NRL having a sook about finals clash.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20352109-23211,00.html

I can't say I have much sympathy for them, given the problem we are having at getting use of Telstra Stadium for Swans finals in Sydney.

If the NRL were intelligent, they would move THEIR match. If they want to win over fans in Melbourne THEY are the ones who should be flexible enough to move THEIR match.

But of course because they are mere lapdogs to what Foxtel & Channel 9 want, they won't.

JF

[Sanecow]

Say what you like about rugby league the NRL, but they are generally always accommodating with us so our big games do NOT clash.

[goswannie14]

Storm - tea cup, excuse the pun.

[Mike_B]

Actually, in this case, the NRL have no choice on the day of the game. Under their final 8 system, the games must be played in a certain order so that games played later in the weekend still mean something. 1v8 is the last game to be played, which is always on the Sunday afternoon.

At best, they could put the game on later and allow people to go to both, but that would be the best they could do.

[hammo]

What an absolute pile of rubbish from the NRL! Do they seriously think they can push Collingwood - the most supported team in the country - around, just so a few thousand leaguies can go to Olympic Park?

I think this is the start of a News Limited campaign against the AFL in Sydney. The Fox Footy closure was one shot across the AFL's bows and this is clearly another. The Daily Telegraph - whose owner just happens to own 50% of the NRL - is just a mouthpiece for the NRL. There is next to no news value in that article except for taking a cheap shot at the AFL.

News Limited is trying to play the codes off against each other now that it looks like it may be shut out of the AFL broadcast rights. It will be interesting to monitor the Telegraph's coverage of the Swans in coming weeks and whether it continues to try and devalue the product in the Sydney market.

[Damien]

LOL what a load of crap.

The Swans deserve a longer break than Collingwood or the Bulldogs, and have to fly back from Perth also, so while the NRL has less flexibility, it would have been a farce for us to play Sunday, fly back to Sydney and then have only a 6 day break if we lose.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by Damien
LOL what a load of crap.

The Swans deserve a longer break than Collingwood or the Bulldogs, and have to fly back from Perth also, so while the NRL has less flexibility, it would have been a farce for us to play Sunday, fly back to Sydney and then have only a 6 day break if we lose.

Which is exactly why our game is being played before the Pies/Dogs game. Basically the AFL wanted to have the top four team that plays in week 2 having the extra day over their opponent as a reward for finishing higher. So that means 5-8 would have to play Sunday which is all Melbourne teams as it turns out.

[Zlatorog]

If Storm is so important to NRL, they should use Telstra Dome instead (if available) to avoid traffic issues. probably they wouldn't draw enough crowd to fill it in.

[j s]

The NRL goes out of its way to avoid clashes of major events right throughout the season, particularly at Aussie Stadium and the SCG when the Swans are playing at home

That is not for the Swans benefit but their own. Our crowd numbers would overwhelm theirs and seriously impact their attendance figures.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by Mike_B
Actually, in this case, the NRL have no choice on the day of the game. Under their final 8 system, the games must be played in a certain order so that games played later in the weekend still mean something. 1v8 is the last game to be played, which is always on the Sunday afternoon.

Never stopped the AFL from moving the order of finals around when we used the system from 94 to 99. In fact the AFL always used to move the order so the Swans could play their Home finals on a Saturday Night even if it meant the correct order was kept or not. Heck they even moved it on late notice for the death of Diana in 97.

The NRL are just have a sook when they really have no factual reasons to backup what they are stating.

[Glenn]

Can't agree JF, the AFL system is flexible where as the NRL isn't.
Why couldn't the Pies game be moved.
Just stuborness by the AFL worried about giving the NRL a free shot in Melbourne

[Matt79]

Originally posted by Glenn
Can't agree JF, the AFL system is flexible where as the NRL isn't.
Why couldn't the Pies game be moved.
Just stuborness by the AFL worried about giving the NRL a free shot in Melbourne

Why should the AFL give in to the NRL's inflexiblity?

[liz]

Originally posted by Glenn
Why couldn't the Pies game be moved.

Moved to when exactly? Would you be happy with the Swans playing on Sunday in Perth?

Melbournites keep telling us how well organised the MCG precinct is for getting people in and out quickly, and certainly I've never had any problems when I've attended games.

Is there much of a cross-over of potential audiences? I wouldn't have thought so.

I can't see the problem with the two games being played adjacently and co-currently. Given an AFL game takes significantly more elapsed time than a league game, it should be possible to stagger the starts and finishes to reduce the congestion.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Glenn
Can't agree JF, the AFL system is flexible where as the NRL isn't.
Why couldn't the Pies game be moved.
Just stubborness by the AFL worried about giving the NRL a free shot in Melbourne

The A League had to be played at the Dome on Saturday because of the Storm playing at Olympic Park. Why couldn't the NRL have the Storm play
-at the Dome to avoid the clash
-at a later time of 4-6pm so as to avoid a direct clash. Maybe have a Sunday evening kick off so that Channel Nein can broadcast it into Sydney & maybe even into Melbourne as well.

I find it rather bemusing that Annersley chooses to complain now. Because if Melbourne Storm plays Brisbane in an NRL final, guess where the game is more than likely going to be played, you guessed it, Aussie Stadium!!!! Selective support for rugby league in Victoria I think Mr Annersley (who was always a crap ref anyway).

I have a great deal of time for the loyal week-in week-out Storm supporters who battle to keep RL alive in Melbourne. Man, I know how hard the old days were as a Swans & Aussie Rules fan in Sydney-times than by about ten & you have what things are like in Melbourne. The hard-core Storm fans would have to be some of the most loyal in the NRL I reckon. And NEVER get any recognition from anyone north of the Murray.

But this still does not excuse the NRL for being selective in complaining. If they actually genuinely cared about RL in Melbourne they'd be down there actually promoting the hell out of it. And taking the punt just like the Tar...Victory did and playing it at the Telstra Dome..

Still Annersley HAS brought awareness of the match. His comments has been the centre of conversation on not only Leagueunlimited

http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=152935

but Big Footy, where many non Pies & Doggies fans have said they will go along and support the Storm.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267327

Hopefully the Storm can beat Parramatta. The Eels have a massive bandwagon supporter base who come out of nowhere when they start winning. (Oh yeah, did I tell you I wasn't horribly fond of blue & gold this time of year?!)

JF

[Northern_Swan]

OT But...

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
The A League had to be played at the Dome on Saturday because of the Storm playing at Olympic Park.

and didn't that prove to be a good move??

If the Victory can maintain crowds like that, they should play there more often!!