Just an idea

[Shinboners]

HI all

Some of the long term bigfooty board members will know all the crap that the North fans had to go through will all the arguments about our financial position. And plenty of you Bulldogs fans will remember all the problems your club has had.

One of the key arguments used by the AFL and the media in regards to club viability are the club membership figures. At the moment, the Roos are on about 22,000 while you guys are on about 15,000. The key is to build on this number. Often, great ideas have started off as just vague thoughts, and my thought is this.....how about if the North fans on bigfooty try and get as many North members to take up Doggie memberships. In return, you convince your people to take up North memberships. The idea could be taken up through the official forums and maybe the cheersquads.

Most of us here have talked about wanting to make sure that all us "smaller" clubs survive. Now might be the time to put our money where our mouth is.

What do you guys think?

Cheers
SB

[mick]

Don't mean to poke my nose in where is isn't wanted Shinboners(I'm a Hawk fan) but wouldn't North members be better off upgading their normal membership cards to a Pagans Patrons membership (or reserved seating-whatever)rather than using their hard earned to support another club? The same applies to Dogs supporters.

The Roos and the dogs do have enough barrackers, the trick is to make them supporters. According to the Hawthorn marketing team most supporters are not becoming members because of cost. As the price of membership is set at AFL level all the clubs can do is give members more value for their money i.e family days, coaching clinics for kids etc

As far as I know (pls correct me if I'm wrong)neither the Dogs or Roos allow for progressive payments of memberships ie $10.00 p/w for 3 months. I really think this tactic would be of tremendous benefit particularly in attracting new members.

Hope its a close game next week
Hawks Forever.

[Westy Boy]

Shinners,

I would be all for the idea (I'm getting a North membership next week), but I dont know whether it would catch on, and could imagine the snide/smart arse remarks it would recieve if we did suggest it to the respective clubs forums/cheersquads.

IMO, It's unfortunate that most people are too blinkered to ever consider giving other clubs relatively small amounts that all help out teams in similar positions. Some of them might spurt out some crap that if every single cent you have for footy doesn't go to your team you're not a real supporter etc. etc. which is a disappointing attitude. If it came down to a "tin rattle" for any club I think it would be fairly different with rival supporters being quite generous, but until we get into REAL strife (which hopefully neither of our clubs ever will http://www.bigfooty.com/ubb/wink.gif), I don't like our chances of getting too many people to join the party.

I think Mick's made a good point too- if they did have the extra cash handy, they'll probably spend it on upgrading their own clubs membership. Trusting that both camps are going through with it is also another factor.

Reckon it's a top idea though, and I'll get a couple of my mates in on it too, and see how we go from there. http://www.bigfooty.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Westy Boy (edited 26 April 2001).]

[Captain Sensible]

Membership is important. My family have three memberships between the two football going members.(The other one is at least a couple of months of being able to go-he/she isnt due for a couple of months, but that hasnt stopped me signing her/him up.)The same went for my son. He was born a member off the footy club.

While I like your idea Shinners, maybe we would be better off buying another membership in our own club. That way we could take people to the footy and maybe spark an interest in the game and more importantly the club. Our clubs need more missionary zeal I reckon.