The AFL really doesn't get it ... does it?

[DeeVoted 582]

Here we go again, ringing the changes once more to our once great game.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-20/coin-toss-may-be-thrown

Firstly I want to know who got invited to this Fan Summit, anyone from here? know anyone that attended such event???

Eithad is a soulless venue, they can add as many party lights around the ground as they like. Its a dump. Waverley Park as under developed as it was, was a better venue, thats factoring the permanent thunderstorm cloud they hovered over it everytime a footy

game was to be played.

Back to this summit.... held in Victoria? somewhere in Aust, or perhaps in the USA to get an opinion.

They say tradition toss of the coin... well it wont be if they change it. FMD, 2 captains one tosses a coin, then point to which end they will kick too. Expect explosions, flashing scoreboards that will make the 4th of July pale into obvilion. Then 5 million amps of music to be belted out of loudspeakers while we try to discuss between ourselves the positional changes taking place.

False hype to get a better game experience!!?? The game itself is the hype, its having to listen to some jerk ten rows back going off his nut at the umpires. We dont need to be brought to a fenzy with all this crap. Oh well, good luck AFL you are killing our game. Soccer hasnt changed in a billion years, yet it prospers and chugs along very nicely.

They are thinking of bringing back curtain raisers before the main event, what a novel idea, I wonder what genius came up with that idea? oh wait a minute........

Why not get the tribunal and some sort of consistently with fines and penalities, oh yeah they stuffed they as well. Good to hear and see we are in safe hands moving our game into the future.

[Sir Why You Little 34,407]

Move the coin toss where????

And why....

Turn off the Music between quarters so i can chat to my old man

[Gorgoroth 12,305]

I like the coin toss, we win more than two of those a year...

[pitmaster 3,052]

I am going to Adelaide round three this season.

I'll see this magnificent "match day experience" the Adealide Oval is supposed to have produced for myself.

Forgive me for thinking it will be over-hyped shite influenced by American style corn.

I expect to hate it.

If it changes my mind I'll let you know.

[DistrACTION Jackson 6,389]

The AFL really do waste a lot of time worrying about things that are irrelevant. I think there is a lot more too be concerned with than the coin toss!

Reminds me of Cameron Schwab and his whole history bull...

[rjay 23,859]

I am going to Adelaide round three this season.

I'll see this magnificent "match day experience" the Adealide Oval is supposed to have produced for myself.

Forgive me for thinking it will be over-hyped shite influenced by American style corn.

I expect to hate it.

If it changes my mind I'll let you know.

I think the AFL have snow jobbed themselves. I'm not sure if they really believe what they are saying but some key media people are soaking it up...

Yes 'Kotchie' has everyone singing a song but the real match day experience at Adelaide oval is a few things.

1. They moved the ground from a desolate backwater into the city to an iconic location.

2. Power are winning games

3. Power play an attractive game of footy

...and 4. Power are winning games

The only match day experience that counts is knowing your team have a chance of wining otherwise attendance is next to pointless. This is how it has been for us for a while now.

Match day experiences other than the game are needed when you have a game that can be a little on the boring side or have a bit too much down time i.e.: the 3 major US sports for a start.

Our game doesn't need distractions, it is a good spectacle as is. If you aren't sitting with a sense of anticipation before the first bounce of the ball you just don't get the game.

[Soidee 1,496]

What a bunch of genius 's !! Fan Summit attended by whom? When was this advertised? Or was there a chook raffle organised to get tickets!

I am thinking of tearing up my expensive membership and returning to the seats behind the goals to get closer to a semblance of atmosphere at Demons games.

My seat in the northern stand has become a soulless place during our games and the surroundings inside are at best pleasant.

The whole bloody experience at our games at the G is bordering on a big yawn

[autocol 448]

I'd just be happy if they turned off the music between quarters. I'm sick of having to yell at the person right next to me.

Oh, and you can't play atmosphere out through a set of speakers. The crowd noise coming from the PA system before the first bounce of each quarter is cringeworthy.

[Redleg 37,474]

Turn off the Music between quarters so i can chat to my old man

They can't, they are sponsored by audiologists and a hearing aid company.

[Bossdog 2,002]

When I was a lad....(I know...Sometime ago).....I could attend any game of footy on a weekend

I could walk up to the gate, buy a ticket and sit anywhere in the ground, except the members...This gave me nearly 3/4 of the ground in which to sit. If it was a big game, I just got there early and watched the seconds play

I did not have to pay a premium cost to sit in certain spots....I did not have to pay for reserved seats.....I could save seats for family and friends....I could go to away games and stand in the outer and support my side.

I will state that I am a MCC member but still buy my footy club membership to support my club.

The AFL is slowly killing this game for me. They are pricing the game out of the ordinary supporter's reach

All for the sake of corperates, TV stations, do they really want empty grounds....Bad for TV audiences I would have thought.

I would not know how to buy a ticket now....I am not that computer literate.

Edited November 20, 2014 by Bossdog

[The Chazz 4,077]

...Eithad is a soulless venue...

I'm most likely in the minority, but I love going to watch the footy at Etihad. I find the viewing excellent from any seat at any level. I used to get the train down from Ballarat, short walk through the station and you were there.

Now that I live away from Victoria, I love going "back" to the MCG, our home. But I can assure you, if I'm in Victoria in the middle of winter, and we're playing a game at Etihad, I'm quite appreciative of their facilities.

The biggest problem with Etihad, as a Melbourne supporter, is that a lot of Melbourne supporters are too arrogant to go there. I'm not sure why so many have that attitude, but knowing how loud the MCG can get with 25k people when we're up and about, I can only imagine how the players would feel if we were able to get the same amount to an Etihad game. Hard part at the moment is that we normally play like crud when we go there.

[rjay 23,859]

I'm most likely in the minority, but I love going to watch the footy at Etihad. I find the viewing excellent from any seat at any level. I used to get the train down from Ballarat, short walk through the station and you were there.

Now that I live away from Victoria, I love going "back" to the MCG, our home. But I can assure you, if I'm in Victoria in the middle of winter, and we're playing a game at Etihad, I'm quite appreciative of their facilities.

The biggest problem with Etihad, as a Melbourne supporter, is that a lot of Melbourne supporters are too arrogant to go there. I'm not sure why so many have that attitude, but knowing how loud the MCG can get with 25k people when we're up and about, I can only imagine how the players would feel if we were able to get the same amount to an Etihad game. Hard part at the moment is that we normally play like crud when we go there.

Nothing to do with arrogance but I will not go again. The last time I went I was waiting outside in a que for the entire first quarter and then made to sit in the top deck when the middle deck was completely empty.

...besides this we never win there. Like I said earlier, if the AFL want a match day experience then at least thinking you can win a game is as good start.

[sue 8,410]

.. ...

All for the sake of corperates, TV stations, do they really want empty grounds....Bad for TV audiences I would have thought.

...

Maybe they don't care too much. Won't be long now before technology allows them to paint in the crowd on the TV. They already do it for sound.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Since 1965 Melbourne supporters have never really supported their team at away venues. Mind you the away venues were crap and only held about 20,000.

The legacy of the old VFL days still lingers at Melbourne.

I would enjoy the twos back as a curtain raiser. We never get a chance to see how the younger ones are developing.

I have more things to do on a weekend than to go to the footy Sat & Sunday.

[The Chazz 4,077]

Nothing to do with arrogance but I will not go again. The last time I went I was waiting outside in a que for the entire first quarter and then made to sit in the top deck when the middle deck was completely empty.

...besides this we never win there. Like I said earlier, if the AFL want a match day experience then at least thinking you can win a game is as good start.

We have been rarely winning anywhere, rjay.

I'm of the old school that it shouldn't matter a stuff where we play, if you can get there you go and support, home game or not. I remember going to VFL Park, Moorabbin, Windy Hill, the Western Oval, I'd go anywhere.

Now that I don't live in Victoria, this "MCG or bust" attitude of some frustrates the bejesus out of me.

[old dee 22,809]

When I was a lad....(I know...Sometime ago).....I could attend any game of footy on a weekend

I could walk up to the gate, buy a ticket and sit anywhere in the ground, except the members...This gave me nearly 3/4 of the ground in which to sit. If it was a big game, I just got there early and watched the seconds play

I did not have to pay a premium cost to sit in certain spots....I did not have to pay for reserved seats.....I could save seats for family and friends....I could go to away games and stand in the outer and support my side.

I will state that I am a MCC member but still buy my footy club membership to support my club.

The AFL is slowly killing this game for me. They are pricing the game out of the ordinary supporter's reach

All for the sake of corperates, TV stations, do they really want empty grounds....Bad for TV audiences I would have thought.

I would not know how to buy a ticket now....I am not that computer literate.

Don't bossdog they will charge you to print it!

[old dee 22,809]

We have been rarely winning anywhere, rjay.

I'm of the old school that it shouldn't matter a stuff where we play, if you can get there you go and support, home game or not. I remember going to VFL Park, Moorabbin, Windy Hill, the Western Oval, I'd go anywhere.

Now that I don't live in Victoria, this "MCG or bust" attitude of some frustrates the bejesus out of me.

Sadly billy we are from a bye gone age that will never return.

The players seem to be stressed now if they have to play in the rain let alone the supporters.

The whole problem IMO is that the AFL i.e. Vlad lost sight of who the game belongs to.

The average punter ( the vast majority ) have lost out to the almighty pursuit of Max. dollars to appease the players union.

It is now TV running things and the AFL are desperately trying to redress that in five minutes.

[DeeVoted 582]

I am all for improving technology for our games. I also realise this comes at a cost. I get all that.

We don't want flashing lights and any other crap to gee up the crowds, the game itself makes the game day atmosphere.

Use the technology to improve camera angles, and scoreboard info, but leave the hype to the supporters watching 2 teams battle it out.

What I despise are changes to the fundermentals of the game itself. Rules changes that arent defined, and only confuses more people, umpires and commentators, ie take the dragging the ball in and not releasing it.

Now we have players jumping on top of the player that has tried to win possession of the ball.

Two things here. 1: penalised the player trying to make the ball his object.

2: other players jumping into everyones back so the player with the ball cant move his hands or arms then gets pinged

Prior opportunity is out the window, before the player had a chance to do anything with it. Then what happened to in the back as everyone piles on top? Now if they started to pay in the back when players jump in on top, that will eventually stop players piling in.

Then the ump can clearly see a player not making any effort to release the ball.Or if its a one on one, the tackler has regarded the player with the ball, its a free to the tackler for a perfect tackle. The rules are in place and have been since day dot. Some need refining so the gray areas are limited. Umps will make mistakes, and some will see things differently, and pay a free mostly will disagree with.

Mostly the ones disagreeing will be supporting the player who's team they support got pinged. Fact of life,

As the game evolves, game plans change, we dont need rule changes, as then it becomes the dog chasing its tail. You stick fat with the rules in place. But this isnt the case, the AFL / rules commiitee seem to be hell bent on changes, this just confuses everyone.

As for this Fan Summit sounds to me like they have 100 or so called experts speaking on behalf on supporters, I could be wrong.

Most likely if this is the case, using a past survey to use for their own agenda.

Some surveys can be twisted around to have the end result to suit an agenda.

ie : If public transport was improved would you use it? Y/N y

So the most popular ans would be most prefer public transport if it was improved.

Another Question could be if public parking was cheaper would you use Public transport?

Now if we want the true answer to public opinion, the question should be

a} If public parking was cheaper and more parking available at football games.

b) public transport was cheaper for game days

what is your preference? A or B?

So my point is, when I read / hear that most supporters love the changes we (AFL) have made to make the game day experience better.

When in reality most people I speak too, hate the new concepts, I'm talking about the music being played during the game, Some jerk trying to gee up the crowd etc etc

.

AFL have reported crowds have dropped away recently, well hello?? IF you had given us our PP pick we would be more competive that gets us more supporters to our games, as we might be in with a better chance to win. Play Vic based clubs more often at the "G' instead of playing the Suns etc that most couldnt give 2 hoots for. Instant improvement on crowd numbers, as us Dee supporters come out of the woodwork.

They say they are looking into food prices etc, not before time. We have been ripped off for long enough. How about a discount when using public transport for game days. Show your memberships and get 10% off. Inventives for going to games, not the crap hype to enhance being there. Tackle the real isuues.

If the AFL keep listening to ways to increase hype like USA sports, they will lose more support.

[Demoneyes 562]

I think the fan summit was held in a spit and sawdust pub 75 klms from Romsey and BBO and Biff were in attendance!

[Moonshadow 16,109]

Article said:

"Auld said it was worth questioning however why certain things happened the way they happened."

Translation:

"We want to know if we can make more money by tinkering with tradition and 'fixing' the few remaining things that aren't broke."

Mr Auld, if you really want to improve the experience, how about pizzing off the loud music, screen and boundary LED advertising harassment, over zealous bouncers and fine dining prices for luke warm pies and watered down beer?

Edited November 20, 2014 by Moonshadow

[Melbman2 226]

They say they are looking into food prices etc, not before time.

Yep, big job that.

AFL can't just find out the cost on match day, nooo siree, too hard a task to leave the corporate box and walk 20 meters.

Nup!. Must form a committee, have a team kick off dinner, engage a mates recruitment company to source data collectors.

Another team dinner (minus the data collectors of course). Collect data over a 12 month period, interpret data into a report then lose the the report once all have forgotten it even started.

Huge job.

[Slartibartfast 15,724]

I am going to Adelaide round three this season.

I'll see this magnificent "match day experience" the Adealide Oval is supposed to have produced for myself.

I'd be surprised if you're disappointed. I went to Adelaide twice this year and it's a fantastic viewing ground with a great atmosphere. Both were great matches and I've decided to go to any match we play at that ground.

Etihad is a very good ground - I really like it. Fantastic view of the game (which is the primary function of a stadium IMO), easy to get to, central and dry so you always see a good game. The fact we always lose is not ideal.

Waverley was a hole. Even with 80,000 there in a final it struggled for atmosphere and you were so far away from most of the game you needed the radio to tell you what was going on.

I used to go to Geelong. I won't anymore, it's a shocking ground for opposition supporters, the worst in Australia that I've attended bar none.

[Left Field 313]

Reporting in from Sydney.

All you can hear at the SCG is fans chatting about anything but the game. Unless its a close game - then there is about 15 minutes of atmosphere.

And at Homebush, you literally cannot hear yourself at any point over the ground announcer who seems to yell for the entire game. Through the breaks as well. Seriously, and it's the least relevant carp you can imagine. Infuriating.

But please do come watch the Dee's up here this year. We need some support. And atmposphere.

[rjay 23,859]

We have been rarely winning anywhere, rjay.

I'm of the old school that it shouldn't matter a stuff where we play, if you can get there you go and support, home game or not. I remember going to VFL Park, Moorabbin, Windy Hill, the Western Oval, I'd go anywhere.

Now that I don't live in Victoria, this "MCG or bust" attitude of some frustrates the bejesus out of me.

I used to get on the train as a kid and go to all those grounds after playing juniors in the morning too 'billy' even got down to Geelong by half time a couple of times back in the day when you could turn up and get in.

I never had to wait in a line for a q to get in though mate. That docklands ground needs to take a good hard look at itself.

[Nasher 33,047]

I used to get on the train as a kid and go to all those grounds after playing juniors in the morning too 'billy' even got down to Geelong by half time a couple of times back in the day when you could turn up and get in.

I never had to wait in a line for a q to get in though mate. That docklands ground needs to take a good hard look at itself.

I've only been to Etihad for non-Melbourne games, and usually busy ones, and I've always pretty much just walked up to a window, bought a ticket and walked in. It it only MFC games where there are long queues to get in?