Darwin game dumped

[darkhorse72 1,724]

G;ad Darwin is g0ne, not benefit.

Alice game has value if we get a good opponent, plus the impact post game is minimal.

as for our develo-ment zone, I have no idea of anyone special we have grabbed, all I hear are the amazing young players clubs like Sydney, west coast freo seem to find in their zones. 

[Tarax Club 2,911]

1 hour ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Yeah  ....but hot night , cold beer while the weather was [censored] in Melbourne... wasn’t bad!

As the curtain closes on the Marrara Stadium stage we're both feeling  fortunate and a trifle torn. Living up here remote from the goings on at the centre of the Demon universe. The annual visit by the mighty Dees to the outer antipodes of the AFL world has been a local social and sporting event. Always anticipated with great enthusiasm but given recent history more measured optimism. Will treasure some great memories of past and present players stepping into the limelight. Sometimes sparkling for the briefest of cameos, Liam Jurrah with the ball bouncing it in a graceful arc or the more theatrical heroics of Jack Trengrove athletically jumping at the forward pocket boundary throw-in, late in the last quarter to punch the winning behind against the power.  Or the almost galvanising goal from Jayden Hunt's monster torpedo punt. The post-demonic alternatives don't quite have the same appeal, Melbourne in the depth of winter? only if the demons have the will to win. The 3000 km return journey road trip to Alice, scenic, but endlessly overtaking road trains and avoiding wandering grey nomads, steers and other ferals with Gerry constantly taking the p!ss. You would have to question your sanity and dedication to the cause. Well as George Harrison most effusively crooned  " All Things Must Pass"? 

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,137]

Any possibility we play in Alice Springs twice to make up for the Darwin revenue shortfall?

We seem to play well in Alice. The WC loss this year was one of our better performances for the year, and we’ve had some big wins there in 2017 and 2018.

[Red and Blue realist 2,026]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Any possibility we play in Alice Springs twice to make up for the Darwin revenue shortfall?

We seem to play well in Alice. The WC loss this year was one of our better performances for the year, and we’ve had some big wins there in 2017 and 2018.

Will all depend on the sponsorship agreement offered by the NT government, maybe a pre-season game and a regular season? If they halve our sponsorship then I'd assume it'll be 1 game max.

[Redleg 37,556]

17 hours ago, binman said:

Source?

Ethan the tradenewsbreaker’s cousin.

[Binmans PA 25,997]

I find the politics potentially involved here in the decision making interesting. Was this a legacy thing for PJ that prevented him from pulling the trigger earlier or could we simply not afford to do it?

Edited September 19, 2019 by A F

[Lucifers Hero 36,991]

2 hours ago, A F said:

I find the politics potentially involved here in the decision making interesting. Was this a legacy thing for PJ that prevented him from pulling the trigger earlier or could we simply not afford to do it?

PJ was keen to get out of the Darwin game some time ago but was stuck with it.  And Essendon tried to get in on it when there were signs we didn't want Darwin.   PJ stayed in after pressure from the AFL and we couldn't afford to forfeit their sponsorhip.  PJ was very happy to keep Alice as it is the zone for our NGA.  He was able to negotiate the Darwin game to be before a bye as a compromise.

I think PJ addressed the Darwin game in a podcast or interview but I can't find it.  This article darwin-game is the latest I could find. His positon can be discerned from this: 

"However Jackson was keen to point out that the cessation of games in Darwin would not necessarily mean Melbourne would play more at the MCG, where the Demons are only contractually obliged to play nine home games a season. He said games moved from the NT could become home games at the newly renamed Marvel Stadium.

I doubt anyone at the club is unhappy about losing Darwin.  But it will be interesting to see what $ adjustments the AFL make for our loss of revenue from NT.

I would think the Darwin game needs to be GCS vs Lions (both with home games the following week) so as not to disadvantage other clubs from the travel and fatigue.

Edited September 19, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero

[Supermercado 2,609]

5 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

 

I would think the Darwin game needs to be GCS vs Lions (both with home games the following week) so as not to disadvantage other clubs from the travel and fatigue.

No way they're going to have the Suns lose a home derby, that would be one of the few games they'd be able to drum up interest in.

[58er 5,607]

On 9/18/2019 at 3:31 PM, dl4e said:

Not playing in Darwin anymore is a plus.

Economically or Fixture/player/recovery?

one motherhood statement after a decade does not prove  the decision right without reasons!

[58er 5,607]

On 9/18/2019 at 3:31 PM, dl4e said:

Not playing in Darwin anymore is a plus.

Please explain with reasons?

Financially ?

fixture/player recovery/ development?

[Lucifers Hero 36,991]

1 hour ago, Supermercado said:

No way they're going to have the Suns lose a home derby, that would be one of the few games they'd be able to drum up interest in.

So who should GCS play in Darwin that doesn't overly disadvantage them? 

Any of the SA or WA teams gives them the 'Home Crowd' advantage.  Hard to see it being one of the big Melbourne Clubs.  Saints play in China.  That leaves Demons, Bulldogs, North (unlikely as they play in Tassie) and ...maybe GWS.

tbh, I don't really care who they play as long as it isn't us.

Edited September 19, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero

[Diamond_Jim 11,740]

4 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

tbh, I don't really care who they play as long as it isn't us.

it seems like a perfectly Melbourne outcome.

While at the Freo match at the MCG I came across a young sporting team from NT. I could not help but ask them if Melbourne had much of a following in the NT after playing there for so many years. They looked at me as if I was from Mars and said they knew no one who barracked for Melbourne. Anecdotal I know but it was always about the money and little else.

I think we have an opportunity to make the Alice game into a must see TV event if marketed correctly. As mentioned it needs to be played at night and needs to be heavily promoted. Unfortunately the ground capacity means that it needs TV leverage to make it an event.

Edited September 19, 2019 by Diamond_Jim

[Demon Dynasty 15,385]

On 9/18/2019 at 8:30 PM, Sir Why You Little said:

Great news. Too far away and recovery after match takes days. 

Player Fitness must be priority 1

Winning games will generate money...

 

On 9/18/2019 at 8:32 PM, beelzebub said:

There was NEVER  a time for a team called  Melbourne  to play in the NT

Never...Never

 

23 hours ago, america de cali said:

Have we recruited anyone of note from the NT since we went up there to play?  Our only decent NT players were Matty Whelan and Aaron Davey and they were a long time before we went up there. All the recent good NT players like the Rioli’s play elsewhere. Aside from the money the whole adventure sucks. Cost us games and the only modicum of support we get is from remote locals bussed in to wear brand new MFC gear at the games aside from a few wandering fans. Rather like the GWS supporters.

Great summary ty Gents.

May we never return to that dusty bowl that offers absolutely nothing to the mighty redlegs.

One of many boxes we need to tick off in our climb back to greatness including ....

> home base (outside the CBD if necessary ); and

> Training on our traditional home turf -  the G (at least once a week).

[rjay 23,888]

3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

So who should GCS play in Darwin that doesn't overly disadvantage them? 

They can rotate it between Richmond and Collingwood for all I care...it's about time those clubs did some real rather than token travel.

[dl4e 5,583]

4 hours ago, 58er said:

Please explain with reasons?

Financially ?

fixture/player recovery/ development?

The second obviously. 

[Demons1858 1,658]

With no pokies (for good reason), reduced NT games, and the delayed impact of a poor year on field, it will be a big test for the club to stay in the black it seems. Hopefully we are up to the task with some revenues locked and loaded

Edited September 19, 2019 by Demons1858

[Supermercado 2,609]

18 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

So who should GCS play in Darwin that doesn't overly disadvantage them? 

Any of the SA or WA teams gives them the 'Home Crowd' advantage.  Hard to see it being one of the big Melbourne Clubs.  Saints play in China.  That leaves Demons, Bulldogs, North (unlikely as they play in Tassie) and ...maybe GWS.

tbh, I don't really care who they play as long as it isn't us.

The AFL doesn't give a fat rat's clacker about disadvantage.

[John Crow Batty 8,252]

7 hours ago, Demons1858 said:

With no pokies (for good reason), reduced NT games, and the delayed impact of a poor year on field, it will be a big test for the club to stay in the black it seems. Hopefully we are up to the task with some revenues locked and loaded

Well it might force the club to actually perform to make some money. It’s getting to the stage after 55 years where sink or swim is the only palatable option. 

[Sir Why You Little 34,432]

1 hour ago, america de cali said:

Well it might force the club to actually perform to make some money. It’s getting to the stage after 55 years where sink or swim is the only palatable option. 

Winning means everything. Planning to win, not just survive 

The mindset must shift

[martin 727]

Apologies if this is old news but Sky just reporting that we have signed up for another four years to play games in Darwin & Alice Springs. Suns have the same deal.. Hard to believe. No doubt we will play 'crowd favourites' Adelaide in Darwin with no bye to follow. FMD

[McQueen 17,862]

21 minutes ago, martin said:

Apologies if this is old news but Sky just reporting that we have signed up for another four years to play games in Darwin & Alice Springs. Suns have the same deal.. Hard to believe. No doubt we will play 'crowd favourites' Adelaide in Darwin with no bye to follow. FMD

Can’t find anything online anywhere but geez that’s frustrating if true. 

Four more years!

Still paying for Roosy and the AFL’s 2013 bail out package all these years on. 

[bandicoot 1,395]

35 minutes ago, martin said:

Apologies if this is old news but Sky just reporting that we have signed up for another four years to play games in Darwin & Alice Springs. Suns have the same deal.. Hard to believe. No doubt we will play 'crowd favourites' Adelaide in Darwin with no bye to follow. FMD

I don’t mind the Alice game but the Darwin game is a season killer. Huge flight and taxing conditions. We have to have a bye after this game otherwise it poorly effects the team for at least the next fortnight 

[martin 727]

Apparently reported in the NT News.

[Lucifers Hero 36,991]

.

Edited October 15, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero

[Mach5 4,482]

I'll be surprised if this is correct.
I'm guessing they only have half the story and have assumed the rest.