A good article by Stevens, urging the Dogs members to turn up at the G...
Western Bulldogs fans must show loyalty
Mark Stevens | Herald Sun | September 10, 2010
DAVID Smorgon and Campbell Rose might spend much of Saturday night's pre-match gazing anxiously up into the MCG's Southern Stand.
The hearts of the Bulldogs heavies will sink if huge banks of seats remain empty at the first bounce.
They won't be worried about the bottom line, for finals crowds are not a cash bonanza for competing clubs.
But they will be concerned about the perception, which right now is even more important than the dollar.
If the Dogs are to be considered an emerging force in the AFL, they must attract at least 45,000 to tonight's semi-final against Sydney.
Anything less than 40,000 - regardless of the weather - would be embarrassing.
The Dogs boast a record membership of almost 35,000 and this is no time for those fans, so bullish in the NAB Cup when a lot less was at stake, to go missing.
Apparently ticket sales out at the Kennel were soft for week one against the Magpies and interest leading up to the cut-throat clash with the Swans has again been slow.
It seems a defeatist attitude has swept through a vast section of Dogs supporters.
The loss to Geelong was a jab to the guts and the hammy injury to Adam Cooney was a knockout blow for many.
It appears too many Dogs fans have battle fatigue.
Six losing preliminary finals in a row, some in heartbreaking circumstances, will do that to you.
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