing Sydney, Carlton, and Essendon twice each year before anything else is even contemplated.

As usual, its Collingwood looking to do what suits them best, and bugger anyone else.

[Rizzo]

What the Pies don't realise is that you can easily saturate the Sydney market with too many games

[robbieando]

If we get 4 games a year in Melbourne our solid membership base down here will drop, and trust me the way the club is run I don't think we'll make up the numbers in Sydney. Less members = less money.

Come on Des this year alone in NSW/ACT the Swans will play 13 Home and Away matches, 1 Wizard Cup Match and 3 Practice Matches = 17 matches. Why should we in Melbourne who I dare say have been following this club longer, have to cop this????? Its unfair. If clubs want to play home matches in Sydney, the Swans at least should not have to pay them and in return should return one of our home matches to Melbourne.

[Reggi]

8 Points

[Charlie]

SSI!!!

This is your chance to convince me that you are there for the FANS, and not the almighty board position!

Also prove that you are dedicated to the Melbourne supporter base, and DO SOMETHING!

I'M NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS! EITHER THERE IS MORE, NOT LESS GAMES IN MELBOURNE, OR MY MEMBERSHIP MONEY IS GONE!

I've had enough... If the Swans agree to this, without giving us back the game against the 'Roos, as well as GUARANTEEING there will never be less than 6 games again, I'm gone.

[Angelic Upstart]

Originally posted by sharp9
Does someone know for sure who makes these decisions (I mean on how many Melbourne games there are for Sydney and Brisbane)?

My understanding is that the clubs submit a fixtures "wish-list" to the AFL, but the AFL makes the decision on who plays when and where. I believe that the Swans preferred outcome for this season was 7 games in Melbourne, which of course they didn't get.

And Charlie, I'd be happy to sign any petition. It's something that should be referred to Swans Supporters Inc. Swans management needs to be made aware that if they don't argue strongly against even less Melbourne games it's going to have consequences re the size of their Melbourne fan base. It's definitely going to result in a further withering away of that support.

[robbieando]

Charlie,

Email JF for his views on SSI. I have decided to support them because JF is of the opinion that ACB is not in it for the board position. He also told me this is a chance for Swans fans and members to work together to put pressure on the club. They hold Melbourne members and their view highly. I think SSI can work if we get numbers.