Full Melbourne 2014 Fixture

[DeeSpencer 23,124]

Back to back Sunday twilights in July at the MCG. FFS AFL you've got an indoor stadium. You even have us playing a home game there. In the middle of stinking July put your twilight (which is a word that should only be used in summer or early autumn) games on at the G?

Eventually selling games for TV audience (which is what the AFL do) will diminish the product so badly that the TV audiences will drop.

If the AFL changed it to 1 Friday night game. 2 Saturday night games. 2 Saturday games starting 2.10 local time. 3 Sunday games starting 2.10 local time and rotated the teams through the time slots in an even distribution then we might actually have a competition again. Arrrgh end rant.

[DemonOX 8,530]

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

I'm with u on that one brother.

[monoccular 16,058]

One would have hoped that the one special request we may have submitted would be for a bye to be scheduled AFTER our Darwin game......I guess we will need to earn respect, not expect it.

Round 1 Saints at Doglands - at least it is a Saturday night and not some crappy twilight timeslot. It is long overdue for our club to learn to win at that awful soulless place. Mr Roos?

[DeeSpencer 23,124]

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

I'm predicting we squander opportunities in those first 3 games. Then hit some form either side of the bye before a long stretch of losses with a chance at one last win against the giants.

We win even one or two of those first 3 playing a good brand of footy and we become a shot at that 7+ win season we are all dreaming about. If not then we will be doing well to get 4 or 5 wins.

[DeeSpencer 23,124]

One would have hoped that the one special request we may have submitted would be for a bye to be scheduled AFTER our Darwin game......I guess we will need to earn respect, not expect it.

Round 1 Saints at Doglands - at least it is a Saturday night and not some crappy twilight timeslot. It is long overdue for our club to learn to win at that awful soulless place. Mr Roos?

If I was running the club that would be my number 1 request every year.

Except I conveniently not that our bye sits just before the Alice Springs game. Which may be part of the terms of the game that we come up early and promote as we've done with the Darwin game.

I don't like that. Either we turn up for the game or we dont. Please dont make us do addition stuff. If that's needed to get people to the game then we might as well not go.

[Rocknroll 912]

Two Sunday twilight games (away v Essendon in Round 13, home v North Melbourne in Round 14).

Two Saturday twilight games (away v Adelaide in Round 7, away v Hawthorn in Round 20).

I only like this because here in NZ they are on a good time for me to watch!

[binman 37,994]

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.

I 100% agree with you.

Of course it would seem obvious that winning is important but without wanting to open up another debate about Neeld at the heart of his failure as a coach (and it has to be said the board and CEO who ratified the approach) was a seeming disregard for this basic tenet of sport. And if you can't win you have to be competitive.

As you say we simply have to win some games. ASAP. As that annoying ad says Simples.

[Jack7 463]

We'll only start making money when we start winning games which increases crowds,memberships,tv slots and sponsors.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

We'll only start making money when we start winning games which increases crowds,memberships,tv slots and sponsors.

That's true but unfortunately it's only part of it; look at North they win games and have been half decent over the last few years but they still don't draw the crowds.

We need to get back to winning and we need to get back to the G, the supporters have shown that that's the only place they will go to watch games, so if we are winning games in Darwin or at Etihad it means nothing; our supporters will not go there to watch home or away games.

Call it what you will, but that's the way it is and we have to accept it unfortunately.

[The Chazz 4,077]

When I lived in Victoria, it took me around 1 1/2 hours to get to the MCG. I went to most home games to get value out of my membership. I went to a few away games.

I can assure you of one thing though - whenever I had the opportunity to go to a home game, the last thing I cared about was the day and time it was being played, and I couldn't give a rats about the opposition. Sure, it was pre-kids, but I still worked full time, and still made the effort.

This year, I don't get to see any games in Brisbane/Gold Coast. Disappointing. It won't stop me from flying down to see a couple of games in Melbourne. I actually like going to Etihad as generally the roof is closed and saves us Northerners from the Victorian (winter) elements!

[The Chazz 4,077]

That's true but unfortunately it's only part of it; look at North they win games and have been half decent over the last few years but they still don't draw the crowds.

We need to get back to winning and we need to get back to the G, the supporters have shown that that's the only place they will go to watch games, so if we are winning games in Darwin or at Etihad it means nothing; our supporters will not go there to watch home or away games.

Call it what you will, but that's the way it is and we have to accept it unfortunately.

Highlights the soft culture that a lot of our Melbourne-based supporters have created or helped maintain.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,412]

That's true but unfortunately it's only part of it; look at North they win games and have been half decent over the last few years but they still don't draw the crowds.

We need to get back to winning and we need to get back to the G, the supporters have shown that that's the only place they will go to watch games, so if we are winning games in Darwin or at Etihad it means nothing; our supporters will not go there to watch home or away games.

Call it what you will, but that's the way it is and we have to accept it unfortunately.

I agree but look at North's draw - 5 Friday games next year.

[old dee 22,848]

Highlights the soft culture that a lot of our Melbourne-based supporters have created or helped maintain.

Billy I think it highlights the poor performance of our team over a long time.

It astounds me that after nearly half a century of mainly poor years and the last seven when we cannot beat time with a stick that we can still get 30,000+ members.

The MFC most be close to the most resilient group on Earth

[Dr. Gonzo 22,412]

Highlights the soft culture that a lot of our Melbourne-based supporters have created or helped maintain.

I agree mate, the way people talk about Docklands you'd think it was at the top of Mt. Buller (hmm actually maybe not the best example but you get my drift).

[The Chazz 4,077]

Billy I think it highlights the poor performance of our team over a long time.

It astounds me that after nearly half a century of mainly poor years and the last seven when we cannot beat time with a stick that we can still get 30,000+ members.

The MFC most be close to the most resilient group on Earth

A lot of rich, resilient people Old Dee! I'm in the other category of "I don't smoke so I might as well waste my money on something" category!

I do have to ask, and it is a serious question...

Our break-even crowd is approx 25k for a home game. If we got the 25k, and every single person in the crowd was a member, does tha tmean we still break even? Or do they budget for a certain percentage of the crowd to be non-members? Hope tha tmakes sense, and while I'm sure a lot of "experts" will "know", I do look forward to someone posting who actually does know what they are talking about.

[beelzebub 22,225]

IMO we have a good chance to be 2 wins from the first three games.

Who are you ??

[What 18,810]

good to see the AFL did not schedule the bye after either of out Northern Territory games

you cna mark both those games down for loses

[praha 10,270]

14 for Collingwood

Money talks

Infuriating

*12 for Richmond

Infuriating towards the league or the club?

I imagine our Darwin games would have been at the MCG.

It's not "MONEY" that talks. It's efficiency.

Win games + build brand + build support base = prime time! It's not rocket science. Don't point the finger of blame at anyone but the club.

[old dee 22,848]

A lot of rich, resilient people Old Dee! I'm in the other category of "I don't smoke so I might as well waste my money on something" category!

I do have to ask, and it is a serious question...

Our break-even crowd is approx 25k for a home game. If we got the 25k, and every single person in the crowd was a member, does tha tmean we still break even? Or do they budget for a certain percentage of the crowd to be non-members? Hope tha tmakes sense, and while I'm sure a lot of "experts" will "know", I do look forward to someone posting who actually does know what they are talking about.

Funny billy I have wondered the same thing. I have no idea but I woulod love to know as well.

As for the rich part I certainly don't fall into that catergory, my wife says I am just too stupid to get the message.

She is probably right.

Some people just never learn.

[John Crow Batty 8,255]

That's true but unfortunately it's only part of it; look at North they win games and have been half decent over the last few years but they still don't draw the crowds.

We need to get back to winning and we need to get back to the G, the supporters have shown that that's the only place they will go to watch games, so if we are winning games in Darwin or at Etihad it means nothing; our supporters will not go there to watch home or away games.

Call it what you will, but that's the way it is and we have to accept it unfortunately.

North historically have always drawn less than optimal attendances even in their heyday. They could never live down the fringe suburban club perception. Thats why they even ditched their name a few back to reposition themselves in the new world order of footy until backward thinkers took over. I prefer to see us as something like Richmond. Start winning and the fans come back.

[old dee 22,848]

Who are you ??

I have forecast six for the year bb

It just happens that two of those are in the first three weeks .

After that it gets very lean.

Oh and I am the one that told you we would not win as many this year as in 2012.

Remember?

[jnrmac 18,953]

If I was running the club that would be my number 1 request every year.

Except I conveniently not that our bye sits just before the Alice Springs game. Which may be part of the terms of the game that we come up early and promote as we've done with the Darwin game.

I don't like that. Either we turn up for the game or we dont. Please dont make us do addition stuff. If that's needed to get people to the game then we might as well not go.

Really? Ahead of the Queens birthday fixture? I don't think so....

[beelzebub 22,225]

I have forecast six for the year bb

It just happens that two of those are in the first three weeks .

After that it gets very lean.

Oh and I am the one that told you we would not win as many this year as in 2012.

Remember?

maybe

[pitmaster 3,063]

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.

Absolutely. Of the eight home MCG games four are against non-Victorians and neither Norf nor the Dogs can pull a crowd.

Commercially it's a disaster but in football terms not so bad.

[pitmaster 3,063]

It used to be 22,000.

That's about right but break even shifts a bit depending on how many MCC turn up (the cricketers tip extra in for us at home).