Steps to make the SANFL improve its image

[Strawb]

I have been readig lately how the SANFL is lowly ranked in Adelaide and how the AwFuL is number one.
To me it seems that the SANFL only really care about how much money they make from Football Park's AwFuL usage. What the SANFL need to do to improve this and to make people come back to the SANFL IMO should be.

1. The SANFL needs better TV coverage and i feel that it is up to the SANFL to fix this. An idea would be for a football show to be made in adelaide on Thursday night before the footy show have the teams annouced then and get a player or two on for interviews.

2. Buy better newspaper coverage what the SANFL needs is better coverage get rid of Rucci the guys articles to me seem only good to wipe my ARSE with. Doug Robinson writes great articles for the SANFl and the coverage needs to be great.

3. Get the teams out to local schools I know this costs money but for children to support the SANFL the kids needs to know about the SANFL. Give the kids free adult tickets everybody likes something that is free it will encourage people to get back to the SANFL.

4. A better advertising campaign Tim shaws ads sucked they need to have old footage of the SANFL and New footaged mixed it will work because it will remind current parents on what it was like going to the SANFL years ago.

5. Work with Adelaide Metro to get public transport to the games. If you don't have to worry about parking and the bus drops you at the front of the ground it will attract people and they should use new and clean buses have them painted in the team colours.

6. Last but not least either use Thebarton Oval (after doing it up), or the adelaide oval and have a Match of the Round Played there on a Friday Night. make the Friday night game the Match of the Round and have it shown on television at 8:30pm people will either go or watch the game it will improve the SANFL standing with the community.

If you can think of any different idea's let us know and we should submit this to the SANFL.

[TroyGFC]

make the Friday night game the Match of the Round and have it shown on television at 8:30pm

Good idea in theory but I dont think people are going to choose SANFL over AFL as all the diehard supportors will already be at the SANFL games.

[stan]

make the Friday night game the Match of the Round and have it shown on television at 8:30pm

Good idea in theory but I dont think people are going to choose SANFL over AFL as all the diehard supportors will already be at the SANFL games.

Depends whos playing. The idea has merrit though.

[giffo]

In this day and age, one of the big factors is facilities. Poor facilites and people will not go, they are used to being pampered at the big stadiums. Back in its heyday the crowds were mainly all men, today we need to attract FAMILIES and this will only be done with decent amenities at ALL grounds.

[Magpiespower]

Need to be a bit realistic, methinks.

What TV station would bother covering a live Friday night SANFL game? What's in it for them if they did?

Since the SANFL doesn't impact on the bottom line of the radio/TV stations or The Tiser, they couldn't give two s#@%s about it.

[Jimmy]

maybe the sanfl can get a few extra $$$ out of the afl, open its own tv station and then show their games on that...and also show a thursday night teams show like strawb suggested...seriously, if they were fair dinkum, the sanfl woul dbe doing more....they obviously are not

[Strawb]

I agree with giffo they need to clean up the grounds make the toliets clean and useable. Channel 9 would more than likely cover a live Friday night game the SANFL marketing team is what the problem is. you want to see a joke look at the VFL over here there is sweet F.A. write up about the AwFuL reserves the scores are shown on the Television during the news. Whilst the SANFL treats its self as a poorer cousin to the AwFuL it will always be treated like that.

[stan]

Im not sure channel 9 would telecast a sanfl match, i think the ABC would be your best bet if you wanted the game shown live.

[Ian]

2. Buy better newspaper coverage what the SANFL needs is better coverage get rid of Rucci the guys articles to me seem only good to wipe my ARSE with. Doug Robinson writes great articles for the SANFl and the coverage needs to be great.

While the Advertiser has a editor that has no interest or understanding in Aussie rules, the SANFL will get bugger all coverage, the GayFL only gets covered because it sells papers.
I would consider re-subscribing to it with a good SANFL coverage, but one sale isn't going to change their mind, it would take thousands of extra sales for them to give the SANFL a fair go.
Even if we only got the amount of coverage that North got from the NT News last week, shared between the 9 clubs, it would be a huge step in the right direction.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Does anyone remember Fox Footy Extra? Dedicated to SA.

Used to show a lot of sanfl games new and old. Like GF's from years back. Yeah it showed a lot of Crows and power stuff, but it was the most sanfl coverage seen on tv for at least the last 15 years.

[doggies4eva]

Good post Strawb - given the falling crowds this is a debate which is vital to the future of the SANFL.
Here are my thoughts:

1. The SANFL needs better TV coverage
Agree, but how is this acheived? There needs to be a more exciting product to offer the stations - if there was interest now they would be taking it up themselves.

2. better newspaper coverage.
Agreed but dunno what you can do - get all your sponsors to boycott using the paper maybe - that would get their attention.

3. Get the teams out to local schools.
I thought that they did this already?

4. A better advertising campaign.
No-one on this site seems to like it.

5. Work with Adelaide Metro to get public transport to the games.
Great idea.

6. Use Thebarton Oval or the adelaide oval and have a Match of the Round
This may help with TV interest but it needs to ba at a time when AFL is not competing - midweek maybe?

My ideas - get rid of the bye by adding at least another team. I would like to see 3 added and go to a regional format - on another thread there were plenty of suggestions for some of the strong regional comps to have a combines side. 12 sides would allow 22 rounds (everyone plays each other twice). A nice fair comp with no byes!

Failing this finish the season earlier and play a super comp with the top 4 sides from SA against the top 4 sides from WA -this may get TV interest.

Organise a AFL Div 2. Inlcude the top 3 teams from SA and WA plus NT and Tassie - 8 team comp. The remaining 6 teams need to find 2 new additions. There will be a relegation of the bottom SA and WA Div 2 team with the top local team - links the comps and gives everyone a chance to aspire higher.

We need some really creative ideas to revamp the comp. Other people must hav some better suggestions.

[XXXXRooster]

I think i've asked this question before on another forum, are SANFL unable to sell the product better(eg, been told by AFL not to market themselves 'too well' )

[Magpiespower]

Channel 9 would more than likely cover a live Friday night game the SANFL.

Seriously doubt that, Strawb.

Weighing up the pro's and con's, Channel 9's would be a commercial decision.

And I just can't see what the benefits are for any commercial station covering SANFL matches.

[Pseudo]

In this day and age, one of the big factors is facilities. Poor facilites and people will not go, they are used to being pampered at the big stadiums. Back in its heyday the crowds were mainly all men, today we need to attract FAMILIES and this will only be done with decent amenities at ALL grounds.

Post of the week.

I could not agree more.

Are you reading this Darren Chandler?

[Pseudo]

6. Last but not least either use Thebarton Oval (after doing it up), or the adelaide oval and have a Match of the Round Played there on a Friday Night. make the Friday night game the Match of the Round and have it shown on television at 8:30pm people will either go or watch the game it will improve the SANFL standing with the community.

Superb idea - but instead of live coverage, I'd replay the match in the Saturday arvo time slot. This would effect the gate takings less.

[uptownboi2006]

As for TV, we should know that someone, whether it be ABC or Kojo or Pine Lodge, tape the videos.

Perhaps on a Tuesday Night on ABC or ACE or something, either show the matches that were not on ABC or highlights or something like that. Whether it has commentary or not makes no difference. Even if you have to, start up Fox Footy Extra SA again to do it. It would be worth it.

[Strawb]

there are a few great idea's here. With Channel Nine i feel that they would be interested in the SANFL if people got behind the idea and the SANFL sold them to the idea i think Channel nine would jump. in another post we are talking about Unley Oval and i feel if the SANFL are serious about marketing themselves they would find a way to do this. I feel it is time for the SANFL to stand up and take notice what people are saying.
I was talking to a Western Bulldogs supporter the other day and they are paying up to $500 a season for their membership. The SANFL needs to use how much the AFL membership costs compaired to an SANFL one. This year to be a member of Werribee i am paying $50 for a full club membership and a home game ticket and half priced entry to away games. that is what the VFL has on offering.

[MUNGO JERRY]

another step to make the sanfl better would be to get rid of the snowts lowts.

[spiderk]

Some excellent ideas here. Hopefully the SANFL is taking note of what the fans actually want for THEIR league. The reality is, that if some more publicity is not more forthcoming, interest will not build at great levels beyond those already converted to our league. The real key is targeting those disaffected/less financial AFL fans and making them realise there is a high standard, lower cost league in their own backyards.
Nothing much wrong with the idea of getting more television coverage on other mediums either. It would be great if the clubs realised that the days of coverage on the traditional mediums will never return to the levels they used to be in the glory days, and that it is necessary to think outside the square at times.

[Wedgie]

I reckon a show on C31 again would be a great addition.