Posted this in the other thread, but really its a discussion that shuold have its own thread.

If we had of lost by a point instead of won by a point last week, surely everyone would be screaming that a home ground advantage wouldve made a difference... Added on that apparently some of our best players are too stuffed from playing in the Darwin heat that they need to be rested against Geelong.

Now we got some great PR about our visits to Yuendumu(sp) and the Tiwi Islands and the rest of it, but surely our main focus should be winning games of football, not to mention those that didnt have foxtel couldnt even watch the match last week.

We love to bang on about the MCG being our home and not just being tenants yet we still sell home games.

Is it worth it?

Yes it is.

To call the visits simply 'PR' is undervaluing the work Jimmy and the club are doing. I've met Jim and Schwabby, and two more sincere, and driven blokes you won't meet.

They care about the club and the players and the community, and are doing a great job in developing all three.

It's bad luck we're playing Geelong this week, Richmond or Adelaide at the G and we'd roll 'em with half a dehydrated team.

The travel, the hard work, the community trips and the bonding will all be valuable experience to everyone who went, and continues to go.

Absolutely worth it. This club needs to extend it's reach and the fact that it is doing it with sincerity, thanks to Jimmy, makes it all the more beneficial. This club has taken some truly giant steps over the past few years. Without being privy to the inner workings of the club I'd suggest those in charge are building a club based on truly positive values. You only have to look at what is happening at Hawthorn to know that eventually when your club is run by people like Kennett, Clarkson and co the fabric breaks down and chaos follows. (I know they pinched a premiership but we'll win more than 1 in the coming years}

Absolutely worth it. This club needs to extend it's reach and the fact that it is doing it with sincerity, thanks to Jimmy, makes it all the more beneficial. This club has taken some truly giant steps over the past few years. Without being privy to the inner workings of the club I'd suggest those in charge are building a club based on truly positive values. .................

Couldn't agree more!!

Yep. We need the money and, as has been noted, we are bonding with the area.

Melbourne should keep pushing for Darwin games. The MFC is a business, and the NT is one of the only untouched AFL markets left in Australia. If successful, this should generate more revenue for the club and to help build the brand.

Just look at how successful the partnership with Tasmania has been for Hawthorn over the last couple of years.

Absolutely worth it. This club needs to extend it's reach and the fact that it is doing it with sincerity, thanks to Jimmy, makes it all the more beneficial.

This is a really important thread.

Anyone who's been to Darwin will know it's as if youv'e landed in another country - the vegeation, people, climate etc.

If we're smart this WILL become a northern home base and that's a great thing for all those up there and all of us down here. We need to see it as just that, not "let's go to canberra to make some money", but what can the oldest football club in the world contribute to Darwin and its people. Just an extension of our Chairman's approach to life really.

Liam Jurrah et al are just the bonus in all this.

A 'Fair Dinkum' Dreamtime at TIO I say! next year. Tiger Airways can be the sponsor

The oldest football club in the world connecting meaningfully with the oldest culture in the world. Hard to beat that!

I'm going to go against the grain a bit here.

For now, I agree selling home games is good. We need money and wins aren't particularly important right now.

However, I think that soon we'll find on-field negatives start outweighing the benefits.

First, we're playing just one game a year at Darwin so it's hardly a 'home ground'. In fact, IIRC we'll be playing Port there every year, and they will be playing two games a year there (away matches versus us and WB each year). [Edit: In fact, we're only playing there in 2 of the next 3 years, while Port plays six games in that period].

Second, it seems playing at Darwin is much more taxing on the players than other interstate trips, which compounds the competitive disadvantage of selling away home games.

You might think that the on-field disadvtantage, if there is one, is outweighed by the prospect of building a supporter base in Darwin. However, we'll be playing there [edit: much] less than Port, and [edit: the same amount as both the WB and Richmond].

Regardless, is the chance of gaining a foothold in Darwin worth more than wins as we push towards what many of us think will be our best chance of being a legitimate flag contender in years?

It's only going to get harder to win a flag with 18 sides in the competition...

Edited May 27, 201015 yr by Rogue
We're only playing there in 2 of the next 3 years

The oldest football club in the world connecting meaningfully with the oldest culture in the world. Hard to beat that!

Love it!!

The Darwin Game was Hugely important. We are the least supported team outside victoria-We must grow in smart ways.

Casey & Darwin is the same as a big supporter base. To say nothing of the Pride generated by our indiginous boys playing.

It was a great one point win. A few kids would have bought some merchandise etc. etc

Second, it seems playing at Darwin is much more taxing on the players than other interstate trips, which compounds the competitive disadvantage of selling away home games.

^ This reason is what makes the OP a very good question IMO. By all reports, that game was an absolute killer, and it was 100% due to the weather, which was a typical evening in Darwin in May.

As I understand it, they don't even play footy in Darwin until the wet season, which is our summer. That tells me that the Darwinians don't think this time of year is the best time of year to play footy there, so why do AFL clubs think it's a good idea?

^ This reason is what makes the OP a very good question IMO. By all reports, that game was an absolute killer, and it was 100% due to the weather, which was a typical evening in Darwin in May.

The merits should be discussed cause it will effect our final ladder position when we are fighting for top 4 spots in the future years.

We need the cash and its good to see us connecting with the community rather then taking the cash and running. so i'm prob for the game but surely it should be played the week before the season break. Would that make too much sense?

^ This reason is what makes the OP a very good question IMO. By all reports, that game was an absolute killer, and it was 100% due to the weather, which was a typical evening in Darwin in May.

As I understand it, they don't even play footy in Darwin until the wet season, which is our summer. That tells me that the Darwinians don't think this time of year is the best time of year to play footy there, so why do AFL clubs think it's a good idea?

Interesting point Nasher, I would think July and August in Darwin would be the ideal climate (night temp 15 degrees, no rain) but a few young cricketers I used to play with who were good footballers used to take off after Xmas and start training with their Darwin footy teams.

I also would like us to grow our footprint up there, the indigenous boys in the team really show their skills when we paly there.

More indigenous players at MFC and more games in Darwin please

^ This reason is what makes the OP a very good question IMO. By all reports, that game was an absolute killer, and it was 100% due to the weather, which was a typical evening in Darwin in May.

As I understand it, they don't even play footy in Darwin until the wet season, which is our summer. That tells me that the Darwinians don't think this time of year is the best time of year to play footy there, so why do AFL clubs think it's a good idea?

UMM, let's see? Smallest supporter base in the league, Lowest Auskick Numbers in the league, Oldest membership in the league. 2 new clubs to compete for the dollar with. That should do it - Off to Darwin we go!!!

I'm all for continuing this initiative, but next year we either need to play the Darwin game before the split round (which means we'll need to play Collingwood, then fly to Darwin in the first week of the split round for a game). If that's not possible, we need to get at least a 7 day break, so follow up with a Sunday game and make sure it's at the G to at least balance the difference.

This year is not so important because we aren't competing for a finals spot, but this could be the difference between making or missing the finals next season.

I am not in favour of this Darwin game at all.

If the club is going to sell a home game it should put some thought into the location.

Going to Darwin is the hardest and most physically taxing trip in football.

It's 20% further away than Perth (which is a nightmare in itself) and to top it off the conditions are bordering on dangerous.

This trip has the potential to seriously damage our playing list.

Its all good and well when we are not premiership contenders however if this game gets in the way of a future premiership I will be the first to demand answers.

I just don't want to see a short term fix cause a long term problem.

Ill tell you now a consistently good team will put more money in the bank than all the Darwin trips combine.

Lets not gamble with the success of this side.

It's only twice every three years isn't it?

The timing of the game can be improved. I completely agree.

The Concept of the round in selling the Brand is Fantastic & we must continue to grow the top end. (recruits) & supporters.

First, we're playing just one game a year at Darwin so it's hardly a 'home ground'. In fact, IIRC we'll be playing Port there every year, and they will be playing two games a year there (away matches versus us and WB each year).

It's only twice every three years isn't it?

I think so 45HG16. My understanding Rogue is that it is for two games over a period of 3 years in Darwin. Not every year.

To call the visits simply 'PR' is undervaluing the work Jimmy and the club are doing.

Yep.

This is a really important thread.

Anyone who's been to Darwin will know it's as if youv'e landed in another country - the vegeation, people, climate etc.

If we're smart this WILL become a northern home base and that's a great thing for all those up there and all of us down here. We need to see it as just that, not "let's go to canberra to make some money", but what can the oldest football club in the world contribute to Darwin and its people. Just an extension of our Chairman's approach to life really.

Liam Jurrah et al are just the bonus in all this.

A 'Fair Dinkum' Dreamtime at TIO I say! next year. Tiger Airways can be the sponsor

This pretty much encapsulates my viewpoint.

It's only twice every three years isn't it?

This should be a good balance of forming a relationship with the area (for all the right reasons, including financial) whilst developing a home ground advantage over time.

I believe the benefits outweigh the negatives being: the potential lack of home advantage and additional recovery challenges; my personal belief is that skullgove would have been strategically rested about now anyway. The overall experience will only add strength to the group. (edit) and the club's future.

Edited May 27, 201015 yr by Tricky

I think so 45HG16. My understanding Rogue is that it is for two games over a period of 3 years in Darwin. Not every year.

Thanks guys.

That makes it even less of a 'home ground' advantage for us.

It also gives us even less of a foothold in Darwin, relative to the other four sides involved.

While we'll be playing two games there every three years, so will Richmond and the WB.

Trumping us all, Port will be playing six games in the next three years, triple the amount we are.

Apparently there will also be two games per year for 2013 and 2014, but who plays there is still up in the air.

If we're coming into a premiership 'window' then, we might be happy to give Darwin a miss.

Thanks guys.

That makes it even less of a 'home ground' advantage for us.

It also gives us even less of a foothold in Darwin, relative to the other four sides involved.

While we'll be playing two games there every three years, so will Richmond and the WB.

Trumping us all, Port will be playing six games in the next three years, triple the amount we are.

Apparently there will also be two games per year for 2013 and 2014, but who plays there is still up in the air.

If we're coming into a premiership 'window' then, we might be happy to give Darwin a miss.

I see both points of view. And the club might be still mindful of this. I recall 2 games from 3 years and perhaps with a view to build on that. I gather this would perhaps indicate a move to a game per year in Darwin after the initial 2 from 3 stint.

Selling home games is just another bi-product of the inequalities that exist in the competition deliberately created by the AFL.

You can put as much spin on it as you like but the reality is we wouldn't be doing it if we weren't forced to.

There is not one single advantage we gain from it other than a bit of cash.

I think it stinks.

Hmmm..its a bit betwixt and between isnt it.There are definitley good outcomes from the NT tie up re PR, reaching to the Northerners etc. But I cant help but side with Rogues view for the most part. The season proper is about winning games. There is also the matter of fitness management etc. Im just wondering what the real toll is onthe guys for this game. As others suggest its much about timing and possibly better suited to NAB etc. but since thtas about to change options dry up.

Theres a lot of emotional value about this( these) games but scrutinies from a cold hard reality have we really gone there firstly for the money then set about justifying it with all the wrappings ?? Would we have even gone there at all had we been more financial ?

I think this needs some more consideration going forward