How many supporters do we have?

[Travis Boots 157]

I seem to recall a club census which was done years ago which suggested we were one of the least supported clubs. Possibly somewhere around 230-240000. From memory the Kangaroos weren't far behind or maybe slightly less.

I would imagine this has dropped since then. Its amazing the amount of people I've met who support us but have COMPLETELY lost interest to the point where they don't watch us or any footy at all.

I guess it stresses the importance of us entering a sustained period of "success" within the next 3-4 years to ensure we don't lose the next generation of supporters. If we dont, we run the risk of losing our club in the medium to long term.

[Trisul 664]

eleventy billion

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

7

[Travis Boots 157]

eleventy billion

Looks like we're alright then aye??

[biggestred 5,076]

Not enough

[DemonFrog 1,354]

I know of 2 in the Town I live in,

[pantaloons 2,019]

7

Are you owning up to having hundreds of demonland accounts?

[JTR 2,846]

I remember reading a few years back (possibly one of the Schwab-isms) that we had the highest supporter --> membership ratio in the competition.

Don't recall seeing any particular numbers to quantify that, but I though it was interesting.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Are you owning up to having hundreds of demonland accounts?

?

[praha 11,240]

We have a low support base but a high rate of support-to-attendance, meaning more of our support group attends matches than most other teams. Sydney for example has 1.5 million fans (all of Sydney) but only a small % would go to games.

This means a few things.

1. We probably have the fewest bandwagon fans in the AFL, which is understandable because the bandwagon is still parked at Junction Oval.

2. We have a very concentrated support base in Melbourne.

3. Our fans are true fans.

The End. (?)

Edited October 17, 2014 by praha

[Fork 'em 6,983]

I remember reading a few years back (possibly one of the Schwab-isms) that we had the highest supporter --> membership ratio in the competition.

Don't recall seeing any particular numbers to quantify that, but I though it was interesting.

I remember this aswell.

I believe the supporter base was riding a wave of optimism at the time.

Reakon the figures would be different now.

[thevil1 421]

The something ridiculous like 24% of MCC members who support us hurts us greatly in terms $. That's been slightly corrected the last few years......

Premierships = babies, we need to start winning so supporters start procreating!! Lol

[3Dee 1,153]

+1 here

[jazza 1,323]

41,637

Normally 41,638 but OD is getting shock treatment in Mexico and we are not sure if he will survive.

[Guest]

The disturbing trend I witnessed at games this year was of the increasing number of parents who turned up decked out in Demons clobber but had bought along their kids who were adorned in either Hawthorn, Collingwood or Carlton colors.
Kids aren't stupid. They will do what Mum and Dad tell them for a while but if it doesn't make sense after a while, they will drop off. We have lost a generation of support with the last 8 years.

[Chook 15,012]

Seven billion, plus or minus 6,800,800,000 supporters.

[Nasher 33,613]

Seven billion, plus or minus 6,800,800,000 supporters.

So, over 13 billion? Sweet!

[BIG JIM 508]

I know around 20 who are not members that have just lost interest. They think I'm crazy as I still go every week. Melbourne start winning and you will see the big turn around. When you go to the queens birthday games that is our true support base. That's one game all demons go every year. We must start winning games. Last year when Nathan jones got that goal in the opening 25 seconds the roar of the MCG was what this club could be

[gsmith12 491]

We have a hell of a lot of interstate supporters who are not necessarily members as witnessed by the post game turn outs when we have done well in games at the Gabba,

Once we begin to win consistently you will see a surprising lift in support as was shown in the late eighties after a lengthy period in the wilderness.

[leucopogon 1,519]

I'm in WA but still was surprised that on "show your footy colours day" at the local primary school, my son was the only one in the enitre school in a Demons jumper.

[dee-luded 2,959]

The disturbing trend I witnessed at games this year was of the increasing number of parents who turned up decked out in Demons clobber but had bought along their kids who were adorned in either Hawthorn, Collingwood or Carlton colors.

Kids aren't stupid. They will do what Mum and Dad tell them for a while but if it doesn't make sense after a while, they will drop off. We have lost a generation of support with the last 8 years.

This I fear has been the trend largely for the last 30+ years.

Thru the 70's supporters hung unhappily. The early 80's brought hope thru change, but was 5 yrs in the building with a drop down early in the 5YR plan.

The back half of the 80's was the most exciting time, still with our most loved players.

I think it started to become a circus of sorts thru the 90's with talent plenty but not the ??? elite Pro ways?

after the mid/late 90's, IMO we started to get softer, less physical until it really dropped off after the turn of the century, we became choir boys. bruise free. still winning on talent alone without any mongrel.

we always seem to only ever get some of the contents of the recipe, at any one time.

[gsmith12 491]

I'm in WA but still was surprised that on "show your footy colours day" at the local primary school, my son was the only one in the enitre school in a Demons jumper.

The lad should be proud mate.

[titan_uranus 25,008]

My view is we have a terrible conversion rate between those who are Melbourne supporters and those who actually care about the club/go to games/etc.

For example, I think North Melbourne and the Dogs have much higher conversion rates but their total numbers would be smaller than ours. If we can convert more of our supporters into fans (i.e. by winning more), then I think we'll see bigger crowds and more members, up around the figures for Geelong/Carlton.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

I'm in WA but still was surprised that on "show your footy colours day" at the local primary school, my son was the only one in the enitre school in a Demons jumper.

Mine made the local paper for doing the same.

[Sir Why You Little 37,033]

My view is we have a terrible conversion rate between those who are Melbourne supporters and those who actually care about the club/go to games/etc.

For example, I think North Melbourne and the Dogs have much higher conversion rates but their total numbers would be smaller than ours. If we can convert more of our supporters into fans (i.e. by winning more), then I think we'll see bigger crowds and more members, up around the figures for Geelong/Carlton.

I agree totally with this.

We have truckloads of dormant supporters. Losing Jimmy was a trgedy for the unity of all supporters as much as losing the beautiful man himself.

But we simply must start winning. 5 year plans are not an option at this stage.