Has the passion waned post Ablett?

[Pornstar]

Do you guys think that the passion of Geelong supporters as a whole has waned since Gary Ablett sr retired? I know quite a few Cats fans who have dropped off with the intensity with which they used to support the team, and it has all happened since the great man left the scene. Do you know any Geelong supporters who don't go to as many games as they used to, and if so, is it because things aren't the same without Gazza, or is there some other reason?

 

[Catman]

I know quite a few Geelong fans who don't go to the games any more but I doubt it is because the great man is not there any more.
I think many have left because of the rising costs of going to the footy, the TV coverage and the fact that all games are on TV, most of them live. But I think the thing that has hurt Geelong has been the club's poor form since 95. We have only made 3 final's series since and have been knocked out twice in the first week.

Geelong people are very fickle and once they leave it is very hard to get them to return if they are dissatisfied with the club and the only way to change their minds is to win a premiership, and of course no one can guarantee one of those.

 

[JUBJUB]

Originally posted by Pornstar
Do you guys think that the passion of Geelong supporters as a whole has waned since Gary Ablett sr retired?

I'd say no.Last years membership total was the highest the club ever had.

 

[SeinDude]

I would have to agree with JubJub on this one. Geelong's membership has risen in the time Mark Thompson and the new board have been in control of the Geelong Football Club, (since 2000) and although our onfield performances have been down of late, every club goes through these periods of rebuilding and the true diehard Geelong supporters understand this and will stick with their club through good times and bad whereas the "bandwagoners" will go along when the team is winning!!

I guess the other thing to consider was the fact that Gary Ablett used to be able to draw the 'neutral' fans along to the Geelong matches to watch him play. Lets face it, whenever Geelong played at say the MCG in the early to mid 1990's, 5,000-10,000 people would go just to see the great man play!! I know times have changed with better television coverage, but I don't think Geelong is any different to other clubs in that regard.

Go Cats!!
SeinDude

 

[Pornstar]

Membership only represents a very small proportion of total supporters though (probably about 7-8%), and the members are also the hard core supporters that will always stick with them through thick and thin. I must admit the Cats supporters that i know that have dropped off them in the past 5 years were always pay-at-the-gate people.

 

[badcat]

I go to the footy just as often, it was just an extra bonus having a champion like Yaaaabblet in your side.

 

[T.W.Sherrin]

Pornstar,

I think you are absolutely spot on about post Ablett down at the Cattery. I am as avid as I always have been, but somehow it just isn't the same without the great man there. We were so blessed and priveleged to have witnessed him weave his magic and there is no doubt in my mind that others have dropped off also. The excitement that one man could generate was amazing, and I doubt very much that this will ever be replicated.
I still go to the footy often but never has it even come close to when the great man was playing. The way he could take my breath away will never ever be repeated. He was the Don Bradman of football and drew an extra 5-10,000 people every time we played, just to watch his amazing ability. The amount of times I would leave the footy shaking my head about his freakish ability is countless.
I might also add that Gary Ayers certainly took away a lot of my passion with his "my way or the highway" attitude. He nearly killed our club and it is only now that we are getting back to somewhere near where we belong.

Definately some merit in what you say Pornstar if you ask me.

Cheers
TW

 

[pivotal]

Originally posted by Pornstar
Do you guys think that the passion of Geelong supporters as a whole has waned since Gary Ablett sr retired? I know quite a few Cats fans who have dropped off with the intensity with which they used to support the team, and it has all happened since the great man left the scene. Do you know any Geelong supporters who don't go to as many games as they used to, and if so, is it because things aren't the same without Gazza, or is there some other reason?

Even though we never won a flag during the '89 - '95 period, we were without a doubt the most exciting team in the league. We played very attacking footy and continually took risks, this is probably what brought us unstuck in the Grand Finals.

So as the case would be for any other side, the crowds we got during that period were bigger than they are now. At the moment we are a middle-of-the-road side without any superstars that would bring neutral supporters to our games.