There's equalisation, and there's manipulation.
Ah, the ALF FIXture. This week, the powers that be pinheads have once again decreed that Richmond should play Norf at Etihad. It marks our seventh straight regular season meeting with Norf at their home ground, and nine of the past 10.
In fact, 15 of the last 20 Richmond-Norf regular season matches have been at Etihad (13) or Hobart (2), with just 5 at the MCG. That's 75% home games for them, 25% for us, over a 16-year period. Three of those Etihad games had Richmond as the nominal home team! That's right, we were hosting them, at their house! Farken lol.
This is a pattern with minnow clubs. 21 of our last 31 games against St Kilda (68%) have been at their home ground, including 4 when we were supposedly the home side. 14 of our last 20 (70%) against the Bulldogs have been played guess where - Docklands! - 3 of those as the 'home' side!
And it continues with interstate clubs. Just 14 of our 36 matches against Freo, 16 of 42 v West Coast (3 of our last 12), and 11 of 37 against Adelaide (including the grand final) have been at the MCG. FIVE out of our 29 games against Poort have been at the G. FIVE. Yeah, there's been 4 at Etihad (not our home ground) and the one we sold to Darwin, but that still leaves 19 of 29 Richmond v Poort games at their home ground. That's 66%.
I was wondering why this is. Is it to give these battling teams a better chance to win? Is it to give them the gate receipts from hosting a big club? So, I checked Collingwood against the same teams. After all, they are the second-biggest club and believe it or not, were once bigger than us.
Nup. Of the last 18 Collingwood-Norf games, it's a 9-9 split between the G and the Dump. 11 of the past 20 Mudpie-Saints matches have been at the G. Only v the Bulldogs do Collingwood suffer Richmond's fate, with 18 of their past 27 meetings at Etihad. (Wow, the Dogs really do get looked after.)
TL;DR: What a rort. LOL Norf.
Ah, the ALF FIXture. This week, the powers that be pinheads have once again decreed that Richmond should play Norf at Etihad. It marks our seventh straight regular season meeting with Norf at their home ground, and nine of the past 10.
In fact, 15 of the last 20 Richmond-Norf regular season matches have been at Etihad (13) or Hobart (2), with just 5 at the MCG. That's 75% home games for them, 25% for us, over a 16-year period. Three of those Etihad games had Richmond as the nominal home team! That's right, we were hosting them, at their house! Farken lol.
This is a pattern with minnow clubs. 21 of our last 31 games against St Kilda (68%) have been at their home ground, including 4 when we were supposedly the home side. 14 of our last 20 (70%) against the Bulldogs have been played guess where - Docklands! - 3 of those as the 'home' side!
And it continues with interstate clubs. Just 14 of our 36 matches against Freo, 16 of 42 v West Coast (3 of our last 12), and 11 of 37 against Adelaide (including the grand final) have been at the MCG. FIVE out of our 29 games against Poort have been at the G. FIVE. Yeah, there's been 4 at Etihad (not our home ground) and the one we sold to Darwin, but that still leaves 19 of 29 Richmond v Poort games at their home ground. That's 66%.
I was wondering why this is. Is it to give these battling teams a better chance to win? Is it to give them the gate receipts from hosting a big club? So, I checked Collingwood against the same teams. After all, they are the second-biggest club and believe it or not, were once bigger than us.
Nup. Of the last 18 Collingwood-Norf games, it's a 9-9 split between the G and the Dump. 11 of the past 20 Mudpie-Saints matches have been at the G. Only v the Bulldogs do Collingwood suffer Richmond's fate, with 18 of their past 27 meetings at Etihad. (Wow, the Dogs really do get looked after.)
TL;DR: What a rort. LOL Norf.
