The sleeping giant

[westdog54]

Re: The sleeping giant

The atmosphere is definitely up there at an A-League game. The only thing that's really holding the A-League back is the small bunch of radicals that drag down the reputation of the game.

I worked at the game on Saturday night. There were 16 flares let off inside the ground. 14 of them by Victory supporters, all in the Active area. Thats 16 too many. One smoke flare was thrown across out of the active area into the general admission seats, and landed at the feet of a young family , with a 7 and 5 year old. The kids freaked out, naturally enough.

The stadium operators didn't do us any favours either. There was no checking of tickets into the active supporters area so it was massively overcrowded and downright dangerous.

Eliminate these problems and you've got an almost perfect atmosphere.

[GVGjr]

Re: The sleeping giant

The thing that impresses me is the game is still growing strongly despite the National team struggling.

I can recall years ago when the ARU started to grow and it was around a few things like National pride for a team that was performing strongly, good entertainment at the game, the players being sensational ambassadors and brilliant TV coverage and commentary.
Once the National team started to struggle though the crowds and support slid right back. The A-League is certainly bucking the trend and is growing strongly without a lot of these things working for it.

I've read all the responses here and it just seems like a combination of a lot of things working for it. I know a guy I work with couldn't wait for the AFL season to be over and for the A-League to start and he is a passionate Richmond member.

I'm still not 100% sure what is driving this great result but I think there are lessons for other codes to learn if someone can copy part of it.

[Twodogs]

Re: The sleeping giant

Yep.....look I live overseas, so haven't seen a game live since the 2010 finals, but even listening to it on radio or watching on the ESPN feed here in the UK, I often walk in and out of the game and miss nothing.....at a football game (soccer), I don't. I love AFL and love watching it, but I am not surprised that Soccer is catching up fast. The biggest issue for me is the contrived draw and that each team don't play home and away. Sorry that is pretty poor.

That's the elephant in the room. The fixture as it is is makes the home and away season more of an exhibition than a true competition with its built in Blockbusters we have to have.

We should have a shorter preseason and a longer season or 17 stand alone games. And they swap around home grounds each two years. And another competition. Like an FA cup with teams seeded at their level to fill in the gap on the TV schedule.

[Bornadog]

Re: The sleeping giant

Journos have got on to this thread:

AFL could learn from A-League when it comes to colour

see here; http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...27-11cfic.html

[GVGjr]

Re: The sleeping giant

Journos have got on to this thread:

I heard him on SEN today and this was exactly what he talked about. It's food for thought for all codes.

[Bornadog]

Re: The sleeping giant

I heard him on SEN today and this was exactly what he talked about. It's food for thought for all codes.

Yes I was listening as well, but on and off.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The sleeping giant

Good.

So what with 10 people at the game that's good?
Fair enough people around, but there were bay's empty and it wouldn't have annoyed anybody .
People just love to moan about anything these days

[hujsh]

Re: The sleeping giant

So what with 10 people at the game that's good?
Fair enough people around, but there were bay's empty and it wouldn't have annoyed anybody .
People just love to moan about anything these days

Don't need or want those horns at AFL matches. Even if no one's there (and the people who paid to be there shouldn't have to put up with it anymore than we should at a Dogs-Freo match) if they're picked up by the tv audio it's very annoying.

Also I wasn't moaning. Technically you were.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The sleeping giant

Don't need or want those horns at AFL matches. Even if no one's there (and the people who paid to be there shouldn't have to put up with it anymore than we should at a Dogs-Freo match) if they're picked up by the tv audio it's very annoying.

Also I wasn't moaning. Technically you were.

Common sense approach would have been a word with the kids to refrain from blowing it, but I guess common sense isn't common .
I was making a point about footy fans moaning about everything now, and a sterile environment has ensued .

[hujsh]

Re: The sleeping giant

Common sense approach would have been a word with the kids to refrain from blowing it, but I guess common sense isn't common .
I was making a point about footy fans moaning about everything now, and a sterile environment has ensued .

The environment being sterile would have more to do with losing true home grounds and playing at places which do have some ridiculous rules and practices (etihad). I think rather than trusting every kid not to blow it is fairer to tell them it will be gone if they use it. I have no idea how this was stated or how the person came across but I agree with the rule regardless.

[GVGjr]

Re: The sleeping giant

Journos have got on to this thread:

Another media outlet riding the A-League express

Sleeping Giant

[Bornadog]

Re: The sleeping giant

Another media outlet riding the A-League express

Sleeping Giant

Even using your headline.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The sleeping giant

Don't need or want those horns at AFL matches. Even if no one's there (and the people who paid to be there shouldn't have to put up with it anymore than we should at a Dogs-Freo match) if they're picked up by the tv audio it's very annoying.

Also I wasn't moaning. Technically you were.

I disagree. If you want a nice, quiet viewing experience, put Channel 7/Foxtel on mute on your couch and be happy.

For me, I want noise, atmosphere, excitement. I'm not saying we should have a repeat of the vuvezela fiasco, but a bit of fun, especially for the kiddies, might help some brave the 1640 Sunday matches. I'm sick to death of being told I'm too loud at the footy, and whilst the 'old ducks with the knitting needles' are an integral part of the game, enforcing restrictions on crowd participation that are not necessary to safety, etc (such as flares) is just plain silly, ESPECIALLY given the topic of this thread: i.e. AFL becoming sterile and disengaging for fans who are switching to sports that appreciate them a little better.

[hujsh]

Re: The sleeping giant

I disagree. If you want a nice, quiet viewing experience, put Channel 7/Foxtel on mute on your couch and be happy.

For me, I want noise, atmosphere, excitement. I'm not saying we should have a repeat of the vuvezela fiasco, but a bit of fun, especially for the kiddies, might help some brave the 1640 Sunday matches.

Now what you've done there is change my position for me to something I don't believe. I don't want to impose a quite viewing experience on the television or the audience.

I have no problem with people cheering and supporting as loud as they want. That's the atmosphere of an AFL match.

[westdog54]

Re: The sleeping giant

Imagine being in the middle of that. Awesome.