http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/demon...3103592913.html

Thoughts?

I personally love the idea

Sounds like a great idea. As the article says, we've got 4 NT boys on our list, each being looked up to as heroes up north. A deal of this nature has a massive scope for the growth and development of our fan base. Especially considering AFL is the #1 sport in NT, yet they've no representation in the AFL. I'm all for it.

The Tasmanian deal has saved the Hawks financially and added almost 8000 new members...

A similar NT deal sounds like a pretty clever investment if it could have similar results. We have to explore every possibility to survive.

If it meant 4 games in the NT I wouldn't be against that. We have played at least 1 home game interstate for almost a decade now anyways (Gabba and now Canberra)

I'd be a happy with a maximum of 2 home games in Darwin, and 6 total interstate trips per season.

I think 4 home games in NT is too many. The travelling and heat would take its toll on the players.

I think its a great idea. Did anyone read on the end of the Herald Sun article that we signed a 30 year deal with Casey. Can anyone shed any light on that one?

i like the idea as long as it is say 2 home games up there... especially during indigenous round and try to make it bigger than the dreamtime game!

We can also play NAB cup games up there!!!

It will also be a awesome recruiting place!

Brilliant idea, given that it's such a Aussie Rules heartland. No point really selling games to the Gold Coast etc. All positive this is!

I think 4 home games in NT is too many. The travelling and heat would take its toll on the players.

Don't think they'd take a toll on the result of the games.

If we do play games there we should arrange for a games to be played back to back so the players can stay there for the week to allow them to market MFC within the community. It will also mean that we will be acclimatised to the heat which would leave us in good stead for the game in the second week.

Ultimately I dont like not being able to see the Dees at the G. But we know we need the cash.

I would put two stipulations into the agreement with the NT Gov.

1. Strike a deal with an airline for discounted flights for Member Members to Darwin for that weekend. If flights were $200 return I would head up there.

2. Strike a deal with the AFL for coverage on free to air TV. Many people don't have Foxtel, so for the Club to take a home game away from us they should at least work with the AFL on securing free to air coverage.

Melbourne Vs Hawthorn

Friday night football, Indigenous Round, Northern Territory

Davey, Jurrah, Bennell, Wonnaeamirri Vs Riolo, Franklin, Bateman

Would be brilliant

An important factor is that we need to ensure there are enough "make up" games at the MCG where members can get entry into an away game.

The Hawks games in Tassie are regularly on Fox so I don't like our chances of guaramnteeing free to air coverage. However, by the time this deal is in place there may be new TV providers as the current deal will have run out.

I love the idea!

The fact is we lose money against the interstate teams and from the sound of it thats who they are looking at playing in these Darwin games. Darwin Demons has a nice ring to it.

Few things that must be done-

1) Love the idea of making sure a game is played there during indigenous round! That's a great idea!

2) Great idea about trying to get discounted airline tickets for members for the game.

3) The change rooms and facilities must be upgraded because the current change rooms look very very ordinary-

4) Market the hell out of it with our huge selection of Indigenous boys!

5) Teams to play- Freo, Port, Gold Coast and maybe a bigger name club for indigenous round- Hawks?

This could be a great get by the club and i for one hope this comes through!

Great concept,

2-3 would be the right amount IMO including GC17 in the mix plus P.A and freo.

I have always been against canberra due to us developing a supporter base for sydney. Its just not right, so the sooner we get out of this the better. Added a possible hawks type alignment with the NT and we are talking real sense.

If we do play games there we should arrange for a games to be played back to back so the players can stay there for the week to allow them to market MFC within the community. It will also mean that we will be acclimatised to the heat which would leave us in good stead for the game in the second week.

Very sensible (so probably won't happen)

I posted this on 'Ology so apologies to those who don't like reading double :-)

When living in Darwin for a couple of years I went to the 06 pre season game V bulldogs and although the bulldogs arrived three or so days prior to the game to do community suck ups, the overwhelming support was for the Dees

I saw Dees jumpers I hadn't seen in decades as well as regularly seeing Dees gear during the year

I reckon we are the natural fit for Darwin and it is a great idea if it is a long term thing that benefits Darwin communities as well as the Dees

The Bombers would be the only team that would have more good will based support in my opinion

Another step in the right direction, well done even if it doesn't come off, the intentions are great

One possible negative that could be a positive is the large transient population from Defence, mining etc. Convert kids quickly to the Dees then they go back interstate and a fresh lot of converts arrive the next year Edit: Darwin based kids memberships could potentially add thousands of numbers to the tally if targeted through the schools

im not sure what my thoughts are on this.

firstly, i want us to play as many games as possible in melbourne. if we were selling 2-3 games a year for the next 5 years for an obscene amount that would put us back in the black i wouldnt be as dissapointed as possibly losing 2 -3 homegames from the G every year indefinetly. it appears to me to be a step back from 'melbourne' and the mcc deal.

i would only consider it if we were still going to get a maximum of 5-6 interstate trips (including the darwin games) and 12 or more games at the g (9 home games and 3 away games). and as part of the deal I would want to ensure that we never have to play a home game at TD.

if it was long term i would be dissapointed i think, as it is going against everything else we have been moving towards,

Melbourne Vs Hawthorn

Friday night football, Indigenous Round, Northern Territory

Davey, Jurrah, Bennell, Wonnaeamirri Vs Riolo, Franklin, Bateman

Would be brilliant

Personally, I would like to see that game at the 'G'. <_<

You could have an Indigenous Round with Port Adelaide in NT.

Personally, I would like to see that game at the 'G'. <_<

You could have an Indigenous Round with Port Adelaide in NT.

Agree no vic sides to play in NT as a condition, that includes the Tassie Kangeroos!

I'm not entirely sold on this. It would help in that we wouldn't be having MCG home games against the likes of Port, Freo, WCE, GC17 and Adelaide, and the financial windfall is obvious. But this administration has been talking about making sure our home ground is the MCG, about how the other clubs are all tenants. By selling 4 games to Darwin we lose that dominance of the MCG. And of course there's the extra travel.

Based on 4 Darwin games, I'd be happy only if we had another 3 interstate games on top of that. Of the remaining 15, we could still have 12 or 13 MCG matches, with the rest being Etihad. But if we were to lose 4 MCG games per year to Darwin, then I would be against the idea.

Strawbsodwyer's suggestion of back-to-back games in Darwin is something that might make it easier to stomach (i.e. we could have 2 fortnights in the season where we play in Darwin both weeks, spending the rest of the time marketing and drumming up support).

Strawbsodwyer's suggestion of back-to-back games in Darwin is something that might make it easier to stomach (i.e. we could have 2 fortnights in the season where we play in Darwin both weeks, spending the rest of the time marketing and drumming up support).

That's a good suggestion. Obviously there is still alot of water to pass under the bridge, but if the club can negotiate the Darwin games and drumming up support in the top end, in return for a better home game fixture including TV exposure (ie Friday, Staurday fixtures) as well as less interstate games, I would be more positive towards this campaign.

edited.

Currently, the Tassie government is putting up the next contract up for tender from 2011 for another 5 years. Hawthorn are getting $3m a year to play 5 games in Tassie (1 NAB & 4 home games).

Why dont we bid for the next contract in Tassie?

We can offer 5 games (1 NAB & 4 homes games) for $2m a year?

Currently, the Tassie government is putting up the next contract up for tender from 2011 for another 5 years. Hawthorn are getting $3m a year to play 5 games in Tassie (1 NAB & 4 home games).

Why dont we bid for the next contract in Tassie?

We can offer 5 games (1 NAB & 4 homes games) for $2m a year?

don't forget that that number includes jumper sponsorship...

I know its a bit different to what the club has been saying- We are melbourne, MCG is our home ground and the others are tenants. But... i think this is a great idea that must be done.

Against teams like Freo, Port and the gold coast would be great games to be played at Darwin.

I dont want to end up what the kangaroos did and abandon their gold coast contract just to be proud- " we are nrth melbourne and that is where we will play all home games" that notion has back-fired something chronic for the kangas with shocking attendance numbers against freo, port etc.

These games against these teams should be played at another ground where we can not only break even but make a big profit and most probably boost membership numbers- its smart and needs to be done at our club at the present.

So yeah.. make it long term.. make it 5 year contract?

Freo, Port and Gold Coast as the teams we play, and 1 NAB cup game?

Gold Coast game could be our Indigenous round game -seeing as i think Cyril Rioli is a huge chance of getting big money to be their franchise player.? highly doubtful but something to think about..

Great idea, so long as we stick to the principles that Schwabby has outlined. Two or three games a year (one of them being part of Indigenous Round ... fantastic!), plus a pre-season game, NT Govt. sponsorship and facilities upgrade, we do some community work and grow our membership base. Seems like it could be win / win all round. Need to ensure that Community work doesn't compromise input at Casey.