Live site mess a disrespect to fans

WHETHER Geelong takes out the AFL flag today or not, and let’s hope they do, some club members might also be having second thoughts about continuing to support a club that doesn’t look after them.

For two years, during Covid, Geelong Football Club pleaded with members to stick by it by keeping up their memberships even though they hardly got to go to a game.

When it came to today’s grand final between Geelong and

Sydney, only 17,000 Cats’ members were able to secure tickets, leaving a whopping 55,000 members out in the cold.

But to add insult to injury, the City of Greater Geelong and Geelong Football Club also decided against providing a site for the public to watch the grand final broadcast live.

Geelong Football Club said it was “up to council” and council claimed it was “a grey area”.

Some might call it a total disregard and lack of respect by both towards all those loyal fans who, for years, have given unwavering support to their club. Geelong Mayor Peter Murrihy said plans for a live site were

“never locked in” and “it was discussed” but “I don’t know at what level it was discussed at”. Seriously?

And you didn’t think to ask, as the Cats barrelled their way with straight wins towards the pointy end of the season, that it might actually be a good idea to organise a public venue where fans could get together and watch their team play in a grand final? Why not?

Not exactly what you would call forward planning is it?

Fair enough that GMHBA Stadium couldn’t be used due to preparation for the ICC T20 Cup in October.

Even so, the World Cup wasn’t exactly booked in yesterday, so there has been plenty of time for discussions and plans put in place for an alternative site to be sorted.

Instead Mr Murrihy encouraged fans to “lap up the grand final buzz at the region’s hospitality venues”.

I don’t know what planet Mr Murrihy lives on but I’d hardly call a crowded pub on grand final day a suitable place for young families and I reckon most parents would agree. At least live public venues are alcohol and gambling-free and provide the perfect space for families and indeed all fans to come together and enjoy the game.

Seems Geelong city council can find money for all kinds of ridiculous things from street performers to obscure temporary artwork and stuffing up the city centre but could not arrange a venue to cover one of the biggest sporting events to hit Geelong.

Geelong Football Club, too, has had hundreds of millions of dollars poured into it over the years but it seems that looking after the little bloke, the original bread and butter of the club, is no longer of any consequence.

At the time of writing on grand final eve and following public backlash, Geelong city council had undergone a change of heart and was reportedly scrambling to find a venue to host a live telecast.

Even so, by now many disappointed fans will have been forced to make alternative arrangements.