Thats right. You heard me.

The MFC has been a joke for 45 years, and are still yet to rectify the problem.

We deserved 22 Sunday games. Maybe if we become a legitimate football club on and off the field, then we can get a decent draw.

Until then, cop it on the chin.

All this talk of protesting is an embarassment.

ohh......get ready for it......

Thats right. You heard me.

The MFC has been a joke for 45 years, and are still yet to rectify the problem.

We deserved 22 Sunday games. Maybe if we become a legitimate football club on and off the field, then we can get a decent draw.

Until then, cop it on the chin.

All this talk of protesting is an embarassment.

YM,

You don't solve the problem by pushing our club deeper into the mire.

We need sponsors and sure we need bigger crowds, but we simply won't get them if we don't get a fairer draw.

This year's supporters survey, regardless of which club those surveyed supported, voted loud and clear that Saturday games are the preferred option.

All we ask for, over the journey is a fairer share of the fixturing cake. There are other Victorian clubs who get a better deal than we do, who don't deserve it, based on your logic.

Up until recently, we were second only to Essendon, in term of finals appearances over the last 15 years, in term of Victorian clubs.

We are the oldest Footy club in the world, we carry the name of the city where the game was invented and we have roots in the hallowed MCG turf.

Pure marketing kudos alone suggests we deserve better.

If the AFL want to keep pushing us down, then they have no choice at the moment to keep supporting us fiancially.

None of us want that in the long term.

If the AFL used some common sense, they would not have to bail us out to the extent they are now.

YM,

You don't solve the problem by pushing our club deeper into the mire.

We need sponsors and sure we need bigger crowds, but we simply won't get them if we don't get a fairer draw.

This year's supporters survey, regardless of which club those surveyed supported, voted loud and clear that Saturday games are the preferred option.

All we ask for, over the journey is a fairer share of the fixturing cake. There are other Victorian clubs who get a better deal than we do, who don't deserve it, based on your logic.

Up until recently, we were second only to Essendon, in term of finals appearances over the last 15 years, in term of Victorian clubs.

We are the oldest Footy club in the world, we carry the name of the city where the game was invented and we have roots in the hallowed MCG turf.

Pure marketing kudos alone suggests we deserve better.

If the AFL want to keep pushing us down, then they have no choice at the moment to keep supporting us fiancially.

None of us want that in the long term.

If the AFL used some common sense, they would not have to bail us out to the extent they are now.

Iv'a,

As much as I agree with you in relation to recieving a more fair fixture, it doesnt help the MFC to rely on the defunct theory, that because 'we are the oldest club, and we represent the town in which the game was born', we deserve more consessions.

If we want respect by other AFL clubs/ supporters and even the AFL itself, we need to get out [censored] together, and start winning games. Its as simple as that.

We cannot forget that the AFL is a business. Nothing more nothing less rightly or wrongly, its a business. If it is more financial for them to shedual prime time games to bigger clubs then they are always going to do it. It will never change.

This fixture IS A SHAM. There is no doubt about that at all. However, its time for the MFC to stand on our own feet and say a big 'F#CK YOU' to the AFL.

Thats right. You heard me.

The MFC has been a joke for 45 years, and are still yet to rectify the problem.

We deserved 22 Sunday games. Maybe if we become a legitimate football club on and off the field, then we can get a decent draw.

Until then, cop it on the chin.

All this talk of protesting is an embarassment.

You're probably right and we would have deserved 22 Sunday home games but only if the AFL gave Carlton 22 Sunday home games in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 being the years immediately after the scum were among football's mediocrity. But they didn't get 22 Sunday home games - they got a reasonable fixture for their circumstances. Next year they get 6 Friday night home games after finishing a brilliant eleventh.

Melbourne doesn't "deserve" much but it, at least, deserves a fixture that is fair, reasonable and equitable and not the prescription for a slow death which the AFL has meted out.

I don't think you have sufficient grey matter to understand the distinction.

-it's basically because weak country members like YM dont entirely support this club

-i dont know about you YM, but i want this club to survive, and to do that, we need some $$$...we're not going to get corporate revenue etc etc if we have shitloads of sunday games and jack all free tv exposure

yes, we are a basketcase, but the AFL could have helped us a little, as it does for heaps of other clubs, so we could have got a nice draw and get bigger crowds and more exposure

yes our supporters are fickle

yes, we have low supporter numbers

however, the AFL arent helping us, they are just making things harder...passionate supporters have i right to want a better fixture so their club has a greater chance of survival

If there was actually a consistent criteria for 'deserving' good fixturing, even if it was a shonky one like those the AFL trots out (poor performance is the excuse one year, poor drawing power the next) I'd probably be ok with YM's comments.

But there isn't.

Since it's based on political clout, there's no 'deserve' in it.

The talk of protests is the classic resort of the disenfranchised; to assert themsleves as impossible to ignore.

Everything we can do to make ourselves visible (constructively) in the next year gives us a little more clout, and a little more marketing to boot. It's the only way we're going to get out of this hole. Wear the colours, never watch games alone, put up a poster at work, run the tipping competition, go in fun runs, hire a skywriter; anything visible helps.

imo it's based as much on crowd sizes as political power.

If they think x 2 teams will get 50,000 on a Sat game and y 2 teams only 25,000 of course they're going to go x pair

If the fixture is to be influenced by anything, it should be on field performance, not off-field performance. Carlton have sucked for 6 years and get a wonderful draw. Collingwood get a great draw no matter where they finish.

Either way, NOTHING should influence the draw. It should be 100% even, with each club getting the same amount of Friday, Saturday and Sunday games.

Why would the AFL do that?

They have a business to run.

You're probably right and we would have deserved 22 Sunday home games but only if the AFL gave Carlton 22 Sunday home games in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 being the years immediately after the scum were among football's mediocrity. But they didn't get 22 Sunday home games - they got a reasonable fixture for their circumstances. Next year they get 6 Friday night home games after finishing a brilliant eleventh.

Melbourne doesn't "deserve" much but it, at least, deserves a fixture that is fair, reasonable and equitable and not the prescription for a slow death which the AFL has meted out.

I don't think you have sufficient grey matter to understand the distinction.

I agree Sid Vicious, Y_M is right IMO. You also bring up a good point regarding Carlton when they were -not so long ago - pathetic. It just goes to show that the AFL want record crowds each year, and to them Melbourne will not be a big contributor to this for 2009. We already knew that.

In order to turn things around, Melbourne need to improve on the field and chalk up wins, but more importantly drag people through the turnstiles. These are the two major areas that will secure a better fixture. Until then, grin and bear it!

Protesting is a waste of time. The AFL know what we wanted. Hence the reduction from 15 to 13 Sunday games. Not much, but its something. To get bargaining power we need attendances and better football.

Winners are grinners and losers can please themselves.

Its all about the dollar and thats the bottom line!

If the fixture is to be influenced by anything, it should be on field performance, not off-field performance. Carlton have sucked for 6 years and get a wonderful draw. Collingwood get a great draw no matter where they finish.

Either way, NOTHING should influence the draw. It should be 100% even, with each club getting the same amount of Friday, Saturday and Sunday games.

Collingwood gets such a good draw becuase every club in the land want to schedual a home game against them so they can cash in.

-it's basically because weak country members like YM dont entirely support this club

Using Realists material now?

Christ, you are struggling.

And I am pretty sure they dont sell country memberships to people that live 10 minutes from tje CBD.

Nice try though.

Why would the AFL do that?

They have a business to run.

It's called 'Competitive Balance'.

I don't have time now, but when my exams are over I'll try and put my two cents worth into the matter.

You're probably right and we would have deserved 22 Sunday home games but only if the AFL gave Carlton 22 Sunday home games in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 being the years immediately after the scum were among football's mediocrity. But they didn't get 22 Sunday home games - they got a reasonable fixture for their circumstances. Next year they get 6 Friday night home games after finishing a brilliant eleventh.

Melbourne doesn't "deserve" much but it, at least, deserves a fixture that is fair, reasonable and equitable and not the prescription for a slow death which the AFL has meted out.

I don't think you have sufficient grey matter to understand the distinction.

A fine summation of the state of play.

Why would the AFL do that?

They have a business to run.

Because while the AFL is a business it also also a sporting competition that is supposed to be even for all clubs (ie salary cap, draft etc). The league is making record profits. It has 10's of millions of dollars lying around spare to invest in markets that are not interested in footy. It throws money at unimportant long term goals.

BUT the primary role of any league or association is to administer the game for the clubs. The AFL has forgotten that the best interests of the clubs is their primary function. Yes sometimes a league has to make hard calls that the clubs dont like, but not every time. I understand the league is trying to make more money. But can you explain why? The sport of football should be more important than making an extra million or two. If the sport was floundering around and on the brink, then yes, money would be more important, but the league is flying, and in that case it is the leagues responsibility to look after the current clubs AND create a fair and equitable system for all involved (be that draw or otherwise).

Why would the AFL do that?

They have a business to run.

Can you please, seriously, [censored] off now.

-it's basically because weak country members like YM dont entirely support this club

What rubbish.

Are you realist in disguise?

edit: beaten by Y_M

Does anyone seriously suggest that a National competition can realistically go on in the future, without a marquee team, based in Melbourne and which carries the name "Melbourne"?

The AFL knows it can't and while it wants to beat us around the head now, they will need a "Melbourne" Football Club identity long into the future.

-it's basically because weak country members like YM dont entirely support this club

This says a lot about your intelligence Nugget.

I would suggest a country members $110 is better than nothing, or indeed going to Collingwood.

A 'weak..not entirely supporting' country member still clicks the turnstyles maybe 5 home games per year.

It costs him $100 per time in transport, and a whole day, to support the club in this way. He brings paying mates.

He still participates in debt demolition and buying the $200 raffle tickets.

No, the problem is that not enough of you City [censored] are supporting the club. It's easy for you to put your bum on a seat and bring mates.. so f'well do it, and get your silver spooned mates to get off their wallets, pay up, and get out from in front of the TV as well.

Your attitude is a big part of the MFC problem.

Thats right. You heard me.

The MFC has been a joke for 45 years, and are still yet to rectify the problem.

We deserved 22 Sunday games. Maybe if we become a legitimate football club on and off the field, then we can get a decent draw.

Until then, cop it on the chin.

All this talk of protesting is an embarassment.

How ironic that these comments come from someone who has been belting on for some time about Demon supporters accepting mediocrity (which I agree with in principle with by the way). But now you say we are a joke and should cop it sweet - hypocrisy!

As usual your comments are charged with emotion, lack insight and are made without much thought!

Does anyone seriously suggest that a National competition can realistically go on in the future, without a marquee team, based in Melbourne and which carries the name "Melbourne"?

The AFL knows it can't and while it wants to beat us around the head now, they will need a "Melbourne" Football Club identity long into the future.

Is there a Premier league club called London?

The AFL might need the name but may not need the baggage that goes with it.

They will have enough marquee clubs to choose from ..... Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon,.......

As usual your comments are charged with emotion, lack insight and are made without much thought!

I contend that they're created with insight and thought - consideration of what button will most likely get others 'charged with emotion'.

Most of the time he succeeds, despite the fact that all Demonland regulars should be familiar with his modus operandi.

I contend that they're created with insight and thought - consideration of what button will most likely get others 'charged with emotion'.

Most of the time he succeeds, despite the fact that all Demonland regulars should be familiar with his modus operandi.

Agree. Perhaps the smartest poster around here, even if not the most intelligent. The morons are the ones who take the bait every time.

Agree. Perhaps the smartest poster around here, even if not the most intelligent. The morons are the ones who take the bait every time.

Are you suggesting that no one should post on any topic or post he provides?