News surfaced yesterday that Richmond CEO Brendon Gale had last month attempted to get his club’s Round 4 clash with Geelong shifted away from Simonds Stadium.
The fixture was locked in for Geelong’s unfurling of the premiership flag, but Gale clearly wasn’t feeling sentimental about playing out in the sticks.
“I’ve got a responsibility on behalf of our members to push to get them into venues where as few as possible miss out,” Gale said.
“One of the guiding principles of the AFL fixture is to maximise attendances and we’ve got a situation here where 20,000 to 25,000 of our members are going to miss experiencing the game live. Etihad Stadium is vacant on the day in question and we’re talking about a ground with double the current capacity of Simonds.”
What a joke.
It’s Geelong’s home game so they should, as often as possible, be able to play it where they wish.
Sure, more of Richmond’s members may be able to attend if it was in Melbourne – but why should the venue of a Geelong home game be decided by Richmond members?
It’s ludicrous. Especially considering that were the game moved to Melbourne, there would be Geelong members that miss out (the time and money it costs to get up the highway should not be underestimated).
But what truly made Gale’s suggestion out of whack was two factors that Caroline Wilson, the Richmond-supporting journalist who broke the story, failed to mention.
The first is that only last year, Geelong played a home game against the Tigers at Etihad. It attracted just 33,761 supporters. (25,000 Richmond members missing out? Err, where were they all that day?)
The second point is that if the Tigers are truly so appalled about their members missing out on an away game, perhaps they need to look at the venue of their Round 16 home game.
Yep, that’s right. It’s in Cairns.
Not sure how many members will be able to make it up to that one.
While Gale was partly pushing ahead with his club’s request to ensure they don’t get games in Geelong down the track, the fact that he’s made a big deal out of this year’s fixture was poor form.
If your club is going to sell a home game, you can’t expect other clubs to give up their home games to compensate you.
Some might say that he had a point when he said Carlton and Essendon – who have (slightly) fewer members than the Tigers – don’t travel to the Cattery.
But that was a dud point too. The Blues and Bombers were finalists last year. One of them beat the Cats, the other lost only after a concussed ruckman missed a set shot from 15m out with less than two minutes remaining.
Clearly, a clash between either of them and Geelong has the potential to explode into a blockbuster. You cannot say the same thing when Richmond is the opponent. Not yet, anyway.
Make it to September, and develop even a minor modern-day rivalry with the Cats. Then, Brendon, you can get back to us.
Glenn Logan
Guest
Simmonds Stadium is an Absolute Rip Off. No General Admission Seating for General Admission. Keep in mind that the New GrandStands at Geelong were not payed for by the Geelong Football Club they were payed for by the Tax Payer. So isnt that great the Tax Payer pays for the Grandstands and then the Tax Payer has too either Stand or Pay a Massive amount of money too sit in the Grandstand that he has just payed for its an absolute joke. Facilities at Simmonds Stadium were better for General Admission 10 years ago before the Tax Payer donated millions of dollars too this Stadium. Simmonds Stadium is the Most expensive Stadium in Victoria too watch football. All the Tax payer donations too this Stadium have done is made it more expensive for the average fan too go. Games need too be played at Venues where the most people can attend.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
What a load of rubbish. Geelong's ground is up to snuff and perfect for Geelong. It is perfectly reasonable for Geelong to play their home games in Geelong. They are not a Melbourne team. Richmond's membership does not matter a damn, its a Geelong home game, they will say where it is held. Trying to deprive a regional city of their own bloody team is a joke. Try to get within 60 points of Geelong before you try and spout nonsense about playing in the VFL.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Theres nothing wrong with Gale looking out for his members - its his job. Theres nothing wrong with Geelong saying no. Theres nothing wrong with the crowd averages that have been posted. Hell theres nothing really wrong with any of this. Why is this even an issue.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
But I will tell you plainly that Richmond should never get to decide another team's away games, even if the AFL meddles on their own. Abhorrent concept.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
SOME Victorian clubs. Others are just making up the numbers, year in, year out.
Richard
Guest
"It’s Geelong’s home game so they should, as often as possible, be able to play it where they wish" Except that Richmond (and our members) tell the AFL every year that we want our home games at the MCG. Yet every year we have home games at Docklands. We lose money (or make less money than MCG) so are forced to subsequently sell home games to Cairns etc. The idea that clubs can choose where they play home games is long gone. Unless you're C'wood, or, apparently, an author on The Roar.
BAFL
Roar Rookie
Agree Ron, the AFl fixture is rubbish
BAFL
Roar Rookie
Sounds like a well informed foot ball comment...NOT!
Jack in HK
Guest
Playing a game at the MCG or at Etihad in front of a dismal crowd is somewhat akin to being locked in a toilet cubicle with your mother-in-law! Kardinia Park (AKA Simmonds Stadium) is one of few grounds left with any character at all. Remember the days when you had to take a some suncream and and an umbrella to the game because you never knew what kind of day it was going to be? When players actually got wet and dirty? When you could go onto the ground after the match and kick a footy around with your mates? A visit Kardinia Park is like a stepping back in time. 25,000 is pretty close to a full house, it usually has some part of it that is being re-built, it is cold and wet with a good three or goal goal wind blowing one way or another (and now with the Doug Wade Sand gone we could probably get a seven or eight goal wind going). The Geelong supporters are usually pretty friendly ... we can be a bit arrogant at times but we generally appreciate anyone that ventures down to sleepy hollow. And we are no-where near as bad as some of those non-Victorians that eat opposition supporters! It’s a great day out. “No ticket” you say? I spent my early childhood sneaking in and out of that stadium, l am sure you could probably still do that. If they won’t let you in just ask for Frank or Cookey, would not surprise me to see either of them pop down to the gate to help someone out. Seriously, it’s a great day out. Come on down.
Westie
Guest
Exactly. What about Geelong's ratepayers who pay a fortune to maintain the ground and all decent fixtures go up to Melbourne to bankroll private equity in Etihad Stadium or fat cat member's of the Melbourne Cricket Club. Geelong as a city deserves some events and people spending their money in the city considering they bankroll the whole shebang amd without them, the club would not exist. If Hobart or even Ballarat was half as organized and passionate about football, they also would have teams playing AFL. Remember Ballarat was a larger city than Geelong until WW2 and Ballarat simply could not be bothered entering a club in the VFL after being in the VFA in the 1880s because it was an inconvenience to them. Richmond is a nothing club, indistinguishable from Melbourne and Collingwood nowadays in their geographic location except they have produced rubbish teams for 3 decades now.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
There's also Melbourne memberships (which include only 2 games in Geelong) which cater perfectly for the fans Snorkella claims are being excluded.
RON BATTEN
Guest
its nothing to do with travel fool how many interstate teams supporters would want to travel to geelong bugger all thats why they should play there not melbourne teams whose crowds would be larger just a hour up the road its common bloody sense the victorian clubs are the back bone of the afl and don,t forget it
AndyMack
Guest
Not all memberships include 11 game season tickets, some include 3 games, some none at all. All count in membership tallies.
Boris
Guest
Its as simple as this, provide a ground thats up to AFL standards, and judging by the size of crowds in Melbourne and membership bases of Victorian clubs needs to seat at the very minimum 40,000 otherwise you should be told where you can play. If you want to stay small then go play in the VFL.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Nothing but damn-foolery. Not force Victorian teams to travel there, spare me, poor little dears flex your travel legs infrequently enough as it is.
me, I like football
Guest
you serious? It's bad enough the AFL make them play 4 home games away when they only request two. ITS GEELONGS HOME GROUND. just because all other Victorian clubs except Melbourne sold out. The only joke the draw is, is the fact that Essendon, Collingwood and Carlton play eachother twice each year and Geelong can't play all their home games at Kardinia Park if they choose too.
ron batten
Guest
geelong should only host interstate teams on there lousy ground and not expect melbourne teams to travel down there only to find they cant get in what a joke the afl draw is
brendan
Guest
Gale is being clever asking for something he knows he wont get whilst appealing to the pride of there members and most importantly taking the focus away from the onfield performance of the team.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Completely understandable to me; Kardinia Park is their true home, its the ground they reference in their song, thats where you unfurl the flag. After all, their banners fly, from dawn to dark, down at Kardinia Park :D
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Following this logic, all of Geelong's games should be in Melbourne. I'm sure the people of Geelong would be rapt with that one.