Diamond_Jim

I'd like to know a little more on that score. If true it's simply abhorrent. The pressure on boys/young men to perform is enormous in this game. Add to that the world of social media and it is an unbelievable cauldron.

In my childhood days I also worked at various football grounds mainly as a purveyor of overpriced lollies and drinks. At some grounds my employer also had the pie selling franchise... it was "hands on" to say the least. My favourite memories were of the hot dog selling ladies where the southern stand joined the northern stand. They had a 44 gallon drum or similar full of water with a gas ring beneath it. Into this marvellous tub went the hot dogs ... soon to emerge as items of culinary delight. If it was a good earning day which wasn't often we would treat ourselves to a bag of jam donuts after work. If I think about it the food at the MCG hasn't really come on that much in 40 plus years.

now you're starting to understand Eden Gardens in Kolkata the chow veg roll sellers are of another world

not many children in those shoe boxes in the cbd and even then North Melbourne is probably closer to many. Southbank is relatively well serviced by Port Melbourne ovals

that and taking the air out of the exposure window for other sports

T20 came from the English Counties... so the other way may be possible. I liked the community feel of the early AFLW. Seems that the AFL want an immediate television success which perhaps explains the approach.

not meaning to be facetious but I suspect there aren't that many children in the immediate area. The nearest concentration would probably be at the Collingwood and Richmond high rise areas. Heard on the radio this morning that the Bulldogs got another $5M today to upgrade the Whitten oval. Cannot find a link

Don't disagree with the concept but why not trial it at VFL and AFLW level. Similarly get the kids playing at school etc. Even bring a team or two from overseas if the scheduling allows. Then if and when the momentum and demand are there move it to the seniors level. It would also have the benefit of giving the VFL players exposure similar to the big bash. At the moment it just has too much of a gimmick factor to it and is heading for a flash in the pan type destiny. I could be wrong but it just seems to me they have the cart before the horse. PS: I particularly like the idea of playing on a rectangular field but why play it at Docklands where the crowd is then miles from the action. My first game at AAMI park during the Soccer Asian Cup blew my mind at how close you could be to the action.

Not sure if people remember but around the same time as the ODI's started there was 6 a side cricket. They played internationals in Hong Kong if I recall. Never really took off, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Cricket_Sixes

nothing like Eden Gardens in Kolkata when India are playing England in a one dayer

A somewhat apposite article about the members of a golf club adjoining the Wimbledon tennis complex selling out: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/13/wimbledon-to-expand-after-golf-club-members-vote-to-sell-for-65m "Debate over the merits of the takeover had fractured the peace and tranquillity of the golf club’s fairways, laid out on parkland created by Capability Brown in the 18th century. “It’s like Brexit,” Devons, said. “You are either for it or against it. The offer split members and put decades-long golf partnerships on the rocks.” mind you each of the members picked up a cool $170K or thereabouts

Agree.. but they had they had that with the format from last year. This is entering the theatre of the absurd.

okay.. let's turn this thread on its head and ask why in the hell the AFL would go for this. In the world of the so called "thought bubble" this would not last for a millisecond. We're all missing something. First there is the game itself... okay it's not the best and needs some work but in these days of "fast sport" and the need to play on smaller ovals (rectangles) another version makes some degree of sense. But why turn a fiasco into an utterly unbelievable piece of#$%^. My only explanation is that they actually want to spoof the whole thing up (think World Championship wrestling). I'm lost.. the AFL are dumb sometimes but they are never this dumb.

have always thought that part of the arms race will include specialised AFL training equipment. Could be fun thinking of what they might come up with Do they use the machine that shoots the footy out (a la clay pigeon targets) at training?

T20 was born in England county cricket and remained there for a while before being introduced as a state based comp here in the form of BBL and of course the IPL. It was well and truly tried and tested before it moved to the top tier. The game needs to be trialled and perfected a lower levels with the public then demanding the game at the higher level. You can't force it on people.

This is the stuff straight out of Rob Sitch's Utopia ... amazing

good point but I suspect they are talking of the premises lease. The pokies will stay somewhere or other and are "owned" by EFC RSL clubs are fading as they have high upkeep costs with limited revenues. Not to say that the activities of the RSL are fading but one has to question the need for exclusive establishments used for drinking in the main. A common facility shared with other community groups is perhaps the way to go.

Many have commented that it seems to be a deliberate policy of the AFL to soak up the media space whether it be by trading periods, the draft, AFLX or whatever. Other sports just cannot get any free air.

yep.. that's the reality. A little worried as to where our improvement will come from in 2019. Brayshaw and Salem moved to higher levels. Harder to say who will move upwards in 2019. Most would say Petracca and I hope he is joined in the improvement stakes by Spargo.. (the young man seems to have a sense of where the ball is.) Should be interesting and I see no reason why we cannot win the Cup. No use waiting until 2020 as we could so easily be cruelled by form and injuries.

a bad idea that got even worse... one really has to wonder whether the AFL is up to running this sport. Take a lesson from T20.. expose the public via the lower leagues. If it takes off then bring in the higher leagues.

With only two pre season games and the VFL season starting 3 weeks after the AFL round 1, "training form" takes on another level compared to past years for the players ranked between say best 14 and 30.

Agree but sport and gambling is so entwined in Australian culture that it could take a while. Ironic that the biggest operators of pokies if one includes NSW are sports clubs and the RSL.

Sounds like Essendon are continuing their highly ethical approach to sport: "Melton City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to approve a 29-year lease extension allowing the Essendon Football Club to continue operating Melton Country Club and its 89 poker machines until the end of 2047. The lease for the venue, at which gamblers lost $5.69 million in 2017-18, was due to expire in 2022." "Essendon, who also own 101 poker machines at Windy Hill, refused to comment when contacted by The Age. " https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-lock-in-three-decade-pokies-lease-20181211-p50lkd.html

Strange place..... Ireland.... "AN IRISH woman who married the ghost of a 300-year-old pirate claims the couple have split up. Amanda Teague, 46, from Drogheda, Co. Louth, married the Haitian pirate named Jack earlier this year. The wedding to her ‘soulmate’ took place on board a boat in international waters off the Irish coast. However the Irish Mirror reports the couple have called it a day after less than a year." https://www.irishpost.com/news/irish-woman-married-ghost-300-year-old-pirate-says-split-162579

Have you ever wondered where the scalpers etc get their tickets? Arbitrage with GWS memberships not to mention interstate members with guaranteed GF tickets not tied to competing clubs are probably a prime source. In these days of electronic barcoding etc it would be a relatively simple process to check names against ID at the point of entry but it's not in anyone's interest to do it.