Five years on ...

[MaddAdam]

I'm not talking on-field, but even there it's very even in what's one of our worst decades. We're the taller, richer brother that allows you to pay your bills.

No, you're the golden child older brother that had everything but only ended up with a middle management job at a faceless firm but acts like you've won a Nobel Prize.

We started our own business and made it successful and just get on with it.

 

[jacko57]

So if you were on commercial tv every week, or say 15-16 times a week you would have a larger fan base and more money? (genuine question not meaning it to sound snarky)

It would appear logical that, where fans aren't allied to a particular club because of family allegiances or geographical factors, the team they are most likely to adopt would be chosen from the ones they see most often on the TV, no?

 

[Black Diamond]

So if you were on commercial tv every week, or say 15-16 times a week you would have a larger fan base and more money? (genuine question not meaning it to sound snarky)

Being of FTA at good times would mean sponsors pay more to be on the jumper, among other things.

It would also work to inspire more fringe supporters to get on as members because they could see our progress and feel a part of it.

 

[LT Smash]

The AFL in 2012 is incomparable in professionalism to the AFL of the 1990s. Hell even earlier this decade things still weren't anywhere close to the standard they are now in terms of Australian Rules being a truely professional sport.

So 2012 is a vast improvement in professionalism compared with 2010 and 2011?

 

[jacko57]

In answer to SwansRule100 (When you played just about every friday night did the club have a strong membership base and record large profits?, why did all the fans desert as the friday night games fell away? )

I don't think there is a simple answer to a complex question. Part of the success of North playing Fridays was the ability to get large numbers of neutrals to go to the G on a Friday, even if they were planning to go and watch their own team the next day as well. Part of it, I suspect, is the inability of the North admin of the day to convert fans to members.......to some extent, it took a while for the penny to drop (after the demise of Fitzroy, and the near merger of Hawthorn & Melbourne) that, in order for clubs to survive, they HAD to seriously increase their membership. By the late 90s, the North admin thought the best way to do that was to offer to play home games in Sydney,a nd then in Canberra, which proved to be a serious error of judgment.

 

[The King!]

It would appear logical that, where fans aren't allied to a particular club because of family allegiances or geographical factors, the team they are most likely to adopt would be chosen from the ones they see most often on the TV, no?

Yep theres an element of that, but by that logic you should have developed a pretty strong base for over the long period you dominated the fixture? it didnt happen that way? I agree you should get more exposure, I also think North have done a good job in the 5 years you talked about, but if the brand is good on the ground the fans will come, north were finally half decent to watch for a neutral this year, until then they were nothing interesting.

The afl only care about what rates, If north dont rate they miss out, the tv deal provides funding of which north has taken more than its share of, which its entitled too. I think theres a balance to be had and its been slanted too far against north, but i dont think pioneering it entitles you to it and i dont think its the solution to any woes, i think the good footy you have played the investment in youth and facilities as well as good management has improved and will continue to improve the brand

 

[Zahki]

So 2012 is a vast improvement in professionalism compared with 2010 and 2011?

A decade is any interval of 10 years. You shouldn't try this smart arsey pedantry, it makes you look dumb when you get corrected.

 

[Black Diamond]

The afl only care about what rates, If north dont rate they miss out, the tv deal provides funding of which north has taken more than its share of, which its entitled too. I think theres a balance to be had and its been slanted too far against north, but i dont think pioneering it entitles you to it and i dont think its the solution to any woes, i think the good footy you have played the investment in youth and facilities as well as good management has improved and will continue to improve the brand

Of course it doesn't. We just want a share that recognises we pioneered it. As long as Collingwood and Essendon monopolise ANZAC day on the basis that they started it, we should get more than just one token game against Carlton each year. Good Friday is sitting right there...

 

[Black Diamond]

A decade is any interval of 10 years. You shouldn't try this smart arsey pedantry, it makes you look dumb when you get corrected.

Yeah, because we all saw "decade" and assumed you meant 2003 to now.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Why always "Five years on", why not 4 or 6? People in this forum don't even know what's going to happen next week. let alone 5 years from now

 

[The King!]

Of course it doesn't. We just want a share that recognises we pioneered it. As long as Collingwood and Essendon monopolise ANZAC day on the basis that they started it, we should get more than just one token game against Carlton each year. Good Friday is sitting right there...

Yup ANZAC day does support the argument and just a plain attempt at equalising the draw, one game is not good enough, should be shared so everyone gets the opportunity, including North of course.

 

[bombermick]

North should get more Friday nights as they pioneered the concept. Hopefully they get Good Friday when it happens.

However, I can't see them growing their fan base greatly if they didn't grab many from their 90s era.

 

[MaddAdam]

So if you were on commercial tv every week, or say 15-16 times a week you would have a larger fan base and more money? (genuine question not meaning it to sound snarky)

We'd certainly have better sponsorship deals.

 

[fairdinkum]

What have we learned since Nov '07? Well then...

1) The AFL still has us in their sights. The old maverick Jeff Kennett and his little Launceston stunt bought us some time (not that that was his intention) but that time is being slowly chewed up each and every day.

2) The AFL can actually accomplish some remarkable things. Metricon got done (and I've already admitted I was wrong on that one), Skoda got done. Moneypits these soulless franchises may be but if they stumble/fail it won't be because the AFL didn't do the necessary groundwork to give the clubs a chance.

3) If soccer ever was any kind of threat, it isn't any more. 1 vote.

4) North supporters were right about the Gold Coast; the place is a professional sporting club graveyard. GCU gone, Titans losing money hand over fist. Suns fans way down in their second season.

And to those of you saying that bigfooty was not full of people forecasting NMFC's quick demise, go back and read some of the threads from the time. It wasn't just a few loony tunes here and there; there was a palpable sense that a large number of bigfooty posters not only thought we would be 'dead' by now but also wanted it to happen. It was pathetic.

 

[Demonheart]

How much profit did North make this year?

 

[The King!]

How much profit did North make this year?

Not released yet is it? 581k loss last year first loss since 07 though

 

[MightyHawks]

For such a smart guy, your sense (or lack thereof) of the long term big picture is surprising.

Pretty simple, really. In the long term, the AFL plans to supercede rugby league in the northern states. Given the parlous nature of that sport, and the work the AFL's doing, not to mention the superior nature of the game, it's more likely than not that AFL will succeed in the long term. Not in five years, ten years, or twenty years, but thirty years plus - the sporting landscape up north will change.

If the gringos (we being Mexicans) embrace our game as imagined, well, two teams ain't enough for the 5+ million people who'll be living in Sydney, not in comparison to the 9 in Melbourne. They'd spend us into the ground.

Solution is, when the time's right, the most vulnerable Melbourne clubs will either be relocated, or allowed to wither to death.

It may be North, it may be Bulldogs, it may be Hawthorn, it may be Carlton or Essendon. But whoever's financially vulnerable once the northern markets start to mature, should be feeling quite nervous.

Of course, most of this won't happen until we're old and/or dead.

But flat earthers we aint: 9 clubs in Melbourne won't reflect support for the game in the long term.

I believe there will be less teams in Victoria in 30 years time

Have felt it inevitable since 1996, and want my club to be one of the survivors

 

[Copernicus]

Well, I guess it's that time of year. Mods, can we open up a special off-season shitfights forum for threads like these?

 

[MightyHawks]

So if you were on commercial tv every week, or say 15-16 times a week you would have a larger fan base and more money? (genuine question not meaning it to sound snarky)

Obviously that helps. But it's over time.

The more exposure a club has, the more opportunity it has to develop a supporter base.

It's not rocket science

 

[The King!]

Obviously that helps. But it's over time.

The more exposure a club has, the more opportunity it has to develop a supporter base.

It's not rocket science

Yes but how many years did north dominate the timeslot with an all time great? Where are the spoils from this?

 

[MightyHawks]

Yes but how many years did north dominate the timeslot with an all time great? Where are the spoils from this?

I think North have increased their supporter base

Most North fans are children of the 70s or children of the 90s

Don't forget that they are coming from a very low base

Success and exposure are essential

In Year 10 (1990), we surveyed the entire year level at school - nearly 300

And about 85% went for Hawks, Dons, Tigers or Blues

1980 Premiers Richmond (Prep)
1981 Premiers Carlton (Year 1)
1982 Premiers Carlton (Year 2)
1983 Premiers Hawthorn (Year 3)
1984 Premiers Essendon (Year 4)
1985 Premiers Essendon (Year 5)
1986 Premiers Hawthorn (Year 6)
1987 Premiers Carlton (Year 7)
1988 Premiers Hawthon (Year 8)
1989 Premiers Hawthorn (Year 9)

 

[The King!]

I think North have increased their supporter base

Most North fans are children of the 70s or children of the 90s

Don't forget that they are coming from a very low base

Success and exposure are essential

In Year 10 (1990), we surveyed the entire year level at school - nearly 300

And about 85% went for Hawks, Dons, Tigers or Blues

1980 Premiers Richmond (Prep)
1981 Premiers Carlton (Year 1)
1982 Premiers Carlton (Year 2)
1983 Premiers Hawthorn (Year 3)
1984 Premiers Essendon (Year 4)
1985 Premiers Essendon (Year 5)
1986 Premiers Hawthorn (Year 6)
1987 Premiers Carlton (Year 7)
1988 Premiers Hawthon (Year 8)
1989 Premiers Hawthorn (Year 9)

Good post i agree, i was saying i believed they will turn it/ have turned it around regardless of when they play, and i guess just getting at the fact it might not be an absolute saving grace, but i see your point.

 

[Wetdog]

Disagree as does the AFL.

When the fixture is specifically designed to give some clubs the best exposure, then those clubs that don't get the exposure most be compensated or assisted to make up that revenue in other ways.

Playing devil's advocate here, but couldn't you argue that the AFL fixture rewards the successful clubs. I.e. good club management = on field success = more fans, members, bigger crowds = more prime time tv games/marquee games etc.

 

[Tigersman]

Id say its too early to tell if they made the right call.
While some interstate teams are struggling right now, they all exist in markets big enough to support them if they get it right.
There are too many teams in Melbourne.
Simply keeping your head above water financially is not good enough when the big boys are going ahead in leaps and bounds.
How long before the gap gets so large that the big boys decide that the minnows are holding them back?


The crunch is coming.

 

[Bigeasy]

Id say its too early to tell if they made the right call.
While some interstate teams are struggling right now, they all exist in markets big enough to support them if they get it right.
There are too many teams in Melbourne.
Simply keeping your head above water financially is not good enough when the big boys are going ahead in leaps and bounds.
How long before the gap gets so large that the big boys decide that the minnows are holding them back?


The crunch is coming.

Worked well for the NRL.