SA Footy

Media Release – 3rd March 2006

South to Throw Gates Open
The South Adelaide FC’s invigorated focus in its local zone has now extended to its marketing activities with the club recently announcing it is “throwing the gates open” for it’s first trial game at Noarlunga this Saturday (11th March) against last years grand finalists, Woodville-West Torrens.

In what will be the first of many marketing initiatives planned to significantly boost crowds at the Panthers southern home base of Noarlunga, entry will be free to the Panthers first pre-season clash for 2006.

“South Adelaide has always had a loyal supporter base that has supported the Club through thick and thin. We are eternally grateful to these followers, as if it were not for their support we would not be here today. But; now the tumultuous times of fighting for our survival are behind us, we as a Club must turn our focus from one of survival, to one of growth in everything we do”, new Panther Chief Ben Kavenagh stated.

“We have been located in the southern community for 10 years now. It’s time to become a highly relevant and focal part of this area that we are so proud to represent.”

“We have attracted some very exciting talent to the Club for season 2006, including former AFL star Damian Cupido, as well as Geelong and Carlton speedster David Clarke and Sydney and Kangaroo hard man Josh Thewlis. This experience will replace much of the talent we lost at the end of last year, but, the real focus of this off-season has been on the local area. We are proud to say that over 80% of the pre-season squad was home grown. This included a significant number from our talented junior programs, many of whom will form the backbone of our squad in years to come.

“We are working with the Southern Football League to ensure there is a pathway to the SANFL and even AFL for all capable players in the area. This is not limited to just juniors players who show signs of talent. We are providing an opportunity to any late bloomer, or the more mature player that, for what-ever reason, has not tested themselves at a higher level in recent years or, just wants to find out if he can make it at League level. Approaches from any such players will be welcomed. We hope to be able to officially instigate a similar program with the Great Southern Football League and Kangaroo Island Football League very shortly.”

“To be relevant to the local community we must be predominantly represented by people from this area. This includes our player base, coaching base (the club just recently announced the appointment of local coaching legend Trevor Potts as an assistant), administration base and equally importantly our supporter/membership base.

“We are very lucky to have relocated to a strong football area. One of the challenges of this has been the fact that on our arrival, many local football followers’ ties were already entrenched to their local clubs. We have no plans to move these people away from their loyalties. What we are looking to do is trial different time-slots in season 2006. This way, local football followers can attend their local game of a Saturday and then also support the Panthers on a Sunday, or possibility Friday or Saturday night in the future. We want to work with the local leagues to ensure football is strong across the board in this zone – then we are all winners.

“The first step in availing ourselves to the local community starts this week, before many of the local club trial games start. We are encouraging as many people from the southern area to come along and have a look at the Club at no charge. I’m sure those that have not seen the Panthers play before will be pleasantly surprised and the standard and possibility also surprised at the quantity of home grown talent running around on the park.

Trial Game Details

Venue: Noarlunga

League games starts at 2.20
Reserves to commence at 11.15
Entry: Free

Clinic at half-time of the League game run by Clay Sampson: Free

I couldn't be bothered reading through all that, but I'd assume all trial games are free entry? And if not, they should be- it's a trial game ffs. Credit to South for at least advertising it's free I guess.

Sydney and Kangaroo hard man Josh Thewlis.

That made me laugh.

Ben Kavenagh wrote:We have attracted some very exciting talent to the Club for season 2006, including former AFL star Damian Cupido, as well as Geelong and Carlton speedster David Clarke and Sydney and Kangaroo hard man Josh Thewlis. This experience will replace much of the talent we lost at the end of last year....

That's undedicated, undisciplined Damian Cupido; past-use-by-date disposal disaster David Clarke (couldn't get a game at Carlton); and.... who???

Punk Rooster wrote:I couldn't be bothered reading through all that, but I'd assume all trial games are free entry? And if not, they should be- it's a trial game ffs. Credit to South for at least advertising it's free I guess.

some country locations ask for a gold coin donation for jr development, ala up at gumeracha last year sturt vs norwood...i dont mind giving 2 bucks for local footy only if its used for local footy and those clubs arent topped up by pokies...

Jimmy wrote:

Punk Rooster wrote:I couldn't be bothered reading through all that, but I'd assume all trial games are free entry? And if not, they should be- it's a trial game ffs. Credit to South for at least advertising it's free I guess.

some country locations ask for a gold coin donation for jr development, ala up at gumeracha last year sturt vs norwood...i dont mind giving 2 bucks for local footy only if its used for local footy and those clubs arent topped up by pokies...

Neither is Norwood at the moment, and if things don't change by around August or September this year we are in big trouble. Norwood has good assets at present but have bad cash flow. Trial games should be free entry, perhaps charge a dollar or two for programs with player names and numbers.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

Jimmy wrote:

Punk Rooster wrote:I couldn't be bothered reading through all that, but I'd assume all trial games are free entry? And if not, they should be- it's a trial game ffs. Credit to South for at least advertising it's free I guess.

some country locations ask for a gold coin donation for jr development, ala up at gumeracha last year sturt vs norwood...i dont mind giving 2 bucks for local footy only if its used for local footy and those clubs arent topped up by pokies...

Neither is Norwood at the moment, and if things don't change by around August or September this year we are in big trouble. Norwood has good assets at present but have bad cash flow. Trial games should be free entry, perhaps charge a dollar or two for programs with player names and numbers.

yeah, they just charged for programs...i dont mind that

[quote="Adelaide Hawk]
Neither is Norwood at the moment, and if things don't change by around August or September this year we are in big trouble. Norwood has good assets at present but have bad cash flow. [/quote]

If Norwood don't get their pokies on line I think there will need to be some sort of "Save Norwood" rally.
Sturt went through it, North went through it, and both clubs survived. Norood still seem to have a lot of supporters even though they are so crap at the moment. If they were really backed up to the wall I imagine there would be a huge emotional response from a lot of people. The Redlegs will be fine, but they may become a charity case for a year or two before they recover.

ive never even heard of Thewlis! maybe he was a hard man in the Bs?

i cant remember ever paying to go see a trial game before, they should be free like Punky said

gold coins are a good idea if the money goes to a good cause... but the money the crowd will spend on beer and pies will help cover costs anyway i guess

therisingblues wrote:Norood still seem to have a lot of supporters even though they are so crap at the moment.

I continue to be slightly puzzled by this assessment of Norwood. They finished 6th in 2005 and had wins over Top 5 teams Central District, Port Adelaide (twice), North Adelaide, and Sturt (twice), as well as narrow losses to both Grand Finallists Central and Eagles late in the season. I don't think they are as "crap" as some people are suggesting.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

Jimmy wrote:

Punk Rooster wrote:I couldn't be bothered reading through all that, but I'd assume all trial games are free entry? And if not, they should be- it's a trial game ffs. Credit to South for at least advertising it's free I guess.

some country locations ask for a gold coin donation for jr development, ala up at gumeracha last year sturt vs norwood...i dont mind giving 2 bucks for local footy only if its used for local footy and those clubs arent topped up by pokies...

Neither is Norwood at the moment, and if things don't change by around August or September this year we are in big trouble. Norwood has good assets at present but have bad cash flow. Trial games should be free entry, perhaps charge a dollar or two for programs with player names and numbers.

Hopefully the club will be selling the 'ol pale ale for our trial against North on Friday Night and we can give some coin to the Norwood Coffers, Adelaide Hawk.

Apparently David Clarke has been training extremely well and his disposal has been very good. Hopefully for South, he can continue that on throughout the season.

Good initiative by South, I welcome the day the Legs are in a position to do the same...

I expect that all 24 people who go will be really pleased with this "initiative".

Madrooster wrote:I expect that all 24 people who go will be really pleased with this "initiative".

Stick it up your jumper Madcock! There has been an increase in the local recognition of South as the local club and there will be an increase in bums on seats at Arctic Park this year. Apart from that the trial games are always well suported anyway.

It is only a fractured vertebrae that is preventing me from being there for the trial games. The first season since we donned our baby seal furs and set up shop at Arctic Park, but wiith luck a multitude of pain killers and a bit of help from the club I'll be available for the home & away start in April.

PS. How's the audit going?

Yeah great initiative South Adelaide. It's a trial game for god sake, it should be free. I am an avid Eags supporter and live down south but even I wouldn't have bothered turning up to what should be a one sided game in favour of the Eags if they were charging. Nice try South but you could throw the gates open at Noarlunga all year and you'd still struggle to pull a crowd of more than 2000 to any given game and that would be dependant on the opponent. You'll have to be a little more innovative than that to be successful in the marketing dept Panthers.

all trial games should be free, but i do remember going to Alberton and having to pay a couple of bucks one day.

Could anybody really care that South have thrown the gates open, i mean even if they didnt you just have to jump them anyway.

South are trying desperately hard to become a club with the whole community support, i guess similar to Centrals, but they have to start winning games first. In the past they have shown good early form before dropping away, and there current coach has interesting player management systems in place that just dont make any sense, that may change now that they have all these 'big gun' recruits!!!!!

I live down south about 5 mins from the ground and very rarely does it excite me to go and watch, id rather travel towards the city and watch another game.

some of the clubs in the local SFL have better facilities for patrons then Noarlunga, i mean they really didnt plan to well with the location of the ground or the grandstand, if you can call it that.

to get people through the gates at pantherland how about start winning and being competitive.

Great initiative by the club,nothing ventured nothing gained . EagleHASlanded, as to your comments:well I guess we could always draw more support by merging with another club and harpooning all their supporters.Then like your club which has had moderate success still draw less than spectacular crowds.

blueandwhite wrote:Great initiative by the club,nothing ventured nothing gained . EagleHASlanded, as to your comments:well I guess we could always draw more support by merging with another club and harpooning all their supporters.Then like your club which has had moderate success still draw less than spectacular crowds.

Moderate success my arse blueandwhite. What tripe you are talking. 12 Finals appearances, 6 Grand Final appearances and 1 Premiership in 15 years I would hardly call that moderate success. Just please tell me blueandwhite what in the blue hell have South done in the last 15 years. As for match day attendances I would like to guess that we would have figures of around 20 - 30 % higher than the Panthers. Please do us all a favour blueandwhite and admit yourself into the nearest pschiatric institution or just post when you have a legitimate comment.

yeah fair enoigh EHL but just remember circa 1990 when South were a financial basketcase and almost extinct we managed to somehow guts it out. We didnt jump into bed with our nearest arch enemy.I f heaven forbid we had to merge with Glenelg (cant beleive I said that) that combine would have some fairly useful attendances as well.

eaglehaslanded wrote:As for match day attendances I would like to guess that we would have figures of around 20 - 30 % higher than the Panthers.

Do you think thats high enough considering, in theory, you should have twice the supporter base?