Sick of Rucci

[Mr Irate]

So you had a debt of 6-7 million, the SANFL gave you 4 million, and now you have a debt of 2 million.....

great work

[Apachebulldog]

Someones not telling the truth ?????

[sjt]

I think Rucci's articles are doing damage to the AFL "brand'. He's creating a backlash to the AFL as SANFL followers, step up to support the SANFL, which he persists in "trashing". Les Steven's letter to CDFC supporters was a response to the "media beat up", and obviously one "journalist" (loose term) in particular. If he hadn't been bagging the SANFL so much, maybe the AFL teams would be getting more sympathy.
I must admit, I was a Crow's member for about the first five years, before it all felt too commercial. I even didn't mind the Port team, (but not the supporters ). Now, I've been "put off". Despite, living walking distance to the Oval and consistently being offered free tickets, I haven't bothered to see a game in the last couple of years.

I though the following a good post on the CDFC website. Posted by "dogfish":

Comparisons.

I go to AAMI to watch an AFL game. Pay to park.
I walk to the gate and someone is trying to sell raffle tickets for the club as it's crying poor (Strange when players are on 6 figure salaries). I then buy my family tickets, which are over priced. I squeeze the family in the middle of the row to take our seats. The kids complain, I'm Hungry or toilet etc. So out we go, disturbing people again. 20 minutes later I am back in my seat. $100 gone.

Through the game I wonder what is going on with all the kicking backwards etc. No one seems to kick straight at goal. I see a good mark from the opposition and say so quietly to myself, only to have half a dozen old bags turn around and scream at me that I should go home. Now i'm busting for a piss, but don't want to disturb everyone again so I put up with it until half time I don't hear any discussions on how a player is improving, struggling. No comments on a good run of play.No concerns about players being underdone.

Its simple. Cheer if we got the ball. Boo if they got the ball.

No opposition supporters around to chat to. Can't wonder off and have a beer with a mate a couple of rows over.

The whole spectacle seems so distant.
The crowd is a herd of sheep.

I have been to AFL games in Brisbane and Melbourne, and it's the same. Dull.

Playford Alive.

I park across the road for free. I give the Salvos a donation at the gate. ( I think they are more deserving than the ticket collectors for the AFL clubs) The kids get in free. I say see ya later and they wonder off with $5 each to meet up with their mates.

I can sit where I want, talk to who I want. Grab a bite to eat while still watching the game. The discussions are interesting as people know the players. I can go and listen to the huddle. See the injured/ retired players kicking a footy with their kids at quarter time. Banter between supporters of the opposition. Hear their thoughts on how their team is going. I can even compliment the opposition, or god forbid say they should have got a free without being screamed at. Then at the end be home within 20min of the final siren.

It's all interactive. I feel a part of the club. I think my membership is important, The players have a laugh, chat with the supporters. They are real people with real jobs just like us. Never do I feel I am being ripped off.

The glitz and glam of the AFL is a full con job if I ever did see one. You can sit and stare at it from a seat at the ground, or get exactly the same experience on your own lounge watching it on the box. This is why even though I get free AFL tickets with my CDFC membership I am still not interested, and I haven't heard of anyone around me saying they use them either.

[CUTTERMAN]

That sums it up for me exactly.

[Macca19]

Someones not telling the truth ?????

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/portals/0/port_docs/2009_pafc_annual_report.pdf

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/portals/0/port_docs/2010_PAFC-Annual-Report.pdf

Read them for yourself.

[sjt]

Someones not telling the truth ?????

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/portals/0/port_docs/2009_pafc_annual_report.pdf

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/portals/0/port_docs/2010_PAFC-Annual-Report.pdf

Read them for yourself.

A bit surprising to see from 2008 to 2009 an increase in Admin Expenses of 23%. The reason given is the legal costs of setting up the "Power future fund and the Power of Dreams". I wonder what these have returned. Then from 2009 to 2010 another $584,852 increase. From 2008 to 2010 they've had a 46% increase in admin costs (almost $1.2mil.).

Rucci keeps spruiking how much less they spend in the footy dept. than Collingwood. Less often he mentions they spent only 1.5 million less than the average (or about 10%), not quite so significant.

[Agile]

Good post sjt. Insert "Prospect Oval" where Playford Alive is and you have got me covered.

[Hazydog]

Reading everyone's views over the last month or so has made me think a bit more about why we want to protect the SANFL from being watered down or treated as a feeder/reserves comp. (Apart from my own selfish reasons.)

To me it boils down to ensuring that the gap between National based Footy (AFL) and State based Footy (SANFL, WAFL, VFL etc) is not further widened than it already has been.

Maybe the State leagues need to present more of a united front and demonstrate the benefits to the game overall of reducing the gap rather than increasing it.

Pretty hard, I know, when the AFL seem hell bent on driving the wedge further in, but surely the lower the gap in standard between the two tiers, the better?

[Apachebulldog]

Well said SJT i have been saying the same thing to my AFL mates for alonfg time no atmosphere no banter at most games unless its a Power v Crows game like you said like a herd of sheep for me the novelty wore off many years ago these days i might watch 5 minutes of a last qtr of AFL for me the game has been over sanitised to appeal to the TV masses.

Will check out the PAFC financials ok Macca

Cheers

[spell_check]

Pretty hard, I know, when the AFL seem hell bent on driving the wedge further in, but surely the lower the gap in standard between the two tiers, the better?

Agree; I'm sure the players drafted into the AFL who have played at League level appreciate the experience they got when playing against some decent footballers and the intensity is at a fair standard. Why does the AFL want this standard to drop? These said players will find a much bigger hurdle when they come to it. They will need to take longer to adjust and develop at AFL level.

[Barto]

I go to AAMI to watch an AFL game. Pay to park.
I walk to the gate and someone is trying to sell raffle tickets for the club as it's crying poor (Strange when players are on 6 figure salaries). I then buy my family tickets, which are over priced. I squeeze the family in the middle of the row to take our seats. The kids complain, I'm Hungry or toilet etc. So out we go, disturbing people again. 20 minutes later I am back in my seat. $100 gone.

Through the game I wonder what is going on with all the kicking backwards etc. No one seems to kick straight at goal. I see a good mark from the opposition and say so quietly to myself, only to have half a dozen old bags turn around and scream at me that I should go home. Now i'm busting for a piss, but don't want to disturb everyone again so I put up with it until half time I don't hear any discussions on how a player is improving, struggling. No comments on a good run of play.No concerns about players being underdone.

Its simple. Cheer if we got the ball. Boo if they got the ball.

No opposition supporters around to chat to. Can't wonder off and have a beer with a mate a couple of rows over.

The whole spectacle seems so distant.
The crowd is a herd of sheep.

I have been to AFL games in Brisbane and Melbourne, and it's the same. Dull.

Playford Alive.

I park across the road for free. I give the Salvos a donation at the gate. ( I think they are more deserving than the ticket collectors for the AFL clubs) The kids get in free. I say see ya later and they wonder off with $5 each to meet up with their mates.

I can sit where I want, talk to who I want. Grab a bite to eat while still watching the game. The discussions are interesting as people know the players. I can go and listen to the huddle. See the injured/ retired players kicking a footy with their kids at quarter time. Banter between supporters of the opposition. Hear their thoughts on how their team is going. I can even compliment the opposition, or god forbid say they should have got a free without being screamed at. Then at the end be home within 20min of the final siren.

It's all interactive. I feel a part of the club. I think my membership is important, The players have a laugh, chat with the supporters. They are real people with real jobs just like us. Never do I feel I am being ripped off.

The glitz and glam of the AFL is a full con job if I ever did see one. You can sit and stare at it from a seat at the ground, or get exactly the same experience on your own lounge watching it on the box. This is why even though I get free AFL tickets with my CDFC membership I am still not interested, and I haven't heard of anyone around me saying they use them either.

Great post and that has summed it up for me as well. Had a Crows membership for the first 2 two years and when I started preferring to go for a bike ride than sit at Footy Park, I knew it was over. They just weren't "my" team, although I went and barracked for them in the 1997 grand final after winning tickets, I never felt like a Crows supporter.

Even considered following Port, because their AFL operation was sprung from a "real cub", but I just couldn't bring myself to do it after listening to the bullcrap at work from their supporters who assumed I was a Crows supporter. Never really had an AFL team until moving to the west.

[Mr Fuller]

I think Rucci's articles are doing damage to the AFL "brand'. He's creating a backlash to the AFL as SANFL followers, step up to support the SANFL, which he persists in "trashing". Les Steven's letter to CDFC supporters was a response to the "media beat up", and obviously one "journalist" (loose term) in particular. If he hadn't been bagging the SANFL so much, maybe the AFL teams would be getting more sympathy.
I must admit, I was a Crow's member for about the first five years, before it all felt too commercial. I even didn't mind the Port team, (but not the supporters ). Now, I've been "put off". Despite, living walking distance to the Oval and consistently being offered free tickets, I haven't bothered to see a game in the last couple of years.

I though the following a good post on the CDFC website. Posted by "dogfish":

Comparisons.

I go to AAMI to watch an AFL game. Pay to park.

Spot on comments SJT
For me, I don’t dislike the AFL but here are some reasons why I will never become a regular.
I used to go to the AFL fairly regularly up until the age of about 15. I’d get upset if I couldn’t see a Crows game live (or on tv). If they lost I’d be p!ssed off all weekend. All the while I supported the eagles and attended as many games as I could in the SANFL.
I am in my mid-30s now and would go to about 2 Crows matches a year. At most. While I recognise they are better athletes, with better skills, the game they play simply is much worse than the SANFL. The game hardly resembles the game of footy I played at school only 20 years ago. You can’t bump. Strength contests in marking contests are spoilt by the umpire awarding free kicks. Players kick sidesways, backwards, anywhere but forwards. There is a sub-rule. I could go on and on. All this is to grab the appeal of women, the elderly and kids. Maybe it appeals to them but the game is now unrecogniseable and a far worse product.
The way the game changed has attracted a new breed of supporters, many who have never played the game and do not have a good grasp of football. Every tackle is apparently holding the ball. Anytime one of hte opposition stars gets the ball it is because he is ‘protected’. Furthermore, the supporters are so prescious. Unless there is a seat, with a roof over their heads, a cushion and thermos of coffee provided then they will not show. It sickens me as they are not true supporters.
Then there is the atmosphere. Or should I say lack of it. When the Crows are losing a 40,000 crowd is dead silent apart from the grizzling. Even though the Eagles didn’t make the GF last year I attended Centrals vs Norwood and loved it. 30,000 passionate SANFL supporters split evenly has MUCH better atmosphere than any Crows match with a much larger crowd.
All these issues yet they want to charge me $30 for a minor round ticket! I’ll just go and watch it on tv and provide my attendance at SANFL matches.

I walk to the gate and someone is trying to sell raffle tickets for the club as it's crying poor (Strange when players are on 6 figure salaries). I then buy my family tickets, which are over priced. I squeeze the family in the middle of the row to take our seats. The kids complain, I'm Hungry or toilet etc. So out we go, disturbing people again. 20 minutes later I am back in my seat. $100 gone.

Through the game I wonder what is going on with all the kicking backwards etc. No one seems to kick straight at goal. I see a good mark from the opposition and say so quietly to myself, only to have half a dozen old bags turn around and scream at me that I should go home. Now i'm busting for a piss, but don't want to disturb everyone again so I put up with it until half time I don't hear any discussions on how a player is improving, struggling. No comments on a good run of play.No concerns about players being underdone.

Its simple. Cheer if we got the ball. Boo if they got the ball.

No opposition supporters around to chat to. Can't wonder off and have a beer with a mate a couple of rows over.

The whole spectacle seems so distant.
The crowd is a herd of sheep.

I have been to AFL games in Brisbane and Melbourne, and it's the same. Dull.

Playford Alive.

I park across the road for free. I give the Salvos a donation at the gate. ( I think they are more deserving than the ticket collectors for the AFL clubs) The kids get in free. I say see ya later and they wonder off with $5 each to meet up with their mates.

I can sit where I want, talk to who I want. Grab a bite to eat while still watching the game. The discussions are interesting as people know the players. I can go and listen to the huddle. See the injured/ retired players kicking a footy with their kids at quarter time. Banter between supporters of the opposition. Hear their thoughts on how their team is going. I can even compliment the opposition, or god forbid say they should have got a free without being screamed at. Then at the end be home within 20min of the final siren.

It's all interactive. I feel a part of the club. I think my membership is important, The players have a laugh, chat with the supporters. They are real people with real jobs just like us. Never do I feel I am being ripped off.

The glitz and glam of the AFL is a full con job if I ever did see one. You can sit and stare at it from a seat at the ground, or get exactly the same experience on your own lounge watching it on the box. This is why even though I get free AFL tickets with my CDFC membership I am still not interested, and I haven't heard of anyone around me saying they use them either.

[Sojourner]

I think Rucci's articles are doing damage to the AFL "brand'. He's creating a backlash to the AFL as SANFL followers, step up to support the SANFL, which he persists in "trashing". Les Steven's letter to CDFC supporters was a response to the "media beat up", and obviously one "journalist" (loose term) in particular. If he hadn't been bagging the SANFL so much, maybe the AFL teams would be getting more sympathy.
I must admit, I was a Crow's member for about the first five years, before it all felt too commercial. I even didn't mind the Port team, (but not the supporters ). Now, I've been "put off". Despite, living walking distance to the Oval and consistently being offered free tickets, I haven't bothered to see a game in the last couple of years.

I though the following a good post on the CDFC website. Posted by "dogfish":

Comparisons.

I go to AAMI to watch an AFL game. Pay to park.
I walk to the gate and someone is trying to sell raffle tickets for the club as it's crying poor (Strange when players are on 6 figure salaries). I then buy my family tickets, which are over priced. I squeeze the family in the middle of the row to take our seats. The kids complain, I'm Hungry or toilet etc. So out we go, disturbing people again. 20 minutes later I am back in my seat. $100 gone.

Through the game I wonder what is going on with all the kicking backwards etc. No one seems to kick straight at goal. I see a good mark from the opposition and say so quietly to myself, only to have half a dozen old bags turn around and scream at me that I should go home. Now i'm busting for a piss, but don't want to disturb everyone again so I put up with it until half time I don't hear any discussions on how a player is improving, struggling. No comments on a good run of play.No concerns about players being underdone.

Its simple. Cheer if we got the ball. Boo if they got the ball.

No opposition supporters around to chat to. Can't wonder off and have a beer with a mate a couple of rows over.

The whole spectacle seems so distant.
The crowd is a herd of sheep.

I have been to AFL games in Brisbane and Melbourne, and it's the same. Dull.

Playford Alive.

I park across the road for free. I give the Salvos a donation at the gate. ( I think they are more deserving than the ticket collectors for the AFL clubs) The kids get in free. I say see ya later and they wonder off with $5 each to meet up with their mates.

I can sit where I want, talk to who I want. Grab a bite to eat while still watching the game. The discussions are interesting as people know the players. I can go and listen to the huddle. See the injured/ retired players kicking a footy with their kids at quarter time. Banter between supporters of the opposition. Hear their thoughts on how their team is going. I can even compliment the opposition, or god forbid say they should have got a free without being screamed at. Then at the end be home within 20min of the final siren.

It's all interactive. I feel a part of the club. I think my membership is important, The players have a laugh, chat with the supporters. They are real people with real jobs just like us. Never do I feel I am being ripped off.

The glitz and glam of the AFL is a full con job if I ever did see one. You can sit and stare at it from a seat at the ground, or get exactly the same experience on your own lounge watching it on the box. This is why even though I get free AFL tickets with my CDFC membership I am still not interested, and I haven't heard of anyone around me saying they use them either.

Post of the thread!

[mal]

Todays paper
Rucci with more Craig bashing AGAIN zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

And I also concur that the SJT post was very very very good

[85 WAS A GOOD YEAR]

And I also concur that the SJT post was very very very good

So were his comments on the MMC online article today

[Apachebulldog]

Heres a great post from re the Burger Kings journalistic effort of flipping the same burgers !!Ben Posted at 12:12 PM Today

So club independence is the holy grail? Then why is North Melbourne broke? Why is Western Bulldogs broke? Why is Melbourne broke? Why is Brisbane broke? Why is Richmond broke? I support Les Steven's comments. He publicly states what many people think. Anyone else notice that the current governance structure wasn't an issue when both clubs could turn a dollar in years past? I find it incredible poor club management has not been mentioned! Could it just be that Port was much better managed in the Brian Cunningham era? Stop blaming the SANFL! I say give them their independence and let them wallow in it - like North Melb, Bulldogs etc.

Comment 14 of 19

I like it !

[Barto]

Another one of Rucci's suckers was on AA tonight screaming that the SANFL is "raping and pillaging" the poor AFL clubs. Give us a break..

[Apachebulldog]

And another great post by an astute ffooty supporter !!!Tony Posted at 9:37 AM June 13, 2011

One of your best articles yet, Rucci. Spot on. Both clubs have been patient enough. Both clubs are operating at a loss because of the Sanfl. The Sanfl has lost their right to own these licences. Demetriou needs to harden up and take these licences away from the Sanfl and put them directly in the hands of the clubs. Or is Demetriou not interested in allowing the SA clubs to be on an equal playing field to the Victorian cubs - maybe that's it!

Comment 4 of 19

[Columbo]

top post SJT, as they say on Footy Classified - Good Call

[MatteeG]

Post of the thread!

Agreed 100%!!