Canberra Cringe

[ScottH]

Canberra cringe

It is game worthy of 40,000-plus at Telstra Dome.

Trouble is, it has been scheduled for Snoozeville.

Yes, Canberra. Hardly the pulsing heart of AFL footy.

We only hope those in the nation's capital know how lucky they are.

On past performances, Canberra doesn't deserve such a marquee match. Plain and simple.

The last time Sydney and the Bulldogs met at Manuka Oval, in the first round of this year's NAB Cup, just 5557 turned up.

That is pathetic. Canberra has three games a year and that's the best it could do? Embarrassing.

The AFL would have been better off playing that game at Lavington Sports Ground in Albury.

It was two half baked teams playing in a less than half baked competition.

?But he is right on one thing. Canberra people are pathetic!

[cruiser]

Another Vic-cerntric article by a Melbourne based journo looking for a story to write. Given that only 11,000 or so turned up at Carrara last weekend for a game that would have attracted 30,000 or so in Melb, should the AFL just abandon all attempts to develop the game in both of these markets? Darwin as well? Mark Stevens is a nob.

[goswannie14]

Pretty stupid article, however I did laugh at this comment...

Sydney is scheduled for Canberra again in Round 18 when Melbourne plays a "home" game there. The acid will be on again then, too, because Demons fans find a trip to Telstra Dome a challenge.

[ScottH]

Mark Stevens is a nob.

He works for the HS. Nuff said.

[stellation]

"I am happy for them to develop the sport in Canberra, but please don't let the folks there get any chance at all of actually seeing a good game!"

[stellation]

He is trying to use the 5k crowd for a NAB cup game as an example of why nobody goes?!?!?!?!?!?? Victorians suck.

[i'm-uninformed2]

It should be very easy to get a big crowd at any game in Canberra. After all, the only other activities of choice are pornography shopping and staring at a man-made lake with a fountain that isn't turned on because of the drought.

[Go Swannies]

It should be very easy to get a big crowd at any game in Canberra. After all, the only other activities of choice are pornography shopping and staring at a man-made lake with a fountain that isn't turned on because of the drought.

I got an email from a Dogs supporting friend saying that he was sorry he wasn't coming up from Melbourne for the game as he thinks they might win and he'd have the chance to do some DVD shopping, too. I guess that's doggy style.

[goswannie14]

He is trying to use the 5k crowd for a NAB cup game as an example of why nobody goes?!?!?!?!?!?? Victorians suck.

I think you mean Victorian Journalists suck. Or should that just be journalists suck?

[hammo]

Another Vic-cerntric article by a Melbourne based journo looking for a story to write. Given that only 11,000 or so turned up at Carrara last weekend for a game that would have attracted 30,000 or so in Melb, should the AFL just abandon all attempts to develop the game in both of these markets?

Excellent point, cruiser. I was shocked when I heard that Carrarra crowd figure then when they were saying they were ecstatic with the result.

I do agree one aspect though. Canberra's population will never sustain an AFL side on its own merit and its questionable whether the AFL or the clubs involved benefit much by playing games there in terms of memberships etc. I suspect Canberra AFL fans will always watch the game on TV anyway. That may not be the right attitude, but in the emdium to long term the promised land will be SE Queensland and Western Sydney.

[Damien]

Think it's a bonus for us, only a few hours down the road, however I think we are the only club to ever sell out Manuka, despite never playing a home match there. (Maybe Collingwod did once)

Agree that the example used was poor, but there are plenty of other examples of woeful Kangaroo's crowds during their time there.

I really can't see the benefit the AFL get out of having a presence in the Capital, other than the obvious gloat "AFL is played in every state in territory of Australia".

I think the AFL got more out of Brisbane and Sydney getting one extra home game.

[top40]

Over a number of years Canberra and the A.C.T have been treatly badly by the AFL. There were very limited promotion of games during the Kangaroos era. Further, the facilities at Manuka are pretty average for spectators.

The reality is that opportunities were there thirty years ago by the League, but were simply not taken. Rugby League (with the Canberra Raiders), and Rugby Union (with the A.C.T. Brumbies), both gained permanent ascendency in Canberra years ago, long before the AFL had any real chance. And to think this is the hometown of Alex Jesaulenko and James Hird.

[Bloody Hell]

.... from Melbourne for the game as he thinks they might win and he'd have the chance to do some DVD shopping, too. I guess that's doggy style.

[ScottH]

I wonder if the dick will print a retraction now.

Sell-out crowd