Where have all the (MCG) home games gone?
If you’re thinking it’s been too long between home games at our home ground, you’d be right.
When Hawthorn played its first home game of the year at the MCG, there were supporters who came to the game straight from the beach.
By the time the Hawks play their second home game of the year, those same fans will likely need to bring a jacket.
There will be 55 days between the two engagements – Essendon on the opening Sunday of the season and Melbourne on Saturday.
It is an awfully long time. Hawk fans rocked up to the first game full of hope and expectation. They’ll turn up on the weekend, hoping like hell the team can get within five goals of the flag fancies.
With just six MCG home games for the year over 24 weekends of home and away football, there are always going to be significant gaps in the calendar between engagements. And yes, the Hawks did play Geelong at the MCG on Easter Monday, albeit as the away team this year as part of the agreement with the Cats and the AFL.
But Hawthorn’s home MCG fixture is always lopsided. Last year it was three in the first five weeks of the season and the last home game was round 18, six weeks before the end of the home and away season.
It was the same in 2019.
This year, the MCG games come in a rush towards the end of the season, four of the last six games. Two of them – Collingwood and Fremantle – are home games, although as we know, Magpie games mean handing over the Ponsford Stand to their feral fans and forfeiting the home rooms.
There are many supporters who enjoy games at the MCG, period, and have no preference whether the Hawks are wearing brown shorts or white.
But home games are a bit more fun. The noise and the activity between quarters at the footy can be infernal, but at least it belongs to Hawthorn. When the Hawks are up and about as the home team, the fans own the lower bowels of the MCG from one wing to another. There is a great sense of community.
What is frustrating about Hawthorn’s MCG draw to date is how many other clubs have already played there more times than the Hawks so far this year. Friday night will be game no.5 for the Cats. The Bombers have visited four times already. The Western Bulldogs and Sydney have already played there as many times as the Hawks.
Hawthorn’s home fixture is always going to be complicated. Four games in Tasmania that the club loves. The one home game at Marvel that the club does not, especially this year when the opponent is St Kilda, whose home ground is, umm, Marvel.
At least the Saints figure to be in finals contention, so their fans will turn up at a ground they like and hopefully line Hawthorn’s pockets as they do.
Before too long, Tassie will have its own team and the Hawks will need to fill the home game void. This has been discussed here before, but it won’t simply be a case of out with Tassie and back in with the MCG.
There can only be a certain number of MCG games each year. Carlton is agitating for more there and so will Hawthorn.
Let’s hope when the negotiations ramp up, the Hawks get on the front foot and give their fans what they want.
I’m a Kennedy Club member. I LOVE the MCG but I only sit in my seat once a year now. Many of the original members around me have moved on or don’t go to games any more. It’s not the same feel and I put it down to continuity. I am NOT interested in the Marvel home game, I refuse to go. I can’t be bothered booking a seat and finding it. I want to sit with the usual crowd in the usual seat if I am forking out $625. If the Hawks don’t get MCG home games once we vacate Tassie I will seriously reconsider any membership. I want continuity of games to consider going regularly. Thankfully, a best mate is a MCC member who gets me a guest pass to attend choice games each year (not always Hawthorn). Carlton, Essendon etc can keep their Marvel home ground and shouldn’t be prioritised over the Hawks. HFC needs a new Major sponsor and that MS will be looking for a large membership base, will want to see large crowds and high ratings on mainstream tv. We are miles away from ticking those boxes right now. HFC needs to do everything they can to ensure 11 MCG home games which is a step towards the return of supporters BUT the team needs to start winning to justify the G, to get back onto mainstream tv and to crowd attendance. Large supporter attendance is a major ingredient to on field success. How many times has the Collingwood, Richmond or Geelong crowd assisted the teams in creating energy and wins in close games……. GoHawks
6 home games at the MCG is an insult to our supporters. What’s even worse, is the club taking for granted members who pay equitable (to other club) fees for just 7 reserved seat home games.
Generally, members are pretty supportive. Paying full fees the years when there were zero games. During the successful years, the club could get away with this cost-per-reserved seat scam because you were watching elite football. Of late, watching a developmental side makes this membership cost too much to stomach for some