How about when the players go to schools in the Casey area they give away FREE memberships to the kids.

Halleluja - now we're talkig. There's nothing a kid would cherish more than to have their own membership ticket to a footy club. With the ticket comes a scarf, flag etc. They then have a footy team to talk about.

If their parents aren't aligned to any club, the kids will be hooked for life.

Trent Croad apparently spoke to a group of 10 year olds for a friend's daughter's 'show and tell 'at school , and there are now 30 or so new converts to Hawthorn .

It's not impossible to influence impressionable minds

Exactly.

Send some of our better looking players to do workshops at schools with year 9/10/11 girls, and believe me they'll start taking interest in football.

It sounds silly, but there are so many teenagers and kids out there who don't support a team, and all they need is something to spark an interest or create a connection.

Exactly.

Send some of our better looking players to do workshops at schools with year 9/10/11 girls, and believe me they'll start taking interest in football.

It sounds silly, but there are so many teenagers and kids out there who don't support a team, and all they need is something to spark an interest or create a connection.

It's true.

I was at the Canberra game, sitting near the bench. There was a little row of early-20-something girls in front of me. At one stage they actually made starled noises of pleasure when Brad Miller jogged past.

Embarassing for all involved, but they'll remember him.

It's true.

I was at the Canberra game, sitting near the bench. There was a little row of early-20-something girls in front of me. At one stage they actually made starled noises of pleasure when Brad Miller jogged past.

Embarassing for all involved, but they'll remember him.

i've met people that only go to the football when jarad rivers is playing

they should sit with you jaded

My parents only got involved in football when my brother and i started dragging them along, you get the kids hooked and the parents follow simply because if the kids want to go then they have to be accompanied by a parent. I like the idea of the free kids membership with a hat or flag, never underestimate how much excitement kids get out of free stuff!

The key is we have to make the MFC feel apart of the community, we've never had that and it's hurt us bad.

I like the idea of the free kids membership

...and if they're young the parent will need to pay / buy a membership to come along :D

i've met people that only go to the football when jarad rivers is playing

they should sit with you jaded

By sitting with me will they start coming when Brock is playing too? :D

Why can't our fans have only come when Jim Stynes was playing, or Adem Yze, or now Brad Green

RE picking up new support in the casey area. realistically if we are there for 5 years, the increase in support in that area will be very limited. if we are there for 30 years, going to schools, local footy clubs etc we will be able to forge strong links with the area. you need to work on 2-3 generations so that the impact is felt over a large cross section, then you will see the increase in support. turning up to a school once, might persuade a mind for a few weeks, or even a year, but not for long term.

once we get those people interested, and get their short term support, it will be repeat visits and clinics etc that strengthen that bond.

fwiw when i was young (6-10) footy players would come to schools or footy clinics etc, and most of the time i would be dissapointed that none of the players were mfc players (only ever 2-3 players at a time). but that didnt make me want to change to the other teams.