Sydney $$$$ tempt Pies

**Mike_B** · 2 July 2003, 06:59 AM

Typical Collingwood, they couldn't give a toss about promoting the game up here, it's all about what's best for them. $1 million extra for them, the only game for that weekend meaning national coverage to focus on them etc etc. But as was pointed out in the article, if this does go ahead, it means even less for our Melbourne supporters, and the Swans MUST insist that the away game that rops off the list is a trip somewhere other than Melbourne (one of the Adelaide trips based on this year).

Tell me though how the AFL would do the draw to have the Pies play the Swans twice, if one of those games was in Rd 13? Would cause a major rejig of the basic format of the draw of Rds 1-7 and Rds 16-22 being where you play teams 1st and 2nd time, and Rds 8-15 for the rest. I guess they could just do a swap of a round between 16 and 22 with 13, but that would be a bit silly really.

**Reggi** · 2 July 2003, 07:19 AM

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/01/1056825394802.html

Um I query the wisdom in this.

I don't think Collingwood are really a well known club outside Victoria - nor do they have big drawing power - just look at their interstate final vs Port last year.

I think it will struggle a bit - there has been some recent inter - presidential niggles - but I think most Sydney supporters think Collingwood are a bit of a joke. There's no deep seated hatred "big game" sort of stuff.

Helps C/wood trying to get some national recognition - doesn't do a lot for us.

If they want to build up a marquee game better to do it against S&Don - people know more - they draw bigger crowds - more excitement and more passion. I'd prpbably consider West Coast next ot Adelaide and look more to the future.

Can see a debacle coming on.

Can see this being a fizzer actually

**Bart** · 2 July 2003, 07:39 AM

Originally posted by Reggi
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/a...825394802.html

Um I query the wisdom in this.

I don't think Collingwood are really a well known club outside Victoria - nor do they have big drawing power - just look at their interstate final vs Port last year.

I think it will struggle a bit - there has been some recent inter - presidential niggles - but I think most Sydney supporters think Collingwood are a bit of a joke. There's no deep seated hatred "big game" sort of stuff.

Helps C/wood trying to get some national recognition - doesn't do a lot for us.

If they want to build up a marquee game better to do it against S&Don - people know more - they draw bigger crowds - more excitement and more passion. I'd prpbably consider West Coast next ot Adelaide and look more to the future.

Can see a debacle coming on.

Can see this being a fizzer actually

I couldn't agree more.

The Kangaroos home games against Sydney were far less well attended that the Swans home game against them.

Sydney supporters in general have enough in 12 games. 13 is too many.

Ideally 11 would be the right number with a game every second week.

Agree with the comment above about the Swans insisting on not losing further ground in Melbourne. Maybe one less trip west ?

We listen to the bull**** about salary caps when Collingwood can dictate that they travel no more than 4 times a year, including no Perth trip this year.

It makes me really angry to listen to this bunch of whingers when their club is more compromised than any other.

SYDNEY SAY NO! (unless of course its our home game

)

**Ganjaman** · 2 July 2003, 08:02 AM

Would Sydney also stand to make a million dollars? If so then maybe its a good thing.

Another bonus, as long as we win would be to beat them by six goals in front of millions of viewers. Thats worth a million alone.

Collingwood suck and always will!!

**Ganjaman** · 2 July 2003, 08:04 AM

Oh yeah, and talking about home games, cant wait to see the packed house the Kangaroos and St Kilda will draw to the SCG in a couple of weeks. Bonanza.

**Bart** · 2 July 2003, 08:19 AM

I find it galling that not only do the Pies tell the AFL that they want the $1m opp in Sydney, but they also tell the AFL that the Swans should play their home game against the Pies at the SCG!!!!!!

Here's the solution

1. Obviously the Pies see themselves as the biggest drawcard nationally. Fine. The Pies should then travel to every interstate club EVERY year. After all why deny the public the chance to see this great team featuring stars such as Fraser, McGough, Cole and Didak (Didak to spend off-season training to peak in pre-season games)

2. Pies home game against Swans at Telstra Stadium. Therefore Swans home game against pies at Telstra Dome in either Round 1 or Round 22.

**floppinab** · 2 July 2003, 09:39 AM

Question :

If this is a Maggies home game then I guess that means we still have the 3 other SA home games (Blues, Tiges and Bombers), so it should help reduce the cost of games at SA???? Even so if the Swans can't make $$$ out of the SA games how do they think the Pies are going to, where the hell is the mill. coming from???? The Pies will have to pay the Dogs a pretty substantial amount for home game membership rights as well.
Bottom line, is as always, too many compromises, Maggies get a further rigged draw that suits them. Melbourne Swans fans will miss out on a game for sure. I'm assuming that the split round will return next year and this would be scheduled as one of the split round games, albeit on it's own Sat. night spot.

**scurrilous** · 2 July 2003, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by Reggi
[BHelps C/wood trying to get some national recognition - doesn't do a lot for us.

[/B]

No it doesn't do a lot for us, except rip the ****ing heart and soul out of us ****ing Melbourne based MEMBERS!

God help the swans if they don't fight tooth and nail against this "current" proposal.

**EMJ** · 2 July 2003, 10:25 AM

I am fed up with the power and pigheadness of C'wood and crappy Maguire he is really bugging me. What right do they have and what the hell is wrong with AFL that Magpies bag us one day - and take cream the next day. If the AFL accepts this and we lose money with salary caps etc thanks to maguire (can't even be bothered givin him a capital letter for his name), and say no you don't have to go to Perth - come on what is wrong with AFL and what the hell is wrong with every other team and one team can lord it over all teams.

At the end of the AFL article it says - unofficially Colles agrees - surely not - I think it is about time more investigation went on with Collingwood - a bit like Carlton's and I hope there is a hell of a lot of dirt that comes out.

Go the Swans - please may they beat West Coast.

**Jon** · 2 July 2003, 10:31 AM

Geez. You have to hand it to Eddie...he really knows how to turn a buck.

But let's analyse this:

It's true Collingood are currently the best touring team - 10 000 made the march to Adelaide for a game last year. This gives them a lot of leverage with the AFL

But what are they planning to do with it? Looks like they want to buy themselves out of a West Australia trip or two, pocket a million in gate and tv rights by arranging to have the only game that weekend, while KEEPING their number of home games by negotiating to take most or all of the gate takings off a struggling Melbourne team like the Dogs.

No altruism here. Personally, I'd love to play Collingwood twice in Syd in front of big crowds. But I think the AFL should look very carefuly at the fall out for the competition as a whole. Playing a team like Collingwood is one of the few chances the poor-drawing Melbourne clubs have to really fill the coffers. I think it's a bit rich that Collingwood get all jealous about this and orchestrate to take back what they obviously see as theirs by right: ALL the money for the games they play!

Now if Collingwood compensate the Dogs with a cut of the Syd "extravaganza match" it might be a little fairer.

Let em come! But let's not bow and scrape to make it happen!

**liz** · 2 July 2003, 10:51 AM

We discussed this a couple of weeks ago when the Pies first came up with the idea of playing a home game in Sydney.

I agree with all the sentiments thus far expressed in this thread. The only club it would be good for is Collingwood. They are already the only club not travelling to Perth this year and this stinks of a cunning plan to make that a permanent thing. It would stuff up our Melbourne fans further and swell Collingwood's coffers.

Let's hope the Swans and AFL aren't blinded by this apparent "altruism" on the part of Eddie's mob.

**Charlie** · 2 July 2003, 10:52 AM

There is three conditions that we Melbourne based fans should have before we sign up for membership next year:

a) MINIMUM of SIX games each year, with a guaranteed 7 games at least every second year. This is doable, and even to be expected if you allocate matches on a percentage basis.

b) The Collingwood game REPLACES the Bulldogs game in Sydney.

c) The Kangaroos game in Canberra becomes a once every two years event, rather than every year. This game makes it even harder for Victorian fans to get a good deal.

This is all quite reasonable. It's worth remembering that with 23,000 members this year, Victorian fans make up somewhere between 20-25% of our membership... that is a huge percentage for a secondary support base.

**Benevolent Ert** · 2 July 2003, 01:08 PM

what Charlie said

**Mel_C** · 2 July 2003, 01:58 PM

If collingwood can dictate how many games they play interstate, then so should the swans, to ensure that us Melbourne supporters don't lose another game and get a raw deal!!!

Sydney $$$$ tempt Pies

Sydney $$$$ tempt Pies

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment