2026 Pre-Season Thread

[braddsey]

I'd agree with your except ...

1. We are all here for social engagement

2. A lot of us (most of us?) have turned to two amateur podcasters to fill our 'engagement' need. My memories of the grand finals are the game, then the Thursday night live podcast and the long walk to the game.

If the club had to pay for advertising to get this type of engagement they would be paying a fortune.

The club did pay for The Roar Deal podcast. Then they decided not to.
Now they still get the promotion and engagement of the podcast (and associated watch parties and live events) but don’t need to pay for it. Sounds like sound business management to me.

 

[dlanod]

The club did pay for The Roar Deal podcast. Then they decided not to.
Now they still get the promotion and engagement of the podcast (and associated watch parties and live events) but don’t need to pay for it. Sounds like sound business management to me.

Not really, they just got lucky that Mike and Dom decided to keep doing it after it was dropped by the club. The obvious thing would have been for them to call it quits at the time - there was zero guarantee they were going to continue it at that point, so the club gets a corresponding zero credit for anything thereafter beyond the minimum of still engaging with them as a third party now.

 

[irel]

The club did pay for The Roar Deal podcast. Then they decided not to.
Now they still get the promotion and engagement of the podcast (and associated watch parties and live events) but don’t need to pay for it. Sounds like sound business management to me.

Not really. It doesn’t reflect well on a professional club when a couple of amateur podcasters manage to engage with supporters more effectively than an organisation with millions of dollars at its disposal. You’d expect a club of this size to be leading the way in communication and connection, not outsourcing it by default.

No matter how you gild the lily, our media department is the worst in the league. Spend five minutes looking at what other clubs produce and it becomes painfully obvious: we simply don’t prioritise information, engagement, or genuine connection with our own supporters. The club just doesn’t give a hack.

We supposedly had over sixty‑five thousand members last year, yet our social‑media traffic is embarrassingly low compared to other clubs. That’s not a coincidence, it’s a direct reflection of how little effort the club puts into its own communication strategy.

My only concern is that when the cliff eventually comes, and it always does, those members don’t go over it with the club. Because right now, the club isn’t giving them much reason to stay loyal when things get tough.

Edit: Currently, flags are a good reason.

 

[BangyBangy]

My only concern is that when the cliff eventually comes, and it always does, those members don’t go over it with the club. Because right now, the club isn’t giving them much reason to stay loyal when things get tough.

Edit: Currently, flags are a good reason.

Geelong begs to differ.

If they can do it, we can do it too (except with many more premierships to show for it )

 

[Section 5]

I am not on social media except Instagram.
So not like younger people (under 50) that really rely on their phones and social media for information.
Just use Instagram for messages to my daughter when she goes overseas which she does yearly.
I posted once about 5 years ago just to see how to put an image on there.
I don't even bother looking much at Lions stuff on Instagram when prompted via an email

It's a 6-month offseason and we always want some information.
Enough has been trickling through various media for my satisfaction.
The AFL ensure we get things to keep us interested in the early part of the 6-month break.
October 3rd through to Dec 15 being free agency, trade, draft, preseason and rookie draft, then the AFLW trade and draft.

Then most likely the media department take their holidays during the Christmas/New Year period.

Players only returned to training early January so not much media until then.

February is when things start to warm up with more intraclub sims. Then some official practice matches.
I expect we will get more media information from now till the first game.

The club has to spend their money somehow and have done a good job in that area the last 5 years
Until i see a job description for the media role duties i will reserve my judgement.
I am sure they are not sitting around doing nothing.

Other clubs may have a better social media presence but maybe their other club duties are far less than the Lions role.

 

[BuntonRules]

To me, with our finances and the challenges of the modern world, it is gross dereliction of duty from our management the low priority given to online and social media content and interaction.

 

[Perrip]

I'd imagine the majority of AFL players at the club just don't want to do social media content stuff. Just comparing the last season of AFL & AFLW, it seemed that we got way more videos and content including the AFLW squad than the AFL squad.

 

[Nathan Barley]

I'd imagine the majority of AFL players at the club just don't want to do social media content stuff. Just comparing the last season of AFL & AFLW, it seemed that we got way more videos and content including the AFLW squad than the AFL squad.

I do suspect it’s part of Fagans culture to not force players into media work like the Amazon documentary he seems a bit old school in his approach.

At the end of the day it’s a job though and maybe some of them should also consider their post footy career jobs

Doesn’t stop them from hosting players nights at pubs, etc. the money probably plays a factor in that

 

[Saucery]

To me, with our finances and the challenges of the modern world, it is gross dereliction of duty from our management the low priority given to online and social media content and interaction.

True that, it should be pay per view.

btw BR I know you will be all over this.

 

[briztoon]

I do suspect it’s part of Fagans culture to not force players into media work like the Amazon documentary he seems a bit old school in his approach.

At the end of the day it’s a job though and maybe some of them should also consider their post footy career jobs

Doesn’t stop them from hosting players nights at pubs, etc. the money probably plays a factor in that

While I firmly believe it’s a club/Fagan policy to limit the clubs social media content, the players don’t really need to engage with the camera.

I might be in the minority, but I’d be happy with raw training footage, and extended match sim footage.

But that might give opposition clubs information on new structures and tactics.

 

[Maboo]

While I firmly believe it’s a club/Fagan policy to limit the clubs social media content, the players don’t really need to engage with the camera.

I might be in the minority, but I’d be happy with raw training footage, and extended match sim footage.

But that might give opposition clubs information on new structures and tactics.

On that point, I have heard a few training and match sim reports on SEN last week, and the common theme seems to be a lot more short kicking and moving the ball through the corridor at every opportunity.

 

[Section 5]

Fagan on channel 7 new tonight

 

[Grasshopper17]

Fagan on channel 7 new tonight

Any clips floating around?

 

[Perrip]

Any clips floating around?

 

[Grasshopper17]

Argh I checked there Was obviously just a couple of minutes early. Cheers.

 

[Elitek]

Lol we're reigning back to back premiers, 5 flags this century, 7 GFs, best chance ever in AFL area to dominate for a sustained period & we're concerned about clips about what our players favourite colour is... Those worrying about this will come back to their posts one day & realise how good we had it & not believe they were concerned about such nothingless.

BTW I'm sure the person who decided to have songs played after goals for each player was from the media department. Which is one of the greatest things thats ever happened for the club. The enjoyment of the last qtr of the 25 GF was multiplied by the karaoke that went with it. Let alone all the awesome moments that have gone before it esp with Charlie. Be grateful people. Other supporters would laugh that this is our biggest problem.

 

[Jordos Lions]

Hey guys!

 

[Nathan Barley]

Lol we're reigning back to back premiers, 5 flags this century, 7 GFs, best chance ever in AFL area to dominate for a sustained period & we're concerned about clips about what our players favourite colour is... Those worrying about this will come back to their posts one day & realise how good we had it & not believe they were concerned about such nothingless.

BTW I'm sure the person who decided to have songs played after goals for each player was from the media department. Which is one of the greatest things thats ever happened for the club. The enjoyment of the last qtr of the 25 GF was multiplied by the karaoke that went with it. Let alone all the awesome moments that have gone before it esp with Charlie. Be grateful people. Other supporters would laugh that this is our biggest problem.

Yes because you can't be grateful and criticise the club....

 

[Saucery]

Yes because you can't be grateful and criticise the club....

Derrr

 

[Elitek]

Yes because you can't be grateful and criticise the club....

Of course you can but it’s an insanely spoilt opinion.

 

[Clarkythelion]

Not really. It doesn’t reflect well on a professional club when a couple of amateur podcasters manage to engage with supporters more effectively than an organisation with millions of dollars at its disposal. You’d expect a club of this size to be leading the way in communication and connection, not outsourcing it by default.

No matter how you gild the lily, our media department is the worst in the league. Spend five minutes looking at what other clubs produce and it becomes painfully obvious: we simply don’t prioritise information, engagement, or genuine connection with our own supporters. The club just doesn’t give a hack.

We supposedly had over sixty‑five thousand members last year, yet our social‑media traffic is embarrassingly low compared to other clubs. That’s not a coincidence, it’s a direct reflection of how little effort the club puts into its own communication strategy.

My only concern is that when the cliff eventually comes, and it always does, those members don’t go over it with the club. Because right now, the club isn’t giving them much reason to stay loyal when things get tough.

Edit: Currently, flags are a good reason.

well said and its not only through social media, things like the members pack, or lack of. Things like recognition of membership milestones, the 10 year, the 20 year and so on. Last year I paid to have my daughter's birthday up on the big screen, you fill out an online form, add a photo and it's relayed onto the screen at half time - the spelt her name wrong. You wonder how the could possible do it when the process is all on lone but instead of he last name being Clark, the decided it should be Clarke. They did refund eventually but my daughter was the brunt of many jokes that night from our group.

 

[Clarkythelion]

While I firmly believe it’s a club/Fagan policy to limit the clubs social media content, the players don’t really need to engage with the camera.

I might be in the minority, but I’d be happy with raw training footage, and extended match sim footage.

But that might give opposition clubs information on new structures and tactics.

I haven't read one of their contracts but was involved with Rugby League and National Netball contracts, every player's contract had a clause about 'promotional' activities for the clubs, attending openings of things, player clinics, sponsor events, media interviews etc. The ones I read had a minimum of 4 hours or so per season which doesn't seem much I know but it's in there.

 

[scoman]

Hey guys!

 

[Perrip]

 

[Grasshopper17]

If Jack Payne is any guide it'll be a heck of a lot worse than that.