Leave our game alone

[Hondo]

There are a lot of generalisations here about who sports we are following and how people are deserting the AFL. These generalisations are opposite to the ratings and attendance figures I have been hearing. Are we all going off to State comps are we? News to me.

This sport that people are leaving in droves is about to get the 1st $1b TV rights deal for any sport in this country. That would indicate to me that there's some level of support out there.

Has anybody got some stats on attendances & memberships for soccer teams year by year to prove their point?

Not just on this site but everywhere I think there's a lot of hot air about rule changes and hollow threats by fans about leaving the sport. While I accept some fans are very frustrated by the rule changes I think the majority just love the game and will keep loving it regardless of whether it's a 25m penalty or a 50m one. Is playing on from a point a big deal? Not really. Hey a new rule gives us all something to talk about and we create puplicity for the game while we complain.

It would surprise many to know that apparently the rate of rule changes to Aussie rules has not significantly increased under the current AFL management compared to years gone by. I think the older you get the less tolerant you become to changes to the game as you knew it when you were growing up.

Not that I am a fan of this out of bounds rule. I haven't even seen it but it doesn't sound like a winner.

[fish]

Great post Hondo!

[Q.]

Good post Hondo. Judge each proposed rule change on its merits, rather than no change for the sake of being stubborn.

And yes, the out-of-bounds rule is rubbish

[whufc]

There are a lot of generalisations here about who sports we are following and how people are deserting the AFL. These generalisations are opposite to the ratings and attendance figures I have been hearing. Are we all going off to State comps are we? News to me.

This sport that people are leaving in droves is about to get the 1st $1b TV rights deal for any sport in this country. That would indicate to me that there's some level of support out there.

Has anybody got some stats on attendances & memberships for soccer teams year by year to prove their point?

Not just on this site but everywhere I think there's a lot of hot air about rule changes and hollow threats by fans about leaving the sport. While I accept some fans are very frustrated by the rule changes I think the majority just love the game and will keep loving it regardless of whether it's a 25m penalty or a 50m one. Is playing on from a point a big deal? Not really. Hey a new rule gives us all something to talk about and we create puplicity for the game while we complain.

It would surprise many to know that apparently the rate of rule changes to Aussie rules has not significantly increased under the current AFL management compared to years gone by. I think the older you get the less tolerant you become to changes to the game as you knew it when you were growing up.

Not that I am a fan of this out of bounds rule. I haven't even seen it but it doesn't sound like a winner.

Agree with most of what your saying but you cant really compare crowd figures and t.v ratings in just numerical value especially when your comparing 80', 90's to today.

People need to keep in mind population growth, population situated alot more people are living in the big cities these days meaning more oppurtunities to get to games, spectator comfort especially having an indoor venue, alot more families have t.vs than ever before, also the games are played at times and against sides to maximise t.v ratings. There are more kids programs handing out free tickets each week than ever before.

From all the people i know who follow AFL, they have started to lose their passion for the game and only having a passing interest in their AFL side.

[Wedgie]

From all the people i know who follow AFL, they have started to lose their passion for the game and only having a passing interest in their AFL side.

Replace "AFL" with "SANFL", "NRL", "NBL" and "Australian soccer" and you'd be spot on with people I know. Crowd figures showing the AFL as the only competition that's gone forward and not backward in the last 20 years would prove it as opposed to using heresay too.

[whufc]

From all the people i know who follow AFL, they have started to lose their passion for the game and only having a passing interest in their AFL side.

Replace "AFL" with "SANFL", "NRL", "NBL" and "Australian soccer" and you'd be spot on with people I know. Crowd figures showing the AFL as the only competition that's gone forward and not backward in the last 20 years would prove it as opposed to using heresay too.

Out of those comps the AFL is probably the only comp that is purely and 100% designed to attract crowds., even at the expense of fairness in fixtures.

Im sure if the A-League played Adelaide vs Melbourne and CCM vs Newcastle Jets more times than any other team playing each other they would increace crowd numbers as well.

The SANFL is exactly the same due to trying to have an even fixture there will always be around 10 games at Noarlunga every season, im sure if they could fixture Norwood vs Port 4 times a year crowds figures would be up as well.

[Apachebulldog]

Spot on WHUFC fans are losing their passion for the game due to ridiculous rule changes to make the game faster for the TV masses like i said before its now a fast running, handballing pretty game. Yeah $1 billion dollars spent of course its now a money making business thats why they are tampering with the rules to make it aesthetically pleasing for the masses its not sport anymore the AFL is a greedy voracious money making machine and it destroys all other levels of Aussie Rules in its path !!

[whufc]

Spot on WHUFC fans are losing their passion for the game due to ridiculous rule changes to make the game faster for the TV masses like i said before its now a fast running, handballing pretty game. Yeah $1 billion dollars spent of course its now a money making business thats why they are tampering with the rules to make it aesthetically pleasing for the masses its not sport anymore the AFL is a greedy voracious money making machine and it destroys all other levels of Aussie Rules in its path !!

I think the fact the crows are close to all time low memberships is probablu further evidence of this.

[Wedgie]

The A League could have Adelaide playing Melbourne 50 times a year but it'd still lose tens if millions of dollars and continue to go backwards. Adelaide United used to get more people going to games in the NSL.
The AFL is the only resoundingly successful and growing competition in Australia which is amazing effort with the amount of failures and comps going backwards in the last 20 years.

[whufc]

The A League could have Adelaide playing Melbourne 50 times a year but it'd still lose tens if millions of dollars and continue to go backwards. Adelaide United used to get more people going to games in the NSL.The AFL is the only resoundingly successful and growing competition in Australia which is amazing effort with the amount of failures and comps going backwards in the last 20 years.

great use of statistice there, the fact that Uniteds first year was is the NSL was always going to help you there!

Just like the Port Magpies would like to think they were resoundingly successful and grew last season with there 7-9k membership base, now there is some serious growth.

[Rik E Boy]

Out of those comps the AFL is probably the only comp that is purely and 100% designed to attract crowds., even at the expense of fairness in fixtures.

Im sure if the A-League played Adelaide vs Melbourne and CCM vs Newcastle Jets more times than any other team playing each other they would increace crowd numbers as well.

The SANFL is exactly the same due to trying to have an even fixture there will always be around 10 games at Noarlunga every season, im sure if they could fixture Norwood vs Port 4 times a year crowds figures would be up as well.

WRONG WRONG WRONG. The AFL competition is designed to maximise revenue, both from - yes attendance figures but also from TV rights. If the product aint there you don't get the crowds. A League could do what it likes with the fixture...the product is crap. And while we are at it when was the last time any team played a particular opponent FOUR times during the minor round season?

It's all about the product. You can't maximise revenue if the majority of people couldn't give a rats. People are shitting themselves about the introduction of rules that are merely being trialled and then comparing other sports to something that isn't even football, NABasketball.

With the exception of St Kilda, I find the modern game to be a good game overall. I'd like to see the shirtfront come back and a few less soft frees but most of all what I believe we all like to see is a moratorium on the rule changes. And if we have lost our passion for the game, why is this thread building at a rapid rate? If you don't care, go and watch your A League or your Redbacks. It's all good.

regards,

REB

[Sky Pilot]

Spot on WHUFC fans are losing their passion for the game due to ridiculous rule changes to make the game faster for the TV masses like i said before its now a fast running, handballing pretty game. Yeah $1 billion dollars spent of course its now a money making business thats why they are tampering with the rules to make it aesthetically pleasing for the masses its not sport anymore the AFL is a greedy voracious money making machine and it destroys all other levels of Aussie Rules in its path !!

you are probably right.

[Rik E Boy]

Spot on WHUFC fans are losing their passion for the game due to ridiculous rule changes to make the game faster for the TV masses like i said before its now a fast running, handballing pretty game. Yeah $1 billion dollars spent of course its now a money making business thats why they are tampering with the rules to make it aesthetically pleasing for the masses its not sport anymore the AFL is a greedy voracious money making machine and it destroys all other levels of Aussie Rules in its path !!

you are probably right.

No as usual he's wrong. The same fans that bleated about the hands in the back rule years ago still watch AFL football and still love their club. Everyone has lost so much passion about the sport that this thread is clearly dying in the arse. The new 'supersub' rule I believe has been introduced to slow the game down IMO. The AFL/VFL has been a business for quite a while now and while I don't agree with everything they have done I believe that overall the sport has benefitted from it, especially up here in Qld.

The game has evolved into the professional era. Those with romantic memories of earlier years of football clearly don't remember exciting games of the past such as West Coast Eagles vs. Footscray at Western Oval in the slop when four goals was enough to win the game. You can watch the Sensational Seventies on DVD but remember there were plenty of games that got played during that decade that don't make the highlight reel....just as they do today.

The modern game is a good game and would be even better if left alone for a few seasons. THAT is what this thread is about..not people 'losing their passion'. If they did they just wouldn't care about the rule changes.

regards,

REB

[Wedgie]

The AFL should be really panicking, record crowds and locally the Crows had 20,000 more members last year than in 1991 while every other competition goes backwards and struggles financially.
I bet other competitions would love their fans to be losing passion as quickly!

[Rik E Boy]

The AFL should be really panicking, record crowds and locally the Crows had 20,000 more members last year than in 1991 while every other competition goes backwards and struggles financially.

Those that still have the passion, Collingwood and Geelong fans. Those that have 'lost' the passion, Crows, Centrals and Essendon fans...hmmmm.

regards,

REB

[goraw]

Spot on WHUFC fans are losing their passion for the game due to ridiculous rule changes to make the game faster for the TV masses like i said before its now a fast running, handballing pretty game. Yeah $1 billion dollars spent of course its now a money making business thats why they are tampering with the rules to make it aesthetically pleasing for the masses its not sport anymore the AFL is a greedy voracious money making machine and it destroys all other levels of Aussie Rules in its path !!

in order to make the athletes be the product, they need reward for time spent on developing the skills and body . our game is a naturally exciting game and will always bring in the masses .

i really like both levels of footy for different reasons. i love the SANFL because of the banter, the not so skilled but real in ur face kind of footy. i mean u can get right up close to the players, even at 1/4 time and 3/4 time.the players do react to taunts (esp the gowans):) i love that stuff.plus i grew up with it from virtualy birth and have some great memories from it aswell.

then i love the AFL mainly for the gut running hard hitting footy and its levels above any sport for exciting moments .bigger crowds, massive atmosphere ,these guys are the best of the best and nothing is harder than winning an AFL PREMIERSHIP.the only downside from the AFL perspective is it squashed state of origin.

however i do agree with ur points about rule changes. looked terrible the out of bounds rule and should be quickly removed if it hasnt already. in saying that i dont mind them trying rules to suit the game, in the preseason. the rush behind rule is a ripper IMHO and adds to the specticle.

[whufc]

The AFL should be really panicking, record crowds and locally the Crows had 20,000 more members last year than in 1991 while every other competition goes backwards and struggles financially.
I bet other competitions would love their fans to be losing passion as quickly!

Whats Souths Australias population growth since 1991, how many more people are living in Metropolitan SA since 1991.

[Apachebulldog]

Wedgie Crows might have 20,000 more members so how come last year they could not fill AAMI stadium week after week ???? fans are not as passionate in some cases the love affair with the AFLis waning.

[cripple]

Wedgie Crows might have 20,000 more members so how come last year they could not fill AAMI stadium week after week ???? fans are not as passionate in some cases the love affair with the AFLis waning.

First word of sense spoken. I would like to argue though that it most cases it has stayed the same and in some cases has increased dramtically and there would be very few whose "love affair" is waning.

[Wedgie]

The AFL should be really panicking, record crowds and locally the Crows had 20,000 more members last year than in 1991 while every other competition goes backwards and struggles financially.
I bet other competitions would love their fans to be losing passion as quickly!

Whats Souths Australias population growth since 1991, how many more people are living in Metropolitan SA since 1991.

Dunno, but looking at the decline in attendances of the SANFL since then you'd have to guess we've lost about 2/3rds of the population.

At the end of the day if you're looking at the amount of people attending games for competitions around the nation then th AFL is the only one that isn't going backwards and is the only competition in the nation including soccer and the SANFL that hasn't slid. FACT.

In the context of the size of our country and population he AFLs figures are extraordinary and probably the best in the world and it continues to grow while other comps die financially or rely on things like problem gamblers.