"Younger" SANFL fans

[Footy Chick]

I think also that the fact that a lot of the guys in this age bracket are playing footy themselves, which rules out going to watch any SANFL footy on a saturday doesnt help much. The way around this is to program more friday night footy, a game at norwood and a game at Adelaide oval. I know its the only time i ever get to go see the SANFL nowadays...

[spell_check]

The Football Budget does lack a columnist, such as the Phantom, or Schwarz' Shorts. Wouldn't take too much for someone to fill that gap?

[Ian]

My nephew goes to the Eagles Auskick and loves it so much he now barracks for them.

His father isn't impressed.

My son laughed at Primus because Pork had been flogged by Essendon the night before, and made a point of wearing his North top when the Eagles players were attending

[Jman]

I'm 22 and i agree their is a age barrier within the SANFL. I mean unless your are brought up into it there is just no interest.
There needs to be more advertising and more night games that will get the youngster involved, also make the piss cheaper.
Unfortunately down at South there aren't to many supporters at all let alone young one's, I have been burdened with supporting South Adelaide, a legacy from my old man. Which gets back to my point unless you are brought up with it, then you don't follow it.
Most supporters you see at games are 30 plus, maybe hotter cheerleaders will bring in the young fellas.

[Pseudo]

maybe hotter cheerleaders will bring in the young fellas.

or maybe it might just increase the number of us dirty old men

[westside]

Anyone who looks at West's cheerleaders should be arrested...

[Wedgie]

Hate to rehaash an old topic but this is a real topic of interest/concern to me and I just came up with a couple of ideas.

1) Get rid of U17s and U19s and revert to U18s and play it before the reserves, a lot of the kids that play or kids that come to see their mates play might stick around and watch the seniors, also other added benefits such as easier for clubs to organise trainers, support staff, etc if all 3 teams play at the same ground. Downside is you lose a hell of a lot of players but lets face it, a lot of U17s or U19s that don't make it usually don't go out and support their senior teams, they'd usually end up playing somewhere in the amateurs.

2) Make an exemption in the salary cap for a couple of "marquee players". I remember when South first moved down to Noarlunga and had Danny Delrae playing for them, most of my mates that played down South didn't give a toss about the SANFL but were keen to go watch a couple of South games just to see Danny Delrae have a kick as they'd obviously heard of him, I know not all clubs could afford "marquee players" but for the little bit of advantage 5 or 6 clubs would get from these players surely the marketing aspect as a whole word be worth a bit of pain?

3) Do some sort of joint mass marketing with a fast food company, places like McDonalds and KFC quite often have joint collaborations with new movies, high profile sporting events, etc. The younger market are always in these places.

PS Great post TheRisingBlues, I agree whole heartedly, great idea for a campaign.

[Dogsbody]

I've been going to SANFL games for 10 years, from the age of 15 in 1996.

As I have said before, the Arrogant F**kwits League holds little appeal to me. No atmosphere, not nearly enough cheering unlike at SANFL games. I've missed maybe a couple of handfuls of games over that time, but never missed a Grand Final.

Its a shame that you see AFL plastered all over the box taking up all the attention of the kids, who then have no idea what the SANFL is, and when they go to kick the ball, their not playing footy, they're playing AFL... the mentality being that the AFL is the be-all and end-all of the game.

[Booney]

Well,lets jump up and do a bit of AFL bashing,you blokes surprise me no end.Some of you have the biggest chip on your shoulder attitude any one could ever possibly witness.GET OVER IT.As I have said previously,the AFL is here to stay,the SANFL is and will be in the same boat for many many moon's to come,why?

1:There are only so many people interested in Footy,and,I know this may come as a shock to some of you,but people do enjoy the AFL games,choking on your lunch aren't you.Well,it's the way it is.
2:The SANFL is a feeder league for the AFL,it is now and will remain that way,why do you think the 20 something AFL rejects come here to play footy? To be a part of a great traditional state based league? Nope.Choking on your lunch aren't you.
3:The league can only,and will ever only have 3 or 4 teams capable of winning the flag each and every year,why?
Because those 20 something rejects dont want to win a flag here,they just want to get back to the AFL,so,they go to one of the better clubs here,look good,make there way back via a draft and,bingo $$$$.Choking hey?
4:When a kid is 4 and his old man takes him to watch South/West/Glenelg,he starts to think,where is Macc,?where is Roo? not realising this isn't the footy he see's on TV.Why? Because big $ sponsors want big $ returns,and you aint going to get that from a billboard on the outer at Noarlunga.Still choking?

Lets just be realistic and get used to the fact the SANFL is like this and will remain just the same for ever and ever,the "good old times" are gone,the new era of corporate footy is upon us,and it ain't going to go away.So,enjoy your SANFL for what it is now,not how it was,or how good it one day might be.I love it,it can change 1000 times over,I dont care,I will still go,still barrack for and support my team.We should all do the same,stop whinging about it,GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY IT!

GO THE 'PIES.

[TigerBoss]

I reakon the 17's, 19's, Reserves and League should all be played on the same day...at the same venue.

Long day I know, but people can then turn up to see whichever level they want. If you only want to see the league...fine, come and see that, then bugger off...but people like me want to watch ALL 4 grades and can't...

Another idea I had was to have the 17's and 19's played on a Sunday, and the Reserves and League played on a Saturday.

This won't correct the ongoing issue of luring younger people to the footy, but it'll sure help me out.

Wedgie...maybe we should all bleach blonde our hair and...oh wait...

[LBJ8]

in ref to your post wedgie...

1. Agree scrap the 17s and 19s and have the U/18s Reserves and League on the same day and have the U/16s on a Sunday.

2. Dont see the point you should know it doesn't matter what the Salary Cap is people find there way around it anyway, can't see the point in that.

3. Good point should be done, more younger people getting interested in SANFL instead of AFL the better.

[Brad]

How about making it free to attended games?

More junior promotion, clubs going to schools in there zone and putting the SANFL in kids faces??

No Sunday games, double headers on Saturday afternoons/evenings?

[Strawb]

I am 24 and i grew up since 1991 as a Westies fan i was given a westies jumper and i still have the jumper i dun fit it though.
I have three westies jumpers and i have never paid for one. Two have been given to me by the club and one was from greg mellor and no i am not Craig. I used to wear 24 now i am back at my original number 7. The age gap is Huge when i was living in Adelaide i tride to set up the Westies Cheer Squad with the Westionans but what happened it went no-where and i am not mentioning the name of the person who killed it.
The Advertiser is the problem only bad stories are ever back page news. Kill the AFL and take it back to Local Compitions that will work. Thats what will make footy Survive but whilst AFL membership prices increase we need to drop SANFL membership price to attract the Parents in which will attract the Younger fans.
Strawbs

[spell_check]

I am 24 and i grew up since 1991 as a Westies fan i was given a westies jumper and i still have the jumper i dun fit it though.
I have three westies jumpers and i have never paid for one. Two have been given to me by the club and one was from greg mellor and no i am not Craig. I used to wear 24 now i am back at my original number 7. The age gap is Huge when i was living in Adelaide i tride to set up the Westies Cheer Squad with the Westionans but what happened it went no-where and i am not mentioning the name of the person who killed it.
The Advertiser is the problem only bad stories are ever back page news. Kill the AFL and take it back to Local Compitions that will work. Thats what will make footy Survive but whilst AFL membership prices increase we need to drop SANFL membership price to attract the Parents in which will attract the Younger fans.
Strawbs

Could Coorong answer that question?

[Leaping Lindner]

I reakon the 17's, 19's, Reserves and League should all be played on the same day...at the same venue.
Long day I know, but people can then turn up to see whichever level they want. If you only want to see the league...fine, come and see that, then bugger off...but people like me want to watch ALL 4 grades and can't...

Another idea I had was to have the 17's and 19's played on a Sunday, and the Reserves and League played on a Saturday.

This won't correct the ongoing issue of luring younger people to the footy, but it'll sure help me out.

Wedgie...maybe we should all bleach blonde our hair and...oh wait...

I'm sure when I was a younger lad that was how it was done. IIRC the under 17s started at 9.00am or something like that.

[Magpiespower]

Reakon extended coverage in 'The Messenger' and other community papers/newsletters would be more effective outlets than the 'Tiser.

[doggies4eva]

Totally agree with you Booney. While I savour the good old days before the AwFL started, the fact is its here to stay. It will get the media attention, the sponsors dollars and the crowds. That's a fact of life. If you don't accept that you are as doomed as the dinosaurs and Fitzroy supporters.

Given that the AwFL has the high ground, it is hard to see the SANFL being anything but a feeder for them. All of the critics of the SANFL management need to consider that they can have a "you beaut" advertising campaign but they need the product to promote.

The SANFL format was relevant to an SA population base 50 years ago. Time has come for an innovative change. A true second tier comp maybe. What about a summer comp with the finalists from SA WA and an NT team? Or some other idea which can bridge the ever widening gap between the SANFL and the AwFL. Without a link between the grassroots and the highest level the game will eventually die. And none of us want that.

[Jman]

CHEAPER PISS