Home match in the Gold Coast ?

[thesoretoothsayer]

I hate losing a home game (even a Marvel game).
However, the AFL has repeatedly stated that it's aim is to grow footy in QLD and the QLD government would love to bring thousands of Victorians (and their money) to QLD for a week or two.
As such, I can see them both throwing much love Collingwood's way.
This could be a cash cow that keeps giving year after year.

[piedys]

After Maggot-gate 2024 in perth, this Qld game is officially BOYCOTTED.

[eddiesmith]

Wow, not allowed to say anything against this decision by the club obviously…

Nicks or North Korea?

But with our extra travel in first half of year already with Gather round and it probably contributing to all our injuries, another interstate game with numerous injuries tonight, why would you want to travel again instead of playing at home?

[piffdog]

^

Staying up there for the week - is that "extra travel"
Looking forward to our last 8 weeks of the regular season. We have one trip to the SCG and that's it...

[Magpie Russ]

If the money we make from the game affords us to pay the tax on paying overs in you soft cap then it is worth it.

Middle of winter two weeks on the Gold Coast.. sounds great. Be great for the players... I wouldn't mind 'WFH' those two weeks.

[David]

Totally perplexed by this. Are we in such a parlous financial situation where we need to go rattling tins and selling away home advantage (and, invariably, risking a crucial four points, as many clubs in this situation have)? There's no guarantee we'll even get a Victorian club in this fixture, at which point we've turned a home game in front of a pro-Collingwood crowd into a neutral match with an additional return plane flight.

And right on cue, Melbourne showed today what can happen when you sell home games. Instead of a match-up against Fremantle in the familiar surrounds of the MCG, they instead flew over to Alice Springs and got done by 92 points.

They may or may not have lost that game in Melbourne, but not by that much surely. It seems obvious to me that the venue, weather and travel must have all played a significant role in a result that would otherwise have been pretty incomprehensible between a top four contender and a middle-range opponent that often struggles away from home. If so, it’s a big sacrifice for a bit of cash, and that’s the risk I reckon we’re taking if we pursue this Gold Coast experiment.

[Pies4shaw]

^ Yes - but Melbourne are a bunch of underperforming, soft lepers.

[Piesnchess]

^ Never have I forgot, the MCC Toffs actually voted to merge with the Hawks all those yrs ago, to end their own team. Only the Hawks refused cos of Don Scott largely. Deees are soft campaigners, do anything for a few bob in the tiller. Nah, no way Jose, Gold Coast, whatever, NO way Jose.

[ANNODAM]

Mt Buller is open folks…



Look the skier is in MEL colours!

Seriously though, selling our home games interstate giving them a home ground advantage doesn’t sit right.

If MEL end up missing the 8 on a game out or % they won’t be in a hurry to do that again!