Tigers get no joy from bid to shift Geelong game (Age)

[one-eyed]

Tigers get no joy from bid to shift game
Caroline Wilson
The Age
April 3, 2012


RICHMOND'S bid for a venue shift later this month, which would upstage Geelong's premiership flag celebrations, has received a lukewarm response from both the Cats and the AFL.

The Tigers late yesterday officially requested their round-four Sunday afternoon Simonds Stadium clash against the reigning premier be moved to the vacant Etihad Stadium given 25,000 fans could potentially be locked out of the smaller regional ground.

But Geelong has scorned the attempted game switch, pointing to the long-planned unfurling of its 2011 premiership flag that day and its contractual obligation to play a minimum seven games at the Kardinia Park stadium, which is being rebuilt and can fit only about 26,500 fans. Etihad's capacity is close to double that.

Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale confirmed he had unofficially approached AFL fixture bosses Gillon McLachlan and Simon Lethlean last week arguing that the Tigers' fans deserved a bigger ground for such a big game. Richmond's membership is close to 47,000.

Gale held talks with Geelong CEO Brian Cook yesterday only to be told the Cats had no intention of moving the game given their contract with local and state governments to stage seven games at Simonds and the plans that had already gone into the club's first local game for 2012 and the flag unfurling.

Gale told The Age yesterday he had pushed ahead with the bid to - at the least - sow a seed in the minds of those designing the fixture that the Tigers' strong supporter base should not be squeezed into the Geelong ground.

Of the Victorian clubs, only Richmond, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will make the trip to Geelong this season and the Tigers yesterday questioned why clubs such as Carlton and Essendon - which have fewer members - were not fixtured to play at Simonds.

''This is something we'll be pushing for,'' Gale said last night. ''You just wonder whether we should be fixtured down there in future and it's certainly worth making a case for this year.''

McLachlan said he had some sympathy for Richmond, but pointed to the reality that the Cats were bound to host at least seven games at home. ''You have Geelong hosting Collingwood, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Essendon away from Simonds and Richmond are saying, 'Why us?' I'd say at this stage though it's just too difficult.''

Gale said: ''I've got a responsibility on behalf of our members to push to get them into venues where as few as possible miss out. 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. For all those reasons we've requested the shift.''

The AFL has never shown an inclination to move games to accommodate bigger crowds claiming that stadium contractual obligations must override crowd concerns and occasional lockouts. The last time a match was switched was more than a decade ago when Etihad Stadium's surface was deemed unplayable and a game was moved to the MCG.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-get-no-joy-from-bid-to-shift-game-20120402-1w8tb.html#ixzz1quadknlC

[Jackstar is back again]

This is a total disgrace and this will blow up big time

[WilliamPowell]

This is a total disgrace and this will blow up big time

Yes well after being told by a nuffer from the GFC that there were more than 200 tickets available to visiting members I've found out last week when I again rang them to confirm they go on sale next week that there in fact only 200 tickets available for visiting members 

[Mr Magic]

So my 17 game membership from last season has effectively become 15 this year..

[Eat_em_Alive]

Pretty dissapointing
Poor response and reason from the afl too
Rather than answer the question about carlton and essendon, they avoid it.
Regardless of who wins the flag, it is a no brainer that the two grand finalists should play in the unfurling match. They talk about trying to get big numbers to the games yet they fixture games like this??

I'm sure the bulldogs vs north game coming up in a few weeks at etihad will attract less supporters than what skilled stadium will hold, yet they continue to make these desicions.

[WilliamPowell]

So my 17 game membership from last season has effectively become 15 this year..

The 17 game from 2011 is actually a 16 game this year but in light of this great decision by the AFL you are correct Mr Magic it has become a 15 game ticket this year.

Pathetic by the AFL & Geelong. IMV in 2012 Geelong shouldn't be allowed to play home games against Melb based clubs while that vile ground's capaicty has been cut back by over 2k

I've said for many a year that I've never been able to understand how Geelong can be allowed to sell 40k memeberships when they cannot cater for those members by giving them access to their own home games

[RollsRoyce]

This bit of pig-head inflexibility from the AFL really highlights the way we are perceived by Vlad and co. For years they've been using the excuse that the Cattery is too small to host Coll, Ess, and Carlton crowds, but they've been happy to send us down there year after year. Now, despite us having 47,000 members and rising they still wont come to the party. Good on Benny Gale for at least trying to remind them that we are one of the big 4 clubs in  terms of membership (if not performances) and it's high time we were treated with some respect. 

[gerkin greg]

B.Gale is just screaming "Fire" because it's proven to get more assistance than screaming "Rape"

[JVT]

This is a total disgrace and this will blow up big time

Disgrace that we are playing in Geelong or that Gale has approached Cook and the AFL?

I see nothing wrong with Gale's actions, needed to be pointed out that we shouldn't be playing down there, and at Etihad more of us can watch us lose live 

[Mr Magic]

I see nothing wrong with Gale's actions, needed to be pointed out that we shouldn't be playing down there, and at Etihad more of us can watch us lose live 

It's all over bah the shouting.

Gale should have fought hard on this months ago.

[smasha]

Vlad showing his hatred for the Tigers again.

Can't stand the idiot.

Keep buying memberships.

Stick it up em!

Why do we get Geelong At Geelong every stuffing year?

Fitzpatrick and Vlad.

[JVT]

I see nothing wrong with Gale's actions, needed to be pointed out that we shouldn't be playing down there, and at Etihad more of us can watch us lose live 

It's all over bah the shouting.

Gale should have fought hard on this months ago.

I think he wouldv'e fought hard months ago, but now making a statements as we have the members numbers to back up his claims?

[WilliamPowell]

Gale said: ''I've got a responsibility on behalf of our members to push to get them into venues where as few as possible miss out. 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.

let's get real here Benny the correct number is 45k+ will miss out not 20-25k

The AFL & GFC should be ashamed

Although the AFL will come out and say people can watch it live on TV if they can't get there  ... so true if you have Foxtel 

[Jackstar is back again]

This is a total disgrace and this will blow up big time

Disgrace that we are playing in Geelong or that Gale has approached Cook and the AFL?

I see nothing wrong with Gale's actions, needed to be pointed out that we shouldn't be playing down there, and at Etihad more of us can watch us lose live 

Disgrace that the game was scheduled there in the first place when they (AFL) knew that that ground was restricted due to building new stand

[one-eyed]

Here's the article on the RFC website:

Richmond’s request to have its Round 4 match against Geelong at Simonds Stadium shifted, has been denied.

Full article here: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/132132/default.aspx