Why is every AFL event a stage-managed circus nowadays

[strategy]

Essendon generally do something .
Other clubs could follow them as it brings the supporters , players and sponsors a bit closer.
Its all good fun .

 

[Jean Claude Vas Deferens]

The circus acts are staged to please a select group of people who believe they deserve to be invited to front row seats. These people are the media loudmouths; who, if you don't invite them will ensure their voice and articles will carry negative slants against you.

The 'staging' of these events are way over the top, all designed to keep the media onside. Nothing more nothing less. This goes for all clubs.

You may be a little off the mark here Cyrillic.... I doubt very much that Essendon felt it necessary to announce their captaincy in such a way to appease any negative media. And trust me mate, a great deal of the clubs regard the media as an annoyance. There's not a whole lot of staged events other than retirements, coaching appointments, new recruits, etc. All the stuff that everyone's pretty aware of anyway. They don't go out of their way to keep the media on-side as you put it ,when they want to keep things in-house.

Essendon received coverage. Good for them, good for their supporters, good for their sponsors. Nothing more than a clever marketing move in the off-season. And good luck to Jobe!

 

[jeemak]

The circus acts are staged to please a select group of people who believe they deserve to be invited to front row seats. These people are the media loudmouths; who, if you don't invite them will ensure their voice and articles will carry negative slants against you.

These 'important' media people are the clowns of the circus acts.

Yeah tend to agree with this.

But the clubs are now so concerned with getting the brand on the front page in a positive light rather than a negative one when they can that these sorts of showings are inevitable.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

You may be a little off the mark here Cyrillic.... I doubt very much that Essendon felt it necessary to announce their captaincy in such a way to appease any negative media. And trust me mate, a great deal of the clubs regard the media as an annoyance. There's not a whole lot of staged events other than retirements, coaching appointments, new recruits, etc. All the stuff that everyone's pretty aware of anyway. They don't go out of their way to keep the media on-side as you put it ,when they want to keep things in-house.

Essendon received coverage. Good for them, good for their supporters, good for their sponsors. Nothing more than a clever marketing move in the off-season. And good luck to Jobe!

True, nothing negative in the message you would have thought (on face value). And you are correct, I'm sure they didn't feel it necessary to put on a circus. It was a feel good story. Perhaps this event itself isn't the best example of why the circus acts are getting beyond a joke.

But these 'special' people to whom I refer don't operate or treat events in isolation. As an example (because it does happen), if such a 'staging' was not held and Ess (or any other club) were in the special people's bad books so to speak, you may get some questionable article/s about the merits of the choice, the process etc. Some twisted angle. You know, something with a negative slant. Or even reference made in an article a month or two down the track. That is just the way they operate. It's a 'if you don't feed me, you'll see' mentality.

Yes a club get their sponsor on TV for 15 seconds, but really, in isolation it is hardly effective sponsor exposure. 20 times through saturation, perhaps. To those club supporters who are at the event (guessing >90%), the sponsor is hardly a new entity. Again not much gained on the sponsor-front you would have thought. Some marketing guru can correct if I'm wrong.

As you say, Essendon received coverage. They always do and would have, regardless. They tend to be a darling as they are one club that is willing to accommodate their mates in the media, no matter how trivial.

Some may say this is smart business and some supporters say it excites them in buying a membership, merchandise whatever. I personally find this such a stretch it's almost comical. But many people, irrespective of the club they follow, tend to be positive of whatever 'our' club does. We are blinkered. When are we going to question clubs/businesses on their pointless/excess expenditure.

I want to make it clear that even if it was Haw, North, whoever, the point remains. What a waste of money. And the sad thing is, all clubs follow like sheep because they have to be seen to be not falling behind. Soon clubs will be selling tickets to these staged events because we are all that gullible. Aren't we?

It really is a wank and cringe worthy in most instances. At least that's my take on it.

End of rant.

 

[Renuo]

No big deal, its for the Essendon supporters, no harm no foul.

Bit of excitement and hype is good for any sporting club.

 

[Synth]

Essendon may have started a trend, but its a trend the borrowed from around the world. Just look at the madness that was Real Madrid. They sold out a stadium just to to show off 2 muppets kick a ball in a new guernsey.

Like it or hate it, the fans at Essendon loved it.

You enjoy using a computer so you hang out on a footy forum, to some that might be a bit extreme. For the 3000 Essendon fans that went to see who would be the new captain, that was their way of getting a footy fix during the off-season. So it's all relative.

 

[spiraldiver]

In my totally biased opinion I thought it was a great idea by the EFC. That said, it was purely a spectacle for supporters of the Bombers and a great initiative to boost membership sales.

 

[wikipediaAFLproject]

Im currently reading "Football Ltd", a book written in 1995 about the history of football and how it struggled through its growth into the corporate entity its is today.

These "circus events" keep football going. They are for the sponsors which pay the bills, and they help keep football attractive to young kids.
Kids today are attracted by the glitz and glamour, and without the kids there is no football.
You may not like it, and if you dont, then simply dont attend. Expect to see more and more of these types of events in the future

 

[slugger]

I'm stunned and shocked that pretty well the only negative posts are from Hawthorn fans.

What did they say when their president said he aimed to see women play AFL seniors?

 

[eldorado]

I'm stunned and shocked that pretty well the only negative posts are from Hawthorn fans.

What did they say when their president said he aimed to see women play AFL seniors?

We said "Not a bad idea, they might get a run at Windy Hill!"