I wonder whether Essendon is actually playing the long game here. They have effectively admitted they made a mistake locking themselves into the Docklands ground thereby limiting them to maximum capacities whenever they play there of 55,000, or thereabouts. It has been said many times that they would like to relocate their tenancy to the MCG. This could be all part of a plan to (1) convince the AFL and the MCC to allow that tenancy relocation to occur and/or (2) make the AFL, as owner of the Docklands stadium, work harder to retain them as anchor tenants. 

Gerard Whately now advocating our game be swapped to Marvel.

3 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Gerard Whately now advocating our game be swapped to Marvel.

That little nerd should stick to horse racing

9 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Gerard Whately now advocating our game be swapped to Marvel.

[censored]   off Gerard.

Going off our last 5 years we would be far better off playing at Marvel...we don't exactly have a great MCG record.  Going to be rapt just to see footy in Melbourne again wherever that might be!

craig hutchison - who gerard works for - thinks that it should happen but that it won't happen

i now think it will, cos mfcss

Edited March 2, 20214 yr by whatwhatsaywhat

so I pay money for a MFC membership and a MCC membership and im going to miss out on a game.. if this happens I will be very angry. Move Essendon Hawthorn to Sunday at the G and Nth Port to Saturday night at Marvel.

 

 

Edited March 1, 20214 yr by Demon3

21 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

We’re just 1 of 10 sets of Victorian fans who desperately want to see their team play after a long absence.  Tribal hostilities aside, as a footy fan I want as many fans as possible to see their team. I expect our club to consider the greater good of the game in making their decision. 

We’re not an island. There are broader considerations to think of. And i would expect a benefit or concession to be received in return.

F... the greater good

36 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

I expect only members would be able to attend the Essendon game wherever it is played, so moving it only allows more spectators rather than raising additional revenue for the club.

Good point...IIRC the MCC pays a little per head to the home club for MCC attendance.

Bottom line is that all the clubs will take a hit to their balance sheets.

Scope for the away clubs to offer alternative big screen viewing and make a few dollars perhaps

I pay an MCC Membership each year as an MFC Supporter (and Member) 

if our game is moved, from a fixture that was already finalized by the AFL, i will be furious. 
Docklands is Essendrugs home ground, they signed the original contract. 
 

stand firm MFC. 

Shut your Cake ? Hole Whately 

54 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

We’re just 1 of 10 sets of Victorian fans who desperately want to see their team play after a long absence.  Tribal hostilities aside, as a footy fan I want as many fans as possible to see their team. I expect our club to consider the greater good of the game in making their decision. 

We’re not an island. There are broader considerations to think of. And i would expect a benefit or concession to be received in return.

garbage, I, for one do not care about the other teams supporters in this instance.

56 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Gerard Whately now advocating our game be swapped to Marvel.

Another person of irrelevance.

1 hour ago, Better days ahead said:

We’re just 1 of 10 sets of Victorian fans who desperately want to see their team play after a long absence.  Tribal hostilities aside, as a footy fan I want as many fans as possible to see their team. I expect our club to consider the greater good of the game in making their decision. 

We’re not an island. There are broader considerations to think of. And i would expect a benefit or concession to be received in return.

I respect your opinion on this, and I consider myself someone who is pretty civic minded and supports fairness, but in this instance i couldn't disagree more about moving.

In addition to the points I have made previously I'd at the following ones:

• Its our home game at our home ground. The bombers are talking about moving their home game from their home ground. Makes no sense at all.
• The bombers made a decision to make Docklands their home ground. IIRC they had the option of making the G their home ground but chose the Docklands because with the deal they brokered they thought they would make more money there. Erroneously as it turns out
• They chose the Docklands over the g knowing that full well that with a capacity of 50k there would be occasions where their fans would be disenfranchised and no be vale to secure tickets. IIRC this was the cause of a fair bit of angst from bomber's fans and comes up as an issue whenever the ground is likely to sell out - and has come up again for much the same reason
• The docklands is the bomber's bed. A bed they sought out for profit. They can lie in it.
• How would people go with the idea of the Cats asking for a similar swap away from Kardinia park?
• We are the oldest football club in the word and have played at the G for 140 odd years. History is important.
• In reality how many extra fans would actually be able to attend? We might get say 35k people to the game if it is played at the G. In that scenario  only 15k extra people would be able to attend. 
• The MCC members should be factored into the equation. It is their ground. And the majority of members are dees fans. Why should those members be disenfranchised? (note: i'm not a a member)
• Grand finals are played at the G. not docklands. Our record has not been great at the G in the last few years and we need to take every single opportunity to play games there
• The Docklands is a soulless, rubbish venue that most fans hate going to. I certainly do. Why should i and other fans have to have a lesser experience because the bombers want to play their game at our home ground
• The AFL should recognize the fixturing rubbish we put up with last year and shut down the talk about a move
• Why is this only coming out now - two weeks before the game? Surely the time for the bombers to address this was prior to the fixture being announced, or if not then soon after (ie last December).
• People, businesses, the MFC, the MCC etc etc  have made plans based on the fixture. It is just not on to make any changes this late in the day.
• On the above point, like many fans, the thing I missed the most is watching the dees play at the G. And have been waiting a long time for this day. I have made plans. I have been waiting with keen anticipation. Now two weeks out the bombers want to mess with this because they couldn't get their act together to advocate for the change three months ago? 
• I will be furious if there is a change and we have to play docklands. Furious. And I suspect I wont be the only MFC fan to feel that way.
• If the club does a deal that fury would directed at the MFC and in addition to causing reputational damage would very likely impact on membership sales, offsetting any financial benefit a 'deal' might bring us.
• No likely financial deal or any compensation would offset the impact of a move
• Who knows what might happen this year. What if there is another wave and the clubs have to go into another bubble? Say the wave comes after round one. And we don't get another chance to play at the G all season. Bird in the hand. Fury magnified.
• Football is tribal. And if there is one club i have no desire to 'help out, it is the bombers who were guilty of the most comprehensive, systemic program of cheating in the history of our sport. 

Edited March 1, 20214 yr by binman

39 minutes ago, rjay said:

F... the greater good

I could have saved myself 20 minutes of writing .....

41 minutes ago, rjay said:

F... the greater good

Well argued. No wonder our politics is stuffed.

10 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

garbage, I, for one do not care about the other teams supporters in this instance.

constructive as ever DD. Hopefully you never end up being my neighbor.

3 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Well argued. No wonder our politics is stuffed.

But this isn't politics. This is football. Football is passion. 

7 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Well argued. No wonder our politics is stuffed.

What is there to argue?

Fixture is out.

We're playing on the G that Saturday.

Oh and the primary assumption of your "argument"  is flawed as MFC should be able to get close to 50% of MCG capacity for Rd 1.

Aaaannnd putting the nosed of Hawks and Dons fans out of joint... is a bonus.

Edited March 1, 20214 yr by PaulRB

8 minutes ago, binman said:

I respect your opinion on this, and I consider myself someone who is pretty civic minded and supports fairness, but in this instance i couldn't disagree more about moving.

In addition to the points I have made previously I'd at the following ones:

• Its our home game at our home ground. The bombers are talking about moving their home game from their home ground. Makes no sense at all.
• The bombers made a decision to make Docklands their home ground. IIRC they had the option of making the G their home ground but chose the Docklands because with the deal they brokered they thought they would make more money there. Erroneously as it turns out
• They chose the Docklands over the g knowing that full well that with a capacity of 50k there would be occasions where their fans would be disenfranchised and no be vale to secure tickets. IIRC this was the cause of a fair bit of angst from bomber's fans and comes up as an issue whenever the ground is likely to sell out - and has come up again for much the same reason
• The docklands is the bomber's bed. A bed they sought out for profit. They can lie in it.
• How would people go with the idea of the Cats asking for a similar swap away from Kardinia park?
• We are the oldest football club in the word and have played at the G for 140 odd years. History is important.
• In reality how many extra fans would actually be able to attend? We might get say 35k people to the game if it is played at the G. In that scenario  only 15k extra people would be able to attend. 
• The MCC members should be factored into the equation. It is their ground. And the majority of members are dees fans. Why should those members be disenfranchised? (note: i'm not a a member)
• Grand finals are played at the G. not docklands. Our record has not been great at the G in the last few years and we need to take every single opportunity to play games there
• The Docklands is a soulless, rubbish venue that most fans hate going to. I certainly do. Why should i and other fans have to have a lesser experience because the bombers want to play their game at our home ground
• The AFL should recognize the fixturing rubbish we put up with last year and shut down the talk about a move
• Why is this only coming out now - two weeks before the game? Surely the time for the bombers to address this was prior to the fixture being announced, or if not then soon after (ie last December).
• People, businesses, the MFC, the MCC etc etc  have made plans based on the fixture. It is just not on to make any changes this late in the day.
• On the above point, like many fans, the thing I missed the most is watching the dees play at the G. And have been waiting a long time for this day. I have made plans. I have been waiting with keen anticipation. Now two weeks out the bombers want to mess with this because they couldn't get their act together to advocate for the change three months ago? 
• I will be furious if there is a change and we have to play docklands. Furious. And I suspect I wont be the only MFC fan to feel that way.
• If the club does a deal that fury would directed at the MFC and in addition to causing reputational damage would very likely impact on membership sales, offsetting any financial benefit a 'deal' might bring us.
• No likely financial deal or any compensation would offset the impact of a move
• Who knows what might happen this year. What if there is another wave and the clubs have to go into another bubble? Say the wave comes after round one. And we don't get another chance to play at the G all season. Bird in the hand. Fury magnified.
• Football is tribal. And if there is one club i have no desire to 'help out, it is the bombers who were guilty of the most comprehensive, systemic program of cheating in the history of our sport. 

Thanks for respectfully arguing your point. I appreciate it.

7 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

constructive as ever DD. Hopefully you never end up being my neighbor.

Funny you should say that, I am moving shortly.

There are surely financial expectations that should see this idea sink quickly... surely MFC gate is going to be significantly higher if the game is at the G? How do you compensate them? How do you compensate MCC supporters that would have to pay to watch them at Marvel?

I rang Whately this morning and made a suggestion similar to Dr Gonzo's yesterday.

1) Move GWS V St Kilda to Saturday night 7:25pm

2) Move Essendon V Hawthorn to Sunday 3:20pm

Everyone's a winner:

Essendon and Hawthorn get their MCG wish

GWS and St Kilda get some Saturday night exposure

Channel 7 don't miss out as both games are on channel 7 regardless

Melbourne keep their MCG game as is, and Freo get their one and only MCG game for the year.

Whately called the idea "pragmatic."

I can't see anybody is playing at the MCG on Sunday. Why don't they just move the Essendon game from Marvel on Saturday to the MCG on Sunday? (I'm sure there's some broadcaster issue......)

It’s Clary’s 100 game. Both he and we deserve to celebrate that milestone at the G.

FO Essendon.

If we get screwed on this I will lose it

We should instantly put in a request to have round two moved to the G from Marvel