TOPIC:

Bazza wrote: 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.

Good input BAZZA and agree entirely. 2014 will see fewer crowds IMO.

I was at CLA for Ressies and League and I thought a 1000 was closer to the mark.
I wont say the crowd was mainly WP supporters either who have dropped off. CLA never have had a huge following.
Lets hope the ANZAC DAY games have a bigger attendance and I think they will but it will be a Flash in the pan due to it being ANZAC Holiday and people will want to get out on a great day to watch some Footy.
3 games is a bit over the top though with the only Sat Game (thanks to the ABC requirement for a broadcast game) down at Peel. Should be a big TV following as I cant see many neutrals making the trip down there.

The unfortunate thing as well is the recovery time especially for a Team like Swans who couldnt have a Recovery day on Sunday like the others. It is in WP favour of course but doesnt create a even playing field so some of the Gloss will be taken off the game with a lot of players getting tired early.

Will be up at Joondy for both League and Ressies as the late start 0315 (League) gives people to enjoy and remember the fallen before going along to the Footy.

It just amazes me that a bunch of WAFL diehards on here can come up with more ideas or at least chat about it when those PAID and probably well paid to look after the competition do sweet FA and have so now for years as each year crowds get worse.

I was shocked to see the WAFL page on the Perth Now web site doesn't even have a story on the Cl Vs WP game or in fact ANY of last weekend's games.

Don't believe me - take a look www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/wafl

And this is the problem, well part of the problem. The WAFC doesn't do anything!! name 5 things they have done this year to increase attendances? They are not accountable at all.

Nothing will happen if no effort is made and it makes me sick.

The West had a coverage on the Sunday on their website of all games. Strange that the Sunday paper doesnt even print it on their website Perth Now for people interstate? Gotta talk to Hopey on that one via WAFL WORLD as the works for the Sunday Times?
Chris Pike had a good article on the WPFC site that covered the league and Ressies and he works for the West. See article below,

www.falconsfc.com.au/index.php/latest-ne...-but-fall-to-tigers/

Our club also put a report on the game (Darrell Kent) with pictures from the game.. see below.

www.falconsfc.com.au/index.php/latest-ne...suffer-first-defeat/

Tigeriffic wrote: It just amazes me that a bunch of WAFL diehards on here can come up with more ideas or at least chat about it when those PAID and probably well paid to look after the competition do sweet FA and have so now for years as each year crowds get worse.

I was shocked to see the WAFL page on the Perth Now web site doesn't even have a story on the Cl Vs WP game or in fact ANY of last weekend's games.

Don't believe me - take a look www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/wafl

And this is the problem, well part of the problem. The WAFC doesn't do anything!! name 5 things they have done this year to increase attendances? They are not accountable at all.

Nothing will happen if no effort is made and it makes me sick.

Yeah and WA Today has dropped it's WAFL coverage altogether, I cant find it anywhere, there was one weekend Easter I think where The West had a story on a south game and then said for full scores refer to page 119 way back in the small print of the general sports results.

I have no doubt in my mind that the alignment scam has caused this, I know several people myself who have lost interest in this competition because of it, it will only get worse next season as the scam takes full effect, how can you possibly enjoy a unfair competition that allows all the AFL talent in this state to only play at 2 clubs?? My hatred for the two AFL clubs is at a all time high, my hatred for the 2 WAFL clubs that sold us all out is also at a all time high.

I don't have a problem with the alignments, I don't understand all the hatred of EP and Peel TBH. I do feel sorry for EP supporters though because they are one of the great traditional WAFL clubs and they are now a hybrid outfit in the WAFL, a mixture of their zoned players that come up through the ranks and the Eagles development players but I would be more interested in going to see my WAFL club playing an EP aligned Eagles outfit than a pure Eagles outfit topped up with players it has stolen from other WAFL clubs and country and amateur players. That would just not interest me.

Peel are different, they have always struggled and I suspect they always will due to their location and difficulties holding onto players so it can only be a win win for them and Fremantle.

I have always found it undermining to have AFL listed players available or not available for their WAFL clubs and some WAFL clubs over the years have got lucky and had an unfair advantage by having the services of an AFL listed player who can dominate at WAFL level but can't seem to hold down a regular spot in their AFL team, ie - Hansen, Murphy, Seaby. Then there were times when some players, Troy Cook springs to mind who were held over by their AFL club as an emergency but didn't play. This would happen often and be very disruptive for WAFL clubs to plan not knowing who was available or unavailable.

Next year the 7 non aligned clubs will not have that problem at all and I see that as a positive for the non aligned clubs and their players who know they can't be pushed out of the league side late due to an AFL club sending a player back for a run in the WAFL.

I reckon people should get over it and accept it.

So Johnno you going to be happy for Darren Glass or Michael Johnson to play at EP & Peel next year if they need a run in the WAFL?

Or Sharryd Wellingham this week?

thing is terror those two haven't played WAFL in years, so Perth won't be missing anything I guess.....more frustrating seeing youngsters in McInness and Tunbridge plying their trade v Perth next year.....I know EF fans will be pissed seeing the likes of Simpson, Duffy, Menagola, Howson etc suiting up for Peel all year....but as Johnno has said it's done and dusted for now......might open the door for EF to attract a few players or promote a few players, when that they don't have 5 or 6 AFL boys blocking their way......saying that Brown will go back home in 2014 and Dalziell will be delisted......

Falcon wrote: I have no doubt in my mind that the alignment scam has caused this, I know several people myself who have lost interest in this competition because of it, it will only get worse next season as the scam takes full effect, how can you possibly enjoy a unfair competition that allows all the AFL talent in this state to only play at 2 clubs?? My hatred for the two AFL clubs is at a all time high, my hatred for the 2 WAFL clubs that sold us all out is also at a all time high.

Yep agree 100% - the comp has been disabled and in its death throws thanks to the AFLers.

This yeat a couple of South diehards approached me and quietly told me that this year would be their last as WAFL goers, one even said he was joining the dockers ( cant beat them join them i guess) for something to do, he said the interest and passion as just not their anymore, the lack of atmoshpere and general interest all added up.

I have to admit im drifting that way as well, I was really shocked by these guys as they were deadset week in week out supporters, you can only kick a dog so many times I guess, next year will be heart breaking for the few wafl fans left as the talent train to the two host clubs kicks in , imagine the feeling of seeing the colts and talent from your own club playing against you.

Also the social aspect of the clubs is dieing along with it, hardly anyone stays back for a drink or chat anymore,

Not sure if I can be bothered going forward myself...thinking of getting into the Western Force or something.

I would of never contemplated this, but I really think for the two fremantle clubs to survice they will need to merge in the next few years, I see this as a realistic prosect with the passion of the past fading as the old guard passes on.

Perhaps a vision would be a super state leagie with 6 - 8 teams -

Fremantle ( EF & SF) freo oval
Perth ( WP & P ) leederville
Western Suburbs ( C and Subi) claremont
Eastern Suburbs and Country (SD and SW or maybe GoldFields) basso
East Perth Eagles leederville
Peel Dockers mandurah or new cockburn ground

sames are only suggestions - could be called anything really.

Then with a full merger with the WAAFL there would be an A grade below with relegation promotion etc ...

got to throw some big long term ideas around