Opinion Match day experience

[Spearman]

Exactly this. Crowd noise is organic, some days they're quiet, some days they're deafening. You can't orchestrate it, because people will turn off.

I agree totally. Way back in the 80s when I was still back in old country, I watched a bunch of NBA games + All Star (player in family), a season of box seat for MLB (team was crap nobody wanted the freebies my sis's boss was offering) and one NFL. TBH I don't remember PA announcments. Ok MLB, some generic organ rev up stuff in a near empty megadome . But the NFL...Monday Night Football vs big rivals, Those were the days of the wave happening spontaneously. Before the scoreboard tried to prompt it. Electrifying, especially when there were two going.
All organic.

 

[SkittleCats]

Exactly this. Crowd noise is organic, some days they're quiet, some days they're deafening. You can't orchestrate it, because people will turn off.

Although i agree with most of the sentiments in this thread, to be fair to the Club, i dont think i've ever really experienced a "deafening" Geelong home game from a crowd perspective. Clearly they are trying to change that, although poorly. Maybe Bartels milestone game when the crowd started to cheer for him is really the only game i can think of off the top of my head where the crowd has really been vocal. Or a really close one like the Melbourne come back game a few years ago. And when Solomon hit Ling half the crowd wanted to jump the fence, but that wasnt really cheering...more bloodthirsty screaming. I assume it would've been a similar atmosphere had crowds been allowed into GAJ 350 in 2020, but alas...

Geelong crowds have never been that vocal unfortunately, atleast not in the nearly 30 years ive been going to games down there. it's a bit of a running joke among my mates that we can spot more people in the crowd knitting or reading than watching the game. You hear more people in the crowd telling others to settle down than you do actually cheering or barracking. It's been a culture shock going from our usual spot in the Gary Ablett Terrace and actually making noise, to sitting in the stands and being told to be quiet by the Nana's sitting next to us this year. Geelong crowds mostly just dont embrace the home ground advantage the way other clubs do. Although we look down our noses at other crowds for over using "ball" or whatever, id love it if a Geelong crowd actually yelled it loud enough and frequently enough to make a difference.

Maybe when the stadium is done next year and the crowd goes up to 40,000 it'll be different, plus standing room being back might make a difference. The vibe in the stadium this year is a bit weird with the stand missing.

 

[Seeds]

The crowds really do not get involved or cheer anymore like they used to. Its really disapointing now.

and i mostly blame the youth. They are too embarrassed to cheer. They never have a yell at the umpire. they never engage with the opposition fans in jovial banter. whole sections of the stand chanting geelong are now so infrequent and when it does happen so quiet. 25 years ago it was the youth who were the loudest at games. Now they are the quiestest. the new generation is an embarrassment to football supporters.

its not just at football too. All sports contests. Music festivals. Its just so disapointing.

 

[Partridge]

The crowds really do not get involved or cheer anymore like they used to. Its really disapointing now.

and i mostly blame the youth. They are too embarrassed to cheer. They never have a yell at the umpire. they never engage with the opposition fans in jovial banter. whole sections of the stand chanting geelong are now so infrequent and when it does happen so quiet. 25 years ago it was the youth who were the loudest at games. Now they are the quiestest. the new generation is an embarrassment to football supporters.

its not just at football too. All sports contests. Music festivals. Its just so disapointing.

Partly the youth. But the major slice of blame goes to the AFL. They're the administrative body, and it's them who have endlessly, ruthlessly, and relentlessly driven all the spontaneous passion from the game. You can't yell at umpires. You can't yell out. At times apparently you can't even boo. You can't have standing room so the natural organic atmosphere has been replaced by seating. Sometimes it can (and does) get just as loud, but mostly it is quieter. You can't even enjoy the game sometimes because as recently as last week some imbecile thought having some moron instruct the crowd when to cheer - while the game is going on - was a good idea. Major reason I hate basketball and I won't go if that's a weekly occurrence.

So while the younger fans are very different in many ways, I don't necessarily blame them. The AFL has insisted on making it this way. No surprise people aren't as invested emotionally, the emotion has (mostly) gone.

 

[Seeds]

Partly the youth. But the major slice of blame goes to the AFL. They're the administrative body, and it's them who have endlessly, ruthlessly, and relentlessly driven all the spontaneous passion from the game. You can't yell at umpires. You can't yell out. At times apparently you can't even boo. You can't have standing room so the natural organic atmosphere has been replaced by seating. Sometimes it can (and does) get just as loud, but mostly it is quieter. You can't even enjoy the game sometimes because as recently as last week some imbecile thought having some moron instruct the crowd when to cheer - while the game is going on - was a good idea. Major reason I hate basketball and I won't go if that's a weekly occurrence.

So while the younger fans are very different in many ways, I don't necessarily blame them. The AFL has insisted on making it this way. No surprise people aren't as invested emotionally, the emotion has (mostly) gone.

I think they are self reinforcing each other. Both the youth and afl are driven by self reinforcing woke-ism. And its ruining the game day experience.

 

[Commando]

Maybe I’m getting old but I’m genuinely getting to the stage where I prefer AFL football on tv and local football as a match day experience

I’m sure I’m not alone and the possibility of multiple platforms for the new rights deal probably confirms this.

 

[Mad_Hatter]

Lotta old man yelling at cloud at the moment..

 

[iameviljez]

The crowds really do not get involved or cheer anymore like they used to. Its really disapointing now.

and i mostly blame the youth. They are too embarrassed to cheer. They never have a yell at the umpire. they never engage with the opposition fans in jovial banter. whole sections of the stand chanting geelong are now so infrequent and when it does happen so quiet. 25 years ago it was the youth who were the loudest at games. Now they are the quiestest. the new generation is an embarrassment to football supporters.

its not just at football too. All sports contests. Music festivals. Its just so disapointing.

Jeeeesus give the young people a break.

This is one of the more misplaced, sour rants I've seen for a while. Blaming young people for not baiting opposition supporters, and not having a go at the umpire? Frankly, I don't think that's a bad thing.

If we accept that crowds nowadays are quieter than they used to be - and to be honest, I am careful about seeing it through rose-coloured glasses, then I suspect there's a few other massive differences between today and 25 years ago:

• Alcohol consumption
• Standing room. People are generally a lot more active when they're not seated
• Tribalism - clubs no longer have such split and defined identities, a Collingwood fan is as likely to like in Albert Park as they are Mernda (let alone Collingwood)

 

[iameviljez]

I think they are self reinforcing each other. Both the youth and afl are driven by self reinforcing woke-ism. And its ruining the game day experience.

Woke-ism? Jeeeeeesus. There is no intersection between supporting your team loudly at the footy, and supporting equal rights etc. Being quiet isn't a "woke" cause.

 

[Baudolino]

Partly the youth. But the major slice of blame goes to the AFL. They're the administrative body, and it's them who have endlessly, ruthlessly, and relentlessly driven all the spontaneous passion from the game. You can't yell at umpires. You can't yell out. At times apparently you can't even boo. You can't have standing room so the natural organic atmosphere has been replaced by seating. Sometimes it can (and does) get just as loud, but mostly it is quieter. You can't even enjoy the game sometimes because as recently as last week some imbecile thought having some moron instruct the crowd when to cheer - while the game is going on - was a good idea. Major reason I hate basketball and I won't go if that's a weekly occurrence.

So while the younger fans are very different in many ways, I don't necessarily blame them. The AFL has insisted on making it this way. No surprise people aren't as invested emotionally, the emotion has (mostly) gone.

Agree with all of this.

The only thing I'd add is that I wish as I as society we would dispense with the idea that every form of mass entertainment needs to be "family friendly". I feel that this is the central issue at play in this trend towards the sanitisation of sport. There's this obsession with smoothing over any and all of the rough edges of adult group behaviour among fans (tribalistic and un-PC yet ultimately fairly harmless stuff like booing players, swearing, insulting umps, etc) and players (remonstrating with umps, brawling with the opposition, trash-talking, etc) and really anything else that could potentially "send the wrong message" to the youth. Increasingly, the boundaries of acceptable conduct at the footy seem to be set according to a "won't someone please think of the children?" mindset. Never mind the fact that going to footy with mates is one of the quintessential pastimes for adults, and that the overwhelming majority of spectators at games are adults, apparently it's the kids we need to be tailoring the matchday experience for.

 

[Partridge]

Woke-ism? Jeeeeeesus. There is no intersection between supporting your team loudly at the footy, and supporting equal rights etc. Being quiet isn't a "woke" cause.

At the footy it partly is. What if any comment you might yell out - and I'm not talking abusive - offends someone? Should you then make it?

 

[Partridge]

If we accept that crowds nowadays are quieter than they used to be - and to be honest, I am careful about seeing it through rose-coloured glasses, then I suspect there's a few other massive differences between today and 25 years ago:

• Alcohol consumption
• Standing room. People are generally a lot more active when they're not seated
• Tribalism - clubs no longer have such split and defined identities, a Collingwood fan is as likely to like in Albert Park as they are Mernda (let alone Collingwood)

It's not just that, the players don't see it the same way. You used to very rarely see players from opposition teams mingling freely after games. They'd shake hands, but it wasn't much more than that. Now on a very regular basis (if not every game) you see opposition players joking and chatting with each other after games. Even during - Dangerfield was doing it before Gawn took his kick in the final round last year.

The reasons are obvious. It's a job and nothing else. Run 12ks and get paid as Spazz (I think) observed a while back. If the players don't care as much the supporters won't either.

 

[iameviljez]

At the footy it partly is. What if any comment you might yell out - and I'm not talking abusive - offends someone? Should you then make it?

Well, if your comment doesn't make reference to someone's sexuality or racial background, or happen to put down women at the same time, then it's not about being woke.

If someone shouts out, say, "learn to f******g kick, Miers!", and someone else is offended, that's not wokeness, that's just someone being thin-skinned.

If someone shouts out, "Miers, stop kicking like a woman" and someone else is offended, that's wokeness.

 

[FredLeDeux]

It's not just that, the players don't see it the same way. You used to very rarely see players from opposition teams mingling freely after games. They'd shake hands, but it wasn't much more than that. Now on a very regular basis (if not every game) you see opposition players joking and chatting with each other after games. Even during - Dangerfield was doing it before Gawn took his kick in the final round last year.

The reasons are obvious. It's a job and nothing else. Run 12ks and get paid as Spazz (I think) observed a while back. If the players don't care as much the supporters won't either.

That's a lot to do with the fact that juniors team-mates are drafted to different clubs.

 

[iameviljez]

It's not just that, the players don't see it the same way. You used to very rarely see players from opposition teams mingling freely after games. They'd shake hands, but it wasn't much more than that. Now on a very regular basis (if not every game) you see opposition players joking and chatting with each other after games. Even during - Dangerfield was doing it before Gawn took his kick in the final round last year.

That I agree with as well. It starts with the draft IMO - kids start from anywhere, they go anywhere. I'm in favour of the draft but it has killed a bit of the "our boys" kind of identity.

It's a bit weird when you get brothers drafted close together (the Kings, de Koenings, Henrys, Kolodjashnijs) but to completely different clubs.

 

[fpm84]

It's a bit weird when you get brothers drafted close together (the Kings, de Koenings, Henrys, Kolodjashnijs) but to completely different clubs.

I’m happy to help solve that problem by finding room on the list for Tom de Koning and Ollie Henry

 

[iameviljez]

I’m happy to help solve that problem by finding room on the list for Tom de Koning and Ollie Henry

No spot for Kade?

 

[Sensible Cat]

The crowds really do not get involved or cheer anymore like they used to. Its really disapointing now.

and i mostly blame the youth. They are too embarrassed to cheer. They never have a yell at the umpire. they never engage with the opposition fans in jovial banter. whole sections of the stand chanting geelong are now so infrequent and when it does happen so quiet. 25 years ago it was the youth who were the loudest at games. Now they are the quiestest. the new generation is an embarrassment to football supporters.

its not just at football too. All sports contests. Music festivals. Its just so disapointing.

I love it! But give them a break.
Yeah they are kind of pussys but they are so nice and respectful.
It drives me nuts when I hear people say "The youth of today have no respect" . Bullshit! They hardly bully (except online), don't pick on people who are different, all that stuff.

 

[Romeoh1]

Mods, please move this thread if there’s somewhere else it should be.

I was really disappointed with the match day experience yesterday (separate to the fact we lost!).

Last year we had the ‘cat noise’ over the PA when we scored a goal at home games. A bit irritating but no different to what most other teams do.

At our two GHMBA games this year, that has been replaced by an ultra loud blast of top 40 music after a goal. Does anyone really want to be blasted by Tones & I as we wait for the ball to return to the middle?

Even worse - and this was unforgivable - was the ground announcer trying to rev the crowd up while the game was being played. At least twice during the last quarter she chimed in with a “come on Cats fans, this is when the team needs your support”… when 99% of people there were feeling tense, frustrated and freezing.

Note that I’m not talking about the regular competitions, giveaways etc during quarter breaks - but the actual game itself.

I don’t know what member feedback or focus group results the club is getting to think that people want more noise during the game. But I don’t know a single supporter who enjoys it - and in fact this type of stuff contributes to turning people off attending games and buying memberships because it’s easier and cheaper to watch on TV.

Rant over.

Couldn’t agree more- we drove home from the Freo game saying exactly the same things as your rant! I was particularly annoyed by the announcer telling us to ‘make some noise’ - take a hike for goodness sakes.

 

[Seeds]

There are some improvements in match day experiences.

Long walks and queues to the toilets. F*** that used be awful. Especially if you were standing on the outer wing at kardinia park.

ticketed games. No longer have to rock up 3 hours before the match to get a great seat.

 

[My Tilly]

There are some improvements in match day experiences.

Long walks and queues to the toilets. F*** that used be awful. Especially if you were standing on the outer wing at kardinia park.

ticketed games. No longer have to rock up 3 hours before the match to get a great seat.

I'm the complete opposite.
I use to love getting up on the weekend and deciding whether or not today was a day to go to the footy.
You would rock up a few hours early with a bucket of KFC chicken and coffee urn and watch the reserves and there was not a care in the world.

Everything is digitized today. Must be scanned and done on the phone or you are ousted from society.
I'd hate to be an old timer living in today's day and age.

 

[iameviljez]

I'm the complete opposite.
I use to love getting up on the weekend and deciding whether or not today was a day to go to the footy.
You would rock up a few hours early with a bucket of KFC chicken and coffee urn and watch the reserves and there was not a care in the world.

I think that's great if you've got the full day, but in an era with more traffic, longer commutes, and longer working hours, giving up a full day to the footy is a LOT.

 

[Partridge]

I think that's great if you've got the full day, but in an era with more traffic, longer commutes, and longer working hours, giving up a full day to the footy is a LOT.

Yeah I'm unapologetically like this. I'm extremely selective about making the trip now as it is the entire day. Put bluntly there are many other things I'd rather do most of the time.

 

[Seeds]

I'm the complete opposite.
I use to love getting up on the weekend and deciding whether or not today was a day to go to the footy.
You would rock up a few hours early with a bucket of KFC chicken and coffee urn and watch the reserves and there was not a care in the world.

Everything is digitized today. Must be scanned and done on the phone or you are ousted from society.
I'd hate to be an old timer living in today's day and age.

I do miss some of the old match day experiences too.

i miss standing in the crowd. When everyone was packed in there was a lot more noise and atmosphere.

running out onto the ground after the game.

watching the reserves.

watching the scores from the other grounds up on the scoreboard.

 

[iameviljez]

Yeah I'm unapologetically like this. I'm extremely selective about making the trip now as it is the entire day. Put bluntly there are many other things I'd rather do most of the time.

I suspect it is the kind of thing that was more workable when you could be in a relationship where only one person needed to work full time, so plenty of domestic stuff could get sorted through the week.