Hazydog wrote:In all fairness Booney, I reckon you're more capable of providing a balanced view of issues than the average Port supporter so I'm interested in how you saw the level of crowd support for Port over the two finals so far? Particularly as the SANFL have always seemed keen to keep the Magpies in the comp in one form or another, in an effort to keep hold of the army of fans the Magpies used to be able to muster. It seems to me that the potential of the Magpies drawing large crowds has now significantly diminished?
I didnt attend the GF last year - but am led to believe (rightly or wrongly) it was a pro Norwood crowd?
Thanks, I think.
There's no doubt the Pies have had a number of people walk away and plenty, like myself, who don't have the same level of passion. That's probably what it boils down to, passion.
While the true Magpies fans ( those who did not embrace the AFL entry ) have now walked in the main, I think, they were fairly small in numbers. For instance the cheer squad accounted for quite a few of those, the outer wing at Alberton under the Dads Army Bar quite a few more, so purely from the changes made I think it would be 500-1000 regular attendees no longer go weekly.
Then there's probably another 500-1000 that, like me, attend all/most AFL games and get to most home matches at Alberton. I've not been to many away games in the last couple of years. Even the thick skinned like me can only tolerate a certain amount of mindless drivel and abuse for something I didn't instigate. ( Big shout out to the Westies wanker from earlier this year, the biggest moron I think I've encountered in a long, long time ).
Now there's another wave of people who last year thought not much of the changes made, perhaps denial, hope, call it what you will who are seeing their level of passion and commitment to the cause waver.
So while I can't see an AFL reserves competition firing up anytime soon, the Magpies remain as they are, as does the SANFL, perhaps with some minor changes to the two AFL sides conditions.
Will that bring Magpies folks back? I doubt it.
Might now be a case of we just have as many fans as some of the others sides as opposed to having one of if not the biggest following in the competition.
As for the support over the two finals I think much of the first weeks crowd was on the back of the AFL sides final game the day before and economics tell you not everyone can attend two games in a weekend. It doesn't come cheap and yes, for most Port fans the AFL side is the main priority.
As for yesterday I think it might be about where we are at. About 1000 with some real passion and enthusiasm and perhaps 3-500 who popped in for a look. Like I said above, probably not unlike Eagles, South, Sturt type numbers.