If so, its a perfect opportunity for the VFL to try and draw some AFL members along to the finals series.
The Victorian Football public seemed to have dropped off the VFA/VFL particularly during the finals series in recent years, with last years Grand Final only drawing about 8000 supporters.
Any ideas to being the crowds back to make the VFL finals series a well attended event?
Forums
I like that idea. Good one.[/quote]
As a concept it is great.
But it only deals with people once they are there. It will not draw anybody in.
Get em in, then keep them with things like this.
Shamus or shame
Which part of the circus do you come from ??
Its pretty much impossible for any other sport in winter in Melbourne to compete against the AFL juggernaught just ask Mudochs News Corp owned Storm RL team even with masssive undeserved publicity in the HUN thay still struggle to get over 10,000 to home games.Unfortunately for the VFL it is now mostly seen as the AFL reserves in the public mind and remember that perception does eventually become reality.
What was said before is 100% correct Melburnians will go to "big event" sports but the second tier like the now VFL are shunned in droves eg: all cricket apart from the one dayers and tests.
As for the change of name affecting the comp of course it has! I for one among many dont go to games like I did in the VFA era.
I think VFAs idea is a nice dream of reforming the old VFA with a couple of new teams but possibily not now a feasible one.
Heidelberg will be joining the EFL next season from the DVFL as will Balwyn transferring from the SFL.
Both will be in Divsion One in a 12 team comp.
There are several suburban teams with plenty of dollars.
Noble Park has a great setup flashed with plenty of dollars.
I would rather have a go at a revamped VFA with new clubs in it than the current VFL setup.
If it wasn't for Frankston and Port Melbourne it would be a RESERVES comp.
At least the SANFL and WAFL do not have players all from one club that are aligned. They still have plenty of feel like they still own and run their own clubs.
Who knows what holds in the next 5/10 years.
Surely the old clubs like Sandy,Port and Willy could band together if the AFL made the competition into a farce in the next few years.
Each year we see changes to alignments.
Will Tassie give North the flick ?
If so will North Ballarat have a full alignement with North ?
Stupid if they do considering the North Ballarat rebels are on top and would supply quite a few good kids.
Will tassie opt for Hawthorn ?
Will Box Hill stand alone ?
Next few months the rumour mill will be running hot.
Storm crowds have lifted and the crowds averages have been around 13,000 for home games.
Storm's crowd yesterday was better than the bulldogs v raiders.
Slowly building up and will need to build it up to 20,000 average in the next couple of years. That would be a good crowd compared to some Sydney teams.
You can't compare NRL crowds with AFL.
Saying that the Brisbane Broncos do have great home crowds.
Storm attendances only up due to success. If they start falling down the ladder, the extra 5,000 will drop away, that's just the Melbournians "events" mindset. My uncle Paul lives in Richmond, he's a Tiger fan, but he went with his son to see the Storm a few weeks ago, just to see what was going on. He said it was ok, better than on telly, but he, like others, won't translate into a hardcore, week in, week out supporter.
I wouldnt be too worried about the Storm crowds for a team that has been on top for most of the season they are still only ave about 8000 .
They have had only two crowds of 15,000 (OP holds 18,000) and one of them was last weeks final :D
It is so damn good that heidelberg and balwyn have joined the EFL ! Something for Gannon and co. to think about. Crowds and popularity of EFL could put them to shame. Every local club wants to join this league as opposed to VFL! Why,you may ask ? Waiting for smartarse answers from the usual suspects. (Would actually like to hear some intelligent/constructive comments)
The Gf will be at Princes Park.
Even then with no AFL matches over the next two weeks and the four teams left can get a crowd.
Williamstown, Sandringham and Geelong can draw crowds.
Preston are aligned to Carlton so if they made it they could gon to the GF.
12,000 to the GF at the max, that is being realistic.
If they ever had a game to be viable for the MCG they would need 35,000+
Yeah right ??
If they could draw that number yes go for it.
12,000 is my maximum crowd they would get.
Crowds do not go to the VfL.
Some suburban GF draw upto 10,000
Willy v Sandy 12,000
Willy v Preston 9,000
Geelong v Sandy 12,000
Geelong v Preston 10,000
I VFA think you are about right with your crowd estimates if the VFL gets its act together and the weather is fine.
The VFL must be thinking how lucky they are that two of the worst drawing teams in the comp are out of the finals in Werribee and Nth Ballarat a GF between these two would be a shocker.
I'd have thought Werribee were one of the better drawing sides in the competition.
As for the GF if the VFL went to the MCG I'd like to see $5 entry as that'd be the best hope of getting a decent crowd. But then the game loses atmosphere if the crowd is small (eg Waverley in 2000). And also the end of game celebration on ground and kick to kick which at least the crowd can do at Princes Park.