Western Bulldogs want in on possible future Good Friday AFL game

[VitalDread]

THE Western Bulldogs are confident they will break the AFL’s resistance to Good Friday football as soon as next season.

Dogs president Peter Gordon said he believes the league can play two Good Friday games featuring four of the AFL’s smaller clubs.

Next year the league could kick off the season on Good Friday, with the AFL nearly relenting and including it in this year’s fixture on April 18.

Gordon said that while North Melbourne and Carlton had lobbied for a joint game, the Dogs wanted in too.

“The first proposition I put in my written submission to the AFL is that there is no decent argument against it,’’ he said.

“No one wants to take iconic fixtures like Anzac Day off existing clubs, but this is a new opportunity to give national free-to-air exposure to two or four teams that desperately need it.

“Not only should the AFL use the fixture to schedule one or two games around the nation, they ought to pick teams which need the exposure.”


North Melbourne has secured its first win of the season in a grinding encounter against the Western Bulldogs, with the Kangaroos taking the spoils 83-54 at Etihad Stadium.



Friday night pioneers North Melbourne have lobbied about a Good Friday game for 20 years, and hope to play Carlton in a twilight fixture.

“I know there is some argy bargy about who thought of this first,’’ said Gordon.

“But is my view that it is the obligation of the Commission to fixture it in the interests of new markets and new audiences. Support North Melbourne having the chance, but gives us an opportunity too, with clubs like St Kilda and Melbourne and other smaller franchises around.”

AFL deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan made it clear at last October’s fixture launch how close Good Friday football was in this year’s fixture.

‘I think there is gathering momentum, and if I’m here saying that it is 50-50 for the year after next, then that is probably a good sign of momentum,’’ he said.

If the league did delay the 2015 season until after the World Cup — as flagged in this week’s Herald Sun — then Carlton and Richmond want to kick off the season again at the MCG.

But the AFL may still start the season late in March, giving rival clubs a chance to play on Good Friday and still finishing the season in late September.


http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/we...-friday-afl-game/story-fndv8weh-1226872729821

 

[LukasTheGreat]

Everyone wants it, our display on sunday certainly didn't help our claims.

 

[LondonBulldog]

Ha Ha, gotta hand it to Gordon, I'm sure the AFL's response would be the same as the bloke from the Castle

"Tell him, his Dreaming"

We were a top 4 team from 2008 to 2010 yet we still barely got given a marquee game. Got no chance at the moment. AFL doesn't operate that way. They are there is increase revenue. Draw and scheduling has not bee fair to the Bulldogs for years.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

I was going to make a thread out of this but you beat me to it by a few hours.

What annoys me even more than the prospect of not getting it is the sense of entitlement North Melbourne have over the day.
They offer Carlton up as an opponent because they know their supporter base can't fill a stadium on a marquee day, not because 'the hospital is between North and Carlton.' The hospital's also between Footscray and Carlton, how about we play Carlton?
Sure, you've campaigned for it for 20 years, but you haven't campaigned to play Carlton for 20 years. Instead of picking one side that deserves to play on the day, why not pick two? Carlton already play in the marquee opening game, as much as that has been dicked around for the last couple of years.

I'm happy for North to get it so long as we get it too. Would certainly stick it up them given their apparent belief that they're better than us (not referring to on-field where they actually are better than us).

Would be good to have the Dogs-North game during the day for the appeal and then hold a Saints-Demons match by night. Anyone with any objection because the sides are crap don't have an excuse, because there wouldn't be football being played otherwise

 

[fargy]

I spent all my childhood going to the children's hospital and would love the amount of money that an AFL game on Good Friday will raise for them!
Give so they may grow

 

[100action]

when you notice how obsessed the AFL is about optimizing revenue and the way Demetriou spoke as if he lost a first born by not putting Richmond / Carlton as the season opener for an additional 20k crowd, you know we will never get a marquee game.

Furthermore maximizing revenue is 'built in' to Demetriou's contract with respect to bonuses, with all that said I cannot see any logical reason that he would give us a good friday game.

 

[Morris Major]

Furthermore maximizing revenue is 'built in' to Demetriou's contract with respect to bonuses, with all that said I cannot see any logical reason that he would give us a good friday game.

To be fair, anyone would do the same if they're in AD's position.

You're right though, our supporter base means we won't get anything juicy unless we start winning flags. It's a catch-22 really, we've poor support because of no exposure and we have no exposure because our support is poor.

 

[Dogs Rule]

If we win a flag....

I've kinda given up saying that now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fitzwah]

Brayshaw just went nuts on tfs about other teams trying to get a run on good friday. Carlton dont need another game like this.

 

[Unorth]

You mean...A Dogs game...that isn't at 5pm on a Sunday? I think the league would have a heart attack.

 

[BRG93]

Brayshaw just went nuts on tfs about other teams trying to get a run on good friday. Carlton dont need another game like this.

Like with anything else, You scream and bitch enough and you will get your own way

While we miss out again...

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

Brayshaw just went nuts on tfs about other teams trying to get a run on good friday. Carlton dont need another game like this.

Well they can just play a ****ing intra-club then.
What a bunch of entitled little brats.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Norf are in the enviable position of having a President that has multiple platforms for his megaphone diplomacy.

But all his (and our) posturing on the subject will inevitably come to naught as City Hall/Channel 7 look on with amusement whilst watching what to them is little more a than a cripple fight, and hand the inevitable Good Friday match to two of the 'Big Four.'

 

[dogwatch]

Furthermore maximizing revenue is 'built in' to Demetriou's contract with respect to bonuses, with all that said I cannot see any logical reason that he would give us a good friday game.

To be fair, anyone would do the same if they're in AD's position.

Good points here. Whoever is CEO is on a performance bonus in his contract and that performance bonus is set by the AFL Board. So it doesn't matter how sympathetic the CEO is, because the strategic direction has been set by the board.

Logical conclusion is that the equalisation fight must also win over the board. CEO contracts will thenbecome more diverse to include some sort of measures of equalisation.

 

[LondonBulldog]

Good points here. Whoever is CEO is on a performance bonus in his contract and that performance bonus is set by the AFL Board. So it doesn't matter how sympathetic the CEO is, because the strategic direction has been set by the board.

Logical conclusion is that the equalisation fight must also win over the board. CEO contracts will thenbecome more diverse to include some sort of measures of equalisation.

Nice thought dogwatch and although I agree with you so far the equalisation has nothing to do with sharing tv exposure, draws, marquee games and timeslots. It is purely financial help to the long sufferring clubs such as us. And the vicious cycle continues...

 

[dogwatch]

Nice thought dogwatch and although I agree with you so far the equalisation has nothing to do with sharing tv exposure, draws, marquee games and timeslots. It is purely financial help to the long sufferring clubs such as us. And the vicious cycle continues...

But a more even competition - with all teams being competitive nearly all the time - is surely better for the TV networks. The question then becomes "how much do we have to do to achieve that competitiveness across the whole competition?"

I do agree it looks like an uphill slog to get better time slots and especially marquee games. Even when we were top four we only got a modest share of Friday night games.

 

[FROGGR]

Norf are in the enviable position of having a President that has multiple platforms for his megaphone diplomacy.

But all his (and our) posturing on the subject will inevitably come to naught as City Hall/Channel 7 look on with amusement whilst watching what to them is little more a than a cripple fight, and hand the inevitable Good Friday match to two of the 'Big Four.'

Two things irrated the absolute crap out of me last night watching TFS:
1) James Brayshaw's "Johnny come-lately" comments in reference to us (or Gordon), and where clubs could go if they thought they'd get a chance at the Good Friday Marquee game over North/ Carlton, because they have already submitted the proposal to the AFL... I could not agree more with Australian idle - it was absolute megaphone diplomacy. Brayshaw may as well be quoting 'The Wedding Singer:' "Well I have a microphone and you don't, so you will listen to every damn word I have to say!"
2) The fact the Cooney just sat there and didn't say a word in defence of his club. Now before you pillory me let me elaborate a little more...
I was reading the Brendan McCartney coaching thread tonight and someone mentioned about leaders of the club not standing up - and someone else mentioned Cooney looking disinterested of late. Cooney should have stood up and said something on TFS - anything would have been preferable to his complancency. I don't know what it is about TFS... I remember Gia (*I think*) being on a couple of years ago with that tosser Mark McVeigh. McVeigh was practicallly choking back a laugh as he rated our chances when being asked for his tip. No respect for Gia what-so-ever... but again, Gia said nothing. Sometimes I think I'd prefer a little bit of a Malthouse reaction over being disrespected like that and taking it... maybe we might get taken a little more seriously...

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-...y-blues?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

So the Blues are determined Good Friday is theirs, and Tim Watson has come out tonight and said it will be North and the Bulldogs.

What gets on my nerves is the sheer entitlement on the part of Carlton. I understand North have been pushing for it for years and good luck to them, but so have we. The arrogance on the part of Swann to suggest that they deserve it any more than us is astounding.
They say that it should be played between the two clubs geographically closest to the RCH, so they can head over with the cheque, despite the game being played at Etihad.
Later in the article, he's talking about wanting the season opener back, as well as Good Friday. You have to be kidding.

My bet is that it's nowhere near confirmed, and he's just drumming up support and entitlement for Carlton so they have their members screaming blue murder when it's handed to someone else.

 

[doggies ftw]

Man I will be that pissed if Carlton get it. Lets ****ing flog them this week to show the AFL we will be better than them in the coming years, which we already know...

 

[Cudi]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-...y-blues?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

So the Blues are determined Good Friday is theirs, and Tim Watson has come out tonight and said it will be North and the Bulldogs.

What gets on my nerves is the sheer entitlement on the part of Carlton. I understand North have been pushing for it for years and good luck to them, but so have we. The arrogance on the part of Swann to suggest that they deserve it any more than us is astounding.
They say that it should be played between the two clubs geographically closest to the RCH, so they can head over with the cheque, despite the game being played at Etihad.
Later in the article, he's talking about wanting the season opener back, as well as Good Friday. You have to be kidding.

My bet is that it's nowhere near confirmed, and he's just drumming up support and entitlement for Carlton so they have their members screaming blue murder when it's handed to someone else.

I hate Carlton, I really do

But... to be fair the Good Friday idea between North and Carlton has been apparently in the works for almost 20 years. Imagine if that was us who thought of it ages ago and was in talks only for another club to take it from us in the end.

If the proposed idea really has been in talks between those clubs for years than they deserve it. Just unfortunate for us.

 

[fargy]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-04-...y-blues?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

So the Blues are determined Good Friday is theirs, and Tim Watson has come out tonight and said it will be North and the Bulldogs.

What gets on my nerves is the sheer entitlement on the part of Carlton. I understand North have been pushing for it for years and good luck to them, but so have we. The arrogance on the part of Swann to suggest that they deserve it any more than us is astounding.
They say that it should be played between the two clubs geographically closest to the RCH, so they can head over with the cheque, despite the game being played at Etihad.
Later in the article, he's talking about wanting the season opener back, as well as Good Friday. You have to be kidding.

My bet is that it's nowhere near confirmed, and he's just drumming up support and entitlement for Carlton so they have their members screaming blue murder when it's handed to someone else.

Just on that, don't they usually run the appeal from Etihad? And wouldn't that be an issue with having a game there? Excuse my ignorance if that's not the case but just had a thought that was what they did.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

I hate Carlton, I really do

But... to be fair the Good Friday idea between North and Carlton has been apparently in the works for almost 20 years. Imagine if that was us who thought of it ages ago and was in talks only for another club to take it from us in the end.

If the proposed idea really has been in talks between those clubs for years than they deserve it. Just unfortunate for us.

If you ask North they've been looking at Good Friday for years. Carlton have been just as late to the party as us.

Interestingly, the only party that is saying lock it in to be North v Carlton, Carlton have wanted it for 20 years - is Carlton.

Just on that, don't they usually run the appeal from Etihad? And wouldn't that be an issue with having a game there? Excuse my ignorance if that's not the case but just had a thought that was what they did.

I actually hadn't considered that. It's been pretty concrete that it'll be played at Etihad, so I'm not sure how that'll work in tandem with the appeal.

 

[Cudi]

If you ask North they've been looking at Good Friday for years. Carlton have been just as late to the party as us.

Interestingly, the only party that is saying lock it in to be North v Carlton, Carlton have wanted it for 20 years - is Carlton.

I really hope you're right and we can get it but what's really going against is North Melbourne. North don't want us a part of it, they want Carlton as it will get them bigger numbers into the ground. I just think we are a massive longshot but I hope like hell I'm wrong.

 

[the dog's kennel]

God I hope its a Dogs-Roos game. And I hope we really make it work.

I'm sick of all this "small clubs can't make a big occasion work" crap.

Let's give it a go and see. With any luck, both our clubs will be up and about for at least 5 years. We're both community-focussed clubs. Let's MAKE it work.

 

[Dazb86]

I'd like it to be north v dogs just to irritate their supporters.

Still would be awesome to have a guaranteed friday night game every year.