The Crowd Thread

[DarkPhoenix]

Yes thats dexter.

On the multiple scanning debate. I read it first on another team board sometime last year, its not a "north conspiracy" to boost crowd numbers. Guarantee you some supporters from every team do it. And the few people that do it arent going to make a sizeable difference to the attendance number.

What is the stadium going to do? A headcount?

*18 year old bloke on his first job walking around at half time* "Two thousand four hundred ten, two thousand four hundred eleven... OI STOP MOVING AROUND! Two thousand two hu... shit... One, Two, Three"

 

[RoyalBlue]

I scanned 7499 cards, so the figure is probably really just 7500 people there - of which 4000 were Port fans.

 

[Barkly St End]

I can't imagine too many people being bothered enough to do it.

 

[Oakland Raider]

I doubt anybody would be sad enough, even poor old North supporters, to concoct a story about how they scan multiple membership cards to boost attendance figures. I mean, really... there is certainly a good element of truth about it, unfortunately...

Your obsession is indeed unfortunate.

 

[Consolaçao]

I guarantee that all these numbnuts screaming for North to be kicked out of the competition would be the first, four or five years down the track, to sit whingeing about the day the authoritatrian Demetriou regime threw tradition callously aside in favour of the almighty dollar. Admit it... you all just like to complain.

 

[hilly]

Your obsession is indeed unfortunate.

Good pick-up OR.

I have no issue with this being discussed but the self-gratification over the low crowd figures by some is a bit strange.

 

[hilly]

I scanned 7499 cards, so the figure is probably really just 7500 people there - of which 4000 were Port fans.

I scanned my 500 memberships, as did Denny_Crane, NorthGirl and _aria_.

 

[The Zebra]

Re: 21K at the MCG today??

But the bitter North trolls on Big Footy really make it hard for me to like them.

Please don't say that. Please. How can I make things right??

 

[gaelictiogar]

I can't understand why a general crowd thread has become a North bashing exercise. OK North drew 15K V Port. Its not their smallest crowd for that fixture and they will recover now with a few wins under their belts.

Surely attendances at other clubs deserve some attention instead of the constant North bash.

 

[Beckers]

I can't understand why a general crowd thread has become a North bashing exercise. OK North drew 15K V Port. Its not their smallest crowd for that fixture and they will recover now with a few wins under their belts.

Surely attendances at other clubs deserve some attention instead of the constant North bash.

I agree, it seems to be AFL fans across the board that are failing to turn up. We need to investigate why fans are being turned away from the AFL at the moment.

 

[Brad Roo]

I agree, it seems to be AFL fans across the board that are failing to turn up. We need to investigate why fans are being turned away from the AFL at the moment.

Agree. Good observation.

Would those old enough to remember consider the game a better spectacle than it was 15 or more years ago?

I think not.

The fact is that the game has become a much poorer spectacle due to tactical. rule and PC interference.

If my club disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn't bother attending an AFL match. I'd prefer to go and watch the locals, that still play some semblance of the game I grew up watching.

 

[Barkly St End]

Agree. Good observation.

Would those old enough to remember consider the game a better spectacle than it was 15 or more years ago?

I think not.

The fact is that the game has become a much poorer spectacle due to tactical. rule and PC interference.

If my club disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn't bother attending an AFL match. I'd prefer to go and watch the locals, that still play some semblance of the game I grew up watching.

It's a mixed bag.

The main problem has been this slow evolution (actually starting about 15 years ago), towards a clogged up game style that mixes soccer style defensive zoning with rugby style rucks and mauls, and very often, not always, but often, it's quite unedifying.

 

[Waverley73]

It's a mixed bag.

This.

I know that Sydney, Adelaide and a few other teams in recent times (eg, Hawthorn with their rolling zone) have introduced game styles are are more stifling than spectacular but teams like Geelong, Bulldogs (particularly last year) have bucked that trend.

I know I'm a cats supporter but how does the brand of football Geelong are playing today compare with Carlton or Geelong from 1995 (the two tops sides 15 years ago)?

 

[Barkly St End]

This.

I know that Sydney, Adelaide and a few other teams in recent times (eg, Hawthorn with their rolling zone) have introduced game styles are are more stifling than spectacular but teams like Geelong, Bulldogs (particularly last year) have bucked that trend.

I know I'm a cats supporter but how does the brand of football Geelong are playing today compare with Carlton or Geelong from 1995 (the two tops sides 15 years ago)?

Stands up very well.

But as recently as last year's grand final, another team was still able to reduce Geelong to a ruck and maul type of game.

The question for me becomes: will this be the norm in the near future?

And if the answer is yes, that's a worry for the game going forward.

 

[mighty tiges]

I agree, it seems to be AFL fans across the board that are failing to turn up. We need to investigate why fans are being turned away from the AFL at the moment.

Record average crowds so far this year though.

The problem is SA. Avg crowds down by 3400 from last year and around 7000-9000 down from 5-10 years ago. Both clubs are struggling and Footy Park seems to be seen more and more like the new Waverley (ie. an outdated saucer shaped hole that's a prick to get to).

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/crowds/summary.html#05

 

[Brad Roo]

Record average crowds so far this year though.

There are many variables that go with the attendance argument.

AFL is virtually a religion so it is pretty hard to base what is going in based purely on crowd figures.

I go virtually every week and I openly admit that the game is complete rubbish to what it was when less people were going 20 years ago.

Only people that see football as money use attendance figures as an argument.

 

[mighty tiges]

There are many variables that go with the attendance argument.

AFL is virtually a religion so it is pretty hard to base what is going in based purely on crowd figures.

I go virtually every week and I openly admit that the game is complete rubbish to what it was when less people were going 20 years ago.

Only people that see football as money use attendance figures as an argument.

No people who claim footy was so much better 20 years ago are living on nostalgia. For every old classic late night Ch 7 replay there were plenty of crap games back then. Go back and watch them. The bottom sides were far worse than now. Even without modern zoning they couldn't hit targets to save themselves. The difference back then was they were hardly shown on tv. Only the top sides were on Friday night or the best quarter on Saturday night replays. Nowdays every game is shown in full either on FTA or PTV.

As a Tigers supporter I have to say the past 6 weeks has been great footy to watch and not just because we've won a couple. The gamestyle is so much better to watch from what we've been use to.

 

[gaelictiogar]

No people who claim footy was so much better 20 years ago are living on nostalgia. For every old classic late night Ch 7 replay there were plenty of crap games back then. Go back and watch them. The bottom sides were far worse than now. Even without modern zoning they couldn't hit targets to save themselves. The difference back then was they were hardly shown on tv. Only the top sides were on Friday night or the best quarter on Saturday night replays. Nowdays every game is shown in full either on FTA or PTV.

As a Tigers supporter I have to say the past 6 weeks has been great footy to watch and not just because we've won a couple. The gamestyle is so much better to watch from what we've been use to.

I agree. There is an element of nostalgia involved. An example from another code....I was in England a few years ago. 2006 and the soccer world cup was on. The BBC showed the full 90 mins of the famous Brazil V England game at the 1970 World Cup. We watched.

Know what? The legendary Brazil team on 1870 were not actually supermen. They won 1-0. England should have beaten them but hey it was the beginning of colour TV and they wore canary yellow and left an impression. In fact they were just another good team.

Same with our game. Yes there is too much tactics but overall we are still seeing some footy as good as any ever played.

 

[Rooiginal]

I doubt anybody would be sad enough, even poor old North supporters, to concoct a story about how they scan multiple membership cards to boost attendance figures. I mean, really... there is certainly a good element of truth about it, unfortunately...

This guy has proven himself to be a troll you are only taking the bait by responding to him. Check his thread history.

 

[Barkly St End]

It's a ridiculous story.

 

[gimmegimme]

Only people that see football as money use attendance figures as an argument.

why would the average joe appreciate and discuss AFL attendances based purely on its money making ability? are these people having money from AFL coffers transferred into their savings accounts or something?

no, i believe it is often brought up to shit stir, to point out the clubs that are 'lesser' than theirs based on home game attendance figures. The whole 'your club has less supporters than mine' thing. Which is often an interesting topic IMO.

 

[Mr Smiff]

St Kilda can't draw BIG crowds at the MCG

Only 58K, playing top team and can only draw that number....and at the MCG.!!!!
Next time, let them play at Moorabbin or Skilled Stadium..must get a "few" more then.
For a battle between "two" of the top teams....much must be said of the Saints drawing power.
Collingwood/Essendon seem to draw far bigger crowds, regardless of their postion on the ladder and in the same conditions.
Very poor effort Saints.

 

[Falchoon]

Re: St Kilda can't draw BIG crowds at the MCG

can win though

 

[St DAC]

Re: St Kilda can't draw BIG crowds at the MCG

It was a tad inclement ... on a reasonable night it would have been significantly more.

 

[360noscope]

Re: St Kilda can't draw BIG crowds at the MCG

58K is pretty good for a game that was against two sides which dont have a long history of close rivalarys, raining and on Friday night (if it was Saturday arvo it would have attracted more people IMO)