Permanent annual derby against Roos in Canberra

[liz]

I know this isn't going to warm the cockles of our Melbourne based brethren, but just saw this at the end of an article on the Roos and their continuing commitment to Canberra.

"The new three-year deal signed yesterday involves a permanent annual derby against the Sydney Swans"

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,6753799%255E19742,00.html

I hope this doesn't mean that we won't get to play them in Sydney as well some years. Always enjoy watching us thrash the Roos under lights at the SCG!

[Jon]

hmm. I guess North Melbourne would be keen to sew up a few games at Manuka. They have a pretty incredible record at that ground now.

Strange calling it a derby, though. I thought they gave up on that idea a while back.

[SXP]

Is this just an attempt to boost tourism in Canberra?
I wonder how many locals are really coming to those games and how many of those patrons are actualy travellers from other places like Melbourne, Sydney, Albury or Wagga Wagga? Go and figure that one out!

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Yeah, I agree. When you consider Sydney has a membership of approx 15-16000 in Sydney, it would be arguable to deduce that 5-10% of them went to Canberra for the game. (I knew heaps of familar faces, plus Charlie's sister!) Add it to people coming from the Riverina, which is just as far away from the ACT as Sydney, and I reckon the crowd would have been less than half actual Canberrans.

I mean, how many people were wandering around in ACT Brumbies caps/shirts that day? Probably the worst atmosphere I have EVER heard at a footy match. (Yes, worse than even Geelong, which is saying something.)

Still a weekend in Canberra is still heaps easier/cheaper than going to Melbourne. And it is somewhere else to go. Especially as the bus trips are CULT!

I'd happily even play a home match, such as against the Dockers/Port etc down there. The game needs developing in Canberra, that's for sure.

JF

PS:- Llewellyn, can you PVT me about the pix you took on that day?

[Charlie]

That AFL membership is looking like better value by the week.

Stuff the Swans. If they don't want to come to Melbourne and get my money... they're not getting it.

[Destructive]

Living in Goulburn I don't mind the game in Canberra. The only thing I don't like about it is that Manuka is such a **** ground.

[desredandwhite]

Originally posted by Charlie
That AFL membership is looking like better value by the week.

Stuff the Swans. If they don't want to come to Melbourne and get my money... they're not getting it.

Ummm... how is the North home game anything to do with the Swans? We've been over this and over this - the roos are entitled to play games exactly where they please.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
Ummm... how is the North home game anything to do with the Swans? We've been over this and over this - the roos are entitled to play games exactly where they please.

The AFL doesn't have to allocate them the SWANS game there, though.

If the Swans were insistent enough, I don't think that there'd be five games here this year.

[jixygirl]

It is disappointing that I might not be able to see Sydney play against North Melbourne in Melbourne, especially seeing that I couldn't travel to Canberra to see the game. I guess it's all part of barracking for an interstate team when you can only go to 5 games a year in the town you live in.

[footyhead]

It is good that anything like a darby is played involving the Swans within driving range of Sydney cbd.

[Jon]

It's a shame it won't be play in Victoria for our Southern members. But then again, this fixture hasn't been played anywhere near Victoria for a number of years now.

[footyhead]

The southern members need to realize that there are too many AFL games played in Melbourne each week and not enough else where in the country .

[Angelic Upstart]

Originally posted by footyhead
The southern members need to realize that there are too many AFL games played in Melbourne each week and not enough else where in the country .

The northern members need to realise that Adelaide, Brisbane, Freo and Port Adelaide all get more matches in Melbourne even though their Victorian supporter base is smaller and ties with Melbourne are a lot weaker than our club's. The northern members also need to realise that the perception down here is that the club couldn't care less about how many games it's Melbourne members get to see - all they're concerned about is which deal offers them the best financial advantage. Perhaps they believe they can take our loyalty and continued support for granted. But as Charlie and others are warning, they do that at their peril.

[Damien]

Originally posted by Charlie
The AFL doesn't have to allocate them the SWANS game there, though.

If the Swans were insistent enough, I don't think that there'd be five games here this year.

I don't think so! - The AFL and Kangas need the Swans game. They don't seem to be drawing with anyone else.

[footyhead]

Well I think that even if a third of the melbourne supporters left tommoroow (and they won't - Blood is thicker than water ), it would not really affect the club.
I can understand that you guys are upset, but it doesn't rally matter cos the club's future is in Sydney, it is a growing presence in Sydney ( and maybe even brisbane and canberra too ) that will enable the club to get more sponsorship and membership dollars, not melbourne. It's just a fact of life for us melbourne bred supportors.
Stop winging and forget about threatening the club with your rehtoric, it wont work.