Preview Round 1: Essendon vs Hawthorne, MCG, Saturday 16/03/24 @ 1:45 PM

[TheGrizz]

Too sensible?

For the AFL?

Yes.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

What didn’t they just name this week round 1 with 10 byes?

 

[MiguelM]

What didn’t they just name this week round 1 with 10 byes?

AFL marketing 101. Remember AFLX?

TBH, all a bit flat in Melb but will ramp up next week. I would prefer traditional full first round and maybe a marque weekend for NSW & QLD during the year like Gather round but it is all a bit false, I mean if every weekend has some sort of theme it is a bit too Americanised for me.

 

[ghostdog]

AFL marketing 101. Remember AFLX?

TBH, all a bit flat in Melb but will ramp up next week. I would prefer traditional full first round and maybe a marque weekend for NSW & QLD during the year like Gather round but it is all a bit false, I mean if every weekend has some sort of theme it is a bit too Americanised for me.

The way the media up here has gone on about it is rubbish. They've made two Sydney home games feel like a fake Gather round. Not sure if Sydneysiders are feeling it, though 40 000 on a Thursday night speaks well.

 

[Lore]

The way the media up here has gone on about it is rubbish. They've made two Sydney home games feel like a fake Gather round. Not sure if Sydneysiders are feeling it, though 40 000 on a Thursday night speaks well.

Might be a protest because the NRL went to LA for half that crowd

 

[Fayab99]

So will we actually play draper over goldstein?

 

[Pweter]

The way the media up here has gone on about it is rubbish. They've made two Sydney home games feel like a fake Gather round. Not sure if Sydneysiders are feeling it, though 40 000 on a Thursday night speaks well.

Why can they sell out this round in Sydney but not go close for pretty much no other round?

 

[ant555]

AFL marketing 101. Remember AFLX?

TBH, all a bit flat in Melb but will ramp up next week. I would prefer traditional full first round and maybe a marque weekend for NSW & QLD during the year like Gather round but it is all a bit false, I mean if every weekend has some sort of theme it is a bit too Americanised for me.

AFLX was a good idea used the wrong way. It would have been the ideal game for grass roots in NSW and QLD or even the smaller country areas. 9 aside and rectangular grounds .
Trouble was some dipstick thought that it was the answer to tackle cricket over summer and filled it with gimmicks.
For some reason they did not click that 20/20 cricket was invented to make cricket matches played in a similar time frame to many football game’s.
Thinking they could take on cricket with some sort of modified crap was plain stupid.
If the wanted to go that way it could’ve simply been 4 x 15 minutes of the normal game with maybe 16 a side.
Anyway AFLX would have been good for regional NSW and QLD but the screwed it .

 

[eth-dog]

AFLX was a good idea used the wrong way. It would have been the ideal game for grass roots in NSW and QLD or even the smaller country areas. 9 aside and rectangular grounds .
Trouble was some dipstick thought that it was the answer to tackle cricket over summer and filled it with gimmicks.
For some reason they did not click that 20/20 cricket was invented to make cricket matches played in a similar time frame to many football game’s.
Thinking they could take on cricket with some sort of modified crap was plain stupid.
If the wanted to go that way it could’ve simply been 4 x 15 minutes of the normal game with maybe 16 a side.
Anyway AFLX would have been good for regional NSW and QLD but the screwed it .

It was the best way to expand into Europe and America as well.

 

[dank420_]

So will we actually play draper over goldstein?

both will play if draper is fit

 

[ghostdog]

Why can they sell out this round in Sydney but not go close for pretty much no other round?

They didn't sell out last night. They were only a bit over 80% capacity at 40 000.

Otherwise, it's a town still heavily invested in rugby league.

 

[Milanista28]

So will we actually play draper over goldstein?

Doubt it, Goldy should perform at a level too good to drop him. Unless his form really drops away I can't see Draper rucking alone with Bryan and Goldy in the VFL.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

if we lose against this mob than put a fork in us from Round 1

 

[Pweter]

They didn't sell out last night. They were only a bit over 80% capacity at 40 000.

Otherwise, it's a town still heavily invested in rugby league.

I'd heard on any number of shows on TV that both games in Sydney were sellouts.

 

[ghostdog]

I'd heard on any number of shows on TV that both games in Sydney were sellouts.

Maybe available seats other than cricket club members? SCG has a 48000 capacity.

 

[kleanr]

I think its

Cox - Mckay - Mcgrath
Redman - Reid - Martin (Lav)

Goldy - Durham - Parish (Setterfield)
Duursma - Parish - Tsatas (Perkins)

Caldwell - H.Jones - Gresham
Stringer - 2MP - Langford (Menzie/Guelfi)

Sub: Hobbs or Menzie/Guelf

OOH, i like the layout of a team like this. Did you do this Keystone agony or did you see it somehere?

 

[Fayab99]

On a serious note, except for Ridley, Draper and Hobbs? We are pretty much at full strength aren't we?
We really should win this game
Feel we are a better team overall and on every line.

 

[ant555]

They didn't sell out last night. They were only a bit over 80% capacity at 40 000.

Otherwise, it's a town still heavily invested in rugby league.

It always will be a Rugby League town.
All they need to do is capture enough market to keep the Swans ticking along with their 20k to 30k crowds and boost the Giants numbers to average around 17k and become the number two circus in town.
As for sell outs MCG often sells out but the crowds are 5k under. Same with Marvel . All tickets sold but often 3k to 4k under capacity. Depends on members and corporates all turning up.

 

[ant555]

On a serious note, except for Ridley, Draper and Hobbs? We are pretty much at full strength aren't we?
We really should win this game
Feel we are a better team overall and on every line.

We should really do a lot of things but we find a way not to.

 

[Call Me Cake]

We really should've won a final in the last 20 years but alas

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Draper two goals in the first half for vfl.

If Wright isnt getting two goals a game after a few weeks, we should be starting Draper at FF, Goldy in the ruck.

 

[ant555]

Draper two goals in the first half for vfl.

If Wright isnt getting two goals a game after a few weeks, we should be starting Draper at FF, Goldy in the ruck.

Given what I have seen at training the plan may well be to play Draper second ruck / forward . Plenty of one on one time between Drapes and Cloke.

 

[Godzke]

Given what I have seen at training the plan may well be to play Draper second ruck / forward . Plenty of one on one time between Drapes and Cloke.

any notable improvement in his kicking?

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Given what I have seen at training the plan may well be to play Draper second ruck / forward . Plenty of one on one time between Drapes and Cloke.

Fair enough too, i thought Goldsteins preseason games were more balanced ruck games than anything Draper has done. Goldstein is still quality and will probably be more motivated than hes been in 4-5 years.

 

[ant555]

any notable improvement in his kicking?

That will still be an issue.