Not too much more Darwin please

[redlegger 4]

I see on the club's website, they're pushing a training camp, and another "one or two games" a year in Darwin.

I understand the financial pressures, but the climate's just too harsh up there, and two or (worse) three trips up there during winter could really be too much. It's not just the week of the match but the effect of the humidity on the players the following week that would be the worry.

Melbourne (the city) needs a boutique 25K to 30K stadium along the lines of (but not) Visy Park for these smaller games.

I fear 3 games in Darwin would do us no good at all.

[monoccular 17,701]

Forecast is for low 20s by game time, not the high 20s that I think we suffered last times

[Deeman 1,551]

Forecast is for low 20s by game time, not the high 20s that I think we suffered last times

The problem with Darwin is that the conditions sap the players so that they perform poorly in the weeks after the trip.

I would rather we explore a more hospitable climate. It's a pity the money's not around and we can't have a boutique type stadium at Casey to cater for games against interstate clubs where we can make the big money on home games (a la Geelong at Simmonds Stadium) that we could turn into a real fortress.

[old dee 24,028]

I see on the club's website, they're pushing a training camp, and another "one or two games" a year in Darwin.

I understand the financial pressures, but the climate's just too harsh up there, and two or (worse) three trips up there during winter could really be too much. It's not just the week of the match but the effect of the humidity on the players the following week that would be the worry.

Melbourne (the city) needs a boutique 25K to 30K stadium along the lines of (but not) Visy Park for these smaller games.

I fear 3 games in Darwin would do us no good at all.

Redlegger WE need the MONEY and will for some time

That is the total story.

So we need to get used to the idea and problems.

I struggle with the idea it could make us worse.

Can we slip much further than 2 wins?

[Wells 11 5,476]

Something about our deepening relationship with darwin pisses me off. The tiges cant run away from the place fast enough...and the reason they are doing that is that they recognise you cant be a serious contender and play home games in Darwin. What if we're up there in the 8 in the next couple of years and we're doing this. Going further into Darwin smacks of believing we're not going to be anywhere near. Not only that We're not training at altitude pre season now we're going to Darwin.

We've JUST SEEN, in Baileys time, the troubles that come with ignoring football club spending to promote the bottom line. It doesn't work. Its not just the size of the club either. How can North afford the best preseason high altitude facilities in Utah while we're going Darwin. Its a short term dumb decision. If you were a player wondering whether to go to the Dees you'd have to look at that and think.." a bunch of losers"

I hope this doesnt turn out to be Schwab overriding the footy dept. Ive had enough of ignoring the needs of the football department...we just cant afford to get left behind again.

[demon3165 2,846]

"I hope this doesnt turn out to be Schwab overriding the footy dept. Ive had enough of ignoring the needs of the football department...we just cant afford to get left behind again".

Lmfao.........would love to seem him override Neeld and Co, thinking that would not happen even Schwab is not that silly!

[Dr. Gonzo 24,460]

One game a year there is OK but we should push to have it the week before the bye.

Two or three games a year is a step too far and I would be extremely [censored] off if we agreed to that.

RE: Richmond running away and no serious contenders playing home games there, is just Darwin or home games interstate in general? Because it looks like Hawthorn has done alright out of it and North should too.

[monoccular 17,701]

One game a year there is OK but we should push to have it the week before the bye.

Two or three games a year is a step too far and I would be extremely [censored] off if we agreed to that.

RE: Richmond running away and no serious contenders playing home games there, is just Darwin or home games interstate in general? Because it looks like Hawthorn has done alright out of it and North should too.

I think that we tried last year too to have it immediately before the bye, and as I remember Vlad et al just basically said - get stuffed. It is really not much to ask - the two teams who play there could do it before the same bye week.

I do agree that any more than one game their is too many.

[Wells 11 5,476]

One game a year there is OK but we should push to have it the week before the bye.

Two or three games a year is a step too far and I would be extremely [censored] off if we agreed to that.

RE: Richmond running away and no serious contenders playing home games there, is just Darwin or home games interstate in general? Because it looks like Hawthorn has done alright out of it and North should too.

Its Darwin...not the interstate thing. Id be more than OK it if we were playing home games in Tassie. But the climate in Darwin drains the players and affects them the following week. Seems like a dangerous direction to go for mine.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,460]

I think that we tried last year too to have it immediately before the bye, and as I remember Vlad et al just basically said - get stuffed. It is really not much to ask - the two teams who play there could do it before the same bye week.

I do agree that any more than one game their is too many.

Yeah there's no reason why we couldn't play there the week after Queens Birthday and then have the following week off. Not sure why Demetriou would be so against that although they would have to factor in the Dogs/Port game as well I guess.

Its Darwin...not the interstate thing. Id be more than OK it if we were playing home games in Tassie. But the climate in Darwin drains the players and affects them the following week. Seems like a dangerous direction to go for mine.

Yeah I agree.

[Dale 5]

Surely the extra game is a tie in with the training camp. This will mean a preseason comp game.

[monoccular 17,701]

Yeah there's no reason why we couldn't play there the week after Queens Birthday and then have the following week off. Not sure why Demetriou would be so against that although they would have to factor in the Dogs/Port game as well I guess.

Maybe Dumbitrou is just being bloody minded.........wouldn't surprise me at all.

[stuie 7,374]

We're 2 from 2 in Darwin, get $$$ from it, and somehow I don't think we can blame Darwin for not always winning the next week...

Think you guys are just a bit toey about tonight and all the trade talk.

You guys want wins right? Do you want cash too? Well so far we get both from this game.

[melbournefc18 4]

6174 is the exact reason AFL should never be played in Darwin. Know one in that dump ever goes. Lets be honest we are never going to create a fan base in Darwin. How many members do we get from Darwin? Not many I'm sure. Apart from what the AFL give us we get nothing else. I HATE DARWIN! And I'm sure most other members do also

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

We must get games back to melbourne. We will never finish top 4 whilst playing home games in Darwin.

[Wells 11 5,476]

We must get games back to melbourne. We will never finish top 4 whilst playing home games in Darwin.

I agree. This seems like a really dumb track to be walking. I wonder what the players think about the Darwin idea?...and a pre season trip there. It reminds me of St Kildas great idea in moving its home base to Rosebud. It looks good on paper, when you study the numbers etc....but that move will come and bite them on the arse soon. Players dont like travelling there.

I said it before but I get this sinking feeling that the football aspect of this club is being compromised AGAIN. But its all worth is because 173 extra members signed up with us.

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

Darwin is a NAB Cup venue.

[Sammbo 19]

I agree. This seems like a really dumb track to be walking. I wonder what the players think about the Darwin idea?...and a pre season trip there. It reminds me of St Kildas great idea in moving its home base to Rosebud. It looks good on paper, when you study the numbers etc....but that move will come and bite them on the arse soon. Players dont like travelling there.

I said it before but I get this sinking feeling that the football aspect of this club is being compromised AGAIN. But its all worth is because 173 extra members signed up with us.

The negatives in playing in Darwin seem to outweigh any perceived positives.

i.e. Only 6,000+ in attendance.

Very limited exposure in Melbourne... Foxtel versus Free to air - clashing with Cartlon versus doggies.

Alienating the existing membership.

The club has got to think long and hard about this .. not just float some thoughts from the coach.

[Sammbo 19]

We're 2 from 2 in Darwin, get $$$ from it, and somehow I don't think we can blame Darwin for not always winning the next week...

Think you guys are just a bit toey about tonight and all the trade talk.

You guys want wins right? Do you want cash too? Well so far we get both from this game.

... you were saying?

[Guest bluey]

Darwin is having a detrimental effect on our form, we always have trouble winning the week after.

[Supermercado 2,802]

Darwin is having a detrimental effect on our form, we always have trouble winning the week after.

In the three years we've been playing there we're 18-2-39 (counting the two wins in Darwin), I don't it's just playing there that's hurting us the next week. Any good team beats Port there, and goes into the next game as a big chance. It might not be an ideal preparation, but if the team are good enough it won't matter. Unfortunately the teams that are 'good enough' also make enough money to not have to go to exotic venues OR have sewn up ones that are in decent climates.

Also should be noted that in 2010 we played Geelong @ Kardinia Park the next week, so we were hardly going to win that anyway.

(P.S - Mind you it should be noted in the interests of fairness that Port did lose at home to Richmond the week after we played them there last year..)

[stuie 7,374]

... you were saying?

Did you miss the so far?

Or did you miss the fact we fielded our worst lineup for about 10 years?!