RFC website [merged]

[mightytiges]

Being a baseball fan I can say the MLB sites are fantastic and far superior to the crappy AFL sites.

I think the NFL surpasses even MLB in this regard. MLB seems to have a more complicated TV deal structure.

But if you go on the NFL site you get

* highlights literally a minute after they happen
* the option to buy one off games
* free video during the week including panel shows and analysis

The big problem that we have (and even the Premier League in the UK) is a traditionally protectionist view towards our broadcasting. If you go on the ABC website overseas you can't access the content, just as we can't access the BBC content. If they wanted to join the US in the 21st century, they could ask for a small payment from overseas visitors, or place some ads on the site with relevance to where the person's proxy determines they are. A user pays system would be great for everyone.

Part of the problem is that the deals that the AFL secure are too long-term to be flexible in terms of keeping up with technology.

Yep Telstra pay plenty of $$$ for exclusive internet (and mobile) rights with the AFL. The current deal is worth $60m over 5 years up to 2011 from memory. They just don't want to offer a service (if you can call it that) to the AFL but also to use the deal to get users to join Telstra Bigpond. Clubs get something like $2m out of it IIRC so unless a club  can find a sponsor/company willing to pay that kind of dough they will accept a Telstra run website no matter how inferior it is to Essendon's.

[mightytiges]

Is there something majorly wrong with the Telstra-run official sites?

The RFC site is showing news from before Christmas  ???. The AFL site is too and the anti-virus popped up calling it an unsafe site  with a virus threat in a link to an Essendon video.

Anyone else seeing the same problem?

[Jacosh]

I just looked at the AFL site and all the articles are from the 16th December. Although the Essendon Season Highlights video worked for me.

Seems a bit strange but then again it is Telstra, the sooner the AFL gets someone else to run the websites the better.

[Penelope]

Same thing here MT. Interestingly the AFL google gadget on my browser's home page is showing those same news articles. Not running windows, I dont have an anti virus installed, so cant comment on that part.

The membership total on RFC site seems to be up to date though.

Agree jacosh, Telstra and micro$oft with their proprietary media gives me the poos

[mightytiges]

The membership counter always has the same filename (they just overwrite it) so that's why it's up to date. Seems the webpage file is pointing to an old cache one at Telstra's end.

the sooner the AFL gets someone else to run the websites the better.

Hellalujah! 

[dizza]

it seems as though every club's website is almost identical, and the way that they are set out is hopeless.

[tdy]

The membership counter always has the same filename (they just overwrite it) so that's why it's up to date. Seems the webpage file is pointing to an old cache one at Telstra's end.

the sooner the AFL gets someone else to run the websites the better.

Hellalujah! 

I agree. Its not a great site. 

The list of past players could be split into their stats and the years they played etc. 
When you choose to view the senior list you can't then get back to the rookie list.
There's no forum's for discussion.
The notice board is hidden in the club menu and why isn't the noticeboard the same as the news?
Isn't community also part of the fan zone?

It's all a bit of a schmozzle and I think needs to be rethought out, probably using some web stats showing what people use

There's a pile of other improvements I'd put into it

[tdy]

This is what a sports club website should look like. Clean Professional. All the info you want. Puts other websites to shame.

http://www.smfc.com.au/

Its tricky to read the sub menus on that site. It doesn't expand to the width of your screen (few sites do, buggered if I know why, html auto sizes to the width of the screen). 
No video highlights of current games and you can't buy past games.

When you go to the shop its an entirely new page.  Clicking on the SMFC logo in the store page doesn't take you to the SMFC home page (thats a web standard)  but they do put an smfc.com.au link on the store site.

Given that its a local soccer club I can understand it, its ok not Wow.  All the AFL sites are the same, no links into facebook etc.  They all need to get with the social networking phenomenon and use it for club profit.

[one-eyed]

Noticed they've touched up the RFC website slightly with a new banner plus side images instead of the usual plain black background.

[WA Tiger]

C'mon guys give the AFL a break, they are probably too busy designing the GC17 wesite for 2011 at the moment....

[Mr Magic]

Noticed they've touched up the RFC website slightly with a new banner plus side images instead of the usual plain black background.

Small issue but should've had Martin instead of Hardwick in the group shot.

[Ox]

That site has the herpes simplex virus

[wayne]

Noticed they've touched up the RFC website slightly with a new banner plus side images instead of the usual plain black background.

Small issue but should've had Martin instead of Hardwick in the group shot.

I notice Cotchin is in the group shot. I hope that means he's staying...

[one-eyed]

The newbies photos in their Richmond guernsey are up on the RFC website.







http://www.richmondfc.com.au/players/tabid/7689/season/2009/category/senior/default.aspx

[wayne]

Wow that a lot of new faces.

Let's hope 6-7 become stars for us.