A finals thought

[whufc]

As the finals stands now IMHO it is looking like one of the most competitive finals series in a long while. Glenelg, Central and Sturt are the three genuine contenders while the Eagles, North and West have all produced results against the top 3 sides.

I don't think there will be to many games decided by more than 3-4 goals throughout the finals series. Glenelg, Central, Sturt and North have fairly big followings while the Eagles and West may lack numbers but certainly not passion.

My question is how should the SANFL promote this upcoming final series to maximise numbers and create the atmosphore i think all SANFL fans want?

One idea i have is on the Saturday before the Grand Final the SANFL do the player parade/promotion down the Rundle Mall with the SANFL clubs involved. I personally would like the SANFL to take it a few steps further.

Every week during the finals series i would love to see them do this parade with all teams in the finals participating, even if it's only a few players from each team. As well as hearing from the coaches and players, im sure they could get a few ex SANFL legends to speak and pass on their great experiences in previous finals campaigns. Competitions such as kick to kick and handball games could be played for the children with the players getting involved. Clubs could hand out as many scarfes, flags, posters, clappers as they possibly could. They could even invite a local band of some sort to play before the presentation to intice other people who may have interest in other things like music. IMHO this would create genuine excitement and awareness of our great final series. Even if it was done at 3.30 during the week when the mall is packed full of school children it would be great.

Anyway thats my 2 cents worth, what are people's thoughts?

[Wedgie]

I reckon they should just play the Grand Final now between Central and Glenelg and stop wasting our time with everything else.

[Voice]

Sturt v Glenelg in the GF. That would ensure the biggest GF crowd for a long while. Think you Doggies might have something to say about that though
Seriously though, it would be good to promote the finals series more and all of the points you've brought up are certainly worth the SANFL having a look at. EDIT: Not your point though Wedgie

[Booney]

Sturt v Glenelg in the GF. That would ensure the biggest GF crowd for a long while. Think you Doggies might have something to say about that though
Seriously though, it would be good to promote the finals series more and all of the points you've brought up are certainly worth the SANFL having a look at. EDIT: Not your point though Wedgie

In all honesty, you must be joking,right?

Without the Northern Crew heading down Salidsbury Highway the crowd will be well under 30k. With the Crew, well over.

[Voice]

I'm not so sure about that Booney. The only times they Centrals GF cracked 30,000 have been when they've played Sturt, North and Glenelg (excet for 2000 I think, can't find those figures atm).
I think alot more neutrals would come to see 2 different teams in the GF.
If Centrals had such a huge bandwagon their would have been more then 26,000 at all their GF's vs the Eagles.

[71/72]

The SANFL would be hoping for a Glenelg v Sturt GF for sure, that would definitely attract the biggest crowd.

[Wedgie]

Yep, agreed with the 2 above, would be a bigger crowd no doubt. Wont happen though so not an issue.

[Booney]

I guess we will have to wait and see, but for mine Sturt V Central would be the biggest crowd puller*.

[Voice]

GF crowds since 98
2008 Central 17.10 (112) Glenelg 11.10 (76) 36 points 34,128
2007 Central 16.11 (107) North 5.12 (42) 65 points 30,478
2006 Eagles 17.19 (121) Central 7.3.(45) 76 points 25,130
2005 Central 15.14.(104) Eagles 11.10 (76) 28 points 28,637
2004 Central 23.15 (153) Eagles 4.4 (28) 125 points 24,207
2003 Central 17.9 (111) West 11.11 (77) 34 points 28,199
2002 Sturt 13.14 (92) Central 6.9 (45) 47 points 35,187
2001 Central 10.11 (71) Eagles 4.8 (32) 39 points 26,378
2000 Central 8.13 (61) Eagles 5.9 (39) 22 points 34,819
1999 Port 14.17 (101) Norwood 14.9 (93) 8 points 39,135
1998 Port 11.9.75 Sturt 9.12 (66) 9 points 44,838
BTW, by no means am I discounting the Doggies making the GF, that would be silly

[Booney]

Voice, 98 brings back some really good memories mate. Thanks for that.

[Bluedemon]

Voice, 98 brings back some really good memories mate. Thanks for that.

For some booney it was, for others it wasnt.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Voice, 98 brings back some really good memories mate. Thanks for that.

Thanks Voice you couldnt go back one more year?

[Voice]

Voice, 98 brings back some really good memories mate. Thanks for that.

I got so drunk that I don't remember it. Who won again?

[Big Phil]

If Centrals had such a huge bandwagon their would have been more then 26,000 at all their GF's vs the Eagles.

Don't point the finger at Doggies fans with those below par figures against the Eagles Voice. I would say 25,000 of the 26,000 would have been Doggies fans, it was the Eagles supporters who kept the numbers down mate

As a current member of WWT, may I just point out in the statement above, I WAS JOKING

[Voice]

If Centrals had such a huge bandwagon their would have been more then 26,000 at all their GF's vs the Eagles.

Don't point the finger at Doggies fans with those below par figures against the Eagles Voice. I would say 25,000 of the 26,000 would have been Doggies fans, it was the Eagles supporters who kept the numbers down mate

As a current member of WWT, may I just point out in the statement above, I WAS JOKING

Sorry if it came across as those figures being the Doggies fault. They definitely have a large supporter group, I just think if Sturt, North, Norwood, Port or the Bays played in those GF's against the Eagles, the number still would have exceeded what you guys managed in those years.

[Booney]

Voice, 98 brings back some really good memories mate. Thanks for that.

Thanks Voice you couldnt go back one more year?

No need to IMO.

[MST]

Without a shadow of doubt the Sturt v Glenelg combination would draw the biggest crowd and I would be pretty certain the SANFL would be quietly hoping this occurs, both for the reason mentioned and simply for a change with two new sides playing off.

As for Wedgie suggesting it's not likely to happen, I personally believe this type of thinking plays a small part in why Central have made the past eight GF's. Mentally they have everyone beat before a ball is bounced. Now before people jump on me, obviously CDFC have had the success they have had due to having a very talented footy side, no doubt there. But you can't deny there is a big mental stumbling block to beating Central in finals. Sturt had them on toast last year, 23 points up at three quarter time, but after the Dogs kicked the first couple of the last quarter you could almost feel the sense of inevitability from the Sturt players and supporters alike, "Here they come, we are gone here".

I firmly believe Glenelg and Sturt have more talent and pace across the lines than the Dogs and if they can overcome the mental side are more than capable of preventing them from playing in the big one.

Of course, it will help if we can get the buggers playing in a Preliminary Final, they won't know what to do with themselves!

[Grahaml]

Purely from a crowd pulling perspective there is no way the dogs would pull a bigger crowd than pehaps 4 other teams. I think it's fair to say we're about 5th spot for crowd pulling, so while we pull our weight if any of the bigger 4 were to take our place then the crowd figure would be higher.

Interesting to note the Norwood/Port GF of 99 copmared with the dogs/eagles GF of 2000. I think most would have thought there would be a bigger difference than 5k.

[Brucetiki]

I firmly believe Glenelg and Sturt have more talent and pace across the lines than the Dogs and if they can overcome the mental side are more than capable of preventing them from playing in the big one.

Roy Laird actually admitted last year that Glenelg/Sturt had more talent than Centrals last year. So they focused on other areas, and still won the flag.

As for the GF attendance, as long as the Eagles or West aren't involved, then you should get 30K+ regardless of who plays.

[JK]

Interesting to note the Norwood/Port GF of 99 copmared with the dogs/eagles GF of 2000. I think most would have thought there would be a bigger difference than 5k.

I reckon 2000 would have had 4/5ths of Elizabeth there in anticipation of that first flag, most Eagles supporters and probably a large number of neutral supporters there to witness a Grand Final without Port.

There's no way of knowing because we're not good enough to get there, but I reckon the Dogs would pull more to a GF than Norwood would ... Any combination of this years top 3 (which is of course the most likely scenario) playing off in the Grand Final will ensure 30k+.

As for the finals, being a neutral I'm quite looking forward to them as I find it very difficult to split the Top 3 teams ... I wouldn't discount the Eagles or North claiming a surprise scalp either, although I don't think they'll claim enough to reach the big one but who knows, pressure changes a lot of things.