Looks like memberships are growing at about 400 a week at the moment. At that rate they will be lucky to get to 30,000 by round 1.

I don't think it's a good marketing ploy to set benchmarks that are unlikely to be reached. Ie the 35,000 by round 1 or 40,000 for the season. It just sets you up to fail.

Hopefully the first few NAB games will give it a lift but Freo in Freo with a lot of their veterans in isn't likely to be a pretty site.

Edited March 3, 201510 yr by It's Time

27,298

The insipid end to last season was a real killer. Must have cost us at least 5000 members at the current moment.

It's very simple

The members / supporters have been dished up so much crap on and off the field the last eight or nine years that they have lost all trust in the club. Obviously us die hards will always buy our memberships but the more casual supporter will only buy back in when we're winning games of football.

When we start winning games people will jump back on.

It's very simple

The members / supporters have been dished up so much crap on and off the field the last eight or nine years that they have lost all trust in the club. Obviously us die hards will always buy our memberships but the more casual supporter will only buy back in when we're winning games of football.

When we start winning games people will jump back on.

I fear this will be another development year with a small steady improvement. So maybe not much membership improvement this year. I'm predicting a major improvement next year with solid improvement this year plus a couple of recruiting coups next year. Jeremy Cameron anyone.

It's very simple

The members / supporters have been dished up so much crap on and off the field the last eight or nine years that they have lost all trust in the club. Obviously us die hards will always buy our memberships but the more casual supporter will only buy back in when we're winning games of football.

When we start winning games people will jump back on.

There are also die hards who have refused to sign up on the back of a 4 win season, for some that is acceptable, but for others it is not.

Edited March 3, 201510 yr by Henrietta Lumbago

it's a very simple algorithm really:

consistent competitiveness + winning games= members

There are also die hards who have refused to sign up on the back of a 4 win season, for some that is acceptable, but for others it is not.

You think that I find it acceptable to only win 4 games based on the fact that I support the club financially?

I don't find it 'acceptable,' I don't even find your dismissiveness of the 30k people who keep this club going through the toughest times 'acceptable.'

You want to wait to sign up?

Fine.

But don't patronise those that 'save you a seat' by hanging around to pay to see all the recent nonsense.

There are also die hards who have refused to sign up on the back of a 4 win season, for some that is acceptable, but for others it is not.

Nonsense that four wins is acceptable for any of us.

Don't try to make yourself noble by refusing to cop it.

What is not acceptable for me is being a fair weather (read soft $&*@) supporter.

Backing the club is the one non-negotiable we have.

When it's a players turn to go we expect him to go. For the likes of us that means dipping our hand in our pocket whenever we have the capacity to do so.

Consider yourself called out.

There are also die hards who have refused to sign up on the back of a 4 win season, for some that is acceptable, but for others it is not.

4 wins is never acceptable to anyone whether one has paid up or not.

Those that have paid up just care that bit extra.

There are also die hards who have refused to sign up on the back of a 4 win season, for some that is acceptable, but for others it is not.

If you can't stick with the club through the bad times, then as far as I'm concerned, you don't deserve to enjoy the good times when they eventually come. If every financial member withdrew their support when things go bad, there would be no good times ahead as there would no longer be a club for you to follow.

Diehards and malcontents have little influence on numbers. A matter of a few more or less year by year. It's all about attracting new supporters and getting a commitment from casual supporters to buy in. At this stage it all depends on the how the players respond on the field.

Edited March 4, 201510 yr by america de cali

That sux, you'll have to keep reminding your tiger supporting son about their loss

Hopefully the team continues on the up and up, will make my job a hell of a lot easier!

Every time he visits I put the replay on. Gives him the sh1ts. Also the last 10 min of the Essendon game for my EFC supporting friends.

I seem to have less visitors these days.

Edited March 4, 201510 yr by ManDee

If you can't stick with the club through the bad times, then as far as I'm concerned, you don't deserve to enjoy the good times when they eventually come. If every financial member withdrew their support when things go bad, there would be no good times ahead as there would no longer be a club for you to follow.

Exactly.

When we make the GF I hope all those fair weather supporters willingly give up their seat for us 35k supporters who have stayed true. Will never happen, but it'd be only fair.

It's very simple

The members / supporters have been dished up so much crap on and off the field the last eight or nine years that they have lost all trust in the club. Obviously us die hards will always buy our memberships but the more casual supporter will only buy back in when we're winning games of football.

When we start winning games people will jump back on.

You think that I find it acceptable to only win 4 games based on the fact that I support the club financially?

I don't find it 'acceptable,' I don't even find your dismissiveness of the 30k people who keep this club going through the toughest times 'acceptable.'

You want to wait to sign up?

Fine.

But don't patronise those that 'save you a seat' by hanging around to pay to see all the recent nonsense.

I was simply saying that there are also die hards supporters who haven't signed up yet, just because they haven't bought or renewed their memberships doesn't make the "casual"

If you can't stick with the club through the bad times, then as far as I'm concerned, you don't deserve to enjoy the good times when they eventually come. If every financial member withdrew their support when things go bad, there would be no good times ahead as there would no longer be a club for you to follow.

Do you mean sticking with the club financially? Or just because I haven't renewed my membership I don't deserve to enjoy the good times...? Ifour wins is all the boys can dish up, then other things get priority.

Yeh. It's that simple. Even coming from a die hard supporter.

Do you mean sticking with the club financially? Or just because I haven't renewed my membership I don't deserve to enjoy the good times...? Ifour wins is all the boys can dish up, then other things get priority.

Yeh. It's that simple. Even coming from a die hard supporter.

Indeed I do... I wouldn't call you a die hard supporter... barracker maybe, but supporter, definitely not.

Does anyone know if the AFL does anything to promote club memberships for all clubs?

I saw an ad on TV for the NRL actually promoting club membership for every team.

Surely it would be in the AFLs best interest to encourage and more club membership as the more members a club has, the more revenue they raise and in turn the less the AFL would have to fund clubs.

27619 on 4 March

Indeed I do... I wouldn't call you a die hard supporter... barracker maybe, but supporter, definitely not.

Just because people don't support the club financially definitely does not rule them out from being a die hard supporter, that's laughable.

It's very simple

The members / supporters have been dished up so much crap on and off the field the last eight or nine years that they have lost all trust in the club. Obviously us die hards will always buy our memberships but the more casual supporter will only buy back in when we're winning games of football.

When we start winning games people will jump back on.

You think that I find it acceptable to only win 4 games based on the fact that I support the club financially?

I don't find it 'acceptable,' I don't even find your dismissiveness of the 30k people who keep this club going through the toughest times 'acceptable.'

You want to wait to sign up?

Fine.

But don't patronise those that 'save you a seat' by hanging around to pay to see all the recent nonsense.

I Was simply stating that there are also people who haven't signed up for memberships, who are die hard supporters. Just because they don't buy a membership does not mean they are casual supporters! After a 4 win season you can't blame those die hard supporters for prioritising other things in their life.

So settle down RPFC !

I Was simply stating that there are also people who haven't signed up for memberships, who are die hard supporters. Just because they don't buy a membership does not mean they are casual supporters! After a 4 win season you can't blame those die hard supporters for prioritising other things in their life.

So settle down RPFC !

You should make your point more elegantly - and I understand completely the last eight years have seen a great deal of support leave the club. But, as hardtack alludes, those that are no longer members of the club have to look long and hard at the definition of the word 'support' and whether it applies to them.

My support isn't the reward for winning - winning is the reward for my support.

Thankfully about 30k people think like that and the club still stands.

Just reading about the issues with Carlton's membership department and it got me thinking how good our membership guys have been every single time I've rung them over the years. Never had to hold for more than a few minutes, always able to resolve my issues/queries while I was on the phone or very shortly after, always quick to call me back and importantly always knew what they were talking about etc etc

Just wanted to put this here so anyone reading who works or volunteers there can get the feedback and kudos they deserve.

28, 157

Just reading about the issues with Carlton's membership department and it got me thinking how good our membership guys have been every single time I've rung them over the years. Never had to hold for more than a few minutes, always able to resolve my issues/queries while I was on the phone or very shortly after, always quick to call me back and importantly always knew what they were talking about etc etc

Just wanted to put this here so anyone reading who works or volunteers there can get the feedback and kudos they deserve.

I had the same good experience with our team.

An aside on CFC membership and their difficulty getting the numbers. There were some very strong rumours 2-3 years ago that Visy enlisted thousands of its employees as 3-game members and paid the membership fee for them. It seemed to be about getting their numbers to around 50,000 because at that level they could argue to the AFL that Etihad was too small for them and they had to have more home games at the MCG. They now have the extra MCG home games (I might add, against the powerhouse clubs so they get massive gate revenue) so those Visy 'supported' members have dropped off and won't be back. At the same time we get crappy time slots against interstate clubs for our home games!! Crap gate revenue! Go figure!

Now they have asked the AFL for a 'small' advance to cover membership shortfalls!!! Sure helps to have one of your own as the head of the AFL Commission. Competition will never be equal.