TOPIC:

2003 was a long time ago, 11 years in WAFL years is a long haul. The hysteria and negativity over the alignment has killed consumer sentiment, probably irreparable damage. Whatever happens going forward some fans will never return.

Goodie wrote: The wafl is on its last legs. We've said that before and it has still stumbled along and I suppose it will continue to do so but perception is everything to the casual fan and the perception is that it is all but dead. Even at Bassendean on the few times I made it down this year it just seemed to me like it is all really struggling. I never thought it would happen to me but I have lost alot of interest.

I'm not sure what the answer is anymore. It may need a complete overhaul. If the sponsorship could be cobbled together it could be that a second-tier Austraia wide competition would have merit. Maybe 4 teams from WA, 4 from SA, and 6 from Vic/rest of Australia could be a solution of sorts. Mergers between clubs like swans/perth, Claremont/subi, etc. would need to occur but this would be fought to the bitter end by the clubs. The demographic is just so old and entrenched. I would never have supported a merger for my club but I increasingly believe it would be the best option. It is one thing to survive for the sake of it but another thing to actually have a strong future.

I think ultimately the wafl may have change forced upon it. I don't think the average wafl fan/club appreciates just how weak their position is. The clubs are all pretty much broke and when your broke you have no power.

Goodie please don't think that I am shooting the messenger with the comments below.

Any merger, which is really a misnomer as it actually means the death of the two WAFL clubs, would mean that I would walk away from footy. I would not be alone in walking away. I support, and will continue to support, Swan Districts Football Club until I die or Swans die. Any merged entity would not be Swans and therefore, I would not support that entity. What the WAFL clubs need is the financial support from the WAFC. I read a proposal which suggested that a certain number of seats for the AFL games to be played at the new stadium be allocated to each of the WAFL clubs. If this was done it would certainly help with revenues for the WAFL clubs. In addition the host club alignment needs to be scrapped. The host club alignment has been the third most important factor in the degradation of the WAFL and diminished support for the WAFL. Obviously the introduction of the two WA domiciled AFL teams being the two most important factors.

If clubs were more financially secure they could then put more resources into helping junior footy clubs within their zone and provide greater exposure to the next generation of WAFL supporters.

Fundamentally, it is up to the WAFC to change their attitude from one of indifference and ambivalence and in some cases direct opposition to the WAFL to one of great support to ensure the WAFL competition not only continues to exists but is stengthened.

I do not accept that the WAFL competition has to die and is not beyond reersing the current trend. It will take commitment from the WAFC, the WA domiciled AFL clubs for this to happen; not lip service, at best, which is what we get at the moment.

2 things f&cked this competition those being the EPFC & PTFC.

42...three things...hit, nail, head. one of your better posts and couldn't agree more. the WAFC needs to pull its head out of its ar$e and realise it's killing this comp not be declining standards on the field but by pushing away the WAFL's most important asset, the supporters.

It was the wettest September day in 25 years ,35 mil of rain , and so more than likely the wettest Grand Final day ever so I don't thing you can compare previous wet GF days to this one as it was far wetter and no doubt it kept people away in droves.

didnt the Eagles and Dockers say it was going to boost attendances in the WAFL by having the alignmnents in place ?

so many passionate views here, that is healthy.

unfortunately as we speak, the boardroom at the WAFC is empty. None of them have a clue or think anything needs fixing.

its not good people. They do not care, or rate any of us.

sbelly wrote: It was the wettest September day in 25 years ,35 mil of rain , and so more than likely the wettest Grand Final day ever so I don't thing you can compare previous wet GF days to this one as it was far wetter and no doubt it kept people away in droves.

sbelly they had taped off the upper tier of the stands to create some atmosphere. That was the excuse given to me from one of the security people.

From the BOM site for Perth (the last figure is the cumulative rainfall from 9.00 am on the 21st):

21/05:00pm 14.4 13.7 13.1 92 0.7 N 9 17 5 9 1008.2 1008.2 14.8
21/04:30pm 14.5 13.0 13.0 91 0.8 N 13 22 7 12 1008.6 1008.6 14.6
21/04:00pm 14.3 13.2 13.0 92 0.7 N 11 20 6 11 1008.5 1008.5 14.6
21/03:30pm 14.7 14.2 13.7 94 0.6 N 9 13 5 7 1007.8 1007.8 14.6
21/03:00pm 14.4 14.7 13.4 94 0.6 NNW 4 7 2 4 1008.0 1008.0 14.6
21/02:30pm 14.2 14.1 13.2 94 0.6 N 6 9 3 5 1008.5 1008.5 14.0
21/02:00pm 14.5 15.3 13.7 95 0.4 WNW 2 7 1 4 1007.7 1007.7 13.8
21/01:30pm 14.0 13.6 13.1 94 0.5 W 7 13 4 7 1007.9 1007.9 13.0
21/01:00pm 14.2 13.1 13.2 94 0.6 WSW 11 26 6 14 1007.7 1007.7 11.2

So from 9.00 am on Sunday morning to 5.00 pm Sunday night there was 14.8 mm of rain.

Swan42 - classic mate, your new nickname is Sam Krojna. lol

BC wrote: 42...three things...hit, nail, head. one of your better posts and couldn't agree more. the WAFC needs to pull its head out of its ar$e and realise it's killing this comp not be declining standards on the field but by pushing away the WAFL's most important asset, the supporters.

Goodie and I are on the same page with this one, and perhaps a few others, Mate the fans are not coming back, I hate to break this to you but it is just not going to happen now.

The WAFC have been running half time adds at WCE and FFC game day on the big screens for years and years, they have paid for adds in the sports pages of the west, they pay for segments on commercial radio, heck they even Pay the ABC to broadcast the bloody games, every other place the Broadcaster pays to sport for the right to cover the game.

If they pumped another 1 million dollars a year into adds, ( not that they would do that ) maybe you would get a mini bump in attendances , that would soon fade when the hype wears off.

I clearly remember in 1985 after the leage realised they were looking at declining attendances, the went into an overdrive add marketing campaign, called Scream for Your Team, they pumped out heaps of adds, it cost a mint and resulted in a slight increase, the next year guess what the attendances feel again.

There is no future in looking back, at my age, I know I am like 90% of people left in WAFL supporter base and that is well past my prime, the fact is the future is not about keeping us or atracting old farts like us back who revel in the glory days of the 70's and early 80's. Its about attracting newer young people who can relate to present and future.