MERGE or RELOCATE or DIE

[Howard Littlejohn]

if it HAD to happen, i would prefer to relocate. To tassie i would think

Surely if a relocation HAD to happen, it would have to be either to a place that can get more money than Fitzroy, or one the AFL would prop up forever.

1. relocation, assuming it was a genuine relocation and not a takeover like the GC option was, but its hard to see how a pure relocation can ever happen
2. die
3. merge

And I'd probably never watch another match at AFL level, live or TV.

 

[adelaide_40]

Relocate

Merge-would probably still follow but wouldnt be as passionate.

Die.

 

[tonk]

As an old South supporter, I could live with the Swans being forced to relocate; to the lake oval.

 

[Mario the Lothario]

1. Move to the VFL (VFA)
2. Die

 

[Blue Dimension]

Relocate
Die
Merge

 

[Cheeseman]

Relocate
Die
Merge

I'm with you there mate, if your club merges, it's no longer your club.

1. Relocate
2. Die

 

[Rawhead]

You have to look at merging in terms of something like Voltron.

It's more like that, all of a sudden by merging with another club; your club becomes some kind of superhuman machine, capable of multiple premierships and selling tons of merchandise.



Voltron was cool.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

1. Relocate. I'm in Brisbane anyway so while I would lament a sense of losing history, we are still the same team and I don't see them very often anyway.

2. Die. At least my obsession takes a break. I would probably support Lions or GC but never with the same enthusiasm.

3. Merge. I think I would become a part time follower if this happened. Would really depend on how much of us was saved and promoted endlessly.

 

[Mazza44]

As another Fitzroy supporter in order of preference...

Relocate: Dyson Hore-Lacey proposed the idea of Fitzroy playing up to 7 games up in Canberra per year which would've allowed around 11 games in Victoria each year. Considering that there are now 6 interstate teams in the competition, these games probably would have been played against them, leaving all the games involving Victorian teams vs Fitzroy in Melbourne . The original deal was Fitzroy were going to be paid $350,000 for 4 games in 1995 or 1996, much like the Tassie deal. Of course, Ross Oakley and the AFL were/are ****ing morons but we won't go into that >_>.

Merge: All the above beeing said, I'm very happy how the Brisbane Lions have turned out and my loyalty to them will never shift. They've done a great job preserving Fitzroy, especially recently with the Melbourne jumper. Just RAISE THE GOD DAMN BLUE!

Die: I'm so grateful that we merged with Brisbane because it would've been very hard to pick up another team. Infact North probably would've been my choice, and up until last year they weren't looking too good.

 

[Roylion]

In theory it's possible, but the reality is that a club is only going to consider moving to the VFL if their financial situation is so dire it becomes irrecoverable. In which case, they can hardly move to the VFL with millions in debt and expect it to be paid.

Fitzroy's debt in 1996 was $2.7 million. The AFL was prepared to shell out $12 million as an incentive to get four clubs to merge into two. Considering on a number of occasions the AFL tried to get Fitzroy to surrender their licence in return for short term funding until the club could negotiate an AFL sponsored merger, I don't see why the AFL would not have quite happily spent say $4 million to guarantee Fitzroy leave the competition. That would have cleared Fitzroy's debt, and given them a starting base for VFL entry. Despite their poor performances in the AFL, Fitzroy certainly would have had one of the largest supporter bases in the VFL. Without AFL support, Fitzroy was always going to struggle to be competitive in the AFL.

 

[Rob]

Fitzroy's debt in 1996 was $2.7 million. The AFL was prepared to shell out $12 million as an incentive to get four clubs to merge into two. Considering on a number of occasions the AFL tried to get Fitzroy to surrender their licence in return for short term funding until the club could negotiate an AFL sponsored merger, I don't see why the AFL would not have quite happily spent say $4 million to guarantee Fitzroy leave the competition.

You don't see why? The loss of $4 million for no real benefit to the AFL is the big one. At least in a merger a big chunk of Fitzroy's supporter base is retained. If they drop to the VFL, what are the AFL getting for their $4m?

That would have cleared Fitzroy's debt, and given them a starting base for VFL entry. Despite their poor performances in the AFL, Fitzroy certainly would have had one of the largest supporter bases in the VFL. Without AFL support, Fitzroy was always going to struggle to be competitive in the AFL.

I'd agree with that - and IMO it's a shame that Fitzroy aren't in the VFL. Certainly be good for the league, and they'd probably get 2-3,000 a game.

 

[walhawk]

Have those people saying they would prefer to move to the VFL actually been to many VFL games?
The VFL is basically a feeder / U21 comp with very little atmosphere or support.
This in itself is a huge shame but the VFL is no place for a true football club.
You will never win the flag as a stand-alone club.

1. Relocate (with minimum 8 games in Melbourne).
2. Merger (must be an equal pertnership)
3. Die

 

[Bomberman86]

Essendon, Collingwood, Carlton & most interstate teams need not answer this question - None of the options will ever be a possibility or a problem..

 

[KingsCrow]

I am assuming this question is only for people supporting Vic clubs?

 

[Jonnoo]

Essendon, Collingwood, Carlton & most interstate teams need not answer this question - None of the options will ever be a possibility or a problem..

If you read the OP, it is a hypothetical question... I guess it needed someone to raise the obvious though.

Yes, this question was primarily directed at Victorian supporters

 

[a_fighting_fury]

Relocate - hypothetically speaking of course.

 

[BuntonRules]

Really?

I didn't know that, that's fantastic!


I'm a Brisbane Lions Boy, but since the merger I, along with many others I suspect, became a fan of the history and culture of Fitzroy, something that probably wouldn't have happened to many people if the merger with Melbourne had gone ahead.

It would have simply been a footnote in Melbournes history.

Good post. As a Bears fan, I was opposed to the merger. How wrong I was. Without it Brisbane would not have a single flag yet. And I have totally embraced the Fitzroy history - the original power club. My team has 11 flags.

 

[Bomberman86]

If you read the OP, it is a hypothetical question... I guess it needed someone to raise the obvious though.

Yes, this question was primarily directed at Victorian supporters

Sorry to point out the obvious but (as you said) someone had to do it..ill killjoy in another thread if u like =P

 

[Bomberman86]

Good post. As a Bears fan, I was opposed to the merger. How wrong I was. Without it Brisbane would not have a single flag yet. And I have totally embraced the Fitzroy history - the original power club. My team has 11 flags.

Its ok... 5 more straight and youll be on par with the 2 real powerhouses .. just on par though =P

 

[BuntonRules]

Its ok... 5 more straight and youll be on par with the 2 real powerhouses .. just on par though =P

The first 10 years of the VFL. 4 flags from 7 grand finals. THE ORIGINAL POWERHOUSE.

 

[Jonnoo]

Sorry to point out the obvious but (as you said) someone had to do it..ill killjoy in another thread if u like =P

btw, you can use ......

 

[krusden]

For me:

Relocate

Die

Merge.

Merging is a fair way down the list BUT it depends on how it's done. I saw st george merge with illawarra in the NRL and it didn't change much for me as they are St George/Illawarra. If they were second in the name IMO it would have probably meant they were basically dead.
There's still spots available for relocation. I was always sad the Roys didn't relocate to hobart myself as they had a good following at a s**t ground (north hobart) back in the day.

 

[clobba]

1. Relocate if the name was kept
2. Die
If they merged with someone they wouldnt be the Saints

 

[hawker11]

1. Relocate if the name was kept
2. Die
If they merged with someone they wouldnt be the Saints

Actually if StKilda merged and retained the StKilda name, I'd have no doubt the old Saint's fans would still refer to them as the Saints - i.e. The 'Dons