TonyK
CibbuanoDemons could lose blockbuster
June 6th 2008 01:54
MELBOURNE is in danger of losing the blockbuster Queen's Birthday match if it draws a crowd of less than 60,000, according to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.
The Demons have traditionally played Collingwood in the only AFL match on Queen's Birthday, but Demetriou said that unless there were more than 60,000 people at the match on Monday, the AFL would look at taking the event away from the Demons and the Magpies.
"(The AFL) will always have a Queen's Birthday game, but there's nothing written in stone that says it's a Melbourne-Collingwood fixture forever and a day," Demetriou said on 3AW this morning.
"If I were the Melbourne supporters, I'd get out and support their team against Collingwood. This is a game that we've always pencilled in each year as a permanent fixture but unless there is 60-65,000 people (this Monday), we would seriously consider giving it to other clubs who are desperate to have an event. That game should command a 65-70,000 crowd."
Demetriou said that the Demons have financially benefitted from the current Queen's Birthday arrangement with the Magpies and encouraged Melbourne fans to go and support their club.
"It's only really from the kindness of the Collingwood Football Club, which I support Eddie on, that they've allowed Melbourne to keep this a as home game where (the Demons) keep the gate. It could easily be Collingwood-Melbourne, but it's been Melbourne-Collingwood.
"So the Melbourne supporters need to get behind their club because there are six or seven other clubs that would be desperate to have that game as a home game."
Demetriou said that if the AFL changed the competing teams on Queen's Birthday, Collingwood would not necessarily be one of the teams, as it already plays the Anzac Day match against Essendon.
The Demons have traditionally played Collingwood in the only AFL match on Queen's Birthday, but Demetriou said that unless there were more than 60,000 people at the match on Monday, the AFL would look at taking the event away from the Demons and the Magpies.
"(The AFL) will always have a Queen's Birthday game, but there's nothing written in stone that says it's a Melbourne-Collingwood fixture forever and a day," Demetriou said on 3AW this morning.
"If I were the Melbourne supporters, I'd get out and support their team against Collingwood. This is a game that we've always pencilled in each year as a permanent fixture but unless there is 60-65,000 people (this Monday), we would seriously consider giving it to other clubs who are desperate to have an event. That game should command a 65-70,000 crowd."
Demetriou said that the Demons have financially benefitted from the current Queen's Birthday arrangement with the Magpies and encouraged Melbourne fans to go and support their club.
"It's only really from the kindness of the Collingwood Football Club, which I support Eddie on, that they've allowed Melbourne to keep this a as home game where (the Demons) keep the gate. It could easily be Collingwood-Melbourne, but it's been Melbourne-Collingwood.
"So the Melbourne supporters need to get behind their club because there are six or seven other clubs that would be desperate to have that game as a home game."
Demetriou said that if the AFL changed the competing teams on Queen's Birthday, Collingwood would not necessarily be one of the teams, as it already plays the Anzac Day match against Essendon.
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