Very Disappointing Crowd?

[Mickyj]

Off course the crowds were down
Heres my hypothesis

EG barrackers were scared to roll up after the same team smashed them the week b4
ST barrackers didnt roll up as they were seeded against a team that finished below them on the ladder, and teams on the ladder below em have knocked them off too often in 2010
NW barrackers didnt know how to find the oval
GL barrackers didnt roll up becoz off the thought of losing another game at this venue

gold Mal

[fisho mcspaz]

OK, here's my take -

In the first half of this decade, I went through several years of finals at AAMI Stadium with my mighty Eagles and it was deader than a dead dingo's dong out there. The spectators were sparse and the lukewarm cheers echoed eerily around the aluminium benches. Was it '04 when Port played in the semi-finals? I think it was. Anyway, that was the only time I ever recall any sort of atmosphere, and that was only due to Port's feral cheersquad.

We were there on Sunday and I personally thought that the atmosphere was fantastic and that Footy Park wasn't such a bad place to hold finals - except for the lack of pram access, and distant proximity of bars - and if I didn't know the exact number, I'd have said there were 15000 people there. They certainly made enough noise. It was terrific to see so many Eagles supporters out there - it's been a long, hard road back from the merger, that's for sure. I'm really looking forward to heading back there this weekend for another great weekend of finals. GO YOU EAGLES!!! (and bloody Norwood, I suppose...)

[blues2002]

I saw no mainstream media coverage last week - this week I've seen a lot of Bassett/Norwood in the media so maybe Norwood will drag in the crowds. I hope so.

SANFL finals are, unfortunately, a 1 horse race and the crowds reflect that. Its just like the EPL, but instead of 4 teams that vie for that each year, its CDFC+1 here. Sad but true.

Unlike the 60's and 70's when a team dominated, these days, as a feeder league, there's not much AS much ammo for the "lesser" teams to draw on. Except Norwood, who have a star coach in Basset according to the almighty GC.

[purch]

Rather the games at AAMI.

Adelaide Oval can barely cater for a crowd of more than 5000.

You're very generous, personally I think they struggle with anything above 2000.

Oh yeah ...and 10 minutes for a burnt pie at AAMI? Then you get in the beer line and the bloke serving your line gets on the phone for 5 minutes??? Seriously. After the weekend I think AO is a far better venue for our finals...lots of pubs close by for pre-game brunch/lunch, and post game celebrations too.

[Pseudo]

Oh yeah ...and 10 minutes for a burnt pie at AAMI? Then you get in the beer line and the bloke serving your line gets on the phone for 5 minutes??? Seriously. After the weekend I think AO is a far better venue for our finals...lots of pubs close by for pre-game brunch/lunch, and post game celebrations too.

I'd be celebrating a loss too, if it meant my mob didn't have to play the Bays on the rebound

[MST]

Oh yeah ...and 10 minutes for a burnt pie at AAMI? Then you get in the beer line and the bloke serving your line gets on the phone for 5 minutes??? Seriously. After the weekend I think AO is a far better venue for our finals...lots of pubs close by for pre-game brunch/lunch, and post game celebrations too.

I'd be celebrating a loss too, if it meant my mob didn't have to play the Bays on the rebound

You have to be kidding mate? Surely?

We played the Bays 'on the rebound' last year and that wasn't a problem for us. I'm predicting the Eagles, with their very potent forward line, will have too much scoring power for the Bays who just can't seem to kick a score at Football Park and BANG, out go the Glenelg FC in straight sets yet again....

Then we will see what smart arse comment you've got for us all? A few minor premierships in a row though, you'd have to be pretty proud of that even if it means stuff all if your club are complete duffers when the real stuff starts

[gossipgirl]

Oh yeah ...and 10 minutes for a burnt pie at AAMI? Then you get in the beer line and the bloke serving your line gets on the phone for 5 minutes??? Seriously. After the weekend I think AO is a far better venue for our finals...lots of pubs close by for pre-game brunch/lunch, and post game celebrations too.

I'd be celebrating a loss too, if it meant my mob didn't have to play the Bays on the rebound

You have to be kidding mate? Surely?

We played the Bays 'on the rebound' last year and that wasn't a problem for us. I'm predicting the Eagles, with their very potent forward line, will have too much scoring power for the Bays who just can't seem to kick a score at Football Park and BANG, out go the Glenelg FC in straight sets yet again....

Then we will see what smart arse comment you've got for us all? A few minor premierships in a row though, you'd have to be pretty proud of that even if it means stuff all if your club are complete duffers when the real stuff starts

hmm sounds like sour grapes from the weekends loss ... oh well there is always this weekend oops sorry

[MST]

Oh yeah ...and 10 minutes for a burnt pie at AAMI? Then you get in the beer line and the bloke serving your line gets on the phone for 5 minutes??? Seriously. After the weekend I think AO is a far better venue for our finals...lots of pubs close by for pre-game brunch/lunch, and post game celebrations too.

I'd be celebrating a loss too, if it meant my mob didn't have to play the Bays on the rebound

You have to be kidding mate? Surely?

We played the Bays 'on the rebound' last year and that wasn't a problem for us. I'm predicting the Eagles, with their very potent forward line, will have too much scoring power for the Bays who just can't seem to kick a score at Football Park and BANG, out go the Glenelg FC in straight sets yet again....

Then we will see what smart arse comment you've got for us all? A few minor premierships in a row though, you'd have to be pretty proud of that even if it means stuff all if your club are complete duffers when the real stuff starts

hmm sounds like sour grapes from the weekends loss ... oh well there is always this weekend oops sorry

No sour grapes at all actually. We were beaten by the better side and as a result finished fifth, which is exactly where we deserved to finish after the season we had.

Glenelg on the other hand were again the best side in the minor round...........and look like choking again.

You can get defensive all you like but the fact remains, The Bays are chokers on the big stage. End of.

[Pottsy]

Glenelg on the other hand we're again the best side in the minor round...........and look like choking again.

A closet Bays fan!

Anyone who doesn't go to Football Park because it's a little bit inconvenient aren't true footy fans anyway. I think it's a great venue to watch footy from - except for the first five rows, and you have two screens to view replays from depending on where you are.

Can't argue - it's a good place to watch footy. It's big and green and has replay screens. Most other stuff to do with it sucks the biscuit though. I had to drink my pie through a straw it was so microwaved, the transport is pretty much car or don't go, the lids on beers/yellow lines on the ground/don't stand here unless wearing a pink tutu things are ridiculous, and the atmosphere with a typical early finals crowd is about as exciting as a retirees nudist colony.

[sjt]

I saw no mainstream media coverage last week - this week I've seen a lot of Bassett/Norwood in the media so maybe Norwood will drag in the crowds. I hope so.
SANFL finals are, unfortunately, a 1 horse race and the crowds reflect that. Its just like the EPL, but instead of 4 teams that vie for that each year, its CDFC+1 here. Sad but true.
Unlike the 60's and 70's when a team dominated, these days, as a feeder league, there's not much AS much ammo for the "lesser" teams to draw on. Except Norwood, who have a star coach in Basset according to the almighty GC.

That one horse wasn't playing last week. I know you said "finals", but it's more a reflection on the supposed "supporters", that didn't go. So you don't go if you play Centrals because you might lose? What if you're not playing Centrals? Last year over 35,000 went to the GF.
I've always gone (even in the hard times) because we might win, and to support the team.
I'd hope you're club doesn't have the same defeatist attitude. I don't think they have. After beating us three times this year, they seemed (at least some) quite confident.You're right "sad", but not true.

However, if you believe this to be the case, you could have won quite a bit of cash.
As for GC, he believed Glenelg losing their last minor round game was irrelevant and possibly even advantageous.

[sjt]

It looks like the bookies don't think it's a one horse race:

Glenelg 1.68 v Eagles 2.17
Central 1.72 v Norwood 2.10

Pretty close I would think. At $1.72 for a so called, one horse race, it must be "money for jam"?

[gossipgirl]

hmmm really does taste like sour grapes ... I recommend 3 tablespoons of sugar and it will be apples

[MST]

Not too bright are you sweetheart?

[prowling panther]

well i didnt try hard enough but what about if you wanna sit in a spot and they have those advertising sheets over the seats??

Simple solution.


Go and sit somewhere else


You must be pretty precious if you have to have a special spot to sit in

[mighty_tiger_79]

im superstitious!!!!lol

[Pottsy]

We weren't allowed to sit in our spot either (with a beer that is - family area).

So it was either that, or the pressure from Norwood...must have been the seats!!

[Pseudo]

well i didnt try hard enough but what about if you wanna sit in a spot and they have those advertising sheets over the seats??

Simple solution.

Go and sit somewhere else

You must be pretty precious if you have to have a special spot to sit in

Better solution:

Crawl under the sheet to the seat of your choice. Cut a slit in the canvas and poke your head through. The World's Biggest Poncho!

(would love to claim that was my idea, but alas, it was suggested to me by one of the Snouts)

[mighty_tiger_79]

like that idea, who needs a stadium with a roof

[blues2002]

That one horse wasn't playing last week. I know you said "finals", but it's more a reflection on the supposed "supporters", that didn't go. So you don't go if you play Centrals because you might lose? What if you're not playing Centrals? Last year over 35,000 went to the GF.

Im just saying, THIS year, the media coverage has been crap, with the exception of the Bassett Redlegs, it's worse than normal.

CDFC deserve their success, but it hardly makes for riveting viewing. A league like the SANFL needs to be vibrant and competitive, and you can't tell me that 10 years of almost the same thing is attracting the crowds. It sucks that the AFL has the best players AND a more interesting series of finals, especially when you look at the past 10 years - 7 different winners. And no team has played in every GF, or even half of them. So SANFL IS a one horse race.

btw 35000 is a very good crowd, not a great crowd.

Somebody call a medic, cos the SANFL will be on life support if 2010-2020 is a repeat of the last 10 years.

[sjt]

That one horse wasn't playing last week. I know you said "finals", but it's more a reflection on the supposed "supporters", that didn't go. So you don't go if you play Centrals because you might lose? What if you're not playing Centrals? Last year over 35,000 went to the GF.

Im just saying, THIS year, the media coverage has been crap, with the exception of the Bassett Redlegs, it's worse than normal.

CDFC deserve their success, but it hardly makes for riveting viewing. A league like the SANFL needs to be vibrant and competitive, and you can't tell me that 10 years of almost the same thing is attracting the crowds. It sucks that the AFL has the best players AND a more interesting series of finals, especially when you look at the past 10 years - 7 different winners. And no team has played in every GF, or even half of them. So SANFL IS a one horse race.

btw 35000 is a very good crowd, not a great crowd.

Somebody call a medic, cos the SANFL will be on life support if 2010-2020 is a repeat of the last 10 years.

The SANFL finals series last year was extremely interesting, I can't remember what the greatest margin was, but most games were exciting. SANFL crowds have been growing/recovering over the past few years, despite Centrals performance and some pretty average weather. AFL crowds for some clubs (not sure overall) have been dropping.
I believe interest is being revived in the SANFL and declining in the "commercial" AFL. However, having said all that, I do understand where you're coming from. One could argue maybe the SANFL would be recovering faster if all teams had, had
a bit of success over the decade.