Home Games Flag Raising

[Range Rover 1,935]

Like the Bugle Boy of Company Dee ... But you're right, we need to bag the flag. Crrrringe.

[Sir Why You Little 35,365]

Fly the Flag outside AAMI Park...Not at the MCG

[ox_5 163]

I cant stand the flag. Im not quite sure what it even represents. Fly the flag above the scoreboard off one of the flag poles if you want to display the logo...but to have a presentation before every home game is far too much.

Lets concentrate on winning games consistently before we make ourselves look stupid.

[TheOx05 1]

I cant stand the flag. Im not quite sure what it even represents. Fly the flag above the scoreboard off one of the flag poles if you want to display the logo...but to have a presentation before every home game is far too much.

Lets concentrate on winning games consistently before we make ourselves look stupid.

I agree. Raise the flag 60 meters or however high the flagpole is at the G. When i saw that we raised the flag 6 meters off the ground with no breeze it just looked like we were the little brother trying to get mum and dads attention.

I'm all for educating and "re-educating" of our supporters and the football world how much we have moulded the game to what it is today. There will be ideas along the way that will come and go and be changed and i think that's great.

My point is that the if you are wanting our club song to have the same power an an anthem, record it as an anthem . Personally i would love to see the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra record our song...now that would be an anthem!

As for the flag.....fly it high!!!

This club is too proud to fly 6 meters of the ground.

[Red Sox 2]

Fly the Flag outside AAMI Park...Not at the MCG

There you go. That will do nicely.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

I don't like it at all. The flag has connotations in a game, connotations which we don't currently deserve. I understand the sentiment behind the "Grand Old Flag" but it should not be celebrated in a "flag raising". Have it flying, admire it, revere it but don' raise it till we have reason to.

[Rogue 585]

Hah - I didn't even realise they raised the flag after the game.

[45HG 1,539]

Hah - I didn't even realise they raised the flag after the game.

They do it right in front of where we sit.

I was looking forward to it for Round 1 - but not anymore. Cringeworthy is the word.

[H_T 2,941]

I cant stand the flag. Im not quite sure what it even represents. Fly the flag above the scoreboard off one of the flag poles if you want to display the logo...but to have a presentation before every home game is far too much.

Lets concentrate on winning games consistently before we make ourselves look stupid.

^This.

Just fly the flag on top of the scoreboard during home games.

No need to raise it before or after winning games. It smashes the Cringe-o-meter. As DA says, 'can it' before some real opposition take note of it.

I'm surprised it hasn't been brought to the attention of Eddie and his MMM breakfast team yet, who are in no doubt looking for sledge material. Not that I listen to them (for the record). It just seems something like this suits their type of discussion or what they would refer to as "news" for a laugh at Mfc's expense.

[dee-luded 2,958]

I wouldn't mind seeing a real flag raising, up a real flagpole, at the completion of each WIN!!! To the club song.

[Robbie57 1,996]

Ditch the flag.

Ditch the velvet jacket for a footy jumper (old style).

Bugle ok but how about some drums...I like the fact that our supporters are making the G their own with some real voice.

On TV (yep in Sydney) the sound of a passionate crowd is great.

Add some noise maybe the crowd can help change momentum.

[Pates 9,562]

Yeah the Brisbane game was the first i saw of the flag raising, and to be honest i thought it was only going to occur at the first round, can't say i liked it at the Brissy game.

I get what the club is trying to do, but i think it's going a bit far now. Raise the flag at the first home game to signify it's the start of a new year and have it flying above the scoreboard, any more than that is overkill.

Trumpeter is OK in doses, but again i think they should have him play once, just before the game.

[Kiss of Death 708]

Ditch the flag raising at the start. Raising the flag after a win - great idea.

[P-man 13,353]

The response I got in relation to my email objecting to the flag, for those interested:

Hi Simon,

Thanks for taking the time to write to us, and sorry that it’s taken me a few days to respond to you. We have received quite a bit of feedback about the ‘Grand Old Flag’, and it seems there are some supporters who have responded to its introduction differently to the way that we have intended. I would like to take the opportunity to explain the background behind the introduction of the ‘Grand Old Flag’ at our home games.

As a club we are trying to create experiences for our members and supporters at all of our home games that reflect our status as the home club of the MCG. The ‘Grand Old Flag’ is referred to so prominently in our theme song that the idea of having a physical club flag at all of our home games seemed like a logical introduction. The raising of the flag is not intended to be a sign of arrogance nor an acceptance of mediocrity. Rather it is a ritual intended to emphasise our sense of place at the MCG and to celebrate our past players, who we invite to take part in its raising.

Based on the feedback that we have received from you and some other supporters, we acknowledge that the way that we use the flag may need some refinement so that when it flies at the MCG, all of our members and supporters are proud of this important Melbourne Football Club symbol.

Once again, thanks for your feedback.

Regards

Martin Cox | Fan Development Manager

[Sir Why You Little 35,365]

The response I got in relation to my email objecting to the flag, for those interested:

Hi Simon,

Thanks for taking the time to write to us, and sorry that it’s taken me a few days to respond to you. We have received quite a bit of feedback about the ‘Grand Old Flag’, and it seems there are some supporters who have responded to its introduction differently to the way that we have intended. I would like to take the opportunity to explain the background behind the introduction of the ‘Grand Old Flag’ at our home games.

As a club we are trying to create experiences for our members and supporters at all of our home games that reflect our status as the home club of the MCG. The ‘Grand Old Flag’ is referred to so prominently in our theme song that the idea of having a physical club flag at all of our home games seemed like a logical introduction. The raising of the flag is not intended to be a sign of arrogance nor an acceptance of mediocrity. Rather it is a ritual intended to emphasise our sense of place at the MCG and to celebrate our past players, who we invite to take part in its raising.

Based on the feedback that we have received from you and some other supporters, we acknowledge that the way that we use the flag may need some refinement so that when it flies at the MCG, all of our members and supporters are proud of this important Melbourne Football Club symbol.

Once again, thanks for your feedback.

Regards

Martin Cox | Fan Development Manager

oh dear....we are going to be the subject of many bad jokes until we win a flag i think.

I see where the club is coming from, but i do not agree.

If we had had the success of Hawhorn over the last 50 years then yes i would agree, but our cupboard has been bare for all that time.

At least you got a response, and thanks for sharing.

[Supermercado 2,682]

Hopefully where they say the way they use it needs refinement means they'll fly it properly on a flagpole above the ground and leave it there.

[Alf Stewart 73]

I got the exact same response; verbatim.

The response I got in relation to my email objecting to the flag, for those interested:

Hi Simon,

Thanks for taking the time to write to us, and sorry that it’s taken me a few days to respond to you. We have received quite a bit of feedback about the ‘Grand Old Flag’, and it seems there are some supporters who have responded to its introduction differently to the way that we have intended. I would like to take the opportunity to explain the background behind the introduction of the ‘Grand Old Flag’ at our home games.

As a club we are trying to create experiences for our members and supporters at all of our home games that reflect our status as the home club of the MCG. The ‘Grand Old Flag’ is referred to so prominently in our theme song that the idea of having a physical club flag at all of our home games seemed like a logical introduction. The raising of the flag is not intended to be a sign of arrogance nor an acceptance of mediocrity. Rather it is a ritual intended to emphasise our sense of place at the MCG and to celebrate our past players, who we invite to take part in its raising.

Based on the feedback that we have received from you and some other supporters, we acknowledge that the way that we use the flag may need some refinement so that when it flies at the MCG, all of our members and supporters are proud of this important Melbourne Football Club symbol.

Once again, thanks for your feedback.

Regards

Martin Cox | Fan Development Manager

[bush demon 1,931]

Any red-blooded demon supporter would walk out and snap the flag in half and say get a real one boys!

[Striker475 696]

I've got a related idea.

Was watching replay of the NHL playoffs. Notice that after the goalhorn, the stadium loudspeakers generally play a modern rock song of some sort.

Why shouldn't we adapt something like this? In addition to Grand Old Flag, something else to chant with during the games and/or scream at the filth every time we score a goal would be great.

[Supermercado 2,682]

God please no, that's up there with the Doggie, Doggie, Doggie woof woof woof that used to play when Footscray kicked a goal at Telstra Dome.

[Striker475 696]

God please no, that's up there with the Doggie, Doggie, Doggie woof woof woof that used to play when Footscray kicked a goal at Telstra Dome.

Not like that. But something to make it seriously more fun. A riff of a song that is actually cheerable rather than a ripoff of the worst cultural thing this country ever produced.

[Grapeviney 9,074]

why drown out the awesome atmosphere of the barracking crowd ?

[Sir Why You Little 35,365]

why drown out the awesome atmosphere of the barracking crowd ?

Yep, the roar of 80,000 is better than any song.

[Supermercado 2,682]

Not like that. But something to make it seriously more fun. A riff of a song that is actually cheerable rather than a ripoff of the worst cultural thing this country ever produced.

I might be out of touch with the kids but either we're kicking goals and that's all the excitement needed OR we're kicking junk time goals when the game is lost and hearing the song will cause me to slash my wrists.

Mind you if the darts music came on I'd give it the appropriate reaction.

[Striker475 696]

I might be out of touch with the kids but either we're kicking goals and that's all the excitement needed OR we're kicking junk time goals when the game is lost and hearing the song will cause me to slash my wrists.

Mind you if the darts music came on I'd give it the appropriate reaction.

Something like that is exactly what I'm thinking. But short and sharp. All we need is ten seconds, really, to put it up there.

This is the one from another game but it's the same song I saw game - the Chicago Blackhawks.</iframe>

Edited April 21, 2011 by Striker475