Improve the AFC website??

[crowsfan]

What do you reckon about the AFC website as it is?? Is it pretty good, or are there certain improvements that you think could be made?

Right now, they're asking for fans' opinions on how to improve the site. If you've got any suggestions for improvements, you can email your thoughts to mrobran@afc.com.au by the end of January. They said they'd endeaour to get our suggestions up and running.

 

[Damp Squarie]

This is a suggestion I sent in...

One way the site could be improved would be to include text
"excerpts" or the whole interview, of some of the interviews on 5AA (conducted with Crows players) one thing the fans want is NEWS. And as you would know any news is good news.

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by topjars
This is a suggestion I sent in...

One way the site could be improved would be to include text
"excerpts" or the whole interview, of some of the interviews on 5AA (conducted with Crows players) one thing the fans want is NEWS. And as you would know any news is good news.

Great suggestion TJ. Go to the top of the class!!

 

[Paralowiepower]

what about a update of where Carey is this very minute.
Then I wouldnt have to read it on message boards every time I come on. It would also save time for the media who follow him around.

 

[crowsfan]

Originally posted by Paralowiepower
what about a update of where Carey is this very minute.
Then I wouldnt have to read it on message boards every time I come on. It would also save time for the media who follow him around.

What a comedian

 

[afc9798]

I think the whole AFC website is pretty lame, but that's what happens when a club signs up to a bundle deal with Telstra and the AFL. I don't know if anyone has checked it out, but the Essendon website is excellent and has been for a long time. I would like to see video clips of famous club moments, some quality screensavers/wallpaper etc. , but as per above, the more news the better. Player profiles need updating and could be a lot more detailed instead of just what's your favourite movie etc. There are so many things that could be done better and I hope they listen to the suggestions. Credit where credit is due, the AFC are usually very good when it comes to listening to supporters, which is not bad when you consider the number of members.

PS Paralowiepower, have you ever wondered why no-one follows Tredrea around??

 

[Paralowiepower]

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PS Paralowiepower, have you ever wondered why no-one follows Tredrea around??
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No, why?

Because he dosent mess with team mates wifes ?

 

[crowsfan]

I sent in:

I think more player orientated content would be really good for the fans. I think it would be good if players could answer questions fans send by email (maybe to a central email address that all players could access), which they could put up on the website. For instance, we could send an email to ask Andrew McCleod what his dream car is, or what someone's favourite drink is.

 

[afc9798]

Very witty. I think it has a little more to do with being a legend of the game though? Perhaps Tredrea could have a legacy to the game like Carey's if only he could kick.

 

[Paralowiepower]

wouldnt that be nice.

 

[mellowyellow]

(Not really related) but im surprised that for a club with a large supporter base there dosn't seem to be any unofficial sites for crows supportes other than BF*stand to be corrected. If there is could someone provide a link and if not is there chance of a site being up soon.?

 

[noddy]

Would really like to have the Crows members forum back up & running again but doubt very much if that will happen while the club remains under the AFL/TESTRA banner,

 

[crowsfan]

Originally posted by noddy
Would really like to have the Crows members forum back up & running again but doubt very much if that will happen while the club remains under the AFL/TESTRA banner,

Hey noddy, did you email that suggestion? If enough fans/members suggest it, they might be able to bring it back.

 

[napsyd]

Originally posted by Paralowiepower
what about a update of where Carey is this very minute.
Then I wouldnt have to read it on message boards every time I come on. It would also save time for the media who follow him around.

Perhaps this could be SMS'd to our mobile phones!

Great idea! Thanks.

 

[Mong]

Even better we could have a live link to 'Carey Cam'.

24 hours a day!

 

[fitzy's_eyes]

hey guys....I just sent off an email to Matty Robran and thought I would post a copy here....

These are a few suggestions I have for the Crows site:
Focus on the fans and players...

*a fan forum or message board would be excellent!!! (This was one reason why I changed my AFC membership from a standard Vic Based membership to a Gold status. However the forum was no longer available once I did this.

*definitely keep the weekly chats you have had during the year...but if possible include a few more featured player chats

*Ask a Crow player: each week state a time for questions to be sent in (say from Monday to Thursday) and then post answers to questions the following week from the players or coaching staff

*Postcards or E-Cards featuring crow players or images to send to friends....ie, for birthdays etc...

*More choices for wall papers and screensavers

*A Fan Scrapbook: This would be where fans can write about Crow experiences such things like short stories, poems, sightings etc.. and submit images like photos, drawings or any other artwork.

*Trivia questions to test your knowledge of the Adelaide Football Club against other supporters. There could be rankings over the year.

The section titled 'This week@the Crows' is a must-be-kept section.
I guess what most people want is news...being able to interact with other supporters and players allows the experience to be broadened.
While on the topic of improvements....just wondering what will happen with Crow Zone this year now that Ryan Fitzgerald has been delisted. I really enjoyed the 'Coffee with Fitzy' section of the show and think you should keep the same format going this year. Hey there's another idea.....how about some transcripts from Crow Zone for the site?
All the things I have mentioned above could basically be put into one section of the site.....a fan section....and it would be up to you guys whether you would need to be an AFC member or not to access.

What do you think?

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by fitzy's_eyes
While on the topic of improvements....just wondering what will happen with Crow Zone this year now that Ryan Fitzgerald has been delisted. I really enjoyed the 'Coffee with Fitzy' section of the show and think you should keep the same format going this year. Hey there's another idea.....how about some transcripts from Crow Zone for the site?

What do you think?

One of the highlights of my week was 'Coffee with Fitzy' each week on Crow Zone in Fox footy. Fitzy is a dead set natural comedian - I hope that they still use him for that segment even though he is no longer with the club.

 

[Crow54]

There are some pretty good suggestions here!

How come Essendon was able to go it alone with their web-site? Do they have way more money than any other Club? Surely the Crows would have to be up there with Essendon????

I HATE the Crows web-site now, and hardly ever go there. I hope they follow up on some of these suggestions.

BTW, whereabouts on their site is the request for suggestions?

 

[fitzy's_eyes]

reply from matty robran...

well he was super fast to get back to me....i am impressed!

Basically Matt said that they're trying to implement as many suggestions as possible but the final say will be with Telstra.
Matt said he really liked the Ask a Crow idea and trivia section and he feels pretty confident they will go ahead. (nice!)
Matt said he believes that the forum and scrapbook section I suggested would more than likely not go ahead though as Telstra will probably not allow somewhere where people can write messages other fans can see.....because of rudeness etc...
Matt also said he is trying to get Bode to be his co-host as well on Crow Zone!

Not bad......pity about Fitzy not being used.....I guess it would be hard for him to co-host a show for a club he is not actually playing for though.....

 

[fitzy's_eyes]

Originally posted by Crow54

BTW, whereabouts on their site is the request for suggestions?

Hey there...

You can email Matty Robran
mrobran@afc.com.au

He is excellent to deal with....the email address is advertised on the Crow's Site.

Cheers
Alli

Hope I am allowed to post his email address here....if you think not.....quickly tell me so I can remove it as I can't see it on the Crow's Site anymore

 

[blighty]

Improve the AFL website

Sent this to Mathew Robran on the 10th still yet to receive a reply.Some of the ideas for the web site have been canvassed before.............
Firstly,with the biased heavily weighted Port power dominated media in this town these days, It is essential the AFC web site becomes the lively, timely predominant news source for all breaking news/information about the Adelaide football club,with up to date information available to every crow member & supporter not now available in the traditional football media.
Therefore
1]Annual report, financial report, chairman's reports should be available to access on the web site.

2]Detailed & in-depth interviews should be presented with the key personnel of the football club on a weekly basis.eg Bill Sanders was recently appointed to the board.Why not an interview with him detailing the reasons why he's returned to the board, what's his future role, how does he see the future of the club etc? Incidentally Bill Sanders could contribute a fascinating column headed "I remember when"........ Sanders was involved in practically every major event in the history of AFC! He was intricately involved in the original negotiations to get Wayne Carey to the club in 1992! The recruitment of Darren Jarman,Andrew McLeod, Malcolm Blight the sacking of Robert Shaw,& Graham Cornes. In fact Sanders from what I recall has kept a meticulous diary for some future day book on the history of the Crows.
Other transcripts of interviews with Bob Campbell & Steven Trigg, John Reid[ as Football department head] who should use the web site for a regular " Letter from the President/Chief executive/Football Manager as a regular means of communicating with all classes of members.These topics could be specific to our Footy club, the AFL,football politics, topical issues, or footy matters generally& could convey the up to date policies of our footy club to issues such as salary cap concessions to Sydney & Brisbane & other contentious issues so dominated by notable Victorian clubs/Presidents.
Other specialist question/answer sessions should be posted on the web site in full transcript in addition to regular columns by "notables "such as those mentioned above holding office at the club.

Perhaps the President's address at the luncheon prior to each home game could be printed on the web site as well!

NB. I feel also there should be an in-depth interview throughout the year with each of the players on a weekly basis, not something like "favourite book ,film etc trite meaningless crap!!" eg Our newest rookie has clearly been a"target "recruit[possibly because we have gaps to fill in our defence............] but what do we know of him? shouldn't the club website be the authoritative source of the reports about him & all our players........and when are we going to see an interview with him?..........how are we going to get to know him unless YOU bring him to us......! The topic for this section could be "Who Is Adam Parker?" with a different player perspective each week......

3] Special guest interviews with notable AFC followers such as Rob Gerard, the Patron, Lleyton Hewitt, Greg Champion, Becky Cole, Glen Ridge,Graeme Goodings, David Hookes, etc etc....Why do you follow the Adelaide Crows?....what do they mean to you?

As well detailed interviews with great past associates of the club.....Blight, Kerley, Hammond,Max Basheer,and some great ex players McDermott, McGuiness, Rehn, Caven etc etc.

4]The new extensions, the presidents room, the new additions to the Supporters Club should be on the website in a 3D virtual reality display similar to the audio visual display architects & apartment developers produce to show potential buyers exactly what "your " apartment will look like as if you are standing in it! In this way members will made to feel they are also a part of it although many may never get to visit the President's room! At the least a model of the new additions should be on the website.
NB the site should also have a virtual tour of the players facilities, so one can SEE the magnificent facilities even if he is accessing the site from the UK or Finland or Semaphore for that matter!

5] The club should install a webcam in the players warmup/areas & clubrooms. In that way prior to a game the club can exclusively "sell" to Gold and/or special web based members an exclusive look at the players preparing for a game not available on free to air TV.This webcam feature could also be shown exclusively to those supporters in the shed prior to the game. After the game the presentations/player interviews could also be shown exclusively to members of the Crows web site as a direct web broadcast.This would make the AFC.almost the first AFL football club to have there own radio/web TV show going directly to AFC members.

6]Exclusive camera shots of players taken by in house photographer, with both still shots & video of players training, club highlights in the dressing room, and special social events around the club[similar to the social pages of a newspaper featuring the players with fans, there girlfriends, at special promotional events etc]

7]In house reports every week from an independent journalist/author given complete access as a part of a continuos story featuring "with the Crows in 2003" a first person account of what it's like to go through the preseason, the highs & lows of all the games played, the heartaches, the excitement of a new recruits first game from his own perspective, injuries, selection, training,the wins & losses & the week by week effect on individuals & officials & the brainstrust, what the coaches said etc, etc.........could be later published as an official club record of a wonderfully successful season with magnificent/never before shown colour photographs taken at every event involving the club & sold /available only through the web site or Crowmania.

8] A messageboard or members forum where discussion can take place between members, or if this is not possible then similar to the Herald Sun football site where letters/opinions are invited from people who have an opinion[clearly YOU can censor those abusive, libellous etc etc] but at least the better quality more constructive ,more positive contributions can be rewarded by providing the best 5 letters received weekly with Crowmania vouchers to the value of $30 or something similar.The "editor" of the site could be a notable coach/player........." write to Gary Ayres or Mark Bickley, or Nigel Smart etc, etc.

9]To cater for kids the site should have a kids Crows Zone, where they can write to there favourite player,ask him how he keeps fit... how to run fast etc.Something similar to McLeod's fan page in the Sunday Mail a couple of years ago & to encourage kids to use the site, a host of giveaways such as Crowmania vouchers, autographed footballs, posters could be provided to the best letter received each week.Competitions,Quiz's,mystery player,footy fun contests,face in the crowd contests, should all be developed on this site for those aspiring AFC future players.Coaching videos/clinics could be run online.

10]And finally,to cater for all the young teenage girls "hopelessly in love with there favourite player" you need to develop a pop idol page.......with interviews conducted along the style of pop stars, with "glamour" shots of some of the players in a social setting eg trivial questions exploring the social outlook/availability of some of the players/favourite dinner companion ,last/best movie seen.your ideal woman etc etc..........and a forum where you can "send a message to your favourite player".......
Conclusion:
Thank you for reading this.I submit it simply because we need to further develop this site to give it real life & action.The interview with Carey last week was a great start in the right direction, although I would have loved to read the exact transcript & to see Carey's own words used to questions put to him & his response..

 

[Nige_Bix]

Some great suggestions but not sure if they have the personnel and resources to implement these ideas. I wonder who actually does it and what the commitment in terms of hours and funding goes into it.

Not sure if anyone mentioned it - what about some action pics from the games and training.

dzm