Watching replays of games from the 1990's and seeing thousands of supporters lining the boundary to watch teams like Coburg, Sandringham, Werribee and frankston. Were has all this support gone? Nowadays it seems like port and Williamstown are the only sides left with any decent support, support for sandy and werribee just about died out. Older folks tell me of days when all clubs got around 3,000- 5,000 fans to home games each week. So what happend? Did they all abandon their clubs when the AFL went national? It seems to have died off quickly as the VFA was very strong in support for decades. Clubs like Prahan who from old replays seem well supported are now broke the ones who have survived are gaining all their support from their AFL affiliated club. So what happned? Perhaps someone of an older generation knows the answer?
Borough boy i have thought of this topic many times and here are my thoughts. The decline in crowds is in my opinion a combination of a few factors which ill list below.
The Vfl competes with the AfL timeslot. i.e. years ago The only footy you could see on a Sunday was the VFA therefore if yuo felt like a game that's where you went. I've heard older supporters tell me that they would watch south melbourne on the Saturday and then go to Port and see the same supporters on the Sunday. Games clashing has affected support with people going to see their AFL side over the VFA.
More entertainment options these days. In the 1980's and 70's we didn't have the luxury of pay tv, internet, movies on demand, dvd's, videos so more people are staying home Instead of venturing outside for fun. Free to ait had a mere 4, 5 channels.
The weekends have become more like the weekdays with a increasing amount of people working on the weekends. You no longer have the whole community taking a break on the weekend.
More things to do on the weekend - i.e years ago everything was closed on a Sunday whereas now you have movies, restaurants, bars, pubs all open. Many people would come to the VFA to have a drink as pubs were closed and you couldn't buy liquor any where on a Sunday. This in my opinion is a very big factor.
Lack of advertising for the league has seen a decline in crowds. I remember years ago scores would be said on the radio and tv as they weren't competing with the AFL.Sunday radio had no results to report so they would report the VFA. Don't think that happens so much these days and media coverage is pretty limited.
Peoples changing view of helping out / supporting their community. People years ago supported their community teams and community in general. Thesedays people don't care about that. In England you see division 3, 4 teams get thousands of people to their games only due to them supporting their local team and community. We could do with adopting some of that culture. Theirs a great little segment in the dvd the borough that talks about how much Port Melbuorne f.c. meant to the people of Port Melbourne.
My father tells me in the early 70's when he had a house about a k from the ground he would sit out the front and be startled by the masses of fans that would walk to North Port. He said it was incredible - their was so many people walking to the ground he likened it to watching a protest.
All of the above I believe are factors which have contributed to smaller crowds, however I can't see crowds dropping and if anything crowds are probably up this year with footscray home gates probably boosting the league a bit (free entry would of helped).
Excellent response MegaA
FWIW I think Frankston had its best crowds since 2006 this season.
Spot on MegA. Great report.
You can also add the channel 0 coverage bought a lot of VFA fans. No Sunday Hotel trading (unless it was sly grog) you had to go to the VFA for a beer and plenty entertainment.
Plus with numerous VFA clubs that are gone and with them many supporters.
Thank you Northport and VFA - amazing what can be done after a few thinking juices (Boags). People report that Frankston gets good crowds - what is it that gets these people through the gates especially when the side isn't doing so well ?