Butterss - pointing the figure at Tigers and Blues.
Saints livid with rival clubs
By Greg Denham
June 20, 2003
ST KILDA president Rod Butterss yesterday accused Carlton and Richmond of attempting to hijack one of the Saints' biggest drawing fixtures of the season.
Carlton and Richmond have asked to play each other in an annual blockbuster next year at Easter, potentially leaving the Saints out in the cold.
St Kilda claim the AFL had given them an undertaking that a repeat of this year's successful experiment on Easter Monday at Telstra Dome against Richmond would be programmed again in 2004.
The St Kilda-Richmond clash in round four drew a crowd of 44,382 which provided a significant boost for the Saints' finances.
"What Carlton and Richmond want are only wish lists at the moment and there is a lot of water to go under the bridge," an angry Butterss said.
"The AFL have given us an undertaking that we've earned the right to play Richmond on Easter Monday which potentially gives us an annual blockbuster."
Butterss was not impressed that the Tigers had turned their backs on a verbal commitment to keep the Easter Monday date.
Butterss said he had faith in the AFL to treat all clubs fairly and evenly, and not just those with blockbuster status.
"We would trust the AFL to maintain the integrity of the draw," Butterss said.
The question of who plays Richmond next Easter is an example of Ian Collins having a conflict of interest. As president of Carlton, he wants to play the Tigers at the MCG. As chief executive of Melbourne Stadiums Ltd, which operates Telstra Dome, this year he backed St Kilda to draw well against Richmond.
MCC secretary Stephen Gough said yesterday he would welcome another blockbuster on either Good Friday or the following Monday.
"This year was the first time in years the AFL didn't program an Easter Monday game here," Gough said.
Richmond and Carlton have asked the AFL to drop their ban on games on Good Friday. But the league has been adamant in its resistance to playing on the holiest day of the Christian calendar.
The AFL remains the only football code in the country which considers it inappropriate to play on Good Friday.
Plan B for Carlton and Richmond is to play on Easter Monday.
Richmond president Clinton Casey said the Tigers favoured the Monday fixture against Carlton over playing St Kilda at the Dome.
"We've got more history with Carlton and it's an opportunity to play a bigger game at the MCG," Casey said.
Richmond are within days of finalising a two-year contract with Melbourne Stadiums to play four home games at the Dome in 2004 and again in 2005.
Saints livid with rival clubs
By Greg Denham
June 20, 2003
ST KILDA president Rod Butterss yesterday accused Carlton and Richmond of attempting to hijack one of the Saints' biggest drawing fixtures of the season.
Carlton and Richmond have asked to play each other in an annual blockbuster next year at Easter, potentially leaving the Saints out in the cold.
St Kilda claim the AFL had given them an undertaking that a repeat of this year's successful experiment on Easter Monday at Telstra Dome against Richmond would be programmed again in 2004.
The St Kilda-Richmond clash in round four drew a crowd of 44,382 which provided a significant boost for the Saints' finances.
"What Carlton and Richmond want are only wish lists at the moment and there is a lot of water to go under the bridge," an angry Butterss said.
"The AFL have given us an undertaking that we've earned the right to play Richmond on Easter Monday which potentially gives us an annual blockbuster."
Butterss was not impressed that the Tigers had turned their backs on a verbal commitment to keep the Easter Monday date.
Butterss said he had faith in the AFL to treat all clubs fairly and evenly, and not just those with blockbuster status.
"We would trust the AFL to maintain the integrity of the draw," Butterss said.
The question of who plays Richmond next Easter is an example of Ian Collins having a conflict of interest. As president of Carlton, he wants to play the Tigers at the MCG. As chief executive of Melbourne Stadiums Ltd, which operates Telstra Dome, this year he backed St Kilda to draw well against Richmond.
MCC secretary Stephen Gough said yesterday he would welcome another blockbuster on either Good Friday or the following Monday.
"This year was the first time in years the AFL didn't program an Easter Monday game here," Gough said.
Richmond and Carlton have asked the AFL to drop their ban on games on Good Friday. But the league has been adamant in its resistance to playing on the holiest day of the Christian calendar.
The AFL remains the only football code in the country which considers it inappropriate to play on Good Friday.
Plan B for Carlton and Richmond is to play on Easter Monday.
Richmond president Clinton Casey said the Tigers favoured the Monday fixture against Carlton over playing St Kilda at the Dome.
"We've got more history with Carlton and it's an opportunity to play a bigger game at the MCG," Casey said.
Richmond are within days of finalising a two-year contract with Melbourne Stadiums to play four home games at the Dome in 2004 and again in 2005.
