Got your wish - are you happy now?

cheers

Well, that's fixed the Lie ins...now how can we pull the rug out from Chocco's mob?

regards,

REB

No offence intended Hawka.

"As you say each team should get an equal share of the big games / big days. But if this happens it has consequences, such as less money for all teams from the AFL"

Would this not be equality then? Less money for all or more money for some!!

Chrisso as for being happy at 5pm on the last Saturday in September - good luck to you. Personally I'm happier much more often than that! lol

After his efforts last year I could only top that by making Chopper Reid Police Commissioner.

Exactly. Can you imagine the Bulldogs vs the Roos drawing 85000 on ANZAC day? Melbourne always have the Queens Birthday game vs Collingwood as a home game - and the gate takings are their best for the year, every year, and have practically staved off bankruptcy for the club.

The Pies and Bombers draw a massive crowd despite the weather or any other circumstance every ANZAC day - its a showpiece match, no matter where each side is on the ladder at the time... The biggest crowd at the MCG this year excluding finals was the Collingwood vs Carlton Round 22 match - 2 teams out of finals contention drawing 68,000.

Popular teams deserve the big days - they became fixtures on the calender due to the popularity of the clubs, and the ability to draw a crowd.

OK, as a Pies fan I would give a few away as I think it makes us an even bigger target (EVERYONE wants to beat Collingwood), but the ratings, thus TV dollars thus keeping 16 clubs alive justifies these business decisions.

The AFL can't make Dogs v Roos a 'blockbuster' (although the two games those sides played last year were both among the half-dozen best H&A games of the season), ultimately only the fans can. And that's their fans.

And what will happen when they do.

For mine I think it will be a big letdown for the suburban sides and the competition will begin to re-invent itself. The weaker teams will begin to fold and the competition become more elite with teams from interstate becoming even more powerful than they are at present(I mean membership not playing strength) as the couple of teams from Perth and Adelaide capitalise on their monoply situation.

I think the AFL have only one more chance to get it right(introduction of teams from Tas and/or NT) before the punters do it for them.

Sadly, neither Demetriou nor Anderson, have any foresight and, to my mind, are only warming seats until someone with real vision is elected to the position.

To be viable, the competition should comprise 4 Vics, 2 WA, 2 SA, Qld, NSW, Tas and NT. No more, no less.

The Vic teams can be Collingdon, Carlmond or the Werribee Wanderers. It does not matter to the new breed of supporter. The SA, WA, Qld and NSW teams are already set and ready to go.

We just need the Vics to catch up.

Nah, everyone EXPECTS to beat Collingwood (except Richmond maybe), we all live to beat the Lions and Port..talk about arrogant, the REAL reason why we can't stand you gits...er, carry on!

regards,

REB

Hello WA Derby, Hello Showdown... These are the most hyped matches, because there is a genuine passion between the sides.

You probably would not want to admit it, but the traditional derbys between Carlton (now that their fans see a ray of light and are hopping back on the bandwagon), Essendon and Collingwood are the big drawing, big rating matches in Victoria, the homeland of the AFL. And despite whatever you suggest, ratings wins over balance...

I deliberately left Richmond out of this equation as they are a useless pack of bumbling fools who barely deserve to survive...

Westener - Just for future reference, neither Tasmania or the NT have the economic basis to survive - grounds and facilities are not big enough, populations are too small, and for the NT, climate is the issue. Ever wondered why they play NTFL in summer? Because its too bloody hot in dry (March-October) season and people would die...

PS - REB - have you ever met someone who follows Collingwood as their second club? Nope, its love or Hatred. Everyone wants to flog the Pies if they are up, or kick the corpse when they are down. Its not like we are talking about Geelong here, where everyone has a sympathy towards people who play with them and have to drink the local water (whats in it the water that makes all Cats players and supporters look a little, um, slow?)

Yes an unfortunately Benno because the clubs like Western Bulldogs dont get to participate in these blockbusters, the AFL has to give them money to help them stay afloat. Why not share you success and drawing power with more of these flagging clubs so they get a chance to share the gate monies as well.

The over-promotion of 'blockbusters' may be galling and ridiculous to anybody outside the loop but the problem is actually somewhere else. If the Roos or Melbourne or the Dogs had been given less chances in the draw than other clubs to host another Melbourne club at a time when no other match is being played, you can bet your last Des Headland and Blake Caracella swap cards the Akelas of those clubs would have whinged long and hard about it.

Blockbuster, schmockbuster. Its about drawing power and bums on seats, and who gives a flying fig what its called. Its what the punters pay their hard earned to watch...

ONE trick ponies.

And back in town spreading his usual goodwill, here comes the forum Santa Claus....

I'm glad that we've been able to generate some passionate debate without the usual mudslinging and personal slights. Good stuff!!

Benno, My bitch is not with the so called Blockbusters but the hype and crap that accompanies them. If tradition dictates that Collingwood-Essendon is a big match, then so be it.

I have a problem with Doggies v Roos not being promoted or Cats v Hawks being another weekend fixture.

The AFL Executive seem bent on putting all their eggs in the one(blockbuster) basket to the detriment of the game. It just appears to me that the short term cash fix is more important than the contest.

I don't agree with your premise about Tas or NT. Grounds may be inadequate and populations a bit on the small side but wouldn't a team from Hobart generate a bigger crowd than the Doggies or Hawks and with an equivalent amount of money thrown at them as the Dogs, surely they would survive.

In any case, they would be a better long term prospect than continually propping up Fooscray.

As for the AFL competition, overall. I believe that we need to move with the times and ensure that the product matches the demographic. And, to my way of thinking, this is where the AFL Executive misses the mark.

The old time competition was based on inter-suburban rivalry and was probably one of the most passionate competitions in the world. There is still evidence of those rivalries in every state but they are fast disapearing as the older generations pass on. I agree that some fierce pockets of passionate supporters still exist but, in the main, the new breed of supporter is interested in the game not the passion.

It's a bit like my grandson telling me how good Ricky Ponting is when I remember Viv Richards.

A good illustration of what I'm trying to convey exists in WA, where West Perth, a traditional club in all aspects of the game are no longer viable at Leederville Oval and have moved North by about 30kms to Joondallup to be reborn as the Joondallup Falcons. Not many years ago they were the West Perth Cardinals and a traditional team with a traditional group of passionate supporters known as "Garlic Munchers"(derived from an Italian heritage). The supporter base no longer exists and the club begins to die.

When the Eagles entered the VFL competition, I took great satisfaction from beating Hawthorn or Essendon or Richmond, anyone as long as it was a Vic. My own team that I had followed since 1954(East Perth) took on less relevance as I followed the "big boys". After the 92 and 94 Flags, I found that the passion had subsided somewhat and was more than happy to watch a good game as well as being keen to see the Eagles victorious.

I find that my interest now lies with an Eagles victory, but if it is not a good game to watch then the interest level begins to wane. If this is because I live in country WA and get to see most of my games on TV, then I'm probably missing the atmosphere of the live stadium. Price I have to pay but I try to get to the ground as much as I can.

I just think that I am symptomatic of the modern footy supporter.

regards,

REB

PS - Benno, Collingwood is my second club LOL.

When Collingwood play, do you tilt your head on to your shoulder, squint and the Collingwood strip looks near enough to Geelongs to support them? :)

'Great. Which is your first club?'

'All the others are my equal first.'

BOOM BOOM!!

CHRISSO'S FOOTBALL DICTIONARY

ARROGANT: Insubordinate. Displaying an attitude of being less awestruck or intimidated by the might of Essendon than Essendon supporters feel is appropriate.

:)

regards,

REB