Cats and Saints should not be allowed to play finals at the G

[Deeman 1,496]

Despite the threat of rain, the attendance of 63,608 at last night's qualifying final was pretty ordinary IMO. There was lots of vacant spaces in the ground and the crowd was well below it's full capacity.

It wasn't all that long ago that Vlad threatened to take away the QB blockbuster from Melbourne if we couldn't attract 60-65k to the G for an ordinary home and away fixture. I think we managed just under 60,000 on a wet day and the AFL's head honcho wasn't very happy with us.

Now I'm expecting that he'll call both clubs and warn them if they don't improve their acts and work harder at getting better and attracting more bums to put on seats then they might play their future finals at Visy Park.

[titan_uranus 24,975]

Geelong isn't a Melbourne team.

St Kilda doesn't play at the MCG a lot, thus their supporters don't view it in the same light as ours do, and they have less MCC members than we do.

It wasn't just wet, it was forecasted to be even wetter which turns people away. It was also a Friday night, not a Monday public holiday where people have nothing to do.

Get over it.

[Blistering 538]

Geelong isn't a Melbourne team.

St Kilda doesn't play at the MCG a lot, thus their supporters don't view it in the same light as ours do, and they have less MCC members than we do.

It wasn't just wet, it was forecasted to be even wetter which turns people away. It was also a Friday night, not a Monday public holiday where people have nothing to do.

Get over it.

Still makes a good point that even when we were down and we supposedly have less supporters than most other clubs we were able to attract a decent crowd to the G and Demetriou was being unreasonable and unfair on the club when he made those comments.

I can't wait till we're top of the heap so we can stick his words right up him.

[Yokozuna 1,004]

No need for excuses about the weather.

If it is hailing, I am still going to watch a final with my team playing. Simple as that!

(although I can understand some parents not taking children though)

[Geddy Lee 582]

Geelong isn't a Melbourne team.

St Kilda doesn't play at the MCG a lot, thus their supporters don't view it in the same light as ours do, and they have less MCC members than we do.

It wasn't just wet, it was forecasted to be even wetter which turns people away. It was also a Friday night, not a Monday public holiday where people have nothing to do.

Get over it.

Spot on.

Two non MCG teams playing in heavy rain with a foreboding forecast. 64k was fine.

[praha 11,236]

Melb v Geelong only go 60,000 or so back in 2005. Also, our game against the Saints in 2006 got a similar crowd. Our crowd against Essendon in 2004 was also similar. Not sure what your point is. Even in finals, only teams like Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon etc. would expect crowds higher than 70,000.

[Adzman 2,154]

Weren't we pulling 16k against North Melbourne only last year and the year before??

What was that saying, something about stones and glass houses.........

[Choko 493]

Geelong isn't a Melbourne team.

St Kilda doesn't play at the MCG a lot, thus their supporters don't view it in the same light as ours do, and they have less MCC members than we do.

It wasn't just wet, it was forecasted to be even wetter which turns people away. It was also a Friday night, not a Monday public holiday where people have nothing to do.

Get over it.

Crap post. It takes less time to get from Geelong to the G than it does it get from South Yarra to Carlton in peak traffic. And St Kilda supporters have seen so little success that they should go in their droves to see their team play on the moon, let alone the MCG.

The crowd was disappointing, despite the forecast.

[DemonDave 1,089]

It also costs significantly less to goto a Home and Away game on Queens Birthday than it does an AFL final, some of the ticket prices for this weekend were ridiculously high!

[Felix 92]

you can add the Western Bulldogs, they are a massive FAIL if a side.

[Gorgoroth 12,924]

Personaly I could not give two freakin hoots about any other club.

[Sir Why You Little 36,985]

What's the point of this thread???

It's September & the MCG is where finals in Melbourne are played.

If the weather is crap, the Game on TV & the ticket prices too high, many family supporters will stay home.

[titan_uranus 24,975]

Crap post. It takes less time to get from Geelong to the G than it does it get from South Yarra to Carlton in peak traffic. And St Kilda supporters have seen so little success that they should go in their droves to see their team play on the moon, let alone the MCG.

The crowd was disappointing, despite the forecast.

Gee, that's not an exaggeration, is it? Less time from Geelong to the G than South Yarra to Carlton? Rubbish.

Last night's crowd was 64,000 or so. Involving Collingwood. That's a pretty poor crowd, a worse figure than the Friday night game given Collingwood was involved, but it again underlines the effect the weather has on attendances, especially in finals where the ticket prices are a lot higher. Really heavy rain was forecast and was the talk of the town all day. People just don't like going when the weather is inclement, and to expect Geelong, the least-supported Victorian club in Melbourne, and St Kilda to pull a massive crowd in the wet is a big ask.

[Rogue 585]

^Bring the above stats out next time people complain about our attendance on a miserable day. We were talking Collingwood and a final!

[H_T 3,043]

It also costs significantly less to goto a Home and Away game on Queens Birthday than it does an AFL final, some of the ticket prices for this weekend were ridiculously high!

^This has to have some impact as well as the weather also.

What do Geelong v St.kilda usually get during the home & away games anyway ? That would be an interesting exercise.

[45HG 1,539]

Their qual final two years ago got over 70.

Round 13 this year got 58. They usually play at the dome however.

I think price is where this conversation should start and probably where it should end. The prices are outrageous and disgusting.

[Steamin Demon 392]

Their qual final two years ago got over 70.

Round 13 this year got 58. They usually play at the dome however.

I think price is where this conversation should start and probably where it should end. The prices are outrageous and disgusting.

And that's just the entry fee.

[Supermercado 2,797]

I can't believe we're supposed to wait until the games sell out before they go live. If only 60,000 are going to turn out anyway who cares if live against the gate takes another 10k off? Do the AFL forget that there are fans of 14/15(?) neutral clubs as well - we get treated with contempt.

Not even going to bother trying to stay away from updates this week, will just listen on the radio.

[Jurrah Coffee 0]

Despite the threat of rain, the attendance of 63,608 at last night's qualifying final was pretty ordinary IMO. There was lots of vacant spaces in the ground and the crowd was well below it's full capacity.

It wasn't all that long ago that Vlad threatened to take away the QB blockbuster from Melbourne if we couldn't attract 60-65k to the G for an ordinary home and away fixture. I think we managed just under 60,000 on a wet day and the AFL's head honcho wasn't very happy with us.

Now I'm expecting that he'll call both clubs and warn them if they don't improve their acts and work harder at getting better and attracting more bums to put on seats then they might play their future finals at Visy Park.

This years QB got 67,454, if that is the match you mean.

Edited September 8, 2010 by Jurrahlicious

[H_T 3,043]

Thanks HG.

Despite the threat of rain, the attendance of 63,608 at last night's qualifying final was pretty ordinary IMO. There was lots of vacant spaces in the ground and the crowd was well below it's full capacity.

Their qual final two years ago got over 70.

Round 13 this year got 58. They usually play at the dome however.

I think price is where this conversation should start and probably where it should end. The prices are outrageous and disgusting.

Agree.

Deeman. This year's round 13 clash between Geel v STK (Grand Final replay) was a massive blockbuster with a massive build up, yet it yielded 58,000. The qualifying final achieved 63,000 + on Friday night, yet tickets cost more and the weather unpleasant.

There were alot more vacant seats back in Round 13.

[45HG 1,539]

Last night (and the night before) again underlined that the prices are simply too high.

The lowest crowd for a finals match at the MCG since 1934!

[titan_uranus 24,975]

Last night (and the night before) again underlined that the prices are simply too high.

The lowest crowd for a finals match at the MCG since 1934!

Wow, really? It was low, but I didn't realise that's how bad it was! Prices are definitely too high, but the AFL will just point to the likely 90,000 there this week and say that people show up.