Where will we play the Lions?

[Demon3 2,541]

i was against the GABAB originally, but get a full crowd in, make it an event, beat them at home.

[BDA 22,875]

1 hour ago, binman said:

Why?

First up, I’ll acknowledge the fact the fixture is compromised anyways because of the 17-5 split which has a big bearing on final standings. But that aside.

We know home ground advantage is real. We saw it work in full effect when we played Adelaide. Apart from the home crowd influence there are ground conditions, dimensions and also the travel factor which all advantage the home team.

To maintain fair and even competition teams typically play each other home and away alternately. It’s the way its done in all leagues the world over. There are exceptions such as playing games in developing markets and selling games for financial purposes. Both of these exceptions are quite prevalent in AFL but I can’t think of too many overseas examples. Definitely not in any big European leagues.

If teams play more games at home they gain an unfair advantage. What’s to stop financially secure clubs taking advantage of smaller clubs. Secure more home games increases their chances of success. Compromises integrity in my view and shouldn’t be allowed. I get financial security is vital and I understand why clubs sell their games but if financial considerations drive these decisions then the whole league financing model needs to be re-visited.

[Superunknown 4,223]

Play this in Sydney/Giants, get up there ASAP and acclimate. That's nearly 2 weeks for NT quarantine.

With nearly 2 weeks quarantine out of the way, and daily testing, we should be able to take the Pies QBW to Alice, get the 700k (TBC $), hopefully the 4 points and head into the bye. Tell them we split the 700k with them if they split the gate next year, and if they won't go, insist to the AFL we get QBW@home next year.

If things go t*ts up in Vic in that time - head to the sunny coast (or NNSW!) - no restrictions on Vic entries and then we have the Bombers after the bye, can take that to the yoGabbaGabba, Sydney, or take it to Alice if the Pies don't want to. Then we have the Giants loction TBC and Suns @ Metricon. Month on the road. 3 MCG games moved, maybe. Probably want to try and get the Bombers at the G with some crowds but they have the gate so happy to shift that to Alice!

Anyway, we're not paid to solve the AFL's problems, give us a call to arrange Dill!

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,272]

51 minutes ago, Demonland said:

This is why we will not be playing at the Gabba.

St. Kilda struggling to get an exemption to play and then stay in Cairns for the next week.

I would imagine QLD would be telling the AFL that they (Saints) can hub in Sydney for a week and then come to Cairns the following week.

If they offered a FIFO to the Saints I'm sure the Saints would prefer to play in Sydney this week and then travel to Cairns the next week.

To the Gabba guys would you prefer to play in Sydney this week with proper match day preparation or would you like a FIFO of the Gabba scenario? I doubt we will even be offered this from QLD but if on offer would you take it?

Sorry if this has been asked/answered elsewhere, but have the Lions been able to have a normal week of preparation while we have presumably been able to have next to none, which situation continues at least until we get to un-locked-down territory i.e., no earlier than tomorrow and possibly not until Friday?

[Nasher 33,617]

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

This is why we will not be playing at the Gabba.

St. Kilda struggling to get an exemption to play and then stay in Cairns for the next week.

I would imagine QLD would be telling the AFL that they (Saints) can hub in Sydney for a week and then come to Cairns the following week.

If they offered a FIFO to the Saints I'm sure the Saints would prefer to play in Sydney this week and then travel to Cairns the next week.

To the Gabba guys would you prefer to play in Sydney this week with proper match day preparation or would you like a FIFO of the Gabba scenario? I doubt we will even be offered this from QLD but if on offer would you take it?

I’d prefer the stability of Sydney than FIFO in to Brisbane. I accept Sydney is the better choice if we want the opportunity to prepare properly. 

It’s just the being afraid of boogie monsters in the crowd at the Gabba that I reject. The hostile crowd will soon shut their traps once we get on a roll and we’re good enough to do that.

To be perfectly honest, I fully understand the anti-Gabba argument and if I were a decision maker, I’d choose Sydney for the same reasoning as those above. But I’m not a decision maker, so I’m prepared to let my testosterone decide for me, and it’s decided we’re 10-1 and wants to give a big F U to one of our fellow contenders and fleece their supporters for gate receipts in the process. At the moment I’m the footy fan equivalent of an invincible 18 year old male.

[Supreme_Demon 3,899]

I am not against playing this game at Giants Stadium or at the SCG. At least both are neutral grounds.

To play against the currently red hot Brisbane Lions at the GABBA would be a distinct disadvantage to us and we should not take such a risk.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,274]

2 hours ago, binman said:

Why?

North tried to sell a home game to WCE last year I think and the AFL said no

[Dr. Gonzo 24,274]

1 hour ago, Pollyanna said:

The financial issue for us is that currently we have ANZAC Eve and QBW both scheduled at home one year and away the next.

I thought we were originally scheduled away at both last year but I was wrong - we were scheduled at home for both.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-fixture-2020-full-draw-games-times-venues-for-afl-season-afl-fixture-2020-release-date-announcement/news-story/6fb855a74dddeb2747ce351599c22d47

So we could start alternating next year potentially if we keep Queens Bday and Richmond hosts ANZAC Eve in 2022. Collingwood would have to agree though which would be a hard sell I would imagine especially considering the likely revenue losses this year with their poor crowds.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,274]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Is it absolutely confirmed that the NT would not give us a payment.

After all it's them that are not allowing us into their state through absolutely no fault of our own.

I think some sort of compromise would be appropriate.

Surely we could move a game later in the year there. There's nothing to say it has to be this week, we could play Hawks or GWS there.

[old55 23,687]

1 minute ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

So we could start alternating next year potentially if we keep Queens Bday and Richmond hosts ANZAC Eve in 2022. Collingwood would have to agree though which would be a hard sell I would imagine especially considering the likely revenue losses this year with their poor crowds.

I think alternating is the way to go and we did get (a reduced) ANZAC Eve this year and will have missed QBW home game 3 years in a row (2019 was Collingwood home game) so they could give it to us next year.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,274]

1 minute ago, Pollyanna said:

I think alternating is the way to go and we did get (a reduced) ANZAC Eve this year and will have missed QBW home game 3 years in a row (2019 was Collingwood home game) so they could give it to us next year.

Collingwood also hosted ANZAC Day this year, so if they give up Queens Birthday next year it means they would be in the same situation we are currently in (2 blockbusters one year, 0 the next)

[old dee 23,871]

12 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Collingwood also hosted ANZAC Day this year, so if they give up Queens Birthday next year it means they would be in the same situation we are currently in (2 blockbusters one year, 0 the next)

My heart bleeds!

[Demonland 73,139]

32 minutes ago, Nasher said:

It’s just the being afraid of boogie monsters in the crowd at the Gabba that I reject. The hostile crowd will soon shut their traps once we get on a roll and we’re good enough to do that.

That's what I thought going to Adelaide. Brisbane are a much better team than Adelaide.

[Nasher 33,617]

7 minutes ago, Demonland said:

That's what I thought going to Adelaide. Brisbane are a much better team than Adelaide.

(I’m being devoured by my own hubris. Send help!)

[Demonland 73,139]

1 minute ago, Nasher said:

(I’m being devoured by my own hubris. Send help!)

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,272]

Max on RSN:

"We fly out Thursday"

As an afterthought to naming 5 NSW/Qld venues, "Optus Stadium"

 

[Docs Demons 1,792]

55 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Sorry if this has been asked/answered elsewhere, but have the Lions been able to have a normal week of preparation while we have presumably been able to have next to none, which situation continues at least until we get to un-locked-down territory i.e., no earlier than tomorrow and possibly not until Friday?

Up here in Brissie there is no restrictions so yes the Lions train as per normal

[Demonland 73,139]

1 minute ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Max on RSN:

"We fly out Thursday"

As an afterthought to naming 5 NSW/Qld venues, "Optus Stadium"

 

When would we have flown out to NT? Thursday? Wednesday (to do community stuff)?

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

50 minutes ago, Demonland said:

When would we have flown out to NT? Thursday? Wednesday (to do community stuff)?

Injured players, Casey and officials do community stuff, not those playing 

[Demonland 73,139]

 

[Clintosaurus 7,861]

What a joke HQ is. Other clubs already have total clarity and the team on top of the ladder has no clue other than flying somewhere on Thursday.

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,470]

Is it reasonable to think that we have no definite decision yet because the AFL are exhausting all possible avenues to getting our game played in Alice Springs ? You'd think that if the only decision to be made is whether we're playing at the SCG or Giants Stadium we'd already have an answer. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,627]

18 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Is it reasonable to think that we have no definite decision yet because the AFL are exhausting all possible avenues to getting our game played in Alice Springs ? You'd think that if the only decision to be made is whether we're playing at the SCG or Giants Stadium we'd already have an answer. 

money deal from the Gabba/Qld govt perhaps

Qld just paid $8M for the NRL State of Origin that was to be held in Melbourne

[Dr. Gonzo 24,274]

41 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

What a joke HQ is. Other clubs already have total clarity and the team on top of the ladder has no clue other than flying somewhere on Thursday.

I'd assume its more likely they're trying to negotiate whether we can get into Queensland

[Demonland 73,139]

 

LIKELY ROUND 12 FIXTURE (All times AEST)

Friday June 4

Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, Giants Stadium (7:50pm)

Saturday June 5

Sydney Swans v St Kilda, SCG (1:45pm)

Adelaide v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval (4:35pm)

Essendon v Richmond, Optus Stadium (7:40pm)

Sunday June 6

Carlton v West Coast Eagles, SCG (3:20pm)

Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium (6:40pm)