Reduced Melbourne games in 2020

[ZoBlitz]

I’d be disgusted yet unsurprised if more games in Melbourne was not top of or close to top of the list. The club will always get 11 games in Brisbane and now a twelfth in Queensland. On the other hand the number of games in Victoria will always fluctuate, ranging from 8 (as GWS got) to a lowly 4.

Remember, the Brisbane Bears didn’t need to merge with a Melbourne based club. They chose to do that and no one forced them to do that. That decision comes with consequences. One being to advocate for the rights of its Fitzroy arm and demand no less than 6 games in Melbourne. If they can’t or won’t do that, then de-merge the bloody club and stop leading those Lions fans in Victoria down the garden path.

I like how you think we have any leverage at all with the AFL in terms of them approving our requests. We're only six years out from the AFL appointing our chairman under the threat of us losing financial packages from the AFL.

But then again, you know all this but choose to ignore it.

 

[Pacman82]

What would be Swann and the club as a whole motivation for not sincerely wanting as many away games as possible in Melbourne. It makes great footy business sense to do so, I can't see us wanting to play games in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Tasmania over Melbourne.

That's the problem I'm guessing, more games in Melbourne must mean less money for the club as they're subsidizing tickets for away games. I've asked the boys at the BL Melb office about this before but didn't really get a straight answer.

Can Lions_Insider, or someone in the know, please clarify where the financials sit in regards to this? Does the club simply foot the bill for each BL membership ticket scanned at the gate? And what would be the clubs financial incentive to play more games in Melbourne?

 

[M Malice]

I disagree entirely. I thought he was dismissive and uninterested. He supported the AFL line more than once and if anything continued to push it. If he was really supportive, surely he would have highlighted and questioned how GWS managed to get 8 games in Victoria and Sydney 6 games in Melbourne despite them having no formal agreement in place. No mention of three month gap of footy that Melbourne fans will miss out on either.

The gall of him to get on Melbourne radio after many Melbourne fans have rung in upset about the draw and be proud as punch that in his opinion the club got a great draw and the club was rapt, shows what an insensitive prick he is. I guess us Melbourne fans can be chuffed with being rewarded with the first game of the season on the back of a practice game against Carlton a fortnight (big ******* deal Greg) That will really make up for it.

#screwSwanny

No worries, we can all on occasion perceive/take different things from the same content.

As I said in an earlier post I can understand Melbourne based supporters being upset with the draw, but I am sure Greg Swann and the club are doing all they can behind the scenes to get as many games as possible in Melbourne, it makes terrific business sense to do so and the people that are currently in charge of our club ie. Wellington Swann, Noble and Fagan are very intelligent footy/business people.

 

[Dylan12]

I like how you think we have any leverage at all with the AFL in terms of them approving our requests.

So the AFL ignored our requests for:

(1) more free to air games; and
(2) prime-time games.

both of which are inextricably linked to the other given ALL prime-time games are televised on free to air.

Yep, no leverage whatsoever. Victorian fans should be so happy that most of our requests were approved.

 

[Scubaveg]

i posted this on another forum but i will do it here. Can someone please advise since the merger the last time we had a fixture where we only had 4 games in Melbourne.?

I’m not saying this to be controversial, but why doesn’t Geelong count as a game in Melbourne. Personally while I live in Brisbane I count games at Metricon as a game I go watch live. It’s an hour down the highway not too different to Geelong really.


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[ZoBlitz]

So the AFL ignored our requests for:

(1) more free to air games; and
(2) prime-time games.

both of which are inextricably linked to the other given ALL prime-time games are televised on free to air.

Yep, no leverage whatsoever. Victorian fans should be so happy that most of our requests were approved.

Funnily enough the AFL approved the requests that made the most sense to them for a financial perspective considering our improvement last season. We've made similar requests in previous years and haven't got any of them.

 

[Pacman82]

I’m not saying this to be controversial, but why doesn’t Geelong count as a game in Melbourne. Personally while I live in Brisbane I count games at Metricon as a game I go watch live. It’s an hour down the highway not too different to Geelong really.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

An hour to Geelong if you reside in the CBD or the West, 1&1/2 drive for most..

 

[chopperduck]

I’d be disgusted yet unsurprised if more games in Melbourne was not top of or close to top of the list. The club will always get 11 games in Brisbane and now a twelfth in Queensland. On the other hand the number of games in Victoria will always fluctuate, ranging from 8 (as GWS got) to a lowly 4.

Remember, the Brisbane Bears didn’t need to merge with a Melbourne based club. They chose to do that and no one forced them to do that. That decision comes with consequences. One being to advocate for the rights of its Fitzroy arm and demand no less than 6 games in Melbourne. If they can’t or won’t do that, then de-merge the bloody club and stop leading those Lions fans in Victoria down the garden path.

You do know you could always just stop following the club if it being based in Brisbane is such a negative to you. You can still go and follow Fitzroy in the lower divisions.

You are continuously disappointed because the Melbourne fans and needs aren'tput first. But like ive said before, the club does have to prioritise other needs first to be a viable business. If the club sacrificed big games at the gabba for ensure 6 games in melb if would not be looking after the best interests of the club (and remembering the club doesnt get a final say on who and where it plays).

It is 2 clubs from different cities that merged, 1 of those cities is always going to come 2nd. If you cant accept that reality, you need to move on from following the club.

 

[Davemonkey]

 

[CarterS]

Lots of assumptions here about what may or may not be going on behind the scenes, suited towards whatever argument.

 

[Paul Mac]

I’m not saying this to be controversial, but why doesn’t Geelong count as a game in Melbourne. Personally while I live in Brisbane I count games at Metricon as a game I go watch live. It’s an hour down the highway not too different to Geelong really.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Past experience when visiting Gold Coast then going to the Gabba was a 50 - 55min drive. Where we are living going to Geelong will be 90- 100 min drive one way.
The Geelong game is not included as part of our Vic membership package so obviously the Brisbane Lions Football Club don't consider it a melbourne game.
If i was to walk up to Metricon i gather i could pay a general admission ticket at $ 27-$28 each for our family. If i wanted to go to Geelong i think i read it on another post here you were looking at $ 60 - $ 75 for a seat? For a family group thats bloody expensive.
So their are a few differences.

 

[Dalions]

Lots of assumptions here about what may or may not be going on behind the scenes, suited towards whatever argument.

So everyone wins!

 

[Maroon Monsoon]

Past experience when visiting Gold Coast then going to the Gabba was a 50 - 55min drive. Where we are living going to Geelong will be 90- 100 min drive one way.
The Geelong game is not included as part of our Vic membership package so obviously the Brisbane Lions Football Club don't consider it a melbourne game.
If i was to walk up to Metricon i gather i could pay a general admission ticket at $ 27-$28 each for our family. If i wanted to go to Geelong i think i read it on another post here you were looking at $ 60 - $ 75 for a seat? For a family group thats bloody expensive.
So their are a few differences.

I think the update from the club said that reserved seating at gmhba would be available to Victorian members for the lions game there - doesn't help with the time commitment to get there, but if the seats are good it could be a pretty good deal at those prices

 

[Dylan12]

if the seats are good it could be a pretty good deal at those prices

They are not. I've been to most Lions games in Geelong in recent years using seats bought from the Lions and they are the worst seats you could possibly get (lower level and exposed in the elements, sun in your eyes if the sun is out and barely able to see half the ground). I appreciate this isn't the club's fault, but to suggest you can decent seats at Kardinia Park is wrong.

 

[Gadzorks]

So, and I really don’t want to shouted at and I’m in the there should be six or seven lions games in Melbourne camp....

but if Fitzroy and the Afl has a contract re the number if games in Melbourne why hasn’t the lack of games been legally challenged?

 

[Paul Mac]

I think the update from the club said that reserved seating at gmhba would be available to Victorian members for the lions game there - doesn't help with the time commitment to get there, but if the seats are good it could be a pretty good deal at those prices

Yep I understand that is the case this year but was just explaining the differences between going to metricon and then going to geelong as scub had mentioned

 

[dlanod]

So the AFL ignored our requests for:

(1) more free to air games; and
(2) prime-time games.

both of which are inextricably linked to the other given ALL prime-time games are televised on free to air.

Yep, no leverage whatsoever. Victorian fans should be so happy that most of our requests were approved.

The AFL have ignored the requests for those for years - longer than they've ignored the request for six Melbourne games. We have one year of four Melbourne games and more FTA and prime time games versus two of the last three with six Melbourne games and next to no FTA/prime time games.

If you're lambasting the club this year surely you should also be giving them recognition for the increase in Melbourne games over the last three years.

 

[jackess]

Does anyone else find the use of the term 'reamed' a bit distasteful?

 

[Dalions]

Does anyone else find the use of the term 'reamed' a bit distasteful?

Bent over?

 

[ZoBlitz]

Does anyone else find the use of the term 'reamed' a bit distasteful?

Agreed, I've changed it.

 

[Paul Mac]

my wife commented to me today the feedback from Brisbane people on SEN 1116 was not good and people saying they will not renew the vic membership. Whether it happens or not we will see.

 

[chopperduck]

The AFL have ignored the requests for those for years - longer than they've ignored the request for six Melbourne games. We have one year of four Melbourne games and more FTA and prime time games versus two of the last three with six Melbourne games and next to no FTA/prime time games.

If you're lambasting the club this year surely you should also be giving them recognition for the increase in Melbourne games over the last three years.

Nah, you dont get a pat on the back when you do something right. Club simply giving them what they should be getting. Can't be that the club asks for the games. It is only when we dont get them that it is the clubs fault.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Nah, you dont get a pat on the back when you do something right. Club simply giving them what they should be getting. Can't be that the club asks for the games. It is only when we dont get them that it is the clubs fault.

Greg Swann is our Damien Hardwick.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Depending where on the coast you are but it is more like 70-80 minutes to the GABBA which I did about 8-9 times this season.

The drive from Geelong to north western suburbs of Melbourne I did twice a week for two years and took about 80 minutes as well. The difference between the two is negligible and I’m sorry but if you are half as passionate about the club as you claim to be that drive wouldn’t be an issue.

Obviously this is dependent on individual circumstances but with the free access this year it shouldn’t be that hard to attend. I did many times as a uni student and managed to make it work.

Having said all that I also can see why only four games in Melbourne is a real downer however if you take a look at the bigger picture and not just how the fixture impacts you personally it should be seen as a great outcome for the club, even if it means you have to make a trip down the highway to get your 5 game quota.

 

[Dylan12]

Nah, you dont get a pat on the back when you do something right. Club simply giving them what they should be getting. Can't be that the club asks for the games. It is only when we dont get them that it is the clubs fault.

What should the club be getting a pat on the back for?

All down here are grateful when we get 6 games in Melbourne. Is it that much to ask the club to publicly push for a minimum of 6 games in Melbourne on a consistent basis?

I guess we should also pat the club on the back for not reducing Victorian membership prices despite less games in Melbourne and it being within the club’s control.