Honestly? Saints versus Demons on a traditional Christian day realy means something deep down?

I think it does yes. Better than these forced "Theme Games" the AFL keep creating, which do mean nothing.

The Melbourne Sydney Idea is ok but until we play them regularly in finals it will not be real.

By the end of the Decade we will be playing more Blockbusters-simply because people will want to watch us play.

I'm happy we aren't playing tonight if we were we would probably see around 30,000 there if lucky. Unfortunately our supporters don't like, in general that is, night games, games where it is too hot or too cold, games on Sunday, Games.......

I too am happy we dont get the opportunity to make $500,000 out of one game.

I too am happy we dont get front page coverage on nearly ever newspaper in Melbourne for our sponsors.

I too am happy we have one of the lowest spends in our football departments.

Suppose some might argue what comes first - A successful team or a successful club?

If we want success we need to go out and earn it, nobody in the AFL is going to give it to us on a plate

However, our governing body at the AFL have defined what they consider to be a "successful club".

I too am happy we dont get the opportunity to make $500,000 out of one game.

I too am happy we dont get front page coverage on nearly ever newspaper in Melbourne for our sponsors.

I too am happy we have one of the lowest spends in our football departments.

Suppose some might argue what comes first - A successful team or a successful club?

If we want success we need to go out and earn it, nobody in the AFL is going to give it to us on a plate

However, our governing body at the AFL have defined what they consider to be a "successful club".

I'm pretty sure we have the opportunity to make $500K out of one game on Saturday, provided people turn up.

Whether it was tonight or Saturday makes little difference in my eyes.

I'm pretty sure we have the opportunity to make $500K out of one game on Saturday, provided people turn up.

Whether it was tonight or Saturday makes little difference in my eyes.

I reckon we have a better chance of making the $500k on Saturday than we would if we played tonight.

We've been screaming out for Saturday Arvo games and now we have one it's time for those that wanted them to put up.

Honestly? Saints versus Demons on a traditional Christian day realy means something deep down?

On topic, there are 16 teams in the comp, only 2 can play in the opening match of the season.

We've had 2007 and 2000 in the last decade - neither drawing over 50,000. They are the only two season openers of the decade (player in Victoria) that failed to do so. Pretty simple why we didn't get the opener - and after Richmond/Carlton's 80,000 odd effort last year it's not hard to see why they did.

again I see our inferiority complex shining through

Round 11, 2006, Queen's Birthday match for 3rd-placed Collingwood vs 5th-placed Melbourne

crowd : 78,773

That was the 2nd biggest crowd for the year, behind ANZAC days 91k.. the next 7 biggest all featured the Pies against the Blues, Tigers etc but they all had smaller crowds than our QB match

THAT is what you can expect from the supporters of a Melbourne side that is in form, and playing a high-drawing side who is also in form

If, hypothetically, we were expected to be a top 4 side this year and were given the season opener against the Pies, why wouldn't we get a similar number to that QB match? Despite our terrible few years our membership has continued to increase

When we play well, more people go to our games. When more people go to our games, we make more money. When we make more money, the AFL makes more money. What makes the AFL money, the AFL does. Ergo, when we play better, our games will be put at times when more people will go to them.

Edited March 25, 201015 yr by Chook

again I see our inferiority complex shining through

Round 11, 2006, Queen's Birthday match for 3rd-placed Collingwood vs 5th-placed Melbourne

crowd : 78,773

That was the 2nd biggest crowd for the year, behind ANZAC days 91k.. the next 7 biggest all featured the Pies against the Blues, Tigers etc but they all had smaller crowds than our QB match

THAT is what you can expect from the supporters of a Melbourne side that is in form, and playing a high-drawing side who is also in form

If, hypothetically, we were expected to be a top 4 side this year and were given the season opener against the Pies, why wouldn't we get a similar number to that QB match? Despite our terrible few years our membership has continued to increase

2007 saw us play another potential top four side in the opener and we couldn't reach 50,000.

Any Melbourne team who is in form and playing a high-drawing team is likely to draw a big crowd. Collingwood playing any Victorian team in the season opener would pull a big crowd - but why would the AFL need to start with it? Those crowds can be pulled at any stage of the season.

I agree if we had the Pies first up that there would be a massive crowd, but tell me a Victorian team that wouldn't result in a massive crowd against the Pies first up?

We've had two season openers in the last decade. That seems fair to me, especially considering that they didn't pull big crowds.

I'm unsure why you bolded "in form" and "high-drawing side who is also in form" - neither side will have form leading into round one, I don't see why the AFL wouldn't go for a match up that would pull a big crowd.

Edited March 25, 201015 yr by 45HG16

2007 saw us play another potential top four side in the opener and we couldn't reach 50,000.

If you remembered it was pissing down rain that night. Had that game been a stand alone Sat arvo game in fine weather you would expect the crowd to have been 60,000+

What I would add is that an inform Melbourne against in form Essendon, Richmond, Carlton, Geelong, Collingwood or Hawthorn would pull 60,000+ at the MCG. The fact remains ont of the reasons we pull poorly is we rarely get the chance to host such games.

Edited March 25, 201015 yr by Roost It

I did remember that - if you think that rain tonight would mean less than 50,000 would attend you're on another planet.

I reckon we have a better chance of making the $500k on Saturday than we would if we played tonight.

We've been screaming out for Saturday Arvo games and now we have one it's time for those that wanted them to put up.

Ok ... we got 72,000 to beat to put your theory to the test.

When we play well, more people go to our games. When more people go to our games, we make more money. When we make more money, the AFL makes more money. What makes the AFL money, the AFL does. Ergo, when we play better, our games will be put at times when more people will go to them.

Play well - "well" like the Tigers do you mean?

Edited March 25, 201015 yr by hangon007

Well play "well" like the Tigers do you mean?

Richmond Supporters obviously suffer from Alzhiemers disease- They totally forget how bad a team they are over summer and just turn up round one expecting finals. Hilarious!!

Play well - "well" like the Tigers do you mean?

People still go to Tigers games when they're bad, so what I said doesn't apply to them. If we get good, then they'll come. When they come, we'll be put in time-slots where more people come. It's like adding fuel to a fire. Richmond's fire is already burning, because of the kind of crowds they get normally. Our fire has only just started.

If we play on Saturday and the Planets align we will get 50,000 if we play at any other time I don't think we will get anywhere that number. BTW I'm not talking about the supporters on here, I'm talking about the average MFC supporter.

Agree, MFC supporters need to turn up reguardless.

There are alot more MFC supporters, than we are lead to believe.

Queens birthday/MFC march day match last year(2009), there was definately more red & blue in that crowd than black and whatever.

Edited March 25, 201015 yr by tatu

Agree, MFC supporters need to turn up reguardless.

Exactly!!!

Some wont if its raining ---

Some wont until we start winning ---

Some wont if they think we wont play well ---

What other excuses can we come up with?

"Preaching to the converted" I dont think so!

Jimmy, Swabby and the players can only do so much --- Sometimes its up to us!

Edited March 25, 201015 yr by hangon007

Richmond Supporters obviously suffer from Alzhiemers disease- They totally forget how bad a team they are over summer and just turn up round one expecting finals. Hilarious!!

Maybe its a measure of loyalty that they turn up in numbers regardless of the situation. Its a credit to them particularly when you consider how fickle MFC supporters are.

Ok ... we got 72,000 to beat to put your theory to the test.

My theory was we would get more to our game on Saturday than we would have if we played last night. I guess we will never know, but we won't get 72,000 on Saturday and we wouldn't have got 72,000 last night.

Maybe its a measure of loyalty that they turn up in numbers regardless of the situation.

Nice thought ... "regardless of the situation"

Maybe its a measure of loyalty that they turn up in numbers regardless of the situation.

No it's Alzhiemers i am sure of it!!!

Loyalty?? Those Feral supporters have been known to spit on coaches!! I shall never respect them....

No it's Alzhiemers i am sure of it!!!

Loyalty?? Those Feral supporters have been known to spit on coaches!! I shall never respect them....

Whatever the reason, I'm sure that the AFL's fixturing policy is entirely based on what is good for the game and has absolutely nothing to do with a base objective such as reaching record attendances and profits.

Vlad's performance bonuses are based on the former right...

Whatever the reason, I'm sure that the AFL's fixturing policy is entirely based on what is good for the game and has absolutely nothing to do with a base objective such as reaching record attendances and profits.

Vlad's performance bonuses are based on the former right...

I think the AFL's opinion is that they are one and the same. Vlad would say that record attendances = healthier game. I'm not so sure I would argue with that.

Edited March 26, 201015 yr by Chook

My theory was we would get more to our game on Saturday than we would have if we played last night. I guess we will never know, but we won't get 72,000 on Saturday and we wouldn't have got 72,000 last night.

Shame Shame Shame ... and who's fault is that?

What excuse do you have???

Whatever the reason, I'm sure that the AFL's fixturing policy is entirely based on what is good for the game and has absolutely nothing to do with a base objective such as reaching record attendances and profits.

Vlad's performance bonuses are based on the former right...

The AFL are running a business not a charity when will Melbourne supporters get that thru there heads.

Exactly!!!

Some wont if its raining ---

Some wont until we start winning ---

Some wont if they think we wont play well ---

It's the same for every other team/sport, so get used to it.

All teams have crowds/membership that increases when the team is successful - it's entertainment and people think other stuff is more entertaining than watching your team get smashed.

I have no idea why Melbourne's own supporters want to push the line that we have supporters and less keen than that of other teams, particularly given that:

- We smashed our membership record after finishing on the bottom (and heading to another wooden spoon)!

- Our supporter base has been tipping in an amazing and perhaps unprecedented amount of cash from the rank and file towards demolishing our debt (how much did those loyal and rabid fans at the Saints, Bulldogs and Richmond raise in their SOS-style campaigns?)!

- Oh, and while we have a smaller supporter base than some other AFL Clubs, we get a higher percentage of those supporters signing up as members (Roy Morgan Research).

By the way, restaurants are also quieter if the weather's cold and wet. Those weak eaters.

It's the same for every other team/sport, so get used to it.

All teams have crowds/membership that increases when the team is successful - it's entertainment and people think other stuff is more entertaining than watching your team get smashed.

I have no idea why Melbourne's own supporters want to push the line that we have supporters and less keen than that of other teams, particularly given that:

- We smashed our membership record after finishing on the bottom (and heading to another wooden spoon)!

- Our supporter base has been tipping in an amazing and perhaps unprecedented amount of cash from the rank and file towards demolishing our debt (how much did those loyal and rabid fans at the Saints, Bulldogs and Richmond raise in their SOS-style campaigns?)!

- Oh, and while we have a smaller supporter base than some other AFL Clubs, we get a higher percentage of those supporters signing up as members (Roy Morgan Research).

By the way, restaurants are also quieter if the weather's cold and wet. Those weak eaters.

Some nice positive points there - I have no argument with them.

However, this is a "business" based on being 1% better than your opposition. Both on & off-field.

Its not just about bettering yourself on a year to year basis.

Last I saw the only awarded 1 premiership per year!!!! All other measurements may make you feel hot a fuzzy but ... big deal!