Redleg

Thought you played very well.

Think you summed it up pretty well.

As promised here is my email to the AFL and the response. You will note that the main question is not answered. I rang a few minutes ago and spoke to a nice young lady who again couldn't answer the main question of why I pay the same for less matches of my team than say Collingwood AFL members. Incidentally she did say it does sound a bit unfair. ENQUIRY TEXT=======As a Melbourne club support member of over 20 years can you advise why I pay the same subscription rate as Collingwood members who are able to watch their team 18 times in Victoria while I have about 14 to 15 games I can get into to see my team. My AFL membership does not allow entry to Geelong and the Interstate venues. I want to watch my team and I am being discriminated against in terms of opportunity and cost. WHY? I know I can go to other games but I am concerned with seeing my team, as a club support member. Also the AFL is forcing me to spend more if I have to travel interstate and then have to purchase tickets if available. Why? It seems discriminatory to some members of the AFL to be treated differently to others.=======ENQUIRY TEXT======= Thank you for your email. The AFL Membership product is not a club specific product. Regardless of which club you support, AFL Membership provides access to NAB Cup matches, 40 Home and Away matches and access to Finals ticketing. By selecting a club of support, allows you to contribute to your club financially. The AFL Membership package is based on access to matches at the MCG and Telstra Dome as these are the only two venues in Australia that have an AFL Reserve. As the interstate clubs control the seating arrangements for their home matches, only AFL Members holding a club support package of the home team will have entry rights, as their Club Support fee contributes to the gate admission costs. Kind Regards, EMILY BUYSEN * AFL Membership Relationship Officer140 Harbour Esplanade Docklands VIC 3008GPO Box 5275 Melbourne VIC 3001Ph +61 3 9643 1900 * Fax +61 3 9643 1800

He is certainly a big boy.

Very impressive young man. Said his dream would be to play with the Eagles. He may get his wish. At least they would know he is not heading home after two years. Interesting to hear him say his two favourite players were Jacko and Woosher and also that he has modelled his game on Cousins. He could be the replacement for him.

Absolutely. There is no excuse for drawing Victorian teams against Geelong at SS when the AFL is fully aware that only Geelong ticketholders will get in. It is another game that AFL membership is useless as well.

Did you also hear no Hodge, Lewis or Crawford.

You could pop into the boardroom and see the 2007 premiership cup.

Could be a long lost cousin.

Don't interstate AFL members pay a different rate?

I'm sure you are right, if I get a response.

Yes but as a club support member I wish to attend Melbourne games first and foremost. I have emailed the AFL and await their response. I can't see how it is fair that we pay the same as those who have more games to go to. If everyone played at Geelong and interstate the same number of times it wouldn't be an issue. We will see what the answer is.

I will write the letter and publish the answer on this board.

Round 12 Friday, Jun 13 Essendon vs. West Coast Telstra Dome (SEVEN) 7:40 pm Saturday, Jun 14 Western Bulldogs vs. Brisbane Lions MCG (TEN) 2:10 pm Fremantle vs. Kangaroos Subiaco (FOX) 2:10 pm Sydney vs. St. Kilda SCG (FOX) 7:10 pm Adelaide vs. Hawthorn AAMI Stadium (TEN) 7:10 pm Sunday, Jun 15 Geelong vs. Port Adelaide Skilled Stadium (FOX) 1:10 pm Collingwood vs. Carlton MCG (SEVEN) 2:10 pm Richmond vs. Melbourne Telstra Dome (FOX) 4:40 pm Can someone explain the logic of this round to me. Surely the AFL could see the logic in moving the "blockbuster" Dogs v Lions match to the Dome which is empty on Saturday or Sunday and then having either the Pies v Blues or Tigers V Dees played at the G on Saturday with the other on Sunday at the G ensuring a maximum crowd for all three matches. Is that not in the best interests of the game to maximise attendances. The Dogs home ground is the Dome anyway. Please explain.

Why do Melbourne FC/AFL members have to pay the same price for their membership as say Collingwood/AFL members who have more games in Melbourne to attend. You cannot use your AFL membership to get into Skilled Stadium or the Interstate venues. Why do we pay the same price for less matches?

Well the obvious question is, what do we do about it, beside the equally obvious answer of win more games. We can see that teams with poor years like Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood a couple of years ago still get the best draws. It is inarguably unfair to have rigged draws but given that it is the system we play under what is the answer?

Concise.

Agree with most of what you say, but you will have to agree that a poor draw is a factor in making success more difficult. Collingwood's favourable draw each season makes it easier to make the finals. Less travel, more time for preparation and recovery, less dislocation to daily return including work and home life, more normal sleep patterns, home crowd and effect on umpires plus other factors all emenate from the draw. It does have an effect, but as you say we are going to have to force our way out of the situation we are in. Stronger leadership and more mental toughness and a combined team ethos of not accepting defeat and doing anything to win will turn it around. Also a good run with injuries won't hurt either.

And what issue or contribution do you base that view on?

Maybe we should really be concentrating on how we build up attendances to be seen as a power club. I have an idea, what if we "WIN" more often.

I would pose the following question " who of our delistings should we reselect" ? Why is it then that we should pick up every delisting from every other club ? I am amazed how every time a new delisting is named there are those seeking their selection by us. Are we the league dumping ground? I am not suggesting that we won't gamble on a delisted player who we see something in, but lets all show some restraint.

Headland got off because the tribunal found Selwood said the words alleged. So it is OK to belt someone and then again an hour later, in a game, if they say nasty things about your family. Then at the same tribunal in the next case, they found that Selwood did not say those nasty things he was alleged and found to have said. See how simple things are at the AFL.

What if they have done a deal to take Mitch Morton's brother ? Have heard this morning that Morton's family is moving to Melbourne as two brothers are here already.

I have owned up to it. See my earlier post. Thanks for your effort, you certainly put in the kilometres.

Could this happen? Carlton is seriously looking at Cotchin as its pick. Ratten was quoted as saying they are divided 2/2 on Kreuzer/Cotchin. There is the view that some highly regarded junior ruckmen don't make it in the AFL. If Cotchin goes 1 and Morton 2 would the Eagles take Kreuzer or maybe a midfielder like Palmer/Masten who may go straight into the side and replace Cousins/Judd. If this scenario unfolds we will have Kreuzer available at 4. Might be pie in the sky but who knows.