SA Footy

Sunday 18th August, 2:10 pm - Oval Avenue

Crowserves by 23pts.

Crows to win a low scoring game in the wet by 18 points.

Horrendous conditions at Oval Ave today. Well done to all those who braved the elements. A shame the weather spoilt the community day, it is a great concept and well done to Phil Hernden and his organising team. He budgeted for a crowd of 6000 today (given fine weather) and was still quite happy with the 4600 that went through the gates. Unfortunately most didn't stay for the main game due to the conditions. Eagles wanted it more today and got the deserved result. J Hayes best again and will go close to winning the B & F. Sharrad and Thommo also good along with Goldy.

Its a bit of a spin to say that most didn't stay because of the conditions. They didn't stay because they weren't interested in the game: they were there for the kids carnival only. The 4000 crows supporters also stayed away (again). In fact there seemed to be zero interest in supporting the Crows reserve teams.

whybother wrote:Its a bit of a spin to say that most didn't stay because of the conditions. They didn't stay because they weren't interested in the game: they were there for the kids carnival only. The 4000 crows supporters also stayed away (again). In fact there seemed to be zero interest in supporting the Crows reserve teams.

For want of any SANFL discourse at all, I listened to the Life FM call of the game - or perhaps more accurately had it on in the background while I attended to other things. Prior to the game the callers interviewed a lass from the Clowns cheer squad. Under questioning she admitted to being a Sturt fan and would barrack for the Blues against the interlopers. Speaks volumes, I reckon.

Pseudo wrote:

whybother wrote:Its a bit of a spin to say that most didn't stay because of the conditions. They didn't stay because they weren't interested in the game: they were there for the kids carnival only. The 4000 crows supporters also stayed away (again). In fact there seemed to be zero interest in supporting the Crows reserve teams.

For want of any SANFL discourse at all, I listened to the Life FM call of the game - or perhaps more accurately had it on in the background while I attended to other things. Prior to the game the callers interviewed a lass from the Clowns cheer squad. Under questioning she admitted to being a Sturt fan and would barrack for the Blues against the interlopers. Speaks volumes, I reckon.

Unless they have all had heart transplants, you would expect loyalty to their SANFL side would come before the Crows in a SANFL setting. one reason why the Ravens attract no one apart from the very odd Tex/Eddie boutique game.

Yes agree . This is a fair it of spin . How many paid to get in ? Kids are free anyway. The Eagles use it to spruik attendance numbers . Good to get kids involved but where is the incentive for the Adults to stay . What has been done to keep the Parents stay ? Would love to hear that. It false numbers .

Extremely wet, icy and windy all day. Eagles just too committed and strong in the end. Normally this game gets a good attendance of 'stayers', people probably didn't want their kids to succumb to pneumonia - very unreasonable really. High fives to Scott Lewis, great servant of the club and a great bloke.

Brendan M wrote:Normally this game gets a good attendance of 'stayers'

Not what I've heard, but granted I've never seen a game featuring AFL reserves.

Brett wrote:Yes agree . This is a fair it of spin . How many paid to get in ? Kids are free anyway. The Eagles use it to spruik attendance numbers . Good to get kids involved but where is the incentive for the Adults to stay . What has been done to keep the Parents stay ? Would love to hear that. It false numbers .

I would like to hear what your club has done to encourage people to go to a Crows game?

Sure there are many kids there but they are with adults who will spend money on food and drink.

It's also about building relationships with the community and the various organisations who had stalls there had planty of people visiting when I was there. Rather than take the narrow view of 'inflating crowd numbers', why not take the wider view of the Eagles actually doing something to promote their club. It's not actually about the Crows, it's using the absence of a reserve game to have masses of kids playing footy in a carnival with a community atmosphere. If the Eagles can also make some $ out of it, well and good.

Since I started this thread, I might as well finish it. It was not my intention in any way to disparaged the efforts of the Eagles: I have been a member/follower since 1962. A lot of thick & thin in that time. My point was that the crowd numbers are used to judge the "health" of the competition, and my guess that there wasn't many more than 1000 watching the game. I was on the eastern side with my dedicated group and there were probably only about 15 there. We could all see that the stands weren't packed. The silence of the crowd when the AFL Reserves scored was deafening. The lack of support for the local game is hidden by the inflated number attending for the community stuff. Good on them, but don't confuse the numbers as a tick for the SANFL.