TOPIC:

Leedy wrote: Being a WP supporter, I have to say that we get good value for money and have done since I joined in 93. I have been going to watch WP since dad took me as a young bloke from 81 onwards, we have only bottomed out on a couple of occasions since 93. I still love going, alignment or not, its the best non robotic footy going around !

you won a flag in what was basically the season the WAFL went into it death throws, v EP - it should of been a WAFL show piece instead just 19,000 people turned up.

from here on in it takes a precipedous dive, the level playing field is gone, the comp is just a doormat for the eagles and dockers, 5 years down the track when EP and Peel are dominating amd everyone has lost interest, your views might change.

Bazza wrote:

Leedy wrote: Being a WP supporter, I have to say that we get good value for money and have done since I joined in 93. I have been going to watch WP since dad took me as a young bloke from 81 onwards, we have only bottomed out on a couple of occasions since 93. I still love going, alignment or not, its the best non robotic footy going around !

you won a flag in what was basically the season the WAFL went into it death throws, v EP - it should of been a WAFL show piece instead just 19,000 people turned up.

from here on in it takes a precipedous dive, the level playing field is gone, the comp is just a doormat for the eagles and dockers, 5 years down the track when EP and Peel are dominating amd everyone has lost interest, your views might change.

Agreed Baz, the alignment may change things but I will still go until it has physically gone !

I personally wouldn't want to see any mergers or clubs disappear, but common sense tells me the the old state leagues have pinnacled. Its just us hanger-on'ers that keep it going - committees, members, supporters or even those who take to posting on sites like this if it be in WA or other states.

New thinking, and cash injections are needed, and I really can't see this happening with a handful of AFL clubs also struggling.

The AFL don't care really, they'll come in at the 13th hour when the WAFL has taken its last breaths, throw some money around and do it their way - AFLWA and forced mergers, name/zone changes or non admittance to make it a viable feeder?

It will be interesting to see how Swans get out of this one - they have before. If they don't, who is the next club to disappear? Once one falls that might invoke some big changes.

Maybe Swans should have taken WCE's money?

Re. Swans I dont think they were anything like 1.8 Million in debt previously, the interest repayments alone are massive, one benefit is the new host club handout of $150,000.00 a year, but of course all clubs will get that rcih and poor alike, salary caps have gone up again this year, so they will need to compete with the other clubs re that..

south are going down the slide very quickly dollar wise, once again management are banking on the cash handout of 150k to pull them out.

i understand all the other clubs made profits this year so that is quite amazing.

financial is one issue, on field viability is entirely another, virtually no body will for interested in a comp that is a foregone conclusion.

as you say mike the WAFL peak has come and gone a long time ago, the only way forward is a totally new structure and new viable comp.

Bazza wrote:

30plusyeardrought wrote: Once you start losing your supporters you wont pick them back up and the percentage of new supporters jumping on board would be close to nil.

In the case of Perth we may be financially ok but if we dont start playing finals (like in 2014) the support will continue to drop off in big numbers,we may have money in the bank and a new you beaut facility in a couple of years but what good is all that if you dont have the paying membership and bums on seats each week?
Can a club survive with just a couple of hundred die hards?

mate you have been saying the - "if we dont start playing finals soon" line for as long as I can remember.

and the answer is No - a club cant survive with 200 fiehard, they are dieing now with 1500 or so members ( mainly 50 yr old plus ).

you seem to be banking a lot on this lathlain redevelopment, sharing with an AFL club is not what it is cracked up to be - I can tell you that, people wont be at lathlain to see perth mate they will be there for the eagles, your club like south at freo will just be a sideshow.

I have been saying that and i dont go to anywhere near as many games as i used to and that will continue if we dont play finals and eventually i will stop going alltogether like a lot already have.

Mate i'm not relying on anything including the redevelopment.