Pies look to Sydney

[Xie Shan]

How about the Swans playing their 'home' game against Brisbane in Melbourne?

This would work for both sides because Vic-based supporters of both Sydney and Brisbane get an extra game, and it's a neutral venue. Given that we can't seem to beat Brisbane ANYwhere (of course this will change on Sunday ), may as well play it in Melbourne.

And we'd still have 12 games in Sydney assuming the Bulldogs and Collingwood both play their 'home' games here.

[desredandwhite]

Originally posted by sydfan83
How about the Swans playing their 'home' game against Brisbane in Melbourne?

SF83 - This is a BEAUTIFUL piece of lateral thinking!! Of course you can't "sell" the game to any team in particular, we'd just have to manage a deal directly with the venue and the AFL. You're not really giving away a huge amount of home-ground advantage... I wonder though - how much of a crowd would you get... say if a team ran out in Fitzroy colours and the other in South Melbourne guernseys

Not much of a chance for it to happen, but it's an intruiging thought nevertheless

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by lizz
Yes and no - I think the club can do something, particularly in the light of this proposed Collingwood move.

The Lions apparently have a firm agreement with the AFL that they get a minimum of 5 Melbourne games in recognition of their link with Fitzroy. The Bulldogs playing their home game up here was, as I understand, a joint decision between the two clubs and was seen to be financially beneficial for both.

The circumstances surrounding the Collingwood situation are different. The Pies aren't doing it because they need to raise more money. In fact, they would probably make more money playing it in Melbourne. Rather, their motiviations seem to be twofold:

1 Gain some marketing advantage by being seen to be a "more national" club; and

2 Reduce their chances of having to go to Brisbane and Perth. Note that part of the deal seems to be that they still want to be guaranteed 18 games in Melbourne - so in effect they are swapping a trip to Perth or Brisbane for an easier one to Sydney. THEY ARE GIVING UP NOTHING!

Surely the Swans are entitled to be lukewarm about the idea - and say, sure, if Collingwood want to play a game up here, that's fine by us, but its not our choice and we too want a guaranteed minimum number of games in Melbourne. If the Pies can sneak their way out of a Perth trip, why can't the Swans?

I love you Lizz. You are so smart. Well of course you must be smart cos I thought exactly the same as you. Everyone else is a fool
But seriously the above statement by Lizz is how the cookie crumbles, and where the bull sits. Think about it, and tell me both Lizz and I are wrong.

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
It's their home game, they can play it anywhere they want. And if they play in Canberra, they will want to play the side that will draw the biggest crowd in Canberra. Take a guess who that might be?

Wagga Tigers?

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by sharp9
Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt when family treats you like unwanted chewing gum, though

I hate being stuck under someone's chair.

[sharp9]

Just read a really good article on afl.com by Paul Gough (soory can't get the link to work at the mo) which outlines just how bloody outrageous this Collingwood request is.....They want to continue playing only 4 games a year outside Melbourne...that means every year 2 in Syd, 1 in Brisbane and, wait for it, 1 game per year in either Adelaide or Perth. ha, ha, ha, ha.

Even the Melbourne Journos are up in arms.

Eddie says this is about spreading the AFL gospel. Any chance that getting an extra 12 points a year might have something do with it?

The latest is that Eddie is planning to have it written into the AFL constitutuion that Collingwood will never, ever, have to play away to any team in the league who have a positive home ground record. The AFL will force those sides to relocate their home games in Magpie land in order to "foster an even playing field throughout the competition."

[bricon]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
I wonder though - how much of a crowd would you get... say if a team ran out in Fitzroy colours and the other in South Melbourne guernseys

I'd guess that a crowd of well under 10,000 would show up for a Swans v Lions (H&A) game in Melbourne; such a match would lose around $200,000.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by sharp9
Just read a really good article on afl.com by Paul Gough

Article can be found here: http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=opi...rticleid=90795

[vagary]

Originally posted by Mel_C
I
It's bad enough that we lose out on going to see 2 games a year in Melbourne....now they want to make it 3!!

from what i read this would be instead of western bulldogs playing a home game in sydney.

in all honesty, this sounds like collingwood doing a kangaroo to me.

either that or eddie want to be seen at both olympic parks.

[Cher]

I can't see Collingwood supporters letting their team play a home game 'away'
Are they still the biggest membership in the league?
Eddie would be sure to lose his job!
I don't believe it will ever happen!

[Nico]

Originally posted by bricon
I'd guess that a crowd of well under 10,000 would show up for a Swans v Lions (H&A) game in Melbourne; such a match would lose around $200,000.

Not if you played it at the Junction Oval.

[Nico]

It's an outrage that these imposters are given the privelege of playing 18 home games. It is complete and utter favouritism to the squeeky wheel that makes the most noise, regardless of whether it is not in the interest of the whole competition.

[CureTheSane]

1. The #1 goal is survival of the club

2. 13 home games will be an advantage, that will help us be more successful and improve the supporter base.

3. I like the idea of an agreement with the AFL of a minimum 5 games in Victoria. We better set some guidelines now, before we're looking at a minimum 3 Vic games in a few years.

4. Any supporter who would give up the Swans and support someone else because of something like this won't be missed much

5. Doing this may cause Collingwood supporters to question Eddie. Damn, what I'd give to see a John Elliott type removal

[Charlie]

4. Any supporter who would give up the Swans and support someone else because of something like this won't be missed much

Not saying I'd go support someone else... on the contrary. I'd still be a Swans fan... couldn't not be. But why the heck should I bother with a membership if there's only 4 games???

[desredandwhite]

That's fair enough too Charlie. It IS after all a business in the end. Would you take up a membership if the price dropped accordingly though? (just thinking about it from a value - game per dollar perspective)