We are risking too much as a club by selling our home games to Darwin. I'm all for selling games but the negative effects of a Darwin game outweigh any monetary benefits.

The game that's played up there is massively taxing on the players and not only has an impact for the following week but possibly for the next month.

Players are totally exhausted and there are some guys that lose 4kg.

Our season turned south last year right after our Darwin game. I attribute a large portion of this to the Darwin game.

I would be furious as I Richmond supporter. They Have sold 2 winnable mcg games to Darwin and cairns and lost both. They would be sitting in the 8 if those games were played in Melbourne. To make matters worse, their players take a month to recover from these conditions.

We have to stop these Darwin games ASAP before it has a negative impact on a premiership winning season.

We are risking too much as a club by selling our home games to Darwin. I'm all for selling games but the negative effects of a Darwin game outweigh any monetary benefits.

The game that's played up there is massively taxing on the players and not only has an impact for the following week but possibly for the next month.

Players are totally exhausted and there are some guys that lose 4kg.

Our season turned south last year right after our Darwin game. I attribute a large portion of this to the Darwin game.

I would be furious as I Richmond supporter. They Have sold 2 winnable mcg games to Darwin and cairns and lost both. They would be sitting in the 8 if those games were played in Melbourne. To make matters worse, their players take a month to recover from these conditions.

We have to stop these Darwin games ASAP before it has a negative impact on a premiership winning season.

Do they get 8 points for a win at the MCG??? they would be 11th on percentage

Although the point you are making is valid in that this game has the potential to be toiling on the group, but at this same time we need to be turning a profit and this is a small price to pay for such a sum of dollars

Two important points you may be missing.

Melbourne generally draw very poor crowds against Port in Melbourne, this game guarantees a good income.

Secondly the AFL reward Melbourne for these home games, as it is an AFL initiated event, unlike when they sold games to Brisbane, by scheduling less games Melbourne home games at Docklands.

the schedule is a concern, bit the AFL had given both teams a bye before and after the game.

I think Richmond and Melbourne had an agreement to play 2 games each in 3 years against Port up in Darwin. If that's correct then we won't play in Darwin next year. Can anyone confirm this?

In the highly commercialised world of 21st Century AFL, the dollars are now apparently more important than player welfare and winning games. To me, that's a sad state of affairs.

Our next four games are huge, starting with Hawthorn next week. Given what the conditions have taken out of the players last night, our team definitely goes into that next game with a massive disadavantage.

As far as I'm concerned, if the AFL wants to promote the game in Darwin, do it in the pre-season with clinics and the like. Not a serious game where premiership points are on the line, and player welfare is compromised.

As far as I'm concerned, if the AFL wants to promote the game in Darwin, do it in the pre-season with clinics and the like.

Jan-Mar is cyclone/wet season in Darwin. Maybe there also thinking of player welfare by not doing it...Hmmm

Playing a game in new Zealand would be less taxing on the players.

I'm sure the kiwis would match what the NT is giving.

I bet our 'physio and recovery' departments are secretly scathing at having to play up there.

It would be interesting to see how flat footed we are next week.

I hope I'm wrong but I'm not expecting too much

Two important points you may be missing.

Melbourne generally draw very poor crowds against Port in Melbourne, this game guarantees a good income.

Secondly the AFL reward Melbourne for these home games, as it is an AFL initiated event, unlike when they sold games to Brisbane, by scheduling less games Melbourne home games at Docklands.

the schedule is a concern, bit the AFL had given both teams a bye before and after the game.

A question. With a paltry crowd of 7,500( the lowest crowd so far) how can this guarantee a good income?

A question. With a paltry crowd of 7,500( the lowest crowd so far) how can this guarantee a good income?

The AFL wants to expand the game, so the AFL and the Northern Territory guarantee (or is it underwrite?) the dosh up front regardless of the crowd. The AFL considers it an investment in future development & expansion. Not sure what drives the NT's participation.

The AFL wants to expand the game, so the AFL and the Northern Territory guarantee (or is it underwrite?) the dosh up front regardless of the crowd. The AFL considers it an investment in future development & expansion. Not sure what drives the NT's participation.

Thanks Tony.

Two important points you may be missing.

Melbourne generally draw very poor crowds against Port in Melbourne,

Very, very good point. If we drew big crowds in Melbourne there would be no needs to sell games.

Secondly the AFL reward Melbourne for these home games, as it is an AFL initiated event,

Money is essential to reduce the gap between genuine contenders & the other clubs.

the schedule is a concern, bit the AFL had given both teams a bye before and after the game.

There is only one component of our club that can change this ... US

There are two issues here. One is selling home games. The other is playing in Darwin.

I don't like selling home games, and the quicker we get into a position where we don't need to, and thus get to play all 11 home games at the MCG, the better. But until we're that financially stable, I guess it's going to happen.

I don't know what the contractual state is between us and Darwin, but if we don't have to anymore, I'd like to see us stop playing up there. I don't like it up there, the players don't like it I don't think (maybe Jurrah and some of the other indigenous players like going back to their home, or something like their home, but on the whole I don't think the players enjoy playing up there). If we have to sell a home game I'd rather it be somewhere less taxing.

I'm not too fussed at the moment. We are winning the games, so it's not a massive loss, and I doubt we'll have to sell home games again any time soon, so it's a short term problem. Live with it until the deal has run its course, then make sure you show up at the ground next time we play Port at the MCG.

i don't like selling home games but i don't mind the game in darwin.

its great for the indigenous boys! its a shame flash wasn't available to play.

it could also have benifits for the recruiting team. Jurrah is a god up there and there is a ton of talent in the NT, if 1 game a year shows those boys that its great to play for the dees then its worth it!

the fitness staff will be working overtime but with an 8 day break we should be right for the hawks

I don't know what the contractual state is between us and Darwin, but if we don't have to anymore, I'd like to see us stop playing up there. I don't like it up there, the players don't like it I don't think (maybe Jurrah and some of the other indigenous players like going back to their home, or something like their home, but on the whole I don't think the players enjoy playing up there). If we have to sell a home game I'd rather it be somewhere less taxing.

The trouble is the options have been narrowed. About the time our contact to sell game to Brisbane ran out the AFL ruled that Victorian clubs would no longer be able to sell games to Brisbane, Sydney, Perth or Adelaide. That pretty much leaves only Canberra, Darwin, Cairns, Hobart & Launceston. The last two are out courtesy of North & Hawthorn, Darwin & Cairns are much of a muchness taxing-wise, that leaves Manuka. Wonder if it would be feasible to sell games to the likes of Ballarat & Bendigo.

This wouldn't be an issue if Melbourne supporters actually turned up to games.

It's a problem that we have created and only we can resolve. Go to every home game, no exception, and help us break even in these games so that we don't have to sell home games and the AFL has no excuse to schedule our home games at Etihad Stadium.

Until Melbourne supporters can do that, we have no leg to stand on and nothing to complain about. It is the club's first responsibility to ensure that we have enough money to keep going.