The reason we've been dealt less MCG games is that taking them to NT nets us 6 figure profit. We're doing it twice, and the AFL rightfully can't than burden the other clubs. Hawthorn are the same with Launceston.. Tasmania even get the flag ceremony hosting Round 1. Crazy.

We need the money, and when the on field results match what we want, the MCG will return as our home. I guarantee in 05 when the Pies couldn't win a game the same questions were being asked of them. We bide time

What gives with the team names in that fixture?

No mascot name: Carlton, St.Kilda, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Richmond, Collingwood, North Melbourne, Melbourne, Fremantle, Hawthorn

Mascot name: Geelong Cats, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions

Mascot name in CAPS: Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS

Mascot name is their name: Western Bulldogs

Wow, dare I say it, we could potentially be 3 and 0.

Do we know what games we get as replacement games in Melbourne for the two we play in the NT?

One is the Carlton game Round 4, the other will be determined tomorrow.

Make Money: Sydney (sat night/Roos game), PA (NT game), Coll,

Breakeven: WB, Geel,

Lose Money: WCE, GC, NM, Freo, BL, GWS

It's just a terrible commercial draw, the only way we are going to breakeven is if we get a major sponsor ASAP and we win a few early games and smash through 45k members.

One is the Carlton game Round 4, the other will be determined tomorrow.

Tomorrow is interesting, someone posted on the sponsorship post that Nov 1 we will announce a deal with the NT government worth 1.6mil per year

What gives with the team names in that fixture?

No mascot name: Carlton, St.Kilda, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Richmond, Collingwood, North Melbourne, Melbourne, Fremantle, Hawthorn

Mascot name: Geelong Cats, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions

Mascot name in CAPS: Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS

Mascot name is their name: Western Bulldogs

That's what they were called in the ladder this year (except for the caps for GC and GWS).

I can't remember when we had a big crowd at the G for a West Coast game, if we get 25k following a first round win it will be a miracle.

GWS in round 21 will probably be closer to 15k as will the GC game, Bullies and North will be around the 22 - 25k mark. Looks as if we will have our hand out, once again, at the end of the season. What's the saying keep them poor and dependent.

Hand out for some loot and a very slim chance for a Priority pick.

What gives with the team names in that fixture?

No mascot name: Carlton, St.Kilda, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Richmond, Collingwood, North Melbourne, Melbourne, Fremantle, Hawthorn

Mascot name: Geelong Cats, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions

Mascot name in CAPS: Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS

Mascot name is their name: Western Bulldogs

I saw that too, and I think it's to do with branding.

It'd be what the club requests their name to be on the fixture, is my guess.

I know Geelong are strict on branding themselves "Geelong Cats"

Any idea what the break even crowd numbers required for the MCG is for the home team?

Any idea what the break even crowd numbers required for the MCG is for the home team?

It used to be 22,000.

I reckon if we can beat St Kilda in Round 1 we might get closer to 30,000 for the West Coast game. First home game, a win on the board, it's not impossible I don't think.

That GWS game in Round 21 will be lucky to get 15,000 though.

If the AFL had half a brain they would swap the Brisbane and GWS games and have us play GWS at Etihad and Brisbane at the G, there is more of a chance we can get a crown at the G against Brisbane.

I agree, less than 15k for the GWS game is a real possibility.

Sunday, 3.20pm on a cold August day in Melbourne, against the worst (interstate) drawing club in the competition; maybe 10 - 12k there, how embarrassing.

Could be worse IMO. Its all about building momentum and belief and a 6-3 at the bye is my dream

Make Money: Sydney (sat night/Roos game), PA (NT game), Coll,

Breakeven: WB, Geel,

Lose Money: WCE, GC, NM, Freo, BL, GWS

It's just a terrible commercial draw, the only way we are going to breakeven is if we get a major sponsor ASAP and we win a few early games and smash through 45k members.

What puts Fremantle in the 'lose money' bracket? Doesn't that game make us money?

As I said above, if we can win the St Kilda game we should be able to break even against West Coast (25,000-30,000 for that game if we win Round 1, is my prediction).

I'd also say we break even against North Melbourne - should manage 25,000 to that, and that's break even IIRC.

Point is clear though - financial disaster.

If the AFL had half a brain they would swap the Brisbane and GWS games and have us play GWS at Etihad and Brisbane at the G, there is more of a chance we can get a crown at the G against Brisbane.

I agree, less than 15k for the GWS game is a real possibility.

Sunday, 3.20pm on a cold August day in Melbourne, against the worst (interstate) drawing club in the competition; maybe 10 - 12k there, how embarrassing.

Good call re: GWS and Brisbane. You'd like to think that option was canvassed and rejected due to other constraints, but that would make a lot more sense.

Hand out for some loot and a very slim chance for a Priority pick.

I think we can kiss the priority pick goodbye, that's not going to happen now; if we didn't get one this year no one will ever get one.

We will probably lose another $1m to $1.5m on the gate this year and we don't have a sponsor, so we will be down another $2m in revenue there unless things change quickly.

This could be the most demanding year we have ever faced, so we must win games; should or could are no longer an option, we must win games.

Make Money: Sydney (sat night/Roos game), PA (NT game), Coll,

Breakeven: WB, Geel,

Lose Money: WCE, GC, NM, Freo, BL, GWS

It's just a terrible commercial draw, the only way we are going to breakeven is if we get a major sponsor ASAP and we win a few early games and smash through 45k members.

The Freo Darwin game better make us some money as well! But yeah really it's the two NT games and the Collingwood game that will bring in coin.

No Hawthorn, Richmond, Essendon or Carlton as home games at the MCG. That's a slap in the face. Commercial nightmare.

Do we know what games we get as replacement games in Melbourne for the two we play in the NT?

good point mate, might have to wait for the membership to arrive.

Wow, dare I say it, we could potentially be 3 and 0.

I think it was Neelds first season, we played the lions round 1 at the G. Me in my infinite wisdom loaded up on us....took me a few weeks to recoup my losses.

I think we can kiss the priority pick goodbye, that's not going to happen now; if we didn't get one this year no one will ever get one.

We will probably lose another $1m to $1.5m on the gate this year and we don't have a sponsor, so we will be down another $2m in revenue there unless things change quickly.

This could be the most demanding year we have ever faced, so we must win games; should or could are no longer an option, we must win games.

Like I stated....very slim chance. Everyone says if we weren't going to get one this year, no one will ever get one, hell, I've even stated that several times. That said, the AFL would probably take the criteria a little seriously if there was a repeat with four or less wins.

Given the FIXture, we'll just as likely get an increase in handout. PJ will lobby hard and be as trasparent as possible.

Dreadful draw from a commercial point of view and the game at Etihad is just another kick in the guts.

We cannot make any money from this draw and I'm sure that PJ is less than happy, there are two games where we will make a profit Collingwood and Geelong.

Its interesting actually because on one hand you are right in that from a commercial perspective it is a poor draw. However as others have noted on paper we have some potentially winnable games in the first quarter of the year.

Winning games is crucial financially and if we can snag some early, increases in membership and attendance will help negate some of the issues with scheduling. Also it has to be remembered we are selling out games in the NT.

Edited October 31, 201311 yr by binman

Not one game in Queensland!!!... God that shits me!

What gives with the team names in that fixture?

No mascot name: Carlton, St.Kilda, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Richmond, Collingwood, North Melbourne, Melbourne, Fremantle, Hawthorn

Mascot name: Geelong Cats, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions

Mascot name in CAPS: Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS

Mascot name is their name: Western Bulldogs

Pretty sure they are all the official names - I know the Giants official name is in caps, didn't know about the Suns though.

This is a pretty decent draw, considering we only play the grand finalists once and have a fairly soft start.. If Roos can inject some life into the team and we have a fully fit list we may be able to turn it around like we did in 98 or 2004? But one can only hope hey?

Edited October 31, 201311 yr by PurpleHaze12

Its interesting actually because on one hand you are right in that from a commercial perspective it is a poor draw. However as others have noted on paper we have some potentially winnable games in the first quarter of the year.

Winning games is crucial financially and if we can snag some early, increases in membership and attendance will help negate some of the issues with scheduling. Also it has to be remembered we are selling out games in the NT.

Let's hope we don't have the triple witching year, no crowds, no wins and no sponsors.

Of course you are right, if we win games some of our supporters may decide to start watching games and some of the kids who are on the verge of changing to another club will stay. If we can generate a few wins and a hero for the kids to support, then we could get back on track but we must not slip up, if we have another start to the year like last year we can just about kiss the club goodbye.

Wow, dare I say it, we could potentially be 3 and 0.

Based on last 7 seasons I would say 0 and 3 is more likely!!