Absurdity of the 'Country' game

[StillAtLarge]

In a round where the afl has a match in Shanghai they inexplicably schedule Sheedy's brain fart at the mcg. How the hell can a country themed game be played in the most populous city in the state? Would it be so hard to fixture the country game in a rural town?

 

[Franc de Borges]

Couldn't believe it last year when I discovered this match was at the MCG. Thought it was in Bendigo or something.

 

[Gydafud]

I think you are taking the name a little too literally. It is a game to celebrate the country and the farmers. Also, maybe expose some of these city folk to some country life and get them to care about it.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

In a round where the afl has a match in Shanghai they inexplicably schedule Sheedy's brain fart at the mcg. How the hell can a country themed game be played in the most populous city in the state? Would it be so hard to fixture the country game in a rural town?

With all the stuff on outside the ground the idea is “bring the country to the city”, to showcase things a bit like the Royal Show.

It makes a bit of sense from that point of view.

It’s a weekend off for many country footy leagues so the timing is right. The curtain raiser is a country interleague game.

Hopefully they’ve done free transport and tickets through country footy clubs, not sure about that.

Hosting at Geelong would make some sense though it doesn’t really work for Gippsland etc.

 

[Nostradumbass]

When I think of combine harvesters I think of Essendon

 

[Upgrayedd]

Err, Country game for all the yee haws wearing Jeans and drinking Milk

When do we get Indigenous round

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

It's clearly silly. As is the Bulldogs pretending that playing to 6.5k people in Ballarat is feasible. It needs a rethink on exactly what you're rying to achieve I think.

I think it would be a good option to take one game a year to smaller places. Victoria isn't that big and the major regional centers are in fairly easy reach of Melbourne games.

The smaller centers further from Melbourne would take the game to places that dont usually get an opportunity to see top level football. As a spectacle it would draw a high percentage of the local population regardless of the clubs involved.

Note that it would be a "one off" with no intention of an AFL team based in Mildura for example, simply taking AFL to the grass roots. The stadium surfaces might be an issue but fundamentally if they are not safe then they shouldn't be used for local comps anyway.

 

[Gydafud]

They have the JLT for touring the country towns. This game serves a different purpose.

 

[Franc de Borges]

I think you are taking the name a little too literally. It is a game to celebrate the country and the farmers. Also, maybe expose some of these city folk to some country life and get them to care about it.

I think taking the 'country game' too literally by thinking it might be in the country is a reasonable thing to do.

Is the Shanghai game at Adelaide Oval with a bunch of noodle and dumpling stands outside?

 

[Rusty Brookes]

In 1952 as part of National Day (things you learn hey? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952_VFL_season#Round_8_(National_Day_Round)), games were played in Yallorn, Eurora and Albury.

Here's some footage of the Eurora games

 

[Snake_Baker]

Aren't all the "marquee" games just commercial exercises shrouded in virtue signalling?

 

[fpm84]

Hilarious that the game was a night game last year and a twilight fixture this season.

Anybody who actually lives in the country won't be getting home until well after 10pm - great if you've got young kids or an early start the next day I imagine.

 

[Upgrayedd]

I think taking the 'country game' too literally by thinking it might be in the country is a reasonable thing to do.

Is the Shanghai game at Adelaide Oval with a bunch of noodle and dumpling stands outside?

That would be sick. Maybe some Bao's as well

 

[HumanMeatball]

Pretty dumb concept

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

It's utter guff.

It's the bad aftertaste of Sheedy losing his marbles, but just before anyone realised it. This was in that phase when people still thought he was some sort of crazy genius - except that the genius bit had actually already passed.

His pre-match address to GWS before their first game was when everyone finally realised he'd lost his mind and that it was time for him to shelved. Unfortunately, this 'country game' shit came before then.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

When is Kevin going to think up 'Dole bludging loser day'? They could play it in West Heidelberg.

 

[HairyO]

When I think of combine harvesters I think of Essendon

A combine harvester basically being a super huge shredder of things...

 

[gavaniacono]

In a round where the afl has a match in Shanghai they inexplicably schedule Sheedy's brain fart at the mcg. How the hell can a country themed game be played in the most populous city in the state? Would it be so hard to fixture the country game in a rural town?

Mark Fine is fine with this.

 

[gavaniacono]

stadium surfaces might be an issue

Would think so though dogs players said ballarat was one of the best surfaces theyd played on.

 

[Franc de Borges]

When is Kevin going to think up 'Dole bludging loser day'? They could play it in West Heidelberg.

Collingwood get 11 home games as it is.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Collingwood get 11 home games as it is.

That's why Carlton will be the home team.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Would think so though dogs players said ballarat was one of the best surfaces theyd played on.

Just a thought from my point of view. In the past pre-season trial games were taken to to small country towns but this no longer happens. We did play a JLT game in Leeton which is another indicator, a long with reserves curtain raisers st Spotless, we are a lot more old fashioned than most would think.

 

[Halloween Jack]

Well my team is doing it's bit by playing to the standard of a country league game.

 

[Seeds]

I think you are taking the name a little too literally. It is a game to celebrate the country and the farmers. Also, maybe expose some of these city folk to some country life and get them to care about it.

Why should we celebrate farmers? Why not doctors? Teacher? Financial advisors? Lawyers. Farmers are not special.

 

[Underarm]

They have the JLT for touring the country towns. This game serves a different purpose.

Its all a ruse to make sure Essendon never have to travel down the highway ever again.