TOPIC:

Senior Seagull wrote: This Boston report will be like a self fulfilling prophecy. They would have been given strict parameters and guidelines within which to create the report and those guidelines would have been structured to give the answers that the WAFC/AFL coalition want, therefore in their minds provide them with the so called "independent" advice they need to restructure (destroy) our historic competition.

I'm guessing the main recommendations will be:

- A separate elite colts comp based on the TAC.
- An 18 game home & away season (2 rounds of 9 with the inclusion of an Eagles reserves team after they dump East Perth).
- Move the WAFL league towards an u/25 comp with a max of 5 over age players per game.
- The reserves will be moved to an u/21 comp with max 5 over age players per week.
- The current colts will be left to those who don't make the elite comp and will be left to die on the vine.

Not a happy outlook for those who love and cherish our local game.
I wonder how the SANFL will look on this type of restructuring, I bet they are under similar pressure to change but they will put up a much bigger fight as their commission actually value their local comp.

If the above changes occur, what happens to state footy? cant have an u/age league competing against open age leagues like the VFL, SANFL, TFL & NEAFL.

All possible I guess mate , but the question we have to ask ourselves is..what is happening to state football now ? it's not like its been exactly booming since the advent of the expanded VFL.

Factor opinion wrote: Maybe Baz but maybe Mikeh and Beasley can tell us why their workmate talk about the WAFL but don't go. Is it the cost?

Where I work , I'm the only one the follows WAFL the talk around here is all AFL, the posters on the wall are AFL etc,and to be honest I think that is the state of play through most of WA and even if jokers talk about WAFL, - chances are they go along to Eagles or Dockers, pay for those memberships and commit time for those games, its hard to back it up forking out to follow two leagues plus the time commitment.

Factor opinion wrote: Maybe Baz but maybe Mikeh and Beasley can tell us why their workmate talk about the WAFL but don't go. Is it the cost?

Don't know for sure but I think its a combination of a few things. Firstly there are so many more options for entertainment on the weekend now compared with 30 years ago, More people work on weekends, you have a channel like fox footy which beams in non stop AFL all weekend the temptation is there to sit on your couch and watch, Cost may be a factor but I don't think it is a major one.

mikeh wrote:

Factor opinion wrote: Maybe Baz but maybe Mikeh and Beasley can tell us why their workmate talk about the WAFL but don't go. Is it the cost?

Don't know for sure but I think its a combination of a few things. Firstly there are so many more options for entertainment on the weekend now compared with 30 years ago, More people work on weekends, you have a channel like fox footy which beams in non stop AFL all weekend the temptation is there to sit on your couch and watch, Cost may be a factor but I don't think it is a major one.

Yeah all true, on the flipside there are a shiteload more people in perth than there was 30 yrs ago so we should be at least getting close if the product was in demand.

In 1981 there were 940K in Perth now there's 2 million.

problem is most people don't want the product.

Thanks MH and Baz. Interesting points.
Assuming that punters don't follow both FFC and WCE, they have every second week to see the WAFL and getting them to come every second week would be a start.
I think that the WAFL Clubs and the WAFC should be investing in finding out what's wrong with the WAFL "product" - that is what needs to happen to make WAFL matches more attractive to people.
Surely the WAFC (and the AFL) would be looking to getting as many people as possible to play, watch on TV and get to the grounds at every level of the game.

Factor opinion wrote: Thanks MH and Baz. Interesting points.
Assuming that punters don't follow both FFC and WCE, they have every second week to see the WAFL and getting them to come every second week would be a start.
I think that the WAFL Clubs and the WAFC should be investing in finding out what's wrong with the WAFL "product" - that is what needs to happen to make WAFL matches more attractive to people.
Surely the WAFC (and the AFL) would be looking to getting as many people as possible to play, watch on TV and get to the grounds at every level of the game.

Even conservatively a city of 2 million should produce 10-12,000 people a round minimum average I would of thought. We are not even getting half that.

There are a lot of factors why the wafl isn't a success and why crowds are down. But I believe one of the major factors is the modern generation actually don't follow a team or have any interest in the competition due to the lack of work done by that district/club in the area. If you asked the average person under 15 who they barrack for in the wafl I doubt they would have a team, hence why would they go watch it or ask dad to take them. Clearly the marketing by the AFL has affected this, but what do the wafl clubs actually do in their local area. My kids are in the Perth district and why would they support Perth I actually can't find a reason. I have commented on here before about the lack of work the wafl clubs do at their local clubs and until they change that there will be less and less interest in the wafl.

mikeh wrote:

Factor opinion wrote: Maybe Baz but maybe Mikeh and Beasley can tell us why their workmate talk about the WAFL but don't go. Is it the cost?

Don't know for sure but I think its a combination of a few things. Firstly there are so many more options for entertainment on the weekend now compared with 30 years ago, More people work on weekends, you have a channel like fox footy which beams in non stop AFL all weekend the temptation is there to sit on your couch and watch, Cost may be a factor but I don't think it is a major one.

Agreed mikeh. so much footy on tv its easy to get your footy fix. If you have Fox there isn't a day that passes without something AFL to tune in to...the AFL saturation has all got a bit boring for me to be honest. I've tuned outta of tv footy and am concentrating on WAFL footy where the stench of liniment still reaches the nostrils...way more satisfying but I know I'm part of a dying breed

Bazza wrote: Maybe it's time to consider free entry.

Would be a very good start. Why would a group of four friends go to a WAFL game when it costs them $60 just to go through the gates? Especially when they can spend that $60 on a BBQ and beers, stay home and watch three games on TV. Make it free entry and make your money off good value food and drink.

The WAFL is long overdue for a restructure, been living on past glories for far too long. If changes were made 10-20 years ago the WAFL wouldn't be at deaths door like it is now.

I laugh at the ridiculous prices that are being paid for AFL seats - then you have to pay for Victorian water & food unless you break their law & sneak it in past the security gorillas

There's that answer