We deserved more Sunday games

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Of the 10 Victorian based clubs, here's how we stand for home game crowd attendances between 2000-2008.

We are 5th overall. The clubs below us are St Kilda, Hawthorn, WBulldogs, Geelong, Nth Melb.

2000 4th

2001 4th

2002 6th

2003 7th

2004 5th

2005 3rd

2006 5th

2007 8th

2008 7th

Apart from our bad year in 2003, our attendances have not been too bad. You can see what has happened in the last 2 seasons with crap fixturing by the AFL.

Between crap fixturing and, IMO, our MCG deal, we are financially rooted.

It is interesting that Geelong have been squeezed by skilled stadium capacity, but make massive dollars out of those games.

While the fixturing and the MCG deals are difficult ones for MFC, you are gilding the lily to suggest our attendances are not too bad. We are presently financially rooted due to a number of issues including the matters you raise.

Geelong has indeed been squeezed by Kardinia Park and where they rank on the list above will alter the accuracy of the analysis.

What KP does is that it compels Geelong supporters to buy a membership and reserve a seat otherwise they may get a look in at a Cattery game. Its also tailor made for their corporate entertainment.

[Tigers Dayz 2]

While the fixturing and the MCG deals are difficult ones for MFC, you are gilding the lily to suggest our attendances are not too bad. We are presently financially rooted due to a number of issues including the matters you raise.

Geelong has indeed been squeezed by Kardinia Park and where they rank on the list above will alter the accuracy of the analysis.

What KP does is that it compels Geelong supporters to buy a membership and reserve a seat otherwise they may get a look in at a Cattery game. Its also tailor made for their corporate entertainment.

Fair to say, our attendances are getting worse now. We are currently 5th for home game attendances 2000-2008 inclusive, but heading down fast. 2007 and 2008 saw our attendance drop below St Kilda, Hawthorn and Geelong, IMO due to destructive fixturing by the AFL.

I don't believe we deserve this fixturing on the basis that we sit middle of the Victorian pack for home game attendances. Our home attendance average for this millenium is 32.8k compared to Carlton's 35.3k and they have only overtaken us during 2007-8.

IMO, it can't be home game crowd numbers which have the AFL creating an environment for our extinction.

While we still need to get 35,000+ members next year and put more bums on seats, a significant challenge given the destructive fixturing; the underlying problems are our historic inability to gain corporate support and our inability to get a fair stadium deal, along with no footy home etc. That inheritence lies directly at the feet of our previous boards.

While we know the new board are doing all they can to rectify the damage overseen by previous boards, it is now super important that the footy department get our boys competitive and winning almost immediately.

[deanox 9,898]

Fair to say, our attendances are getting worse now. We are currently 5th for home game attendances 2000-2008 inclusive, but heading down fast. 2007 and 2008 saw our attendance drop below St Kilda, Hawthorn and Geelong, IMO due to destructive fixturing by the AFL.

Are you serious?

We win 8 games out of 44 and you think that the poor crowd attendance is because of fixturing?

[mo64 5,853]

Are you serious?

We win 8 games out of 44 and you think that the poor crowd attendance is because of fixturing?

Exactly. Are attendances are reflective of our on-field performance, not when we play. It's not rocket science.

[Rogue 585]

Fair to say, our attendances are getting worse now. We are currently 5th for home game attendances 2000-2008 inclusive, but heading down fast. 2007 and 2008 saw our attendance drop below St Kilda, Hawthorn and Geelong, IMO due to destructive fixturing by the AFL.

Were the poor crowd figures of Hawthorn a few years ago (and St Kilda a little longer back) due to destructive fixturing by the AFL targetted at the Hawks and Saints back then?

[Tigers Dayz 2]

Are you serious?

We win 8 games out of 44 and you think that the poor crowd attendance is because of fixturing?

Yes, sunday games have had an adverse impact on attendance. That is why our members and supporters have asked for less sunday games.

However, I did not say it was the only reason.

Exactly. Are attendances are reflective of our on-field performance, not when we play. It's not rocket science.

It's not rocket science to ignore other reasons for falling crowds either. I suspect there's a combination of reasons, not only poor performance.

Were the poor crowd figures of Hawthorn a few years ago (and St Kilda a little longer back) due to destructive fixturing by the AFL targetted at the Hawks and Saints back then?

No they weren't. Their fixturing has never been adversely targeted like ours with regard to sunday and twilight games. I'm not saying that poor performance does not impact crowd numbers. The point of my post was that we should not be penalised by bad fixturing due to poor home attendances, which is a fallacy.

I'll reiterate; we are current positioned 5th of 10 Victorian teams for home attendance figures, 2000-2008 inclusive.