TOPIC:

Holy crap what the hell is going on!!

The attendances from the weekend were SHOCKING. It's hard to get an exact figure and if anyone knows where they are posted then please tell me but accord to The West web site the attendances on the weekend were:

Peel Vs Swans 1500

East Freo Vs East Perth 1800

Souths Vs Subi 1300

Claremont Vs West Perth 1200

1200!!!! for a top of the table clash both unbeaten sides WTF!!!

I know we don't have any supporters and the ground is being renovated and the game was on TV but COME ON!!!

It just seems to be getting a lot worse and I feel the WAFC is doing NOTHING to halt this dramatic slide.

Swans' crowds at Basso were disappointing for our three home games. Obviously against Claremont we were not going to get a huge crowd, but the next two games against Perth and South Freo were exceedingly disappointing.

I have no idea why the overall figures are so low other than to suggest that the alignment resolution has disaffected many WAFL supporters.

If that is the case the impact on attendances next season will be even more drastic.

No characters anymore, no publicity, no hatred, rivalry been reduced, don't play on a consistent basis (every sat for eg), alignment hasn't helped.

I'm sure a few years back when Farmer and Bell played at SF people would come down because of those 2. They draw people to the game. We obviously won the flag that year and our attendemces were great but have dropped badly since, so has our form mind you.

As I said before WAFL footy will soon only be patronised by friends, family and die hards who are all 50 plus yrs old.

Surely in todays world double headers are a way to go. Game at 2.10pm as normal and then at 5.30pm under lights at any of the venues that can do it. get 4 sets of supporters there, bigger looking crowd and atmosphere and the neutrals who want to see 2 games of footy for say $20.

Gotta do something quick or a crowd of 2000 will be seen as excellent!!

Look I put a warning out a couple of weeks back on the bad crowds, but received one or two critisisms for doing so, Im not exactly sure why, but I think some people just like to live in denial.

Anyway yes they are terrible, the comp is in its death throws, you can expect next year to be at lot lower once the full host club deal kills the comp.

What is now blantantly clear is the WAFL WAFC and more concerning the clubs have thrown the towell in regards spectators and crowds, fixturing is no longer based on getting a crowd. Clubs know that no incomes of note can be gained from gates or catering, they know that they are soley reliant of handouts from the WAFC and going forward the additional funding of the Host Club deals.

The fact of the matter is the Public imagination and interest from a city of nearly 2 million is not in or for WAFL footy, the few remaing fans are older and falling away quickly now.

The very few younger ones now have no connection to WAFL's glory days. So will be hard to keep.

Our first home game was a night game was a perfect warm night normally would attract 2500 - 3500 , but was barely 2000. That was a bad sign.

The figure quoted for the sf v s game was generous to say the least . I would say 1000 were there, anyway 100 or so here or there is all academic.

As dogman say the comp is now based around friends, family and a few old stagers from the halcyon days...they will soon be gone.

Sadly traditional clashes like the foundation day derby, the last bastion of the WAFL have been killed off, AFL have killed that as well, there will be no more 10,000 crowds at derbys.

The WAFL is drifting towards Sunday League Status, actually Sunday League crowds were bigger in its hey day.

Its time and actually probably to late for some serious moves to make WAFL Viable.

1. Ground Rationilisation
2. Club Mergers
3. Salary Cap Reviews
4. Conisderation of a WAAFL and WAFL merger /
5. A new super state comp

we cant keep living in the past.

ground rationalisation is what should be a priority..

South and East at Freo with a bar each like Leederville and Swans and Perth at Basso unless the local and state govts are going to help out with ground redevelopments like what happened at Claremont..

MarkOlsen wrote: ground rationalisation is what should be a priority..

South and East at Freo with a bar each like Leederville and Swans and Perth at Basso unless the local and state govts are going to help out with ground redevelopments like what happened at Claremont..

Agree 100% percent, what on earth do we have 6 or 7 grounds for, that were designed for 20,000 people - with all the costs involved - being maintained 12 months a year that host 1,500 people once a fortnight, anyone with any business brain at all can see its a dead loss.

Agreed Mark...WP and EP at Leederville, SF and EF at Freo once the Dockers leave, Subi and Claremont at Claremont, Swans and Perth at Basso and throw Peel out of the comp. Similarly, cricket should be played at the new Burswood stadium once its built and the WACA sold to fund drop in wickets and other infrastructure needed for cricket at that venue.

I agree. Wafl is struggling big time this year. It's hard to put a finger on it as to why but i'm pretty sure the alignments have sucked much of the the remaining life out of the competition. There just seems to be virtually no interest this year. I have to admit I'm struggling to get enthused myself.

MarkOlsen wrote: ground rationalisation is what should be a priority..

South and East at Freo with a bar each like Leederville and Swans and Perth at Basso unless the local and state govts are going to help out with ground redevelopments like what happened at Claremont..

The irony with this is that when raised earlier on another site it was the worst thing since the alignment but now it is ok! I wonder if those who got very hot under the collar will do so again or will they see it as progress.

I reckon that Basso has to stay with Perf taking over a revamped Macca or on the far wing, the 2 freos go to sf and WP stay where they are or go .........

Why Basso?

Parking's better at Lathlain.