Where's the level playing field?

by LITTLE BOY BLUE

ON 17 June, Melbourne played a "home" game against Brisbane, but in an attempt to raise some extra money (I will avoid the cliched "cash-strapped" in this article), it was played in Brisbane. The result was a substantial win for the real home team, meaning four points and a boost in their percentage. Melbourne got no points and lost percentage.

If the AFL was a two team competition, this wouldn't matter, Brisbane and Melbourne could play each other wherever they liked. But, it's a 16 team competition, and Melbourne's virtual forfeiting of the game has implications for several other teams seeking a place in the eight.

Had the game been played where it should have been, it is possible that Melbourne might have won, but (at least) it is virtually certain that they wouldn't have been flogged. Come the end of the season, Brisbane is likely to be competing with several teams for a place in the eight and maybe even the top four. How would you like to be the team finishing fifth, beaten for fourth place by Brisbane on percentage, the latter having secured four of their points and some of their percentage from Melbourne's "generosity"?

If clubs are so desperate for money that they have to abandon home games, the AFL must at least ensure that these games are moved to neutral locations (ACT, Tasmania): they should not involve bestowing such an obviously unfair advantage on the opponent.

The competition is already uneven enough with different weather conditions across the nation, a roof at one venue and a draw which purports to match teams of comparable strengths (after everyone's played each other once) in the final seven rounds, but is, in fact, hopelessly compromised by the "blockbuster" factor. (Why, might I ask, are they called "blockbusters"?) Some of these things can't be helped in a national competition, but the Gabba charity event could have been. Maybe Prof Fels should take a look at this, seems anti-competitive to me.

As for Melbourne, if such an old (and historically successful) team is getting this desperate, maybe it's time to pack it in. If their supporters are so ratshit that they can't front up to back their team at one of the world's best venues, why should clubs struggling to make the finals potentially have to suffer the consequences due to their inadequacies? I don't like stereotypes, but are Melbourne just full of cucumber sandwich munchers and Ivans from Ivanhoe? Are they all off skiing at this time of the season?

If my club ever gets this financially desperate, I hope they'll die with dignity. I'll be off playing lawn bowls.

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