Roar Rookie
Joined January 2011
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It's day one of the first international Test match of the season. Excitement is at fever pitch. The best players in the world have…
I've loved reading the comments and reactions to the first two trial games from the Melbourne Rebels. Whatever the results, there seems to be…
After the Rebels' 36-0 loss to the Chiefs in Geelong last week, you would be forgiven for thinking that the Melbourne side were preparing…
There are several things one should expect to encounter in trial matches before the season proper. Some things will change, some remain, and the…
In the business world, managing expectations is a crucial ability. Estimates are supplied to a project manager, who takes into account the resources we…
On the train back from Etihad Stadium last night, my mind wandered to a day a mere two months ago. My beloved Melbourne Victory,…
One thing I've loved about working behind the scenes in the Rebel Army, and seeing this ragtag organisation thrive, is the relationships that have…
Sweet revenge. Granted, maybe not for the players or coaches, or even the fans who didn't follow the 2004 decision; but those who saw…
I came across the words from Paul Keating after his unexpected win in the 1993 election, and, for the rugby community in Victoria, I…
The city end of Swan Street in Richmond in January is a testament to the incomparable passion people in the south have for sport.…
Reminds me of West Ham in English football. Sell themselves as ‘The Academy of Football’ yet can’t hold on to enough players to have a ping themselves.
Rebels will win Super Rugby before the Waratahs
I think the attitude UFC took in announcing UFC on FX 2 in Sydney has blown up in their face a bit. Low quality card with the same token Aussies in the mix, the only real differentiator being the flyweight prelims, which are really nothing more than a novelty at the moment.
Given the previous two PPVs sold out in minutes, the fact that there are PLENTY of unsold seats for the Sydney card hopefully makes the UFC cotton on to the fact we want something better.
UFC Sydney to be followed by UFC Brisbane in 2012
It’s alright mate, once we win a few we’ll let you take a swing gratis 😉 haha!
A mid-table finish would be amazing. It really all depends on how the forwards stack up. I think they’ve been massively underrated and played exceptionally well last year without a cohesive game plan. Throw Muggleton into the mix and they’re pretty dangerous.
Memberships are going pretty well, up to about 5.5k which is a lot more than the same time last year, a lot of renewals too. The target set by the club is 10k which would be incredible, and the media push has just begun this week to get the new folk in.
The RAB membership is really a general membership with a few extra offers at the same price, but also going well from what we’ve heard. The Rebels are trying to get us more involved in the business of the club this year which is great.
Rebels will win Super Rugby before the Waratahs
Interesting choice of headline, editors 😛
Rebels will win Super Rugby before the Waratahs
The Rebels and the VRU have an entire program devoted to developing rugby within the state, called Rebel Rugby – http://www.melbournerebels.com.au/Community/RebelRugby.aspx. This program brought Lloyd Johannson back to the Rebels and will probably see the likes of Dave Hardisty from Melbourne RFC recruited next year.
It’s a fair point you raise, culture v money, but the point is that such recruits will be judged on their adherence to the culture rather than strictly ‘bang for buck’. I would expect the same standards Cipriani was held to would be applied. I agree that a team can not be bought, but I think the Rebels are setting the bar high enough so that it hopefully won’t be an issue.
Rebels will win Super Rugby before the Waratahs
Melbourne derbies seem to me to emulate something like Collingwood v North Melbourne in the AFL – the extremely successful, with-us-or-against-us club against the lovable battler with a much smaller but committed fanbase.
I can definitely see the beginnings of Heart taking advantage of the geo-political divide though, and it’s what’s necessary for the club to grow and take on Victory. Even if it just ends up being the silvertails v the blue collar, it’s a differentiator they need to truly set themselves up for the long term.
As Cricket Australia have learnt the hard way through the Big Bash, Victorians won’t just latch on to anything because it’s there. You can’t sell support for one team based solely on it not being the other team.
Even though I’m a diehard Victory supporter, and don’t particularly like the Heart, I do wish them well and want them to be successful. If we can split a full Etihad, half red, half blue, then that’s a good thing for football.
Sydney, however, I don’t have high hopes for. The questionable attendance numbers for their current team makes me worried that a West Sydney franchise will just be another Gold Coast-esque embarrassment. Again, a differentiator is needed for WS to be successful.
What the Melbourne derby teaches us about the A-League
Bring back the South East Melbourne Magic, or failing that, the South Dragons.
Choosing names for the NBL's newest franchises
The players do have their names on their backs, but due to the unnecessarily-cluttered and really-quite-awful designs of all eight team jerseys, as well as the particular font KooGa has chosen, and the fact that they appear below the number, they are basically illegible.
I agree with you in that advertising surrounded the Stars game on Saturday. I guess they’re fortunate, as one of only two or three teams to HAVE sponsors, but for this league to become more than a flight of fancy, CA and the franchises will need to fight their urges to sell any and every space.
In all though, I quite enjoyed the BBL, more than I thought I would, at least. It was cricket, apart from the ad saturation it was well-presented, and overall, it was a fun and simple night out. Might keep my position as a Stars fan longer than expected.
Will the Big Bash be a blast, or get blasted?
I chose the Stars because I have MCC and get in for free. Easy call.
I was originally dead against it, but have softened my view of late. It’s just a bit of fun. The Bushrangers still exist for the big stuff which is all that matters.
And at least the marketing folks didn’t mess up the Melbourne teams as bad as they did the Sydney teams. The Sydney Sixers are the most awful abomination of a marketing exercise ever created.
What do you say: should I give this BBL a bash?
Luke, I’d be more interested to see whether the MLS teams would come here at all, without the cash that was on offer to the Galaxy from the people promoting the game.
As anyone who bought, or looked at buying, a ticket to yesterday’s game would attest, Tribal Sports took people to the cleaners yesterday. It’s one of the reasons the game was so quiet, as there was no allowance made for terrace groups or members, but it got the Galaxy down here.
I’d say that a ‘real’ match earning less coin would be far less palatable to the MLS sides than a friendly earning big money. And, unless David Beckham re-signs for the Galaxy indefintely and they win every consecutive premiership, it won’t draw the necessary crowd at yesterday’s prices.
Time for the A-League and MLS to join forces
Yep, an hour-long package at the sexy new time of 1am Tuesdays.
A-League’s television picture remains fuzzy
The Rebels have nine internationals, including Adam Byrnes.
Will the Waratahs Fan Forum deliver another roasting?
For mine, I’m still struggling to understand what the Waratahs take out of these forums.
Have Tah fans noticed any improvements in areas noted from the first meeting, be they on-field or off? Or is this just a way of appeasing a frustrated fan-set by giving them an opportunity to vent, with nothing really coming out of it from the club’s perspective?
I like the transparency to members, but your club doesn’t need 10000 coaches. Eventually you just need to let your coach and CEO do their job and hold them accountable in the case that they fail to do so.
Will the Waratahs Fan Forum deliver another roasting?
Speak for yourself, say the Rebels 😉
Will the Waratahs Fan Forum deliver another roasting?
I agree. Cooper is a confidence player with no confidence. When he’s like that, he gradually tries more risky and outlandish things in the hope that, if it comes off, it’ll lift him back up. That’s not something you should be doing in a World Cup knockout.
As for the ‘Quade, if the key to the front door doesn’t fit, it probably isn’t your house!’ quip, counsel, I’m going to allow it.
I'm a fan but it's time for Cooper to be barrelled
Thanks for your kind words, Steve. If you look up the Rebel Army on this site you’ll see a lot of examples of the passion we’ve found for the club.
My favourite comment from the Roarers about it is ‘if this is what they’re like when they’re losing, imagine what they’ll be like when they’re winning!’
By the way, congratulations on your new role! I and the Army look forward to continuing fighting the good fight together with you and the Rebels in 2012.
Rebel World Cup - an Amazing Race for Adam
It’s complicated. Long story short, I believe he’s exempt due to the…unique nature of the request.
We only have seven international recruits in our 2012 squad, so he’d still get in under our cap for this year, which is eight.
However, due to his age, the fact he signed a multiple-year contract as an Australian player, and, well, it’s Russia, I think the ARU have exempted him. He mentioned in one of his first articles for the Rebels media unit that the Rebels and the ARU had it sorted, so I don’t think he’s going anywhere quick.
Rebel World Cup - an Amazing Race for Adam
I disagree. The AFL already have an award for the best first-year player through the AFLPA. The Rising Star is, and should be, different.
The Rising Star should recognise a breakout year for a young player, the year that player becomes elite. If anything, I’d tweak the eligibility rules to make them a bit more open, especially given the prevalence of mature-age rookies in modern footy. To restrict eligibility to a player’s first year is doing a lot of young kids, those who don’t play in their first year, or get injured, or who are only played once a team is out of contention, a massive disservice.
Luke Shuey is a deserving nominee, and will be a deserving winner.
AFL Rising Star award needs some tinkering
Good you’ve recognised John Worsfold as coach of the year, easiest choice of the lot.
Apart from Woosh, the Eagles need a lot more love. Embley, JK, Shuey, even Nicoski (!) would be pushing.
Who is in the 2011 All-Australian team?
Agreed. Lindsay Fox wants to build a track at Avalon, let him. Else, hold it at Sandown or Phillip Island or something.
In truth though, I don’t really mind if we lose it to NSW. If there’s a state government who could screw it up worse than we did, it’s them.
Is the Australian F1 Grand Prix worth it?
We can dream, Will 😛 haha
Rebels will win Super Rugby before the Waratahs