Low Attendance

[DeeZee 7,463]

I hope Caro goes as hard at Richmond about their abysmal crowd numbers as she did at Melbourne.

Lets see how vitriolic she is about the Tiges 

[old dee 24,028]

33 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Surely after 2 years of being stuck at home people are itching to get off the couch!

Figures overall suggest not Dr. I cannot see how having more Thursday and god helps us Wednesday night games does anything other than keep people at home. Last nights tigers numbers says it all. I spoke to fanatical tigers friends  yesterday who said they were not going. Too cold and too hard to get home etc. 

Edited June 9, 2022 by old dee

[whatwhat say what 23,627]

18 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

I hope Caro goes as hard at Richmond about their abysmal crowd numbers as she did at Melbourne.

Lets see how vitriolic she is about the Tiges 

guaranteed she won't

[george_on_the_outer 7,855]

6 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

guaranteed she won't

Yeah.....she'll save it up for the North v GWS game. 

[Spirit of '87 344]

47 minutes ago, Dee Dee said:

Thanks for that info Spirit!

I’ve got my seat booked for Mondays game and shall attend much to the annoyance of my wife. As I’m a member of the over 60’s demographic the thought of getting Covid is never far from my thoughts. However I’ll wear a mask and stay clear of all bars. (And I’ll yell and scream from behind my mask in a gentlemanly MCC way)!

If it’s any consolation DD, I too am in the over 60s bracket, just, but thankfully my symptoms were mild and I’ve had common colds that were worse! 
But I still appreciate the risks and that it seems to have varying effects from one person to the next, so good for you to be somewhat cautious while still attending. 
Monday will be my last day of isolation, so I won’t be going, so please do some of that gentlemanly MCC barracking on my behalf as well! 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,071]

I think it's worth adding that the difficulty with Thursday nights is not just about getting home afterwards. It's also about being able to get there on a workday. I know people might say it's the same on Friday but I disagree. On Fridays many people manage their work to be able to finish earlier (if they can) because it's the weekend. That's much harder to do on a Thursday because there is still a workday to follow.

What really annoys me, though, is that the AFL clearly schedules Thursday night games to satisfy Channel 7. The AFL is being dictated to be a company that has its own short-term interest at heart. And I believe in doing so, Channel 7 is damaging the long-term future for the game.

It's the AFL Commission's job to stand up to Channel 7 for the long-term good of the competition and it is miserably failing to do so.

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

Well that absolute ****house attendance last night puts all the over the top coverage/criticism about our low attendances to bed..... close thread

[Katrina Dee Fan 4,025]

3 hours ago, 58er said:

You conveniently forget we have

(1)JUST WON a 57 year drought braking premiership 

(2) had a 10-0 winning opening run including near record 17 winning streak!!

(3) we have about 10,000 more  members and no real increase to show.

(4) Some of the excuses are seriously pathetic about non attendance .

(5) Hawthorn is no measuring Stick and it rained last Sunday! 

(6) we are about same as Essendon who have most games at Marvel a lower drawing ground usually and who are having nearly worst year yet! 

(7) I always are amused when this post is critical of our crowds you get individual posters immediately trying to defend themselves in various comical and often labouring ways. They are feeling so guilty IMO and have forgotten about how they didn't have a choice for nearly 2 years to go!!! So how much does it mean to them really ?? 

(8)Is life meant to  be a self imposed lockdown because it's not the weekend? 

(9) The players as Trac said need supporters to create  atmosphere and as a reward for excellence in performance deserve our support. 

(10) Get over it Sat 2pm start was back in the VFL and is not our lifestyle necessarily any more. 

I am over the piffling excuses just GO to the games and enjoy !

Our home crowds should not be below 30,000 and for Other Vic Club matchups games not below 40,000, snd blockbusters 50,000 To 70,000. 

Don't worry about other Clubs they didn't win the flag last year ! 

We are 10,000 missing fans from each home game at least. 

in 2018 we played Swans and drew 52,000 to a 3.20  game on a Sunday. 

Looking  forward to excuses and reactions !! 

 

Our crowds have increased, actually.  But never mind facts getting in the way of your gripe.  Are you really a Melbourne supporter or someone who just wants to pick [censored] regardless of the facts?  Melbourne are averaging around 36,000 per game this year, putting us 5th on the tally of attendance, and is certainly an increase in attendance from previous recent years.  The four clubs above us on the tally have significantly more members than Melbourne.  If you were to look at attendance per membership, Melbourne is actually on top.  

 

By the way I have been to all games this year bar two, the Port Adelaide game in Adelaide and the West Coast Eagles game in Perth.  So don't assume anything about whether I'm going to the games or not.  

 

But while we're at it, let's address some of your points:

a) And?  Our attendance is increased, as has our membership.

b) Again, pro rata to our membership, supporters have increased.

c) That's crap, our attendance has increased.

d) How are they different to any other clubs for their non-attendance?  Attendance is low across the whole board.

e) How is rain not a pathetic excuse for Hawthorn/Collingwood if you say it's pathetic for Melbourne?  It rained on Saturday night, and it was 4 degrees. Double standards much?

f) Essendon have about 30,000 more members than Melbourne.  Strange argument.

g) Huh?  I've been at all the Melbourne based games, and the Gold Coast game where we outnumbered GCS supporters.  What am I supposed to be defending myself against?

h) WTF are you on about???

i) We are there to support.  You're clearly not, you're picking [censored] at other supporters.

j) That's been the case for 30 years, what's your point?  Where have I ever used that as an "excuse"?

Perhaps get off your high horse and stop being a [censored].

[SPC 3,576]

Going to the footy is not what it used to be. I used to love the traditional timeslots, night games are challenging with young families, particularly those who live regional, like me.

The guest passes in AFL members are difficult to purchase and are expensive. You line up for ages to get food, drinks and toilets and this is with low attendance. The Anzac Eve made me glad we are not a club the plays in front of capacity crowds. 
Watching from home is far easier, but I go to be part of it more out of obligation rather than pleasure these days. 

[Garbo 1,559]

2 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Well that absolute ****house attendance last night puts all the over the top coverage/criticism about our low attendances to bed..... close thread

See if Wilson criticises her beloved tigers with the same zeal as she did us this week. Some how I think she will conveniently forgot or make up an excuse 

Edited June 10, 2022 by Garbo

[58er 6,849]

15 hours ago, DemonWheels said:

I’ve generally been a 10-12 game per year attendee for the last 15 years but since now having 3.5 and 1.5 year old kids it might be a little while until I can attend again consistently.
 

In my absence my folks have been attending with my Membership and have constantly struggled (this year) with the trains - almost every time it’s taken them 1.5hrs to get home to Oakleigh! And they live virtually next to the station.

So many factors are having an influence on crowd numbers and that’s on top of all the bad press the AFL is getting for umpiring, ticket prices, waiting times and pricing for food, etc etc.

Your friends must be slow walkers or are stopping for a drink on the way !!

[58er 6,849]

6 minutes ago, Garbo said:

See if Wilson criticises her beloved tigers with the same zeal as she did us this week. Some how I think she will conveniently forgot or make up an excuse 

Tigers did not win a flag last year that's the point about criticism of the Dees crowds.

Very little footy in 2021 including Finals and Flag and we won the Flag  and  our crowds are down or poor. 

Don't worry about other Clubs just worry about Dees.!!

 

 

[Vipercrunch 2,849]

1 hour ago, 58er said:

Tigers did not win a flag last year that's the point about criticism of the Dees crowds.

Very little footy in 2021 including Finals and Flag and we won the Flag  and  our crowds are down or poor. 

Don't worry about other Clubs just worry about Dees.!!

 

 

Our crowds are UP from pre-covid crowds.  One of only two teams to have increased (which the author mentions in the third last paragraph of https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-crowds-slump-to-lowest-levels-in-26-years-excluding-covid-seasons-20220523-p5anq3.html).  Crowd numbers is a league wide issue which is affecting MFC far less than 16 other clubs.

And winning a premiership doesn't magically produce instant supporters. It takes more than 6 months from a premiership to see significant upturn in raw supporter numbers.

I also wonder if there is a big difference in the mindset and arousal levels at the mid-year mark of supporters supporting a teams that most consider a lock for top 2 to those supporting teams hoping for a finals position.

 

[BDA 23,031]

One other important point which I’m not sure has been mentioned previously

We live in the social media age. The kids live online. And consume sports online. The variety and options are unlimited. NBA, EPL, Indian PL cricket. You name it. It’s all there at the touch of a button. The brightest minds in Silicon Valley are focused on drawing our attention to this online world and keeping us there. It’s where the dollars are for advertisers. Sports are just a commodity to be monetised and marketed. That’s the world the AFL operates in and is competing in.

 

[cantstandyasam 700]

We had 32,000 against an interstate team on a bitterly cold Saturday night and she mocks us. What about the Tigers they had 21,000 against an interstate side. She won't because she is so biased.

[Sydee 4,664]

Maybe there are quite a few AFL fans that just got used to watching in the comfort of their own homes during COVID lockdowns

Not judging them but lets be honest its been a crazy couple of years - its led to thousands of people selling their city homes and moving to regional locations

There is no substitute for being there live at games but it might take a bit of time to get back to where it was

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

23 minutes ago, cantstandyasam said:

We had 32,000 against an interstate team on a bitterly cold Saturday night and she mocks us. What about the Tigers they had 21,000 against an interstate side. She won't because she is so biased.

Thought the same thing last night, but of course she will handle it very differently, she has double standards when it comes to her club, to an embarrassing degree

[Little Goffy 14,791]

I really think people are just confused because normally a team on a high gets bigger attendances as the fair weather fans jump back on.

Doesn't apply to Melbourne because we farewelled our last soft supporters long ago.

I'm joking but also serious.

[Demonland 73,835]

29 minutes ago, cantstandyasam said:

We had 32,000 against an interstate team on a bitterly cold Saturday night and she mocks us. What about the Tigers they had 21,000 against an interstate side. She won't because she is so biased.

She will be an apologist for the Tigers and claim that Thursday is a school night and of course the Tigers fans aren't used to the cold because they haven't played that much at Marvel or in Tasmania.

[rufus 1,162]

I really just don't get the idea that we owe it to the club to go to the games. Some have made their financial contribution already and if they then choose to not use their membership to attend, that says more about the product than anything else. Most people work all week and want to do something they enjoy on the weekend, so if they don't enjoy it then why would we expect them to go?

Whether people like it or not, the absolutely atrocious standard of umpiring is making games almost unwatchable. Half the time the players don't even know who a free kick is going to. They 1000% need to stop paying free kick for things that happen and do not affect the contest (unless they are deliberate). 40+ frees in a game is a joke.

Also, the outstanding access that we all have to high quality sport like the NBA now just exposes the lack of quality in the AFL product. AFL teams need to move away from the ridiculous defensive schemes and back in their talent to win contests and win matches. Good defence is great to watch...but I personally don't consider outnumbering in and of itself to be a display of great defence...and that is pretty much the aim of every single AFL team...they all seem completely against the idea of ever having a player in a one on one contest anywhere other than forward 50. It's just not that enjoyable to watch. 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,821]

She couldn't be far off her sell by date surely. I miss reading Martin Flanagan's articles in the weekend broadsheet.  

[von 1,572]

She’s in the kane Cornes league of journalism but presents as if she has integrity. 

[DemonOX 8,837]

Ha as if. 

Doesn’t everyone know that it’s ONLY MELBOURNE games that crowd numbers are lower. 

Wake up people😜😜😜😜

[ding 5,126]

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

She will be an apologist for the Tigers and claim that Thursday is a school night and of course the Tigers fans aren't used to the cold because they haven't played that much at Marvel or in Tasmania.

Would have though most of the Tigers parents would be on the bong and wouldnt take much notice of what their kids were doing.

[640MD 3,510]

Low numbers partly at least

poor times, late evening on a cold night, it sure is not fun going home late at night, with or without a couple of rug rats.

A couple of beers and some chips best part of $20 let alone something for the brats.

probably a whole heap of reasons,

Covid apathy and I am TBO to put myself out more than a couple of times for night matches included. 
loved the announcement by lever and MND and disco MMD great spirit in the group