Neil Craig's "Call to arms"

[Crows_Chick]

I just read this article on the crows website thought it was interesting and worth bringing to the attention of fellow crows supporters. I hope it hasn't already been brought up in another thread but a couple of interesting ideas are suggested here by Neil Craig for really getting behind the boys. I wasn't aware of the "call to arms" being actually operated by Neil Craig when we played west coast, actually wondered what it was all about !! (Hopefully it won't be necessary tomorrow )

Anyway this is the article.. Maybe there are some willing volunteers for Champion of the bay on this board... All in all quite innovative ideas from Neil!

Coach wants members power
11:02:02 AM Fri 28 April, 2006
Phil Harper
afc.com.au
Senior Coach Neil Craig wants the members to provide powerful support for the team at home games this season.

Nel invited all Crows Members to The Crows Shed before the start of the season to:

1. Thank them for their on-going support particularly the 97-8% renewal rate of our members from 2005 – 2006

2. Highlight how powerful a weapon they can be against opposition teams visiting AAMI Stadium.

3. Offer some suggestions as to how we can get a co-ordinated approach to using our supporters as a “19th man” against opposition teams.

More than 1,000 members attended the get-together and the suggestions from our Coach Neil Craig for Season 2006 were as follows:

1. Champion of the Bay. The idea was to have one leader in each Bay in the Stadium to help start chants and create an atmosphere of intimidation to opposition teams. On the night we received six nominations as Champions of the Bays and the club is currently looking for more nominations. If interested please contact David Couch on 8440 6666.

Nominations were from Bays 130, 131, 135 138, Northern Stand Section J and two from the SANFL members area.

The plan will be that a few meetings will be held with the Crows Supporters Group to get these people to follow their lead and have a co-ordinated approach to produce uplifting messages to the team.

2. Members Call to Arms: The second idea was at the call of the Coach from the Coaches Box a ‘Members Call to Arms” graphic would be placed on the Superscreen calling for members to help the Coach to lift the team. This was used to great effect in the first home game vs West Coast on April 9 when the Coach made the call early in the last quarter - seeing the team kick the next four goals and hit the lead - only to be beaten in the dying seconds by West Coast.

Neil described this effort as “a great start and once the whole crowd get used to this request it will be a mighty powerful tool to use from the Coach Box, like having a 19th Man”. He added “I will only use this tactic sparingly (perhaps 5-6 times per year) as I want it to have a massive impact on the team”.

So all members get on board, become a champion of your Bay (club will provide fluoro identifiable shirts) or if that isn’t your go, please react accordingly when your coach says he needs you by displaying the “Members call to arms” on the Superscreen. When this hits the screen the coach is saying your team needs you!

We look forward to the results of this effort.

 

[-CG-]

I think the majority of AAMI Stadium had no idea what the 'members call to arms' was about. I think somebody needs to tell the rest of the crows supporters what it actually means and that it has come straight from Neil Craig.

 

[Crows_Chick]

this article was only published on website today so i'm guessing it'll be picked up by the papers and maybe the news when it's a slow day in sport... Similar to the report on how the power are trying to get their supporters involved using the big screen (forget their exact idea). But totally agree... Ideas are good in theory but will have little effect in practice while the supporters remain in the dark. A segment on the big screen before the game begins would probably be effective.. (providing they have the speakers adjusted to a volume that you can actually hear - does anyone else have this problem in their area or is it just around me ?)

 

[NikkiNoo]

this article was only published on website today so i'm guessing it'll be picked up by the papers and maybe the news when it's a slow day in sport... Similar to the report on how the power are trying to get their supporters involved using the big screen (forget their exact idea). But totally agree... Ideas are good in theory but will have little effect in practice while the supporters remain in the dark. A segment on the big screen before the game begins would probably be effective.. (providing they have the speakers adjusted to a volume that you can actually hear - does anyone else have this problem in their area or is it just around me ?)

They did that prior to the West Coast game which is how we knew what was going on and respond for Craig But the speakers are crap and how many people actually pay attention to what's going on the screen prior to the game when you know you can't hear a bluddy thing.

Almost as bad as in the Shed after the game, whereby if you are in the back half of the Shed you have no idea what the players are saying, unless you go and stand in the ladies loos and then you can hear it perfectly

 

[jenny61_99]

They did that prior to the West Coast game which is how we knew what was going on and respond for Craig But the speakers are crap and how many people actually pay attention to what's going on the screen prior to the game when you know you can't hear a bluddy thing.

Almost as bad as in the Shed after the game, whereby if you are in the back half of the Shed you have no idea what the players are saying, unless you go and stand in the ladies loos and then you can hear it perfectly

Oh I'd just bet the blokes would all LOVE to do that!

I think it's a great idea.... in the early days at Footy Park it was deafening and it was really hard for an away team to win there. But then the crowd got quiet and the opposition teams started to win. Last time I was at Footy Park, I couldn't believe how quiet the crowd was. I am a VERY vocal supporter (lose my voice every match I go to, I apologise to the people in front of me at the beginning of a game ) and find it hard to believe that people like me are few and far between. (My hubby would say that has it's good points!)

 

[-CG-]

I wrote an email to AAMI stadium regarding the speakers, and they said they'd look into it. I went to the power v saints match and they seemed to be working fine then, so hopefully they've fixed them

 

[sworc36]

Oh I'd just bet the blokes would all LOVE to do that!

I think it's a great idea.... in the early days at Footy Park it was deafening and it was really hard for an away team to win there. But then the crowd got quiet and the opposition teams started to win. Last time I was at Footy Park, I couldn't believe how quiet the crowd was. I am a VERY vocal supporter (lose my voice every match I go to, I apologise to the people in front of me at the beginning of a game ) and find it hard to believe that people like me are few and far between. (My hubby would say that has it's good points!)

Yeah Im very vocal too but the people around me just give me dirty looks when Im screaming support to the boys. One lady in front of us told me I was giving her a headache so I told her to go home and watch it on tv. Its just so frustrating trying to get people to be vocal. Sometimes when the game is close (which is quite often these days) I try and get the crowd near us involved by telling them to stop bitching and start supporting. Sometimes it works for a little while but then when someone drops a mark or something, away they go again bitching and asking for the player to be dragged. The other problem is that a lot of people are listening to their radio. I really hope that Craigy can keep this thing going and that people start using their voices to help the team. FAiling that I reckon we chuck all the quiet ones and bring in some loud people instead.

 

[Stiffy_18]

2. Members Call to Arms: The second idea was at the call of the Coach from the Coaches Box a ‘Members Call to Arms” graphic would be placed on the Superscreen calling for members to help the Coach to lift the team. This was used to great effect in the first home game vs West Coast on April 9 when the Coach made the call early in the last quarter - seeing the team kick the next four goals and hit the lead - only to be beaten in the dying seconds by West Coast.

Neil described this effort as “a great start and once the whole crowd get used to this request it will be a mighty powerful tool to use from the Coach Box, like having a 19th Man”. He added “I will only use this tactic sparingly (perhaps 5-6 times per year) as I want it to have a massive impact on the team”.

That is so bloody important. There is nothing more annoying that getting it all the time. I went to Port's opening game against the Roos and their big screen stuff is annoying to say the least. Choko's plead for "finding the power within" to help them get the first goal of the quarter is as boring as bat and gets annoying after a couple of goes.

Keep it in moderation and it will have an impact. Use it at ever break (as Port do with Choko's message) and it justs bugs the crap out of everyone.

 

[Mad Dog]

I too was at this meeting before round 1 and posted Neil's thoughts

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231601&highlight=audience+with

 

[- PC -]

Gee the poor bloke in front of me jumped out his skin when I started at the Freo game. A few others made some comments but 4 smiley emoticons them.

I do like this idea but I fear the theatre mentality is creeping over modern football. Maybe the lack of a true 50/50 opposition is part of the reason, or maybe its over officiating by the redcoats towards anyone seen as ''obnoxious''

 

[Damp Squarie]

Yeah Im very vocal too but the people around me just give me dirty looks when Im screaming support to the boys.

Tell 'em to go forth and multiply. Even better bring a foghorn next time. They s h 1t me to tears some of these wimps that show no outward emotion. You feel like B I TCH SLAPPIN' em.

Crowds can also influence umpiring decisions so its worth the effort

 

[maccas_no1]

Find your voices you bunch of softcoc.ks

 

[Mad Dog]

Find your voices you bunch of softcoc.ks

come over and give us a hand

 

[arrowman]

Well, it came out again on Saturday night, in the last quarter, and I have to admit that even as a grown man it gave me a goosebump or two to know that the coach himself had "pushed the button" on the crowd at a critical time in the game.

And we did the job.

 

[-WWJD-]

I thought the crowd was awesome on Saturday night. Best atmosphere at footy park reallythis year . The hate for Collingwood brings out the best in people.

 

[Mad Dog]

I thought I had witnessed a miracle on Saturday night.

Midway through the last quarter - all the deaf mutes around me found their voice.

I've just finished drafting an email to the Vatican - I'll let you know how it goes.....

 

[Stiffy_18]

I thought the crowd was awesome on Saturday night. Best atmosphere at footy park reallythis year . The hate for Collingwood brings out the best in people.

My ears are still ringing from the noise of saturday night. The call to arms is a good initiative and I notived we used it against Hawthorn as well early in the second half.

 

[turbo182]

I didn't even notice this?

I'd pretty much lost my voice by half time. Think i was yelling more then usual, due to the collingwood factor.

 

[-CG-]

The crowd was aweomse on saturday night. If only it could be like that against every team

 

[sworc36]

I love yelling my guts out and cheering the boys on when they are down. I dont think the people around me like it though but I certainly dont give. I cant believe how people can just sit there without any emotion, where is their passion? The idea is fantastic and if used to its potential can lift our boys to another level, especially when they need it the most.

 

[lozstar]

The atmosphere was awesome Saturday night... If only we played the scum every week, we wouldnt sit in silence

 

[- PC -]

I did notice the noise and it was great

Maybe we need to find someone from Freo to hate this week?

 

[lozstar]

I did notice the noise and it was great

Maybe we need to find someone from Freo to hate this week?

Farmer comes to mind....

... Or maybe hope we get a dodgy umpire?.. Goldspink anyone?

 

[-WWJD-]

Maybe the Carr boys will do what they've been doing the last few weeks and try to rough up a few of the boys. That'll get the crowd going.

 

[Alex99]

I was sitting in my usual seats on the fence gradually getting angrier and angrier as the crowd got louder and louder, how dare anyone around me make any noise at the football. I just like to sit there and have a nice enjoyable game of football with out any disturbance by the angry mob mentality growing around me.

I like the football the same was I like my theatre; quiet and unimposing.

Because I am just a Johnny come lately bandwagon fan who will be gone as soon as we have lost 5 or more games in one season.


Sacrarium alert set to ON status