Membership ladder

[hammo]

I think 5 matches in Victoria for a SYDNEY team playing in a national competition is a pretty good deal.

In a perfect world we would play all our away games in Melbourne however, despite what has been suggested, the club can't control where it plays its away games.

If clubs were able to choose where they played their away games then no one would be playing in Perth or Adelaide.

Why should the Swans get a better deal than every other club by effectively having a second home at the MCG for example?

Until clubs like Hawthorn, Melbourne, St Kilda etc start requesting home games against the Swans instead of Collingwood and Essendon, then I can't see us playing more than half a dozen matches there.

The only way Sydney would play more games in Melbourne is by switching home games to the MCG, which is ludicrous.

[DST]

This topic has been done to death so many times so I won't go over old ground, but I will add one thing.

What has Morewood actually been able to do since he has slide into the saddle in Melbourne ?

It is not like he was able to change the 2004 season draw after it had been released.

Charlie, I think you need to give Morewood and the club another 12 months (or at least till the 2005 draw comes out) until you write off their new committment to Melbourne supporters.

As far as I am concerned, so far so good. Now we wait to see if the club stops playing the Bulldogs game in Sydney and returns it back to Melbourne to give us the 6 games.

DST

P.S The Kanga's in Canberra is a dead issue, it is not our home game but the Kanga's who ask for it and will always be granted while the AFL sanction their push out of Melbourne

[Triple B]

and I was based in Sydney, I would at least be able to see his point!

Charlie, we see your point.

And we saw it last time.

And the time before that.

Strangely enough, you are pretty much a lone voice this time.

As you were last time.

And the time before that.

The others, ie. Melb. based supporters see your point but don't wish to turn it into an attack on Sydney based supporters which you seem hell bent on doing every time the issue is raised.

[DST]

Originally posted by hammo
I think 5 matches in Victoria for a SYDNEY team playing in a national competition is a pretty good deal.

In a perfect world we would play all our away games in Melbourne however, despite what has been suggested, the club can't control where it plays its away games.

If clubs were able to choose where they played their away games then no one would be playing in Perth or Adelaide.

Why should the Swans get a better deal than every other club by effectively having a second home at the MCG for example?

Until clubs like Hawthorn, Melbourne, St Kilda etc start requesting home games against the Swans instead of Collingwood and Essendon, then I can't see us playing more than half a dozen matches there.

The only way Sydney would play more games in Melbourne is by switching home games to the MCG, which is ludicrous.

That is true Hammo, but for one aspect.

We continue to pay the Bulldogs to play one of their home games in Sydney against us.

If Sydney chooses not to renew that deal then the Bulldogs will not be able to afford to play that game in Sydney, so it will be returned back to Melbourne. Thus giving us 6 games in Melbourne.

In the current climate of the AFL I think 6 games in Melbourne is far and reasonable and would help to attract a number of members to the club rather than the 5 (4 in town + 1 at Geelong) that is the current norm.

DST

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by Charlie
I realise that, but you like so many others here are preferring to argue against my case. Why? How does it hurt the club's operations in Sydney?

How is it at the expense of another requested game? Is the Kangaroos game in Canberra a request? NO. Are you suggesting that it is so fundamentally crucial that the club play its first home game in round 2, and that we play Melbourne on a Saturday night as opposed to a Sunday? Are you suggesting that this could have a massive effect on revenue?

Yes. But you are the one that stated that the Kangaroos game is more in the interests of the club. Before we talk about gambles (and what, precisely are we gambling?), explain THAT to me.

Point 1: This is the problem. People here refuse to recognise that in this instance, my interests are in line with those of the club! If the club requested seven games in Melbourne, the "Target 10,000" campaign might just have a chance of succeeding!
Point 2: I hope they are not stupid enough to ignore it - and the 15,000 number, which by the way is NOT my number but Tony Morwood's, suggests they are aware of the potential. They are simply not doing enough to exploit the resource they have.

I am firmly of the belief that the expansion of the game in Sydney and rural NSW is of greater importance than giving Melbourne supporters an extra game. The game in Canberra facilitates this, but also gives us the opportunity to play at a venue where the crowd is 3/4 our way - an advantage, and one that is much less likely to occur in Melbourne.

And you're right, the game in Canberra is not a request. However, for the game to be played in Melbourne, as you so desire, the club would have to remove one of the guaranteed top 2 requests to a lower position. This effectively means we are losing out on something else that the club feels is important (regardless of whether you do or not). This is the gamble. What if Melbourne is given an extra game an no-one but you cares? How is that not disadvantaging the club, in terms of what they have requested from the AFL? What if 10 000 people become members in Melbourne without the extra game?

You say they are not doing enough to exploit Melbourne's potential, but maybe they realise that the potential elsewhere is of a much greater importance. Maybe playing a game in Canberra gives the people there a chance to see the Swans play. Maybe these people will then buy the 4 match super-pass membership and benefit the club.

If it was Robbieando posting in this thread, and I was based in Sydney, I would at least be able to see his point!

I can see the point you're trying to make, I just disagree. You are accusing us of not being sympathetic to your cause, which I think for the most we are, but that doesn't mean I think you're right.

[stellation]

if the AFL is looking to push out of melbourne how are new areas to be developed and sustained without games being played there on a regular basis? I am not so much concerned about losing 1 chance a year (i.e. the bulldogs game) to see the Swans, I am concerned for the development of Australian Rules in Sydney about losing any AFL H&A fixture.

[DST]

Originally posted by monopoly19
And you're right, the game in Canberra is not a request. However, for the game to be played in Melbourne, as you so desire, the club would have to remove one of the guaranteed top 2 requests to a lower position.

No we don't, in order for those stated requests to be fully enacted by the AFL all the Swans have to do is not renew the current deal between us and the Bulldogs to underwrite their home game in Sydney.

The Bulldogs will then simply withdraw their request to the AFL to be scheduled to play in Sydney as the home team.

Early indications are that MBH in his new push into Melbourne will not renew the contract and the game will be returned back to Melbourne where it belongs.

DST

[stellation]

Originally posted by monopoly19
I am firmly of the belief that the expansion of the game in Sydney and rural NSW is of greater importance than giving Melbourne supporters an extra game.

I am with you 100% on that.

And don't forget Melbourne fans will get the extra Swans game from the last game at the MCG this year.

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by DST
No we don't, in order for those stated requests to be fully enacted by the AFL all the Swans have to do is not renew the current deal between us and the Bulldogs to underwrite their home game in Sydney.

The Bulldogs will then simply withdraw their request to the AFL to be scheduled to play in Sydney as the home team.

Early indications are that MBH in his new push into Melbourne will not renew the contract and the game will be returned back to Melbourne where it belongs.

DST

But I'm arguing against Charlie, and apparently he fully supports that game in Sydney.

[DST]

Originally posted by stellation
I am with you 100% on that.

And don't forget Melbourne fans will get the extra Swans game from the last game at the MCG this year.

I am slightly confused on these comments, there are no other suitable grounds in NSW (other than the SCG, TS and Manuka) that can be used for H&A games. So by having the extra home game against the Bulldogs how is that helping promote the game in NSW.

Extra game?????? They play 4 games this year in Melbourne. With another 1 game at Geelong, a 2 and 1/2 area drive from the south east of Melbourne!

Explain to me how that is extra.

DST

[Charlie]

Originally posted by DST
This topic has been done to death so many times so I won't go over old ground, but I will add one thing.

What has Morewood actually been able to do since he has slide into the saddle in Melbourne ?

It is not like he was able to change the 2004 season draw after it had been released.

Charlie, I think you need to give Morewood and the club another 12 months (or at least till the 2005 draw comes out) until you write off their new committment to Melbourne supporters.

As far as I am concerned, so far so good. Now we wait to see if the club stops playing the Bulldogs game in Sydney and returns it back to Melbourne to give us the 6 games.

DST

P.S The Kanga's in Canberra is a dead issue, it is not our home game but the Kanga's who ask for it and will always be granted while the AFL sanction their push out of Melbourne

Yes, these are all valid points.

It still seems silly to be pointing at Tony Morwood and saying 'see, they've got an ex-player in charge, they must care'. If the appointment of Morwood results in/coincides with more games in Melbourne... THEN I'll believe that the club is being pro-active. Until then, Morwood has done nothing, the club has done nothing, and all the praise of Sydney's 'committment' to the Melbourne fans is hot air.

I don't believe that the Kangaroos issue is a dead one. In fact, here's something interesting I've just spotted! Here's the Kangas' requests...

KANGAROOS? REQUESTS
? No Sunday home games in Melbourne.
? Three home matches at Manuka Oval.
? Sixteen games in Victoria.
? A home game on Good Friday commencing at 5pm or 6pm.

http://kangaroosfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=fixture

No mention of the SWANS at Manuka!!! Therefore, there was absolutely no obligation for the AFL to play us there!

[DST]

Originally posted by monopoly19
But I'm arguing against Charlie, and apparently he fully supports that game in Sydney.

I am not too sure Charlie actually has control of all his marbles at present.

Becuase the only game Sydney has control over that can be returned back to Melbourne is the Bulldogs game.

The Kanga's game in Canberra is a dead issue, we don't have a say on that one so Charlie needs to let that arguement go.

DST

[Charlie]

Originally posted by monopoly19
But I'm arguing against Charlie, and apparently he fully supports that game in Sydney.

I support that game. If the club decides not to renew the deal, I'm not going to complain about that. I can, however, see the justification for having the game in Sydney (equity in the draw, as every interstate club currently plays 12 games at home).

If the club forsakes that, it'll be a severe cost, but it would be a HUGE sign that they can see the importance of Melbourne to the club.

[stellation]

Originally posted by DST

Extra game?????? They play 4 games this year in Melbourne. With another 1 game at Geelong, a 2 and 1/2 area drive from the south east of Melbourne!

Explain to me how that is extra.

DST

No no no... I meant the Grand Final....I was just trying to put a friendlier turn on things

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by DST

Extra game?????? They play 4 games this year in Melbourne. With another 1 game at Geelong, a 2 and 1/2 area drive from the south east of Melbourne!

Explain to me how that is extra.

I think stellation was referring to the fact that the Swans will be playing in the grand final this year, which is to be held in Melbourne (a valid point, IMHO )

oops, got pipped at the post