7 hours ago, Oxdee said:

Agree. The crowd was abysmal. It’s as if dees supporters have already given up on the season. There was no crowd noise when we kicked a goal. 
wouldn’t surprise me that the players would have seen the attendance and also switched off. Hate to say it but dees fans are fair weather supporters 

I like watching good, hard, competitive sport. I don't trust that we're going to produce it.

Coming off a straight sets finals exit last year, our crowd turned up ready to rumble vs Coll in the first final, only for the players to come out with the intensity of a pre season game. They lost trust. The whole club proceeded to blame an unfortunate injury in the 1st quarter of that match for our season's demise instead of the astonishing level to which our players got out-muscled and out-hustled to start that match. It was yet another indication of how little this club understands of how to harness the passion of the supporters.

The players and FD have fumbled a golden opportunity to regain trust within the supporter base, and respect across the football world, over the last couple of years.

I also don't trust our senior players. I don't trust that they will not lose way too many genuine one on one contests, or that they won't make the most calamitous mistakes that belie their level of experience. I have no idea what it is about what we expect of our senior players that sees such inconsistency with them.

TLDR. I don't really enjoy how the MFC goes about competing.

Honestly though is anyone surprised? Some here really understate the impact two straight finals exits had on the supporter base. In particular last year.

Combine the media bombardment this past 12 months and honestly it's become exhausting fronting up to watch them. The style of football we play is rarely enjoyable which makes it tougher to justify the cost to go to a game when that style is combined with poor performance. 

I personally need a break. Afternoon games are doable but I'm not leaving my family in the dead of winter to go watch a frustrating brand of football in freezing conditions. i did it in 2022 and 2023 and had it spat back in my face 4 consecutive times in finals.

1800km of distance and a cost of living crisis

I just chucked your soap box on the burn pile 

As someone who used to go to every single game week in, week out, rain hail or shine, I have sat through some of the most worst games. Remember the Neeld years! When I moved regionally, it made it a little harder as it's a 4 hour train journey there and back especially playing at the G. 7.30pm games mean I don't get home til after 12am (that's if the trains are running on time) or if there's no trespasser on the train tracks.  Other times, V/Line has closed the entire line so it is a very long journey. 

I hold two premium reserved seats...and I've held these for many years. I haven't been to a game this year. Family reasons - death of my father at the start of the season after his battle with cancer and only four weeks ago my beautiful dog was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He's just under 10 years. He's having chemo and I have to monitor him for any changes. I'm too devastated with grief.  I love my team and I would be at all of the games like I have for many years! Right now, I have to look after myself and my dog. :-(

I used to get worked up about fans not going to the games. But I’ve come to accept it for what it is.

We have a hard core of 16k fans that will turn up hail or shine. I think they’re great. But I’m not going to guilt trip others who prefer to support from afar or make alternative arrangements for their Saturday night. It’s their life. Let them be.

51 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

If you have the right to spew vitriolic comments about one of our players, then she has the right to be critical of your comments

I think @Abyssal has stated he does not "spew vitriolic" statements about MFC players. I think he goes into bat for those who do, which has created the confusion.

1 hour ago, Neil Crompton said:

@Abyssal If, by some chance, you are referring to WCW with your non-too cryptic remark, I’m sure that, if she possibly wanted too, she could well claim the crown as the most loyal supporter we have. But she’d never do that because I think you and some other DL’s totally misunderstand where,I believe, she is coming from. It’s obvious that she loves the club and the players so much that she cannot abide anyone disparaging their name. They are truely like sons (and daughters to her) and as such won’t hear a bad word said against them. Imagine if your son received some of the same vitriol that our players are often subjected to on this site. I think you would react to that - I know I would. Perhaps, for her own good, (and not yours) WCW should be banned from the match day thread once the game has begun, and the post match thread for at least a day after a completed match (unless of course if we win).

WCW might be deranged (my affectionate term for her), but do realise it’s her sons and daughters playing out there - so beware. If you have the right to spew vitriolic comments about one of our players, then she has the right to be critical of your comments. We are all different, just understand and accept that. Despite her “derangedness”, she can light up DL, and for me, and I’m sure many others, she makes this site a whole lot better than it would be without her.

I concur with Neil Crompton's comments re WCW. Demonland would be the poorer without her contributions and I enjoy reading them. 

Keep up the good work WCW and I'm glad you are a staunch Demon.

 

50 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

WCW should be banned from the match day thread once the game has begun, and the post match thread for at least a day after a completed match (unless of course if we win).

 

This is a great idea. I’ll self-impose this ban from here on in and I’ll direct my derangedness elsewhere for the duration of the weekly ban period.

*tells her teenage son to brace himself for some extra hours of craziness every week*

😁😁😁

 

 

Loveya NC xxx

 

21 hours ago, Doug Reemer said:

16k at a Saturday Prime Time Home game.

I was there. If you weren’t whats your excuse? Want other clubs to respect us and stop saying we don’t turn up? Get off your [censored] and stick fat!

I was elsewhere, living in Adelaide with a birthday party to attend within the family. I did watch the telecast that was disappointing to say the least - and have felt ill all day with such a result to the game.

As to the O.P.   I applaud your passion.

To the  notion of 'excuse' ....hmmmmm..  in reality...DILLIGAF ?? ..  if you're still wondering ....that's a NO.   But again I do get what you're hoping....i.e more attend. 

That not so many do... well....   There are those here who sat through any and various games in the 60's ...70's  80's.. ( some a particularly horrible game in sep 88 v Hawks ) .. 90's ..Noughties.. and even the next decade ...whatever it's called..  Here we are in the new 20's..  started with a bang...   now not so much.

As with any battle the 'axe' ( to grind ) and the mantle worn by those  now emboldened to weild it , is a righteous passage to endure.

Go you good attendees..  Been there, done that...get there when I want.  That last word is the contextual pivot.  Ppl will attend as as when they can, as and when they want. It's a personal thing... Let THEM choose....  and just enjoy that you do.

Go Dees

If there is one thing that this thread proves it's the fact that people shouldn't be made to feel guilty about not attending.

Mental health, terminal illness, cost of living, financial stress..

There's more to life then attending a game of footy. I saw the crowd number last night and I honestly couldn't have given it two thoughts even though I have previously been critical of crowd attendance.

The only thing I wanted for the whole night was the win, everything else didn't matter to me.

Kudos to the people who braved the cold last night. I live nearly 4 hours away and play local footy on a Saturdays so that automatically rules me out. I can't wait for retirement from  footy because it means I can certainly commit more to getting down for a night or two to watch a few games.

Last lived in Melbourne back in 2018 and went to a fair few games. That year was by far one of the more enjoyable years of attending live footy. I remember attending the last game against the giants at the MCG and you could feel the excitement and buzz around the area because we'd pretty much just consolidated our spot in the finals for the first time in 12 years and the pubs after the game was buzzing with Melbourne supporters!

The finals experience that year was absolutely next level. Even the 2022 and 2023 finals series just didn't have that type of atmosphere that we had back in 2018.

Edited July 28, 2024Jul 28 by dazzledavey36

5 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Not sure if you’re serious (?)

I hope you’re not, but if you are:

Why is it that people can’t attend most or all matches and at the same time lead a ‘complete and full life’?

 I’m so over this notion that one can’t do both. It IS possible.

Your comment about clubs ‘praying [sic] on the poor…’ by ‘sucking out whatever dole or pension money they have…’ is profoundly supercilious and reeks of condescension.

 But the peak of your hauteur is this: ‘Our supporters are too intelligent and too interesting to expose themselves to a cold, wet night…’

Really, REALLY???

If you were being facetious, disregard the above but maybe consider making the tone of your posts clear thereby avoiding gravely insulting someone (friendly advice).

Thanks WCW

9 hours ago, Oxdee said:

 Hate to say it but dees fans are fair weather supporters 

I don't think that's the right way to look at it. We have a very small supporter base, but those core 20,000 people who turn up regularly are very rusted-on and not fair-weather at all. The big teams like Collingwood have legions of fair-weather supporters, because they catch all the people who want to support the "popular" team and go along with the crowd, only caring when they're hot. 

I have a season ticket that gives me access to priority level one finals tickets but I wouldn't be against our ticket allocation being weighted towards season ticket holders of any level that have attended the most home & away games. It should at least count for something I think. Perhaps a minimum threshold of 7 out of 10 home games to qualify? Just a thought. 

Edited July 28, 2024Jul 28 by Rab D Nesbitt

I'm in Thailand .... err .... absorbing ..... the local attractions.

Seems preferable.

Just now, Bitter but optimistic said:

I'm in Thailand .... err .... absorbing ..... the local attractions.

Seems preferable.

Your response..  Phuket... no doubt then ...

10 hours ago, Demonsterative said:

To be fair Oxdee, the weather was not good…. 

It was 8 degrees without a drop of rain. It’s a normal winter night. 

11 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Your response..  Phuket... no doubt then ...

Further north. ( Which in this context could be deemed an odd comment )

16 minutes ago, Oxdee said:

It was 8 degrees without a drop of rain. It’s a normal winter night. 

Definitely not “fair weather” Oxdee

9 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Further north. ( Which in this context could be deemed an odd comment )

Mate ..that's Gold !! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

42 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

I have a season ticket that gives me access to priority level one finals tickets but I wouldn't be against our ticket allocation being weighted towards season ticket holders of any level that have attended the most home & away games. It should at least count for something I think. Perhaps a minimum threshold of 7 out of 10 home games to qualify? Just a thought. 

What about priority 1 members who live interstate? 
 

Edited July 28, 2024Jul 28 by Bombay Airconditioning

it was my birthday-went out for dinner and drinks

It wouldn't prevent you logging on to buy your finals tix BA. It would just add people who regularly attend most home games to the mix. I think each competing team get something like 17,500 for a final, perhaps more if it's against an interstate side. I also understand that a lot of category one members have been paying for the GFG over a lot of years knowing we haven't a hope in hell of playing finals. 

Level 2 in the Northern Stand was three quarters empty on Saturday night and that area would make up a sizeable chunk of our category one members. It's not for me to tell people how to best spend their time and I enjoyed not having to queue for a beer but there's no doubt it's a bad look. 

So many mates have tagged me in photos of the empty MCG and it’s embarrassing. I was there with my 6 month old and although freezing I’ll forever make the effort to go and support the boys.

I know everyone has their reasons of not going and that’s fine but we really don’t show up much do we. 
Hopefully in years to come that changes 

7 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Not sure if you’re serious (?)

I hope you’re not, but if you are:

Why is it that people can’t attend most or all matches and at the same time lead a ‘complete and full life’?

 I’m so over this notion that one can’t do both. It IS possible.

Your comment about clubs ‘praying [sic] on the poor…’ by ‘sucking out whatever dole or pension money they have…’ is profoundly supercilious and reeks of condescension.

 But the peak of your hauteur is this: ‘Our supporters are too intelligent and too interesting to expose themselves to a cold, wet night…’

Really, REALLY???

If you were being facetious, disregard the above but maybe consider making the tone of your posts clear thereby avoiding gravely insulting someone (friendly advice).

I’m glad I hit the mark. I’m not serious. I just find the question annoying so I played into stereotypes. There’s many ways to support the club, not going doesn’t make you less. I go all the time, like a lot of the rabble on here.