People complaining about the fact the dons got more primetime games even though we are a better performing team seem to forget that the AFL is a business.

The goal of a business is to maximize profits. The dons will make more money than we could in primetime slots due to their significantly larger supporter base. It's really as simple as that.

 

Edited November 1, 20186 yr by Smokey

8 minutes ago, Smokey said:

People complaining about the fact the dons got more primetime games even though we are a better performing team seem to forget that the AFL is a business.

The goal of a business is to maximize profits. The dons will make more money than we could in primetime slots due to their significantly larger supporter base. It's really as simple as that.

 

it's only 'as simple as that' if you see the only goal is to make money, smokey. i would suggest that many, if not most, supporters of what was once a sport may have other priorities

13 hours ago, hemingway said:

Respect Bingers. 

Bruce is getting to near the end but he is battling a form of leukaemia. 

He also has an unbridled enthusiasm and statistical recall that will never be matched in sports broadcasts.  His research and homework is prodigious. 

He has integrity, honesty and sincerity. His enthusiasm is unmatched. 

And he is everyone’s friend, never a bad word against anyone. 

He’s annoying at times but is a guy that deserves respect and the job that he has done for almost 40 years. 

He may be annoying but there will never be another Bruce. 

He is annoying all the time. Should have reired at least 2 years ago

33 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

it's only 'as simple as that' if you see the only goal is to make money, smokey. i would suggest that many, if not most, supporters of what was once a sport may have other priorities

That could be relevant if the supporters ran the AFL, but alas, they don't. Doesn't matter what you or I see the goal as - in the end it comes back to money, as do most things in a free market. The AFL is not a democracy. 

Sentiment won't get us a better fixture. A larger member base and continued success will (we've had one good season since 2006, we are not a powerhouse by any stretch of the imagination). Until we prove ourselves to be money makers again, we will continue to be worse off than other clubs fixture-wise.

Do I like it? No. Can I appreciate the reasons for it - absolutely. 

Edited November 2, 20186 yr by Smokey

33 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

it's only 'as simple as that' if you see the only goal is to make money, smokey. i would suggest that many, if not most, supporters of what was once a sport may have other priorities

Whether we like it or not, ever since players went fully professional, the competition became a business. I can't see it going back to semi-professional footballers who train only 2 or 3 times a week with the commensurate drop-off in fitness and skills. And if it's a business, it needs to make money to pay the players (and the officials, such as umpires, etc).

2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I agree with all the above and add that no-one in the industry ever has a bad word against Bruce. His real passions are athletics and horse racing, but I suspect he could call any sport and make it interesting. For those complaining about Bruce, just remember how terrible it was having to listen to Basil Zemplis calling swimming at the Olympics. Chalk and cheese.

 

2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Because the AFL is a competition of many things. One of them involves tradition. Another is that a large group of Australians support Essendon and through no fault of their own have been made to suffer the ignominy of supporting a club that brought the game into disrepute. Those followers deserve something in return for continuing to support the AFL competition.

I hate logic - it confuses me.

1 minute ago, Smokey said:

That could be relevant if the supporters don't run the AFL, but alas, they don't. Doesn't matter what you or I see the goal as - in the end it comes back to money, as do most things in a free market. The AFL is not a democracy. 

Sentiment won't get us a better fixture. A larger member base and continued success will (we've had one good season since 2006, we are not a powerhouse by any stretch of the imagination). Until we prove ourselves to be money makers again, we will continue to be worse off than other clubs fixture-wise.

i understand the afl is obsessed with profit, it is self evident.

the afl was originally setup with the agreement (and behest) of the clubs because the individual clubs could never agree on most issues and they needed an organisation which could fairly look after the interests of all clubs,  and grow and protect the sport. it is a not-for-profit organisation that wasn't specifically setup just "to maximise profits".

however, the afl has over time more and more put the pursuit of profits as its highest priority and often only played lip service to the interests of the lesser successful clubs, or the fairness of the competition

RE: Bruce, he should have stayed retired and would have remained one of the greats. His reputation would have been further enhanced due to the lack of decent commentators these days. It speaks volumes about the state of commentary that Bruce even came back.

Commetti was the same too. He shouldn't have come back. Even he'd lost it.

RE: Essendon, they're still cheats. ?

26 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

i understand the afl is obsessed with profit, it is self evident.

the afl was originally setup with the agreement (and behest) of the clubs because the individual clubs could never agree on most issues and they needed an organisation which could fairly look after the interests of all clubs,  and grow and protect the sport. it is a not-for-profit organisation that wasn't specifically setup just "to maximise profits".

however, the afl has over time more and more put the pursuit of profits as its highest priority and often only played lip service to the interests of the lesser successful clubs, or the fairness of the competition

You remind me of a Simpsons episode with Lionel Hutz

"Imagine a world without the AFL ..."

Edited November 2, 20186 yr by Smokey

27 minutes ago, A F said:

RE: Bruce, he should have stayed retired and would have remained one of the greats. His reputation would have been further enhanced due to the lack of decent commentators these days. It speaks volumes about the state of commentary that Bruce even came back.

Commetti was the same too. He shouldn't have come back. Even he'd lost it.

RE: Essendon, they're still cheats. ?

When did Bruce retire? And when did Denis Cometti come back?

33 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

When did Bruce retire? And when did Denis Cometti come back?

Not sure how long ago now, but within the last 5-10 years. Both stopped commentating the game and returned. I'm not going crazy am I? That did happen?

17 minutes ago, A F said:

Not sure how long ago now, but within the last 5-10 years. Both stopped commentating the game and returned. I'm not going crazy am I? That did happen?

Maybe between Monday and Thursday?

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

He is annoying all the time. Should have reired at least 2 years ago

He employs researchers and is fed the stats during the game BTW.

My gripe is he just won't shut up.  Having watched replays numerous times of the cats and hawks finals its nauseating.

Just now, Demon17 said:

He employs researchers and is fed the stats during the game BTW.

My gripe is he just won't shut up.  Having watched replays numerous times of the cats and hawks finals its nauseating.

Agreed. He tells me stats of no interest. I don’t care how much research he has done. 

Call the game as you see it. Nothing more

Mike Williamson was my favourite footy commentator, he called the game with the exact amount of excitement and nothing more. 

4 hours ago, chook fowler said:

Why not. Damn them for eternity.

Original sin

It worked for christianity and satan

2 hours ago, Smokey said:

Do I like it? No. Can I appreciate the reasons for it - absolutely. 

I can appreciate it in the sense of understand it.  But damme if I will ever appreciate it the sense of value, respect, prize, cherish, treasure, admire,

Funnily enough footy seemed pretty good to me in the 60's when it wasn't a profit making venture.

3 hours ago, Smokey said:

People complaining about the fact the dons got more primetime games even though we are a better performing team seem to forget that the AFL is a business.

The goal of a business is to maximize profits. The dons will make more money than we could in primetime slots due to their significantly larger supporter base. It's really as simple as that.

 

We know this Smokey, but it doesnt make it right especially when you hear the Gill and his cohorts bang on about rewarding teams that play and win finals. 

3 hours ago, daisycutter said:

i understand the afl is obsessed with profit, it is self evident.

the afl was originally setup with the agreement (and behest) of the clubs because the individual clubs could never agree on most issues and they needed an organisation which could fairly look after the interests of all clubs,  and grow and protect the sport. it is a not-for-profit organisation that wasn't specifically setup just "to maximise profits".

however, the afl has over time more and more put the pursuit of profits as its highest priority and often only played lip service to the interests of the lesser successful clubs, or the fairness of the competition

Unfortunately when they link the salary packages of key staff into revenues/profits that's what we get.

As a not for profit this should never happen or be allowed to happen.

18 hours ago, hemingway said:

It’s a kind of payback.

The AFL can say what they like but  it’s a way of saying sorry. 

Despite the so called professionalism it is still a boys club and I can tell you that Bill Kelty has Gil in his pocket.

Bill is the most powerful and influential person on the Commision and one of the most crazy and passionate Bomber supporters on the planet. 

If Gil crossed Bill, his carcass would be hanging in AFL House in no time.  

 

Well maybe we should just wish that Gil crosses Bill then

1 hour ago, dino rover said:

Original sin

It worked for christianity and satan

Don't wish that upon Salem and Petracca.

2 hours ago, dino rover said:

Original sin

It worked for christianity and satan

Bring it back.

44 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Well maybe we should just wish that Gil crosses Bill then

Don't wish that upon Salem and Petracca.

Christians within a demon worshipping entity

Still i suppose you will find a Virginia working at the daily planet occasionally 

7 hours ago, Smokey said:

People complaining about the fact the dons got more primetime games even though we are a better performing team seem to forget that the AFL is a business.

The what??? How long's that been going on?

The goal of a business is to maximize profits.

Got it. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

 

 

But what's this ...?

8 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Because the AFL is a competition of many things. One of them involves tradition. Another is that a large group of Australians support Essendon and through no fault of their own have been made to suffer the ignominy of supporting a club that brought the game into disrepute. Those followers deserve something in return for continuing to support the AFL competition.

Yes, it's EFC being talked about but the point stays the same. There's a lot more to sport and a sporting competition than dollars and cents.

Remember all those blokes over the years who marched into footy clubs and sternly said "we're going to run this like a business! No room for sentiment and other bulls**t here!" Ranald Mcdonald anyone? Rod Butterss? Just two that spring to mind.

And they quickly found, hey ... it's not like a menswear wholesaler. It's not like a joinery shop. It's not just dollars and cents ... there's emotion ... hope ... blood sweat tears ... and something else intangible.

Footy clubs are not just businesses. They are more like tribal emblems. They make up people's very identities. Yes, they need money to exist and therefore [censored] an eye in the direction of revenue. But they do not exist simply to make profits.

The AFL is much much bigger than any club has has much more inertia built in to withstand the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.  But even they may find that a comp geared exclusively toward the balance sheet is at risk of killing the goose that laid the golden egg. By extension, a comp that plays favourites too much, in service of the balance sheet, may in the long run be doing itself a disservice.

The AFL has to treat every club (even the EFC) as a talisman to be cared for and not just an entry in the revenue column. Balancing the books for a sporting comp should mean much more than just red or black ink.

4 hours ago, sue said:

I can appreciate it in the sense of understand it.  But damme if I will ever appreciate it the sense of value, respect, prize, cherish, treasure, admire,

Just a long shot, but have I perchance identified a Flashman enthusiast?

18 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Just a long shot, but have I perchance identified a Flashman enthusiast?

sorry no, just someone who reads too many old novels.

18 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

The what??? How long's that been going on?

Got it. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

 

 

But what's this ...?

Yes, it's EFC being talked about but the point stays the same. There's a lot more to sport and a sporting competition than dollars and cents.

Remember all those blokes over the years who marched into footy clubs and sternly said "we're going to run this like a business! No room for sentiment and other bulls**t here!" Ranald Mcdonald anyone? Rod Butterss? Just two that spring to mind.

And they quickly found, hey ... it's not like a menswear wholesaler. It's not like a joinery shop. It's not just dollars and cents ... there's emotion ... hope ... blood sweat tears ... and something else intangible.

Footy clubs are not just businesses. They are more like tribal emblems. They make up people's very identities. Yes, they need money to exist and therefore [censored] an eye in the direction of revenue. But they do not exist simply to make profits.

The AFL is much much bigger than any club has has much more inertia built in to withstand the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.  But even they may find that a comp geared exclusively toward the balance sheet is at risk of killing the goose that laid the golden egg. By extension, a comp that plays favourites too much, in service of the balance sheet, may in the long run be doing itself a disservice.

The AFL has to treat every club (even the EFC) as a talisman to be cared for and not just an entry in the revenue column. Balancing the books for a sporting comp should mean much more than just red or black ink.

unfortunately, the AFL and CA are killing the goose.

just talking with my son about how much we used to look forward to the cricket and footy season having had a complete break from the other. one returned the next season feeling eager and fresh and enthusiastic. 

however, with extending seasons and game played, spectators are losing interest due to saturation of coverage. 

its the way it is and its not going to change other than provide further fodder for broadcasting and the media. 

anyway its all been said before.