Permanent annual derby against Roos in Canberra

[Cheer Cheer]

I have to support Charlie, Robbie and Co. in my disappointment with the comments by lizz, cos an co. Very disappointed.

We have been supporting this club down here for so many years and we keep coming out in droves and we keep getting treated worse an worse.

People in sydney cant really comment on this issue because simply they dont understand.

[liz]

Originally posted by Cheer Cheer
People in sydney cant really comment on this issue because simply they dont understand.

Sorry, but I find that comment patronising and simplistic.

Melbourne supporters have the sympathy of a lot of Sydney based fans on this board, based on prior discussions on this topic, myself included.

I would love for the Swans to get 6 or 7 games in Melbourne each year. I would be happy for the Bulldogs "home" game to be played down in Melbourne to help this to happen, even though it would mean that I personally go to go to one game less.

BUT

It is the Bulldogs home game and clearly they feel they can make more money by playing it up here. That's their choice.

Similarly the Roos are desparately trying to help their club survive and if they need to play games in Canberra to help them do it, then so be it. And clearly playing against the Swans there will be the best money spinner so you can't blame them for wanting that.

These are two clubs who are fighting for their survival. Surely no football fan would begrudge them that, particularly South Melbourne supporters who know the pain more than most.

If you bother to read Cos' comment properly, it was not telling you you had no gripe. It was offering a suggestion of something you - the Melbourne based fans - can do to try to influence the situation.

Every time this topic comes up, I get the impression some Melbourne fans think that every Sydney fan who doesn't agree that the club should relocate back to Melbourne is deemed to be some kind of traitor to the Melbourne based fans. That simply isn't the case. But what do you expect us to do?

I've said my piece and will be done now. No doubt some of you will continue to brand me insensitive to your plight, or whatever. Not true, but you need to fight your fight against the right people, not those who support you but can do absolutely nothing to help.

[desredandwhite]

My take on it is that it's not the club's fault that we are copping less Melbourne games. We have control over our home games, to an extent, and very little when it comes to away games. If north want to play games in Canberra, they can. They can also request that we are one of the sides that play there, as we will draw a crowd to the game. The AFL also wants a crowd there, so they will schedule us there. What does the club do? Refuse to play and forfeit 4 points?

If 11 clubs all decide that they want to play their home games against us in Sydney, then there is little we can do about it. What the club can and has been doing is REQUEST at least 6 games in Melbourne.

Channel the aggro at the AFL, they're the ones who can influence the decision. Maybe the club can lower melbourne membership prices if we get less games, surely that would help to address some of the "value for money" concerns?

[cos789]

I was a South supporter living in Sydney before they made the move North .I am delighted that the clubs survives and grows and gives new opportunities .I certainly sympathise with Southern supporters who want to see more "home" games ,but the real culprit is the AFL ,that sends Sydney here and there ,instead of teams like Collingwood who never leave the MCG .We dont act like Collingwood who wanted to come to Sydney only if all their "home" games were played at the "G"

GO Bloods!

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by lizz


If you bother to read Cos' comment properly, it was not telling you you had no gripe. It was offering a suggestion of something you - the Melbourne based fans - can do to try to influence the situation...

you need to fight your fight against the right people, not those who support you but can do absolutely nothing to help.

We have been trying to influence the situation for years now, the more support we give, the worse the situation for us becomes.
Thats what we are frustrated with is those comments because you dont seem to understand how much we are trying to influence the situation, you just seem to say oh well just show more support and influence the decision for more games down here - those comments are simplistic and patronising.

[Cheer Cheer]

The bottom line is the only issue i have with lizz an co are what i take as an insult from those up in sydney who say in more or less terms for melbournians to show more support to give the club a reason for us to get more games, when really the support in melbourne can hardly give any more out, it is huge and thats why i say you cant really comment cause you dont live down here and you havent got a "feel" for the support and what happens down here in that regard.
Disapointing

[Charlie]

I agree CC... what exactly more can we do? Every game down here, we get thousands and thousands of fans. We make up approximately a quarter of the membership base, making us the largest non-home state membership base in the competition. There's currently a thread on Bigfooty entitled "Swans turning Optus red n white" (I cleaned that up a bit).... by a Crows fan!!! Other club's fans can see that we are huge, and that what we give the club is special. Why can't the AFL, the Swans, or whoever the hell is responsible for this ridiculous situation?

[cos789]

Putting aside the Swans issue ,the reality is from the AFL's point of view is the sides with the smallest supporter base are the largest candidates for touring .
What can the club do- request more games .
What can Melbourne fans do-keep supporting the club
What can Sydney fans do-try getting down to Melbourne occassionaly.
If another away game was swapped (instead of added)for Canberra that would be an improvement ,since Canberra is driveable distance .

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by lizz
But you won't get what you want by withdrawing your support. You lose "your" club and the AFL is vindicated and will no longer have any pressure to recognise the Swans heritage in your city.

Sorry Lizz. I see what wavelength you are on and yes you are right. I have never said I would withdraw my membership on this issue, because I know that would achieve nothing. However, you can only beat a dead horse so often until u get sick of doing it. It's already showed that this years Melb membership is down on last years by a fair margin. That may be just coincidence, or it may be Melbourne members saying "hang on, this club is not looking after us. I've had enough."

I'm worried. And this time, it's not for myself , I may be moving to WA for geology work. I'm more worried for the club. Lets face it. Losing 6000 members is a big loss in any team's books, but moreso Sydney's. The membership base at sydney seems far more reliant on flavour of the month issues than down here in Melbourne. And with only approx 18000 (core) syd based members.... That's not a great membership for a one team town

So there you see why I am so angry at all this switching of games at the expense of the melbourne members. The club WILL end up losing them if they don't become proactive in searching for a 6 Melb games a year deal.

edit: I really should read the whole thread before posting my drivel. Robbie and Charlie summed all my thoughts up. As for having a go at cos and explaining things again.... well, there's that dead horse theory comes in to play.

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by footyhead
LOOK I REALLY DO SYMPATHISE WITH YOU GUYS IN MELBOURNE, BUT i LIVE IN AMERICA AND i FIND IT A BIT TOUGH AS WELL.

Try following baseball

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
My take on it is that it's not the club's fault that we are copping less Melbourne games. We have control over our home games, to an extent, and very little when it comes to away games. If north want to play games in Canberra, they can. They can also request that we are one of the sides that play there, as we will draw a crowd to the game. The AFL also wants a crowd there, so they will schedule us there. What does the club do? Refuse to play and forfeit 4 points?

No, they can say to the AFL ok then we'll play only once in WA and an extra in Melb. Is that not a win/win situation for the club?
(soory to all thos wa people out there )

This is just an example of what the club needs to be showing it's members that it is doing! Not just "Oh well, we asked for 6 games in Melbourne". Put the damn thing in the papers, make the press run with the stories. Bring out the dirt on Collingwoods draw, the bad MCG **** we have to put up with. FFS it's not that hard for the club to show its members that they are earnestly looking out for us.

You pricks can not deny me this!

/end rant but u get my message