Swans pushing for 3 Grand Finals

[KTigers]

They are pretty fair points.
Will possibly be a huge regret if the structure of the competition changes over that period.

In 1978 (40 years ago) we had
12 teams in the competition
no interstate teams
games played at local ground
1 game per week at the MCG
a night series
attendance less than half what it is now, which is somewhat reflective of...
138 games player compared to 207
average player payments of 15% of the average wage
TV rights were held between ch2 and ch7 at $600,000 per year

Smacks of a very Victorian centric AFl, who are worried about future national developments and want to lock it in to Victoria for a long time.
Fast forward 10 to 15 years and we'll likely be discussing the pros and cons of buying out of the 40 year contract with the MCG.

My favourite is the argument that the MCG is the only stadium "big enough" to hold the GF (for 40 years). You only have
to look at the list of stadiums used to host AFL games that are now no longer with us, or not being used for games to see just how fleeting
the stadium business can be. Waverley, AAMI, Subiaco, ANZ, a litany of Melbourne suburban grounds, wherever the Bears used to play.
These places come and go.
There will be new stadiums built and knocked down between now and 2057. Sure the SCG, Adelaide Oval, Gabba & MCG will probably still
be around then, but I'll be very surprised if any of the others are still around in 40 years. People seem to forget the capacity of ANZ during
the 2000 Olympics was 130,000. The extra stands holding 55,000 seats were for an event that ran for two weeks. Then they pulled them down.
As I said, it's a very fleeting business, the stadium game. So the "big enough" argument is ridiculous, and even more so when you consider
what the population of Australia is likely to be in 40 years.

[Blood Fever]

I fully agree it’s not just ground dimensions. It’s one part.

As I pointed out in another post in regards to crowd make up the GF would always have more supporters from Victoria due to the vast majority of MCC members being from Victoria due to it not being worth while have an MCC membership if your from outside Victoria. That’s part of the atmosphere.

You add these 2 together n you can see how much of a massive advantage it is for Victorian clubs playing in the GF at the MCG.

The point I was making is that if the administrators wanted a truly fair GF they would have considered these things plus more and tried to negotiated these into a new contract with the MCC.

Instead they grabbed the magic beans n ran.

Do people really think in twenty years time we’ll look back at the contract signing n go “wow what a deal”. No they’ll laugh n think we were all sold a lemon.

The MCC made out like bandits.


Yes I agree Adelaide would have destroyed Richmond. Would have been over very very early. Ala Geelong thrashing Port in ‘07. Richmond are the most pathetic premiers behind The Bulldogs imo.

Spot on. As I've posted ad nauseum: embarrassment of a national competition, to be ridiculed for the next forty years. Don't be surprised if another premier extends it beyond 2057, ridiculous as it would seem. Never under estimate Melbourne footy community's insularity and delusion.

[wolftone57]

Category: | Herald Sun

Actually like the idea.
Also have been a long term proponent of expanding the whole finals system.
Hate that you play 22 rounds to end with 8 teams, lose 2 instantly, and then more each week.

Can't read the article as you have to subscribe to News Corp and I'm not willing to give Murdoch even one dollar of my money. s there a similar article in the Age/SMH?

[CureTheSane]

Neat post, CTS. Do you carry all that data at your finger tips?!

Conceivably, yes, I am deceptively knowledgeable and have an amazing memory.
Realistically, no, I googled it

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Can't read the article as you have to subscribe to News Corp and I'm not willing to give Murdoch even one dollar of my money. s there a similar article in the Age/SMH?

Sorry. When I saw the link, I clicked and could read it.
Maybe they have a time before it becomes a subscription article?
I don't subscribe to any online news websites.

[Boddo]

Spot on. As I've posted ad nauseum: embarrassment of a national competition, to be ridiculed for the next forty years. Don't be surprised if another premier extends it beyond 2057, ridiculous as it would seem. Never under estimate Melbourne footy community's insularity and delusion.

It’s a sham of a league that’s run to make a few mates some money. It’s why you get a club president being part of the signing of the GF contract.

Do people seriously think McGuire got the government, MCC & AFL together just out of the goodness of his heart? Of course there is something in it for him, no doubt and as has been pointed out there is something in it for his club.

Melbourne is a great place to live if you were lucky like me to live in a suburb like Richmond but when it comes to footy the population there is as insular, ignorant and illiterate as you will ever find.

[S.S. Bleeder]

They are pretty fair points.
Will possibly be a huge regret if the structure of the competition changes over that period.

In 1978 (40 years ago) we had
12 teams in the competition
no interstate teams
games played at local ground
1 game per week at the MCG
a night series
attendance less than half what it is now, which is somewhat reflective of...
138 games player compared to 207
average player payments of 15% of the average wage
TV rights were held between ch2 and ch7 at $600,000 per year

Smacks of a very Victorian centric AFl, who are worried about future national developments and want to lock it in to Victoria for a long time.
Fast forward 10 to 15 years and we'll likely be discussing the pros and cons of buying out of the 40 year contract with the MCG.

Wow! Amazing stats there. And to think the TV rights were only $600k. No social media back then either. What a bargain.

[Boddo]

McGuire, being a very strong Labor man, is also very good mates with the Andrews government. No surprises there.

It shows how much contempt was shown to the non Victorian sides when this fact was not even hidden it was openly reported and discussed about the involvement of a club president in the extension of a contract without F all discussion with every other club.

Like I’ve said previously its a mates club to make each other richer via a sports entertainment business.

[AnnieH]

I"m OK with the granny being played at the MCG for the next 400 years... so long as teams like Collingwood, Richmond and Melbourne (to name just three), travel more frequently interstate to play their games.
Especially Collingwood.

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[jono2707]

We shouldn't be thinking of the AFL as a national league. It's not. It's just the VFL that grew and cleverly extended it's reach into WA and SA, the only other two "big" Aussie Rules states, with NSW and Qld mere add-ons. It's still, in essence, the VFL, just bigger and shinier.

We should forget this concept of a 'fair' 'balanced' national competition with rotating grand finals yada yada. Always has and always will be a Melbourne based competition. I think those running the Swans accept that and we, as fans, should too.

[aardvark]

We should forget this concept of a 'fair' 'balanced' national competition with rotating grand finals yada yada. Always has and always will be a Melbourne based competition. I think those running the Swans accept that and we, as fans, should too.

Yes. It just makes it all the more sweeter when we get it all together and win it!

[Boddo]

We shouldn't be thinking of the AFL as a national league. It's not. It's just the VFL that grew and cleverly extended it's reach into WA and SA, the only other two "big" Aussie Rules states, with NSW and Qld mere add-ons. It's still, in essence, the VFL, just bigger and shinier.

We should forget this concept of a 'fair' 'balanced' national competition with rotating grand finals yada yada. Always has and always will be a Melbourne based competition. I think those running the Swans accept that and we, as fans, should too.

You sound like a troll or Eddie McGuire.

[jono2707]

You sound like a troll or Eddie McGuire.

Please explain why you'd make such an offensive assertion (the Eddie bit that is)?

[Boddo]

Please explain why you'd make such an offensive assertion (the Eddie bit that is)?

So your a troll. Congratulations, well done.

[56-14]

We shouldn't be thinking of the AFL as a national league. It's not. It's just the VFL that grew and cleverly extended it's reach into WA and SA, the only other two "big" Aussie Rules states, with NSW and Qld mere add-ons. It's still, in essence, the VFL, just bigger and shinier.

We should forget this concept of a 'fair' 'balanced' national competition with rotating grand finals yada yada. Always has and always will be a Melbourne based competition. I think those running the Swans accept that and we, as fans, should too.

Support your post. Well put.

[liz]

Please try to stay on topic. Posts relating to local politics (that have nothing to do with football) have been moved to the Open Chat forum.