A look at Opening Round, or Smoke and Mirrors round.Supposedly for the benefit of non Aussie rules states to be front and centre.
But, all games up to Sundays game involve a VFL club.
Sundays game will attract around 90,000 spectators..The two clubs involved, strangely from Victoria.
One the richest club in the competition, if not the richest. Not only that but the club with the largest supporter and membership base.
The other, a club that has for many years been very susceptible financially.
Both VFL clubs.
As mentioned prior, 90,000 expected. Of that 90,000 you would expect at least 65,000 being the first named club, Collingwood.
The Saint will be lucky to have 25,000 of their supporters..Remember this is the Saints home game.
A massive boost financially for the Saints.
And we are to believe Dill and the AFL that this is a round made for the Northern States.
Pull the other one Dill.
I’m no apologist for AWFUL House,but given the Vics’ Cricket Team can’t use it until March 31st(like they should),it would be silly of AWFUL not to use it.
Not sure when the Australia v England 150Years Test is on,but if AWFUL are made to wait to use The G,I hope it’s on in late March!!!
Got tickets to day one and two.
.
But Grassy it is a sham. From memory there was no use of the MCG in Smoke and Mirrors round.
Tomorrows game is a financial gift to the Saints without it being seen as that.
Don’t have much time for the Aints,but I guess they need a bit of a Windfall.
Dome might be packed,but locking 20 000 out for a Fixture like this to start the Season,wouldn’t make sense.
Why do they need a hand out. That is like saying the Yellas needed one.
It is all a free hitfor the Saints. Next ywar will be Dogs.
The MCC might need the $$$$ more than the Aints.
Do they get a cut out of Bar Trade during the Season?
Actually,I imagine they would if people use their MCC Membership for the Footy.
I have no idea.
Still a back handed hand out.
How much more $$$$$$$$$$ do the AFL INSIST on Shovelling to West Sydney?
They surely know,even if Penrith’s Empire gradually fading,Rugby League is King over there?!
I guess they breathed a sigh of relief that West Sydney Wanderers did not become the Soccer Juggernaut they feared.
But kids being kids,will just take the easy option and follow Sydney FC.
GWS?
Who are they?
Well,to be fair,they got a crowd(?)of 18 000 yesterday.But how many of them were Hawthorn supporters?
Half the Crowd?
Yeo,the AFL keep pouring the $$$$$$ into West Sydney,ABSOLUTELY DESPERATE an AFL Flag will bring the fans to GWS in Droves!
Good Luck with that!
Yeah…AFL cares “zip” about Vic Wa Sa these days…BIG markets in Qld and NSW, i dont think they spending will ever stop
They are protecting the lesser VFL clubs.Hence the Saints V Pies.
SA &WA mean nothing.
They have gone to far now with the franchises from up North. They can’t stop now.
Spot on…look after the pies because they are like the coke cola of the soft drink market. Look after the crown jewels
The AFL is just a imitation of a fast food franchise
it is the McDonalds of a sport
a piss poor product that is mass advertised to the brain dead masses
who don’t have the intelligence or taught knowledge to know any better
just keep turning that TV on and keep that stream online
keep sustaining the Victorian monster
Pity the BBL isnt the same theory ( insert sarcasm)
The hard hitters are coming to the fore in the Smoke and Mirrors topic.
Tonight on Foxtels 360, both Lyon and Whateley told of the problems. Lyon bagging out how the top teams have byes when they should be encouraging people to the game. Eight rounds of byes sucking the rhythm out of the comp.
Whateley agreeing and adding that there is no real ladder until every team has had their second byes.
That happens at about round 15 or 16.
Should be mid to late March start(depending on Easter),22 FULL Rounds with 1 Midseason Bye for a 1 week break(Early to Mid July - Coughs,Colds,Injuries).
Top 8
NO wildcard.
NO Pre Finals Bye.
4 Weeks Finals Series ending on last Saturday in September,or October 1 or 2 if they can get it past the MCC.
Next year,they might need to start just for once early April as there is NO getting past the Australia v England 150th Anniversary Test.
AWFUL will just have to sit in the MCG Stand and suck eggs for 5 days!
