One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on June 24, 2013, 02:39:47 AM
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Big four a dream scenario
Rohan Connolly
The Age
June 24, 2013
Gough Whitlam was prime minister. The Sydney Opera House was yet to be opened. Television in this country was still a black-and-white affair. It was 40 years ago, 1973, and in the context of football's development, an eternity.
That's how long it's been since the then VFL clubs who came to be known as the big four - Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond - all competed in the same finals series. But a long wait seems more and more likely to be ended.
And you can almost hear the rubbing of the hands of the AFL in glee, not to mention the ringing of the cash registers. For the league, we're heading for a finals series straight from heaven.
For these days, it's not just a big four but, throwing giants of recent times Hawthorn and Geelong into the mix, a heavyweight half-dozen who are all going to be playing a part. And if that seems a little parochial, the strong presence of two other states, via the legitimate flag claims of Sydney and Fremantle, should placate the champions of game development.
Yes, it's an early call. But after having claimed a couple of weeks ago that we might already have our top four of 2013, I'm inclined to think we've now just about got our final eight locked away.
The current ladder doesn't necessarily reflect it - Port Adelaide is back in the top half after a superb, gutsy win over the Swans on Saturday, and a game ahead of Carlton and West Coast, who are locked on six wins and six losses - but scan the run home of all those clubs for their remaining 10 games, and there's a fair argument the dye is cast.
Ken Hinkley's Power has clearly recovered the ''oomph'' it lost between rounds six and 10, beating up on Greater Western Sydney the weekend before last, and against Sydney, completely dominated the second half in general play and, eventually, on the scoreboard.
Emerging star Chad Wingard was instrumental, as was Brad Ebert and veteran Kane Cornes in shutting down Sydney star Daniel Hannebery. But given what lies ahead for the Power, it's going to have to maintain this standard weekly.
Port's great win was only the first leg of a quadrella of big games which, over the next three weeks, takes in Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn. And four of its last five assignments are challenging to say the least - another Showdown with cross-town rival Adelaide, and away games against Geelong and Fremantle at, arguably, the two most unfriendly venues in the AFL. Port's final game is against Carlton.
West Coast might just have turned a corner, despite its loss to Hawthorn on Friday night. The Eagles pushed the Hawks hard, though their comparative lack of pace is increasingly apparent, and perhaps an explanation for an unusually poor record of 2-4 in their own backyard.
But, again, if the Eagles are still to play a part in September, they're going to have to get much better. Six of West Coast's final 10 games are against sides in the eight, and there's two more against the still-capable Adelaide, immediately beneath it on the ladder. Essendon twice, Sydney, Geelong, Fremantle and Collingwood - one thing's for sure, if the Eagles do still get there, they will have earned it.
Carlton, meanwhile, has its challenges, too. But it does have eminently winnable games against St Kilda, North Melbourne, Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs, and more encouragement in its consistent competitiveness this season - none of those half-dozen losses by any more than 17 points.
At the moment, I have Richmond and Carlton filling the final two places in the eight with 13 and 12 wins respectively, both less than the 14 required last year, but enough in a season in which the top couple of teams have grabbed more of the spoils than in 2012.
If what has to be the AFL's preferred final eight does eventuate, it brings its share of logistical difficulties with it, none the least the distinct possibility of four finals in Melbourne in week one.
If Hawthorn, Geelong and the other four local participants were all to make it, we'd have one final at Etihad Stadium. And if that was to feature the Hawks against an interstate side, given the presence of the Magpies, Bombers, Tigers and Blues, you would rightly hear plenty of squawking from Waverley, given the Hawks copped the short end of the stick in terms of grand final preparation last year.
But that's stuff the AFL would be prepared to cop if the trade-off was the league's most popular local clubs all taking part in the most important time of the year.
Much of the world, let alone football, has changed significantly since the days of the early '70s.
But the pulling power of the game's biggest clubs hasn't. And if all the big guns are there, the league will have a memorable finals series on its hands before it has even started.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/big-four-a-dream-scenario-20130623-2oqsq.html#ixzz2X3fTl5e3
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Maybe if the league hadn't messed with the competition in the first place it would have experienced its' most desired scenario more often than the appearance of Haley's comet.
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Lol when Essendon are banned it will just be a big 3. :D
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LOLs at Hawk fans popping a gasket over possibly playing a final at the dome
Meltank, Norf!, Bullflogs, and the Aints should be sent back to the VFL, no need for them on the national stage
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Hawks fans not happy on twitter that they weren't included in big 4. They're giving Rohan some lip
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Would be exciting. The 'G and Ethiad filled every final. The town abuzz with cross town rivalry and supporter banter. We have to make it yet and the cards need to fall but if we can win the games we should and sneak a couple against the teams we shouln't have, we could even get into the top 4. Just hoping Fremantle falls over :pray
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Would be exciting. The 'G and Ethiad filled every final. The town abuzz with cross town rivalry and supporter banter. We have to make it yet and the cards need to fall but if we can win the games we should and sneak a couple against the teams we shouln't have, we could even get into the top 4. Just hoping Fremantle falls over :pray
Geelong perhaps
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Lol when Essendon are banned it will just be a big 3. :D
Vlad will be begging as ad to let them off.
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Hawks fans not happy on twitter that they weren't included in big 4. They're giving Rohan some lip
:lol because no one cares about the Dawks. Top 4 in Tassie though. :shh
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Hawks fans not happy on twitter that they weren't included in big 4. They're giving Rohan some lip
:lol because no one cares about the Dawks. Top 4 in Tassie though. :shh
Only because they're not including King Island this year :shh
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Hawks fans not happy on twitter that they weren't included in big 4. They're giving Rohan some lip
:lol because no one cares about the Dawks. Top 4 in Tassie though. :shh
Only because they're not including King Island this year :shh
As well as Glenorchy, Sandy Bay and Devonport.
Nought are rapt though. :shh
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Hawks fans not happy on twitter that they weren't included in big 4. They're giving Rohan some lip
:lol because no one cares about the Dawks. Top 4 in Tassie though. :shh
Only because they're not including King Island this year :shh
As well as Glenorchy, Sandy Bay and Devonport.
Nought are rapt though. :shh
Nought are trying to become part of the top 100 teams in Tassie. May sneak in soon. :shh
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Rohan on SEN just now calling Hawk fans morons :thumbsup.
And just for the whinging Hawkers who need a reminder why it's called a Big 4 ....
Home crowd averages 2013
Collingwood 60150
Richmond 58103
Essendon 53779
Carlton 43597
Geelong 40124
West Coast 37831
Hawthorn 36706
Total crowds and averages 2013
Collingwood 691937 57661
Richmond 615677 51306
Essendon 614861 51238
Carlton 568474 47373
Hawthorn 479122 39927
Highest Home & Away Crowds (>80k)
93373 Essendon v Collingwood M.C.G. 2013
84247 Collingwood v Carlton M.C.G. 2013
84234 Richmond v Essendon M.C.G. 2013
82639 Essendon v Carlton M.C.G. 2013
81950 Richmond v Collingwood M.C.G. 2013
80971 Carlton v Richmond M.C.G. 2013
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/crowds/2013.html
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lmao no wonder the big budvar wants to pee off
minnows
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stuffing dork façade, by moar pet memberships, they might let u bring em to the games to fluff up your attendances lol
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stuffing dork façade, by moar pet memberships, they might let u bring em to the games to fluff up your attendances lol
Judging by yesterday Freo have a Cat Membership. :shh
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its not just the issue of cats and dogs memberships which was an issue years ago for Hawthorn the issue is the rumours that at least 1 maybe 2 or even 3 businessmen are buying thousands of memberships by themselves and giving them out like confetti. Its probably the reason why Hawthorn dont get good crowds and why their television numbers are down. They dont have the supporters they think they have. Its a mirage.
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its not just the issue of cats and dogs memberships which was an issue years ago for Hawthorn the issue is the rumours that at least 1 maybe 2 or even 3 businessmen are buying thousands of memberships by themselves and giving them out like confetti. Its probably the reason why Hawthorn dont get good crowds and why their television numbers are down. They dont have the supporters they think they have. Its a mirage.
They only have 50,000 supporters Australia wide.
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The RFC sell Pet Memberships, all clubs do it these days.
"Money for Jam" as they say
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Even though they beat us comprehensively on the day, I still feel we have the best opportunity of beating Essendon over the other two during a finals series.
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I'll take our record over Carlscum in the finals thanks
But they won't make it so it's a moot point
moot :-*
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moot moot ;D
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Looks like the AFL might have to wait another 40yrs for the Big 4 to play in the finals all at once. :lol :lol :lol
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Hawks fans very mad
But the fictitious big 4 are Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond.
Richmond is the fictitious one
Lol now I've heard it all. We are way bigger than Richmond has ever been. They're smaller than Geelong imo
Don't both Richmond and Carlton have fewer members than us?
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Hawks fans very mad
But the fictitious big 4 are Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond.
Richmond is the fictitious one
Lol now I've heard it all. We are way bigger than Richmond has ever been. They're smaller than Geelong imo
Don't both Richmond and Carlton have fewer members than us?
Can't wait for a solid bumping when we overtake those flogs.
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The RFC sell Pet Memberships, all clubs do it these days.
"Money for Jam" as they say
Yeah but the Dawks include "Gimps" as part of their Pet Membership tallies. So much for a level playing field. ::)
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The RFC sell Pet Memberships, all clubs do it these days.
"Money for Jam" as they say
Don't count on the end tally though.
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The RFC sell Pet Memberships, all clubs do it these days.
"Money for Jam" as they say
Don't count on the end tally though.
Thats what I thought
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The RFC sell Pet Memberships, all clubs do it these days.
"Money for Jam" as they say
Don't count on the end tally though.
never said you did, just pointing out that all Clubs sell them these days
And no club is allowed under AFL rules to included them in their end tally, that loop hole was closed many years ago
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The RFC sell Pet Memberships, all clubs do it these days.
"Money for Jam" as they say
Don't count on the end tally though.
never said you did, just pointing out that all Clubs sell them these days
And no club is allowed under AFL rules to included them in their end tally, that loop hole was closed many years ago
Except the pies :whistle
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The RFC sell Pet Memberships, all clubs do it these days.
"Money for Jam" as they say
Don't count on the end tally though.
never said you did, just pointing out that all Clubs sell them these days
And no club is allowed under AFL rules to included them in their end tally, that loop hole was closed many years ago
Except the pies :whistle
Those count cos they have centrelink iD collars :whistle
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The RFC sell Pet Memberships, all clubs do it these days.
"Money for Jam" as they say
Don't count on the end tally though.
never said you did, just pointing out that all Clubs sell them these days
And no club is allowed under AFL rules to included them in their end tally, that loop hole was closed many years ago
Except the pies :whistle
Those count cos they have centrelink iD collars :whistle
No that's because 50% of Collingwood members are animals or look like animals or behave like animals. ;D
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Usually all three.