SANFL Finals Week 1 Crowd revealed.....

[Dutchy]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl ... 6722510870

STOP looking. The figure - just how many passed through the gates at AAMI Stadium on Sunday for the first weekend of SANFL finals - is not even on the league's website.

There has been no media release either. There rarely is when the news to be relayed to the public contradicts the image the SANFL has spun.

For the record, there were 6500 at the double-header of elimination and qualifying finals involving North Adelaide, Central District, West Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens. This equates to four supporter bases each bringing 1600 people to West Lakes on Sunday when there was no AFL, no bad weather and no Royal Show.

The delayed coverage of the two finals had an average audience of 44,000 on ABC television, which still cannot decide if it wants to be the league's official broadcaster next year and beyond.

Why the finals were not played in suburbia, at the home grounds of the highest-ranked finalists, remains an opportunity lost to bond SANFL clubs with their local communities and businesses. This will be the biggest task the SANFL faces in a new era of AFL domination in Adelaide.

These are interesting times for the SANFL - and not just because the treasured state league is to be reshaped with Crows and Power reserves teams next year. Perhaps the weekend's crowd figure underlines the damage done to the SANFL during the reserves debate that offended some hardcore SANFL fans.

The trend suggests the SANFL in quick time will become a "development league" - a genuine feeder to the AFL with very few players aged older than 23. SANFL club finances will be stretched.

Someone may want to start a debate as to whether every SANFL award - such as the Magarey Medal for its best player and Ken Farmer Medal for its leading goalkicker - should be renamed to acknowledge the change to the state league.

Clearly there needs to be a major rethink on how the SANFL is presented next year and beyond. Relying on the Crows reserves to bring 4000 to games and hoping the Crows-run promotional clinics in schools make young kids take interest in their local SANFL club is far from a business plan or strategy for survival, let alone growth.

Critically, the SANFL needs to be a strong base for SA football or both the Crows and Power will suffer through a reliance on interstate AFL draftees who can be picked off with "come home" offers.

But how is the SA Football Commission going to make football fans leave home to watch the SANFL again?

[Hazydog]

In all fairness the first week of finals didnt have much going for it. West & Eags with low supporter bases. North fans already convinced they were going to get belted and Dogs fans struggling to come to terms with the fact they are ordinary after years of being the Top Dog, hence losing interest.

Might be a bit better this week with North and Norwood both going in with high expectations. West & Eags will again get their faithful few.

[whufc]

No AFL, No Royal Show and a nice day

Unfortunately

-the weather forecast was for some rain
-country footy seasons still going
-junior footy grand finals at least in the north eastern league which definatly affected the Centrals v north game

Oh and a little thing called the city to bay which had a record number of contestants around the 40k mark not including support staff, spectators, extra staff at Glenelg businesses etc etc

[JK]

It's time to get Pole Dancers in for the pre-game

[Dogwatcher]

$10 Woodstocks too.

[whufc]

It's time to get Pole Dancers in for the pre-game

Agree,

When I get my 'gentlemens health club' up and running you will be able to borrow some of my dancers lol

[Dogwatcher]

Won't be a health club if old blokes are having a heart attack.

[whufc]

$10 Woodstocks too.

Yep still can't believe that,

Could get a 6 pack at the smitty hotel for double the cost of one drink there.

[whufc]

Won't be a health club if old blokes are having a heart attack.

There will be some naughty nurses on hand!

[Dogwatcher]

All worked out.

[gossipgirl]

It's time to get Pole Dancers in for the pre-game

I have a Pole

[JK]

It's time to get Pole Dancers in for the pre-game

I have a Pole

There's a surprise

[SDK]

On principal I will not pay the prices they ask for the watered down slop they call beer at Football Park.
Have a couple on the way down and maybe on the way back, a nice cold can or Coopers stubbie.

[MightyEagles]

It's time to get Pole Dancers in for the pre-game

Who? Miley Cyrus.

[Armytank]

It's time to get Pole Dancers in for the pre-game

I have a Pole

There's a surprise

Shudder

[stampy]

is it that the wider community dont give a daffy duck about sanfl anymore?

[whufc]

is it that the wider community dont give a daffy duck about sanfl anymore?

Yep

Why would people have respect for it, when it doesn't have respect for itself

[Armytank]

Oh and a little thing called the city to bay which had a record number of contestants around the 40k mark not including support staff, spectators, extra staff at Glenelg businesses etc etc

I would suggest this ^ has a lot bigger impact than people realise

[whufc]

Oh and a little thing called the city to bay which had a record number of contestants around the 40k mark not including support staff, spectators, extra staff at Glenelg businesses etc etc

I would suggest this ^ has a lot bigger impact than people realise

Yep,

At the gym I work at I can comfortably say at least 20 people I know at the gym would have been there this week if the Dogs were playing but were doing the city to bay last week instead.

[grant j]

Best way to increase the crowds for the first 2 weeks of the Finals are to move them to Wayville Oval on the Saturdays during the Royal Show.

Massive crowds guaranteed