TOPIC:

A slightly different perspective... I am a dyed in the wool Swans supporter and have loved the WAFL since I was a young lad, however I am realistic enough to know that the competition will never again be what it once was. So in order to survive given the current situation, the WAFC needs to take a collaborative approach with the AFL (note: different from cooperative or compliant)
The WAFL needs to creatively and shamelessly use the people pulling power of the AFL to promote its own product. Imagine for example if say the Eagles or Dockers are not playing on a particular saturday afternoon. What if Swans were able to announce that Nic Nat would appear at Bassendean to chat with the fans, sign autographs and maybe even have a kick with the kids. Or maybe Matthew Pavlich goes to a freo derby and does the same thing? Would that attract some mums and dads and most importantly kids who may just like what they see on the field and come back.
Thats one idea I'm sure there are more ways that the WAFL could piggyback on the AFL's popularity. I would like to go back to the good old days, but we need to change with the times or the competition will die. We need to attract young people and show them why grass roots footy is different.

That is true to a certain extent anchorman. I seem to recall a Perth derby being played about the same time at Subiaco Oval. My foggy memory recalls West Perth won but the Football commission at the time were disappointed with the attendance. I think the writing was on the wall then. Crowd numbers dropped at Wafl matches for many years but in recent seasons attendance figures have been on the up. Admittedly crowd numbers would not have returned to what it was like when I was a young-un. I know for a fact some sections of the media helped to bury the Wafl being obvious for all to see. Now all this alignment programme has been pushed upon us, will be the final nail. I have been led to believe the Wafl attendance figures far surpass those of the VFL and roughly the same as the South Aussie footy league. But for how long?

anchorman wrote: The WAFL began dieing when the WCEs became a team.The soul and heart was ripped out of the WAFL then.It seems that only now have some awoken from their slumber and realised that the WAFL is close to being buried.

mikeh wrote: A slightly different perspective... I am a dyed in the wool Swans supporter and have loved the WAFL since I was a young lad, however I am realistic enough to know that the competition will never again be what it once was. So in order to survive given the current situation, the WAFC needs to take a collaborative approach with the AFL (note: different from cooperative or compliant)
The WAFL needs to creatively and shamelessly use the people pulling power of the AFL to promote its own product. Imagine for example if say the Eagles or Dockers are not playing on a particular saturday afternoon. What if Swans were able to announce that Nic Nat would appear at Bassendean to chat with the fans, sign autographs and maybe even have a kick with the kids. Or maybe Matthew Pavlich goes to a freo derby and does the same thing? Would that attract some mums and dads and most importantly kids who may just like what they see on the field and come back.
Thats one idea I'm sure there are more ways that the WAFL could piggyback on the AFL's popularity. I would like to go back to the good old days, but we need to change with the times or the competition will die. We need to attract young people and show them why grass roots footy is different.

Mikeh a wonderful idea. However, your idea is based on the premise that the WAFC are interested in the WAFL competition. There is very little evidence to support that premise. Secondly, you mention NicNat coming down to Basso. Unfortunately, the ground he would be required to attend would be Leederville Oval where the club formerly known as East Perth plays their matches.

No-one here thinks that we can return to the glory days pre-Eagles. What we can have is a vibrant and sustainable WAFL competition if the WAFC, the Eagles and the Dockers and the local media wanted it to happen. Sadly, there is virtually no evidence that they are remotely interested in doing so.

Well I guess you anti West Australian crew won't have to worry about it for to much longer - they just annouced they are sacking over 100 journos and staff, won't be around to much longer I expect.

swan42 wrote:

mikeh wrote: A slightly different perspective... I am a dyed in the wool Swans supporter and have loved the WAFL since I was a young lad, however I am realistic enough to know that the competition will never again be what it once was. So in order to survive given the current situation, the WAFC needs to take a collaborative approach with the AFL (note: different from cooperative or compliant)
The WAFL needs to creatively and shamelessly use the people pulling power of the AFL to promote its own product. Imagine for example if say the Eagles or Dockers are not playing on a particular saturday afternoon. What if Swans were able to announce that Nic Nat would appear at Bassendean to chat with the fans, sign autographs and maybe even have a kick with the kids. Or maybe Matthew Pavlich goes to a freo derby and does the same thing? Would that attract some mums and dads and most importantly kids who may just like what they see on the field and come back.
Thats one idea I'm sure there are more ways that the WAFL could piggyback on the AFL's popularity. I would like to go back to the good old days, but we need to change with the times or the competition will die. We need to attract young people and show them why grass roots footy is different.

Mikeh a wonderful idea. However, your idea is based on the premise that the WAFC are interested in the WAFL competition. There is very little evidence to support that premise. Secondly, you mention NicNat coming down to Basso. Unfortunately, the ground he would be required to attend would be Leederville Oval where the club formerly known as East Perth plays their matches.

No-one here thinks that we can return to the glory days pre-Eagles. What we can have is a vibrant and sustainable WAFL competition if the WAFC, the Eagles and the Dockers and the local media wanted it to happen. Sadly, there is virtually no evidence that they are remotely interested in doing so.

Swan I agree, I am convinced that the two local clubs are determined to detroy the WAFL and remove it as anything that will detract from them, The Foundation Day take over a case in point.

anchorman wrote: The WAFL began dieing when the WCEs became a team.The soul and heart was ripped out of the WAFL then.It seems that only now have some awoken from their slumber and realised that the WAFL is close to being buried.

True to a large extent, but the WAFL was struggling before the advent of the Eagles, the flow of players to the VFL became an exudos, as well as that if you look at attendances from 1983 onward they declined each year, to top it off a number of clubs were struggling financially and had become hocked on VFL transfer fees for survival. The WAFL it self was in debt largely due to the loans for the construction of he 2 tier stand at Subi.

Regardless of that the entry of the Eagles was a massive blow, and the entry of the Dockers sealed the deal..there was simply not enough oxygen for them all to survive in a small market place like WA.

anchorman wrote: had they delayed the entry of the Dockers for another five years the WAFL would have had a chance.Not to get back to where it was but at least a chance to recover from the Eagles existence.
But added to that Fitzroy were struggling and the rumour I heard from a person well atuned to the Dockers was that the AFL would relocate the Fitzroy club here.So it was a WA side,or a failed Melbourne club.

Yeah I think that if Freo had held off a bit longer the WAFL would of been in a healthier state. no sure about the fitzroy thing. possible though.

if another team comes to wa in 2020 as brad hardie says the afl wants - you can forget the wafl.

anchorman wrote: The Fitzroy situation was real.Was told by the head of the Dockers at the time.Was at a Fremantle derby at Fremantle oval.
I have no doubt the AFL want a 20 team competition.As I said before a two ten team divisions.It will happen,not sure about 2020 but it will happen.

But Fitzroy went the Brisbane , wasnt that the plan??

dont forget brissie was bust.

anchorman wrote: Yes they did go to Brissy and yes they were bust but am only telling you what I was told by the Dockers head man at the time.It was mooted for them to come here.

yep remember all sorts of life lines were thrown around to keep them alive, Freo Tasmania, ended up being Brissie.