2004 AFL Fixtures

[CureTheSane]

Looking back at the "live with it" comment, I tend to agree.

You know, you can sit and whine and bitch as much as you like, but there are other reasons why the 'draw' is done like it is.

The AFL wants the big blockbusters, and the revinue they create.
This to me is the most astonishing thing.

That some games are pre planned every year for $$$

That's where the unfairness starts, and now Sydney are a part of it with the Collingwood game, and others.
Great for the club, but unfair on some other teams that have no real big games.

Like someone said, the old play each other twice routine is the only really fair option, and PERSONALLY, I beleive that AFL should be working towards that. Probably inevitable anyway, with so many teams in Vic in the current climate.

Anyway, 2 games in WA, only 5 in Vic
Geelong sucks, but it's still in Vic and will be included on the Vic membership.

So you miss out on only one game, as most people's expectations 6 games here anyway.

Hardly anything to cry over.

It sucks, and it's 2 years in a row.

But let's move on shall we?

It's not gonna change......

[NMWBloods]

I'm with Steve on this one. Surely people can cope with only 5 games in Melbourne next year. It's better for the club and the Melbourne supporters should still be able to follow the club and see some games. What's the Melbourne-based membership - $90? That's $18 per game - certainly not an over-the-top amount and cheaper than walking up to a game without membership.

The Bulldogs game in Sydney is a big plus for the club and they would be silly not to accept it. If anything, you would want to shift the Manuka game back to Melbourne because who gives a toss about developing the ACT.

Anyway, I think the draw is more favourable to the Swans than having more games in Melbourne, and if it is more favourable then there is more chance of seeing the Swans in Melbourne when it counts - September.

[liz]

Originally posted by robbieando
Sorry Lizz but thats bull****. For the last few years the Melbourne office has had complaint after complaint on this issue, I have rung up a few times to make my point and I have emailed the club as well. Just because Morwood is new isn't going to make us more likely to make our view known, considering they bloody well know we are pissed off. Also it was found that the drop in Melbourne membership this season was because of the amount of games we got in Melbourne. So if the club doesn't know by now our views, they aren't any more likely to listen now.

OK. So you're frustrated, I understand. But if you've tried somethng that doesn't work, try something new. The Melbourne supporters have commented for a while how useless the Melbourne office has been. Now the Swans have done something about that and surely that shows that they understand they have a fan base there to look after.

A new face means a new opportunity to have your voice heard. You could contact Tony and try to set up a meeting to express your thoughts. You could organise a petition at a Melbourne game. Maybe it will work, maybe not. But clearly the issue is something that runs deep with a lot of Melbourne based fans. You can either try to do something to influence the situation, even if it's eventually in vain. Or you can do nothing.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Bron
And more imminently, what about the decision to announce the TLM on chat, when previously it was going to be posted a couple of rounds a night. We've had no updates since last week. This is an issue that should have higher discussion! A decision that puts a heap of us in the dark to benefit a few who can make chat on thursday night!

I'd post in the TLM thread, but I can't! So as this is the current major debate, I just thought that I'd add a tangent.

Please do NOT do the congratulations on chat otherwise the TLM presentation book is going to look pretty slim this year. Please post an official thread. I am already concerned that we won't get the round by round saga to make it a great story as we had last year.

BTW, talking to the Club tomorrow about organising the presentation, so please, let's have something to present.

(off my soapbox now)

Bron - I told you that there'd be a congratulations thread on the TLM forum. I'm sorry that you can't be in chat - I couldn't foresee that. We simply thought that this would be a fun way to build the tension, and I'm trying to be conscious of the fact that doing something the same way time after time becomes boring. People who can't be there will know the final result no later than if it was posted in the forum - I'm currently writing the final rounds' commentary, and these will be posted immediately after the chat session is over. So, you'll have the commentary to put in the book, you'll have the messages, and you'll be able to see it no later. No problems.

[anne]

Are there any organised bus trips from Melbourne to either Canberra or Sydney?

[Reggi]

Gee -just think - if we were C/wood we could get a draw done for us by the AFL that almost guaranteed we would make the finals.

How many trips to Pert have we got.

Outrageously shocking draw.

Melbourne at Telsta Stadium?

What idiot though that one up - one of the worst drawing teams in the country.

"AFL strategic planner Gillon McLachlan says Collingwood is disadvantaged"

This bloke should get the **** straight away. Should be called the 'rigged' not the draw

[Xie Shan]

I wouldn't mind if the Bulldogs home game in Sydney was scrapped - after all if we're supposed to be losing money, why is the club paying them to play a home game here? Moving it back to Melbourne - it'd be one less game I could go to, but with the opportunity to still attend at least 11 here, I'd rather see the club's Melbourne fans, most of whom have probably followed the Swans a lot longer than I have, get an extra game.

Also - playing Geelong before round 6 when they can't play at Skilled Stadium *might* work out, as we host them in rd 3 and travel there in rd 18 - could switch the fixtures but it's a long shot.

I don't see the point of playing a pre-season game at Telstra Stadium before almost empty stands - I barely heard a whimper of publicity for the one earlier this year, and next year against Carlton???? It'd be better off being played at Optus Oval!

At the moment, the best Melbourne fans can hope for is a grand final appearance - at least that will be played at the MCG!

[BAM_BAM]

Originally posted by anne
Are there any organised bus trips from Melbourne to either Canberra or Sydney?

or from Sydney to Melbourne? Is this something the club could do or is it something the Cheer squad organises? I recall hearing about a bus trip a while back that you had to contact Cathy to book a seat for. Is it possible we could do this for those wanting to go to the games but perhaps can't afford to fly.

I'd be happy to be involved in something like that.

[Norris Lurker]

Re: Let's get travelling kids!

First weekend in July looks good for a Melbourne trip. Friday night sees Essendon playing the Kangaroos at the MCG, with Sydney v Carlton at Princes Park on the Saturday afternoon - from all reports the game at Princes Park last year was one of the most fun ever, and certainly you lot were very easily heard on telly.

[swansrock4eva]

Now before ANYONE goes screaming abuse at me or anything, I'm going to ask people to take a step back and let's look at the whole AFL for a second.

People are griping about North Melbourne in Canberra and the Bulldogs in Sydney. For the moment, I have no problem with these games, and for two main reasons:
1) The Bulldogs game up here gives us 12 home games and 10 away games - the same amount as every other Interstate club. If we were the only team travelling 11 times THAT would be a problem because travel DOES affect the team, no matter how well prepared they are. So the Bulldogs game gives us an even run with the other 5 clubs who don't reside in Victoria.

2) From an AFL perspective, for the moment, the competition is pretty much financially bound to 16 teams playing over 22 rounds - the TV deal in particular governs this. In order to keep 16 teams happening, the Bulldogs and Roos in particular must be given some sort of assistance, so in the bulldogs' case, to be paid to play in Sydney is better than playing in Melbourne for one week and losing money yet again. For the roos, a guaranteed sell out in Canberra, and the associated benefits such as increased sponsorship money, lasting associations that can be built upon and fortifying Canberra as a good area for them to move into, is better than having them play another game in Melbourne that can, and almost certainly will, lose them money. For the AFL this is good as it helps breathe life into these clubs and until such a time as it is viable to permanently relocate these two, or devise suitable mergers and develop new teams to maintain the present arrangement, we (as in all clubs) NEED them to be alive. For that reason alone I have no problems with the games, regardless of whether I get to see them or not.

You can bleat all you like about me being from Sydney or whatever, but the club tried, the AFL gave them the options that would generate the most money for them and the competition, and yes, it is sucky that people have had to be left feeling underwhelmed yet again, but it happens everywhere and the AFL is a major corporate entity, not a charity, unfortunately.

[Steve]

Originally posted by Reggi
Melbourne at Telsta Stadium?

Maybe commiting to 3 games per year was slightly premature -perhaps they should have gone for 2 with first option on any finals.

vs Essendon - no brainer
vs Collingwood - ditto

vs ???

They tried Carlton and Richmond, but being bottom 4 for the past 2 years has obviously put them off. Other than that there's the other non-Vic clubs and all the lower-drawing Vic clubs.

Seems as though they just went for the ANZAC game as the easiest alternative.

Personally I think it's going to get to the stage where everything has to be dismantled - each year it is getting that bit more compromised (Bulldogs in Darwin the latest).

Bulldogs, Melbourne, North, St Kilda, Hawthorn told to either:
a) survive in Melbourne
b) move permanently
c) curl up and die

I would have thought now would have been a good time to cut the blockbusters all the way back:
i) Carlton are @@@@e
ii) Richmond have been poor with no guarantee of improving
iii) reduced capacity at the MCG for the next couple of years

But anyway, what's worse:

a) Collingwood having a fair draw, either just making or missing out on the finals, and them blaming the draw; or

b) Collingwood getting an armchair ride, them all getting their hopes up, and them crashing out of the finals year after year?

[Bexl]

Just my opinion but.
4 games in brisy, adelaide and perth and only 4 games in metropoliton melbourne, this draw is total *&#@!*^%#$^*.
The afl have screwed the old South supporters huge time. I repeat this draw is *(&^&^%#%%^^&&&&*^&%$%^^&.

[anniswan]

Well the draw is here to stay so I am not going to whinge too much, at least I won't miss a Melbourne game eventhough I will will be overseas for a month in March/April.

I arrive home a few days b4 round 6

[bartwawa]

Games in Perth

YES, two games in WA. I can't wait.

[Bexl]

By the way the last time we played at geelong I went to get seats for the game only to find they were about $25 each and about $13 for a kids seat on top of our membership and this at a scummy ground with no standing room any more or non booked seats.
This puts seats them at the top price range for games in victoria.
This draw is !*&*^&%^#%^^&