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Bye After a Darwin Game?

Lucifers Hero
Lucifers Hero
in Melbourne Demons

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This has often been discussed on Demonland.  It makes so much sense - the long haul flight, the humidity etc.

At last that is being discussed by the club:  “We need the AFL to address the fixture. At the moment it’s played at a time that doesn’t allow you to provide an adequate recovery period in the form of byes.” said Peter Jackson.  https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demons-want-bye-after-darwin-game-20180525-p4zhla.html

Jackson is even hinting that we may not play in Darwin beyond this year.  But it would probably mean playing the Home game at Marvel stadium (Etihad) as we are contracted to play only nine games at the G.  (I must admit the nine games was a surprise - we've been bumped out by Carlton and Essendon and i/state teams).

If Jackson gets us out of Darwin as his parting 'gift' we will all be very happy! 

 

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    No... we are not Port Melbourne or one of the other favoured teams.

    #DitchDarwin has been a cause for many of us for years.

    Keep the Alice game but market it a hell of a lot better as a national TV spectacular.

    Now as to the MCG... who'd have thought they'd screw us !!

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      On 25/05/2018 at 08:26, Lucifer's Hero said:

    This has often been discussed on Demonland.  It makes so much sense - the long haul flight, the humidity etc.

    At last that is being discussed by the club:  “We need the AFL to address the fixture. At the moment it’s played at a time that doesn’t allow you to provide an adequate recovery period in the form of byes.” said Peter Jackson.  https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demons-want-bye-after-darwin-game-20180525-p4zhla.html

    Jackson is even hinting that we may not play in Darwin beyond this year.  But it would probably mean playing the Home game at Marvel stadium (Etihad) as we are contracted to play only nine games at the G.  (I must admit the nine games was a surprise - we've been bumped out by Carlton and Essendon and i/state teams).

    If Jackson gets us out of Darwin as his parting 'gift' we will all be very happy! 

    To be honest, with how well we play Marvel Staduim now, I would be more than happy to play another game there. MCG would be better of course.

    Just FYI for those interested our average home game attendance so far this year is 55k, while Carlton in 42k, Essendon 42k and Hawks 37k. We’re curently 4th in the league for home ground attendance. Will change after this weekend obviously though with the max capacity of Alice being like 6k!!!

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      On 25/05/2018 at 08:45, —coach— said:

    To be honest, with how well we play Marvel Staduim now, I would be more than happy to play another game there. MCG would be better of course.

    Just FYI for those interested our average home game attendance so far this year is 55k, while Carlton in 42k, Essendon 42k and Hawks 37k. We’re curently 4th in the league for home ground attendance. Will change after this weekend obviously though with the max capacity of Alice being like 6k!!!

    Yes atm we play ok at Marvel.  But the MCG is our home.  That should be our fortress. Carlton play 5 or 6 of their Home games at the G.  Their Home ground is Marvel - send them back there.

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      On 25/05/2018 at 08:45, —coach— said:

    To be honest, with how well we play Marvel Staduim now, I would be more than happy to play another game there. MCG would be better of course.

    Just FYI for those interested our average home game attendance so far this year is 55k, while Carlton in 42k, Essendon 42k and Hawks 37k. We’re curently 4th in the league for home ground attendance. Will change after this weekend obviously though with the max capacity of Alice being like 6k!!!

    I also imagine majority of the 6k in attendance are more likely to be Adelaide supporters rather than Melbourne, a lot of Adelaide fans in the Alice.

    I'd rather have 2 extra games in Melbourne even if it is at Marvel/Etihad, gives local supporters a chance to attend that doesn't set you back in excess of $500 in airfares.

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    You blokes are quick on calling it Marvel. I only stopped calling it Telstra Dome a couple of weeks ago.

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      On 25/05/2018 at 08:26, Lucifer's Hero said:

    This has often been discussed on Demonland.  It makes so much sense - the long haul flight, the humidity etc.

    At last that is being discussed by the club:  “We need the AFL to address the fixture. At the moment it’s played at a time that doesn’t allow you to provide an adequate recovery period in the form of byes.” said Peter Jackson.  https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demons-want-bye-after-darwin-game-20180525-p4zhla.html

    Jackson is even hinting that we may not play in Darwin beyond this year.  But it would probably mean playing the Home game at Marvel stadium (Etihad) as we are contracted to play only nine games at the G.  (I must admit the nine games was a surprise - we've been bumped out by Carlton and Essendon and i/state teams).

    If Jackson gets us out of Darwin as his parting 'gift' we will all be very happy! 

    Its mine... I've been banging on about having a bye immediately after our game in Darwin; since we started playing them up there,

    The other idea, connected to this, was to play the TWO NT games, back to back. Alice then Darwin. 

    Back to back or not, we need have the bye, following Darwin...  

    And it should be played in late July early August (coldest time of year), and should ideally be scheduled to coincide with school holidays.

     

    The week between games would make a great Winter holiday escapade for Demon tourists, to see the Northern Country, or to Sth East Asia.

    Edited by DV8

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    IF there was a skerrick of integrity and even handedness at AFL HQ both teams involved in games at Darwin (or Cairns for that matter) would get a bye the following week, so ............

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      On 25/05/2018 at 09:32, Chook said:

    You blokes are quick on calling it Marvel. I only stopped calling it Telstra Dome a couple of weeks ago.

    Are we talking about Colonial Stadium?

    if we are to play a home game there, my strong preference would be that we face an interstate club there (the St Kilda experience where we played our home game at their home ground still rubs me the wrong way)

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      On 25/05/2018 at 10:22, monoccular said:

    IF there was a skerrick of integrity and even handedness at AFL HQ both teams involved in games at Darwin (or Cairns for that matter) would get a bye the following week, so ............

    North should have had the bye in Round 2!

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    Would love to ditch these games as it means we are more financially stable. Currently we rely on this money so we have no leg to stand on with the AFL regarding the fixuring. 

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      On 25/05/2018 at 09:05, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

    A bye after Darwin is a must, Alice a very different story

    Rod, the AFL would argue the flight time from Melbourne to Darwin is 4 hrs 15 mins; the flight time from Perth to Melbourne is 3 hrs 30 mins - and the two Perth teams do this basically every second week with no byes.

    That said, I agree with you (and more specifically would be delighted if we ditched Darwin altogether)

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      On 25/05/2018 at 09:32, Chook said:

    You blokes are quick on calling it Marvel. I only stopped calling it Telstra Dome a couple of weeks ago.

    Yes, funny that - I was corrected the other day for calling it 'Docklands'. Who are these intolerant people?

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      On 25/05/2018 at 10:37, small but forward said:

    Rod, the AFL would argue the flight time from Melbourne to Darwin is 4 hrs 15 mins; the flight time from Perth to Melbourne is 3 hrs 30 mins - and the two Perth teams do this basically every second week with no byes.

    That said, I agree with you (and more specifically would be delighted if we ditched Darwin altogether)

    Nothing to do with the flight time, everything to do with the humidity

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      On 25/05/2018 at 10:37, small but forward said:

    Rod, the AFL would argue the flight time from Melbourne to Darwin is 4 hrs 15 mins; the flight time from Perth to Melbourne is 3 hrs 30 mins - and the two Perth teams do this basically every second week with no byes.

    That said, I agree with you (and more specifically would be delighted if we ditched Darwin altogether)

    The big difference is the climate, not the travel time .... but then as you. say the AFL would argue only the one point.

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    Jackson has just worked out tha the lack of a bye is an issue? Hard to believe.What about a 6 day break after Alice Springs to face the Dogs who have 9? We couldn't have negotiated at least 7? If this NT nonsense is to continue these issues need to be addressed  as a priority.

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      On 25/05/2018 at 10:51, martin said:

    Jackson has just worked out tha the lack of a bye is an issue? Hard to believe.What about a 6 day break after Alice Springs to face the Dogs who have 9? We couldn't have negotiated at least 7? If this NT nonsense is to continue these issues need to be addressed  as a priority.

    So far the NT deal has been forced on us, now we are properly managed and going well, we can stand up for ourselves and push for better deals in the future

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      On 25/05/2018 at 10:31, small but forward said:

    North should have had the bye in Round 2!

    They should not have played there at that time of year. at all. Stupid fixturing by the AFL.

     

      On 25/05/2018 at 10:41, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

    Nothing to do with the flight time, everything to do with the humidity

     

      On 25/05/2018 at 10:48, monoccular said:

    The big difference is the climate, not the travel time .... but then as you. say the AFL would argue only the one point.

    Its mostly to do with the excessive sweating.

    Even the Lions under Matthews in the early 2000's were having fluids at half time, Via intravenous drip.  And that was in lowly Brisbane town.

    Not so far North.

    Edited by DV8

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      On 25/05/2018 at 10:51, martin said:

    Jackson has just worked out tha the lack of a bye is an issue? Hard to believe.What about a 6 day break after Alice Springs to face the Dogs who have 9? We couldn't have negotiated at least 7? If this NT nonsense is to continue these issues need to be addressed  as a priority.

    It is now for us,,, as we try to make finals on a regular basis.

    When we were in list building phase, it wasn't a concern.

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      On 25/05/2018 at 11:14, DV8 said:

    It is now for us,,, as we try to make finals on a regular basis.

    When we were in list building phase, it wasn't a concern.

    Agree but could be extremely detrimental this year when it matters. Disappointing and avoidable. Surely  if forced upon us we had some leverage  in achieving longer breaks.Jackson sounds as if this has just dawned on him.

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      On 25/05/2018 at 10:51, martin said:

    Jackson has just worked out tha the lack of a bye is an issue? Hard to believe.What about a 6 day break after Alice Springs to face the Dogs who have 9? We couldn't have negotiated at least 7? If this NT nonsense is to continue these issues need to be addressed  as a priority.

    You shouldn't criticize Jackson unless you can get your arithmetic right.

    Dogs playing Friday evening, we play Sunday afternoon, my arithmetic makes that 2 days. How do you calculate a three day difference?

     

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    Listening to the age podcast this week Caro stated MFC would like to get out of selling games but because we are beholden to the AFL they won't allow us to move (or MFC are unwilling to for fear of repercussions from head office). Similar issue Saints have with being shunted to China next year.

    The sooner we have our finances in order and can tell the AFL to get stuffed the better.

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      On 25/05/2018 at 11:27, xarronn said:

    You shouldn't criticize Jackson unless you can get your arithmetic right.

    Dogs playing Friday evening, we play Sunday afternoon, my arithmetic makes that 2 days. How do you calculate a three day difference?

     

    Apologies, 8v6. Still not  good enough. You're comfortable with that? Warm in AP exacerbateds  the situation.  Regardless,the bigger issue  is the lack of a bye afetr the sapping conditions and travel to Darwin. Jackson suddenly thinks it's an issue.

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