Those bloody Pies..... The Lions haven't been able to get the ground softened all this time,,, even against The Cats last week... Then whats happened, they're playing against the 4 & 20s, & now after all the soreness other teams have endured, the Pies are all aligned in Gemini it seems... Lets hope 'Libra' brings them their Karma.

"ONGOING concerns over the hardness of the Gabba surface have seen the Brisbane Lions move Saturday night's curtain-raiser to their suburban training ground. The Lions reserves will now play their QAFL match against the Western Magpies at Coorparoo, ensuring the Gabba is in best possible condition for Brisbane's Round 10 AFL clash with Collingwood.

The Gabba will be fully watered for the surface to be softer than usual after the perennial ground debate flared again this month.

Fitness worries for star forwards Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola, as well as serious injuries to Jared Brennan (ankle) and Josh Drummond (knee) have highlighted the concerns."

http://www.heraldsun...f-1225871592440

Eddie would have something to do with it

Eddie would have something to do with it

Geez it bugs me, the special attention this club receives to the detriment of other Clubs many of who are struggling to survive.. I for one Don't visit any Pies articles in the press. The more times supporters visit (make hits) on Pies articles, the papers recognize that widespread interest & give that club even more media coverage. We are supporting them by our patronage of their stories.

When you visit the papers click on the Demons sites of interest many times increasing the "hit" numbers.

This may encourage the papers to give us & other clubs a better spread of coverage.

Ferk Eddie annoys me, go have a cry you whining sook. "woe is us, we have to travel four times a year!!! whatever shall we do?" gggrrrrrrrrrrrrr

At least its being done.

Honestly, I'm all for Collingwood-bashing and I agree that they often use their drawing power as leverage to get special concessions from the AFL that we wouldn't even dare ask for. But this is not a good example. Let's look at what the article actually says:

- There have been growing concerns that the Gabbas playing surface is too hard, and might even be contributing to Brisbanes spate of injuries.

- Two senior coaches have come out and publically voiced concern about the playing surface.

- In response, the QAFL curtain-raiser has been moved to another ground, and the groundstaff are going to fully water the surface to make it softer.

In other words, concerns have been raised and measures have been taken to address them. This is not a "special concession" for Collingwood. The playing surface is dangerous, and they're trying to make it safe. Simple as that.

Collingwood...you bunch of soft%$#* !!

honestly ...ffs..... they hardly travel and now they want cushy cushy cooch !!

The Gabba ground has been a joke this year. And there was talk of moving games to Carrara. Its pity this discussion has become a Pie bashing thread when the Gabba playing surface is the problem

You guys are letting your hatred of Collingwood get the better of you.

If it stops injuries then im all for it.

The surface is suss, the softening of the ground pre Pies game is suss,

should of been done during the mid season break.

Etihad's surface is suss, how the AFL pretends the grounds are up to standard then blame injuries

on increased interchanges is suss the wholething is just very suss

strangely Brisbane play on it.. weve played on it.. other teams play on it.. Maybe not the best of suyrfaces but to allow those Softpies to get favouritsim is for mine...just not on.. They too can play it..just like we do

Honestly, I'm all for Collingwood-bashing and I agree that they often use their drawing power as leverage to get special concessions from the AFL that we wouldn't even dare ask for. But this is not a good example. Let's look at what the article actually says:

- There have been growing concerns that the Gabbas playing surface is too hard, and might even be contributing to Brisbanes spate of injuries.

- Two senior coaches have come out and publically voiced concern about the playing surface.

- In response, the QAFL curtain-raiser has been moved to another ground, and the groundstaff are going to fully water the surface to make it softer.

In other words, concerns have been raised and measures have been taken to address them. This is not a "special concession" for Collingwood. The playing surface is dangerous, and they're trying to make it safe. Simple as that.

Your right, but when other clubs have come out & spoken of their concerns regarding both the Gabba & also Etihard, Demetriou's response was to say that the grounds where measured & were found to be within the specified guidelines. Not further action was to take place. The Cats v Lions game came & went with the same storyline.

We shouldn't be a party to this, the pandering to the Pies. I'd like to suggest to any Demon supporter, Don't look at or read collingwood articles, don't visit Pies related media topics. Your just putting further revenue into their hands.

Just imagine forward for a moment, when the Pies, wealthy as they are, & our young lads are 'setting the world on fire', the outrage you'll feel when they pinch one or two of our players with their fat incentives,,, that we can't match. Just as the Carltell have done.

The Gabba ground has been a joke this year. And there was talk of moving games to Carrara. Its pity this discussion has become a Pie bashing thread when the Gabba playing surface is the problem

It's not really a Pie bashing thread Rhino,,,, It's more an pro Demons awareness thread of how those top teams exploit the game & the media to earn themselves media exposure & the revenue & power that follows,,, and as such, how us ordinary supporters have helped them to build their empire & what we can do to alleviate that & to turn it around our way over a bit of time.

More hits on our sites,,, and less, or no hits on their sites, is just a start to help reduce their MEDIA IMPACT,,, & to further ours...

DON'T PROMOTE the top teams interests.

It's not really a Pie bashing thread Rhino,,,, It's more an pro Demons awareness thread of how those top teams exploit the game & the media to earn themselves media exposure & the revenue & power that follows,,, and as such, how us ordinary supporters have helped them to build their empire & what we can do to alleviate that & to turn it around our way over a bit of time.

More hits on our sites,,, and less, or no hits on their sites, is just a start to help reduce their MEDIA IMPACT,,, & to further ours...

DON'T PROMOTE the top teams interests.

be very careful there......far too much logic and sense !!

The Gabba ground has been a joke this year. And there was talk of moving games to Carrara. Its pity this discussion has become a Pie bashing thread when the Gabba playing surface is the problem

I'd say it's more about the timing of it Rhino.

I'd say it's more about the timing of it Rhino.

If it's softened up again next week (or whenever it's played on next), will the timing still be a problem?

If it's softened up again next week (or whenever it's played on next), will the timing still be a problem?

We'll wait and see eh.

If it's softened up again next week (or whenever it's played on next), will the timing still be a problem?

In fact it had better bloody be.

be very careful there......far too much logic and sense !!

I actually wanted to come across as a simplistic argument, hopefully to get others to think a little more deeply, or laterally,,, about just how these Power clubs have exploited & invented the system to their own benefit. AND,,, we've all just followed their 'PIED PIPER'... to the TUNE OF Little Boy Blue!

IF you come straight out with the message, sometimes it can just go through to the keeper like a dose of epsom salts...

Back on track: If we patronize their cause, in any commercial way, through the electronic media, or through the turnstiles @ their home games, etc,,, we pay their light bills.

Where are they when we had poor attendances, & can't for the Life of us (MFC), get some decent media attention,,,, or decent Fixtures on Saturdays or Night games.

We're the ones who have built their Dynasties, & paid them to maintain they're superiority.

With this they've,,, taken over the MCG, as the Main Tenant Club, shifted to Olympic Park,,, & renamed it BOB Rose,,, & Lexus...Taken over the Ponsford stand, you can't get in there,,, & the others like Carltoon,,, & Essendownd Bombers,,, have just kept on taking the rewards of ours & other battler clubs toil.

It's Time,,,, to start waking up to the system that's in-place.

I just don't really see how this is an example of pandering to Collingwood. It's not as if Collingwood have lobbied for unreasonably favourable treatment and the Gabba have caved. There have been problems with the surface all year, two coaches have publically complained and I'd be surprised if alot of parties haven't voiced their concerns privately. It's just gotten to a point where they can't ignore it.

People only find the timing suspicious because it's Collingwood. Let's imagine Collingwood had played there a few wks ago instead of the Bulldogs, that Malthouse had said exactly what Eade said in the pape, and that this week, the Gabba were softening the ground for a Bulldogs/Lions game. If that happened, would it even rate a mention here?

I just don't really see how this is an example of pandering to Collingwood. It's not as if Collingwood have lobbied for unreasonably favourable treatment and the Gabba have caved. There have been problems with the surface all year, two coaches have publically complained and I'd be surprised if alot of parties haven't voiced their concerns privately. It's just gotten to a point where they can't ignore it.

People only find the timing suspicious because it's Collingwood. Let's imagine Collingwood had played there a few wks ago instead of the Bulldogs, that Malthouse had said exactly what Eade said in the pape, and that this week, the Gabba were softening the ground for a Bulldogs/Lions game. If that happened, would it even rate a mention here?

Sorry about that, that was my teaser to show a current happening,, to bring attention to favouritism in the AFL (of the rich & Powerfull), how we are a losing part of it,,,, & how we can exercise our power (us supporters meek or mild, young & old, weak or strong) in a smarter way to try to change things around to our advantage.

What is this for me,,, I'm a Sociolistic Democrat,,, I barrack for the litttle fella. Homemakers over developers, Small businessman over MultiNationals, anti exploitation by PowerHeads. Thats what motivates me...

Thats why I love the draft, & hate the concept of Free Agency,,, because this is a team sport. Not Golf, or singles Tennis.

The Gabba ground has been a joke this year. And there was talk of moving games to Carrara. Its pity this discussion has become a Pie bashing thread when the Gabba playing surface is the problem

Well, maybe they should've fixed it pre-season.

Well, maybe they should've fixed it pre-season.

Possibly they should have if the extent of the problem was known then.

Clearly, the games that have been held at the GABBA since have given rise to the problem and the hardness of the ground may have worsened during that time.

There is clearly an issue now and as another poster wrote if the softening of the surface prevents the occurrence of injuries then I am all for it.

But lets not stop the ugh ugh crowd lighting their torches and....

Sorry about that, that was my teaser to show a current happening,, to bring attention to favouritism in the AFL (of the rich & Powerfull), how we are a losing part of it,,,, & how we can exercise our power (us supporters meek or mild, young & old, weak or strong) in a smarter way to try to change things around to our advantage.

What is this for me,,, I'm a Sociolistic Democrat,,, I barrack for the litttle fella. Homemakers over developers, Small businessman over MultiNationals, anti exploitation by PowerHeads. Thats what motivates me...

Thats why I love the draft, & hate the concept of Free Agency,,, because this is a team sport. Not Golf, or singles Tennis.

Funny then, how in this socialist, equality-based rant of yours you conveniently leave out that a slice of the profits made by the bigger clubs, including those interstate, are redirected to the 'battlers' of the comp by the AFL to keep them going. Be it via cold, hard cash or assistance in redevelopment of facilities, etc etc.

Seriously, get over it, the AFL are not trying to damage or favour any one club of another. The facts are that this is a market system, Collingwood/Essendon/Carlton etc bring more money into the game as a whole than Melbourne/North/Bulldogs so they rightly are ahead of us in the line for some things.

It's all too quickly forgotten that Eddie McGuire signed off on gifting Queen's Birthday as a highly profitable home match to Melbourne every single year. If we were to be truly equitable, this would be Collingwood's every other year and we'd miss out on the pay day. Shall we introduce that piece of equality or just the convenient ones??

Stuff the 'Pies! Just as long as the same treatment is given to the Gabba prior to our July 31 match!