TOPIC:

Beasley Hutton wrote: I reckon since Subi moved to Leederville their numbers have definately increased for sure ..maybe the bar set up you have has helped being able to watch the footy while close to the bar im not sure but its all good for the WAFL if tou ask me.

Yeah, you're right. the move to Leederville has helped a lot.

It's a nice feeling to look at the numbers through the gates and know we aren't the fifth wheel anymore.

Not that we don't need to do more. We do. We still have a way to go to catch Swans, West Perth, south and East Perth.

Yes BH, that is something rather puzzling I've always thought?
Why is it these buffoons talked down the Wafl. It should have been supported. That radio station 'where apparently you don't miss a thing' obviously is ignoring the Wafl. And have done for many years, probably because their not making money from it? That's half the problem, the so called experts can say whatever they like over the air and many people believe what they hear.
Since about the season of twenty o five, I've been led to believe the crowd numbers have been increasing. It will be intersting to see the attendance figures for each week this coming season.

Beasley Hutton wrote: More good info guys
It's amazing really if you start believing buffoons such as Hagdorn, Vlahos et al who constantly talk down the WAFL & spruik how much we needed to embrace having this host club crap on our comp as attendances have been falling for years when if those clowns actually did their due diligence & checked the actual facts crowds have been going up since the disaster of the last host club shambles from 99-02!

Chopper wrote: I think the attendances will be well down this year and will be in a steady decline from here on in unless we can attract the younger crowd to the games - How we do this is the 1 million dollar question ???

Yep, this is the huge problem for WAFL, in the main the 10,000 - 20,000 people in WA who are corner stone of WAFL supporters are those who were around in the pre AFL era when WAFL was the number one comp in the state, they relate to WAFL still on those memories.

They are the ageing "glory day supporters" , the youngest of these fans are now in their 40's the oldest 80 and 90's.

There has been virtually no growth in the supporter base in the post AFL period, only supporter loss. There would be only a tiny number of WAFL fans who have come to the comp since the advent of the AFL.

Sometimes you see people take their kids along for junior zone days with free entry to a WAFL game, but they rarely come back again, and go straight back to their heros at the eagles or dockers.

One of the most tragic blows this year is the death of the Foundation Day Derby, this was the WAFL last stand and will have a drastic impact on attendances at the fixtures fades into the past.

Plenty of lads in their 20-30's in the Pen every week.

Not all doom and gloom.

I think people are getting a little tired of this extended vfl we have in place of the afl.

Time For a Flag wrote: Plenty of lads in their 20-30's in the Pen every week.

Not all doom and gloom.

I think people are getting a little tired of this extended vfl we have in place of the afl.

I doubt it Mate, when you say plenty you probably mean about 10.

Bazza wrote:

Chopper wrote: I think the attendances will be well down this year and will be in a steady decline from here on in unless we can attract the younger crowd to the games - How we do this is the 1 million dollar question ???

Yep, this is the huge problem for WAFL, in the main the 10,000 - 20,000 people in WA who are corner stone of WAFL supporters are those who were around in the pre AFL era when WAFL was the number one comp in the state, they relate to WAFL still on those memories.

They are the ageing "glory day supporters" , the youngest of these fans are now in their 40's the oldest 80 and 90's.

There has been virtually no growth in the supporter base in the post AFL period, only supporter loss. There would be only a tiny number of WAFL fans who have come to the comp since the advent of the AFL.

Sometimes you see people take their kids along for junior zone days with free entry to a WAFL game, but they rarely come back again, and go straight back to their heros at the eagles or dockers.

One of the most tragic blows this year is the death of the Foundation Day Derby, this was the WAFL last stand and will have a drastic impact on attendances at the fixtures fades into the past.

I hear what you are saying Baz but just to let you know some of us WAFL fanatics are actually in our 30's mate!!

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Bazza wrote:

Chopper wrote: I think the attendances will be well down this year and will be in a steady decline from here on in unless we can attract the younger crowd to the games - How we do this is the 1 million dollar question ???

Yep, this is the huge problem for WAFL, in the main the 10,000 - 20,000 people in WA who are corner stone of WAFL supporters are those who were around in the pre AFL era when WAFL was the number one comp in the state, they relate to WAFL still on those memories.

They are the ageing "glory day supporters" , the youngest of these fans are now in their 40's the oldest 80 and 90's.

There has been virtually no growth in the supporter base in the post AFL period, only supporter loss. There would be only a tiny number of WAFL fans who have come to the comp since the advent of the AFL.

Sometimes you see people take their kids along for junior zone days with free entry to a WAFL game, but they rarely come back again, and go straight back to their heros at the eagles or dockers.

One of the most tragic blows this year is the death of the Foundation Day Derby, this was the WAFL last stand and will have a drastic impact on attendances at the fixtures fades into the past.

I hear what you are saying Baz but just to let you know some of us WAFL fanatics are actually in our 30's mate!!

Problem is theres about 100 or so of you all up, you also make up a tiny percentage of members at actual WAFL clubs, if you look at club stats about 90% of members are 40 or over.

if you go to an AFL match have a look at the youthfullness of the crowd. Theres about 15,000 - 20,000 each weekend at local games of under 40's.

Walk into any WAFL members bar on match day and check out the age/demographic...its pretty obvious.

Chopper wrote: I think the attendances will be well down this year and will be in a steady decline from here on in unless we can attract the younger crowd to the games - How we do this is the 1 million dollar question ???

Getting younger crowds to the game is the only hope for the future of the WAFL.

I tell you one thing that has astounded me over the past few years as a missed opportunity. I live in the Subi district and when WAFL players come to my kids school to conduct footy clinics (and this happens every year) who do they send? - not league players but colts players. Colts players who invariably lack the social skills or interest in my observation to engage the kids and get them interested in the WAFL.

This is a missed opportunity to get kids interested in going to see the guys who are doing the training actually playing, to recognise their names and to start to cultivate some interest in the competition.

I know, I know most WAFL players work FT, it's all too hard, dog ate my homework blah blah blah. Seriously would it be that difficult to get a couple of players that kids may recognise to turn up once a year.

Our local footy club had an unfortunate experience a couple of seasons back having colts players come down and swear and blabber on about getting on the piss in front of the kids. Raising the standards on engagement between local and WAFL club surely can't be that difficult to get right?

I've been walking into club bars for 35 years and the age group inside has always been 40+.

As has been pointed out on this thread already attendances have gone up since 1995.

It's going to have to be repeated over and over again until it get's through.

It's a shame you've thrown in the towel Bazza. Come up with a few ideas mate.

Bazza wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Bazza wrote:

Chopper wrote: I think the attendances will be well down this year and will be in a steady decline from here on in unless we can attract the younger crowd to the games - How we do this is the 1 million dollar question ???

Yep, this is the huge problem for WAFL, in the main the 10,000 - 20,000 people in WA who are corner stone of WAFL supporters are those who were around in the pre AFL era when WAFL was the number one comp in the state, they relate to WAFL still on those memories.

They are the ageing "glory day supporters" , the youngest of these fans are now in their 40's the oldest 80 and 90's.

There has been virtually no growth in the supporter base in the post AFL period, only supporter loss. There would be only a tiny number of WAFL fans who have come to the comp since the advent of the AFL.

Sometimes you see people take their kids along for junior zone days with free entry to a WAFL game, but they rarely come back again, and go straight back to their heros at the eagles or dockers.

One of the most tragic blows this year is the death of the Foundation Day Derby, this was the WAFL last stand and will have a drastic impact on attendances at the fixtures fades into the past.

I hear what you are saying Baz but just to let you know some of us WAFL fanatics are actually in our 30's mate!!

Problem is theres about 100 or so of you all up, you also make up a tiny percentage of members at actual WAFL clubs, if you look at club stats about 90% of members are 40 or over.

if you go to an AFL match have a look at the youthfullness of the crowd. Theres about 15,000 - 20,000 each weekend at local games of under 40's.

Walk into any WAFL members bar on match day and check out the age/demographic...its pretty obvious.

Cant speak on behalf of Sowfs Baz but there are always a fair few kids at Swans home games!