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Mark Stevens - Herald Sun
THE Western Bulldogs are facing a dramatic membership shortfall of up to $1.2 million despite their unbeaten start to the season.
More than 8000 members from 2007 have yet to re-commit, leaving the Dogs increasingly anxious about the impact on the bottom line.
The Dogs are last on the membership ladder with 23,564 paid-up supporters.
Even embattled Melbourne - the club the Dogs thumped by 95-points in Round 2 - has sold more memberships.
Despite a shocking start to the season on the field, the Demons have managed to scrounge together 23,622.
"As chief executive, I feel embarrassed," Bulldogs boss Campbell Rose said yesterday.
"The club has never been better positioned, however, a loss of 8000 members from last year would put our club into a precarious financial position.
"It could border on a crisis.
"This is a call to arms to our supporters."
The Dogs had set a target of 32,000 members this year, but have been stunned by a lack of interest from supporters.
The club sold less than 200 memberships at its Friday night home game against St Kilda at Telstra Dome.
The lack of activity came despite a Friday morning email from Bulldogs president David Smorgon, urging more than 2000 unsigned members to jump back on board.
Smorgon said the task of re-signing the bulk of the 8000 "lost dogs" could prove to be the difference between a profit and loss.
"We know who they are, we know where they are, the question we want to understand is why these people haven't renewed their membership," Smorgon said,
Smorgon said the Dogs had been expecting an "avalanche" of phone calls after the win against St Kilda. Instead, there has been stone-cold silence.
"There's been barely a drip," Smorgon said. "My appeal is 'Where's the pride in the Bulldog?'.
"Have a look at some of our competitors, who haven't got that much to hang their hat on.
"Carlton has lost 14 games in a row and their membership is over 35,000."
The Dogs now face an uphill battle to get close to last year's club record of 28,752 members.
Smorgon said surveys had revealed supporters were bitterly disappointed with the Dogs' run home last year, which included six losses and a draw.
"The view of those surveyed was there was a lack of effort from the club," Smorgon said.
"My view is, we've addressed that very strongly in a public manner over the summer with the football report.
"We, as a board, weren't happy and we've made the hard changes.
"Last year is last year.
"The first week we had a stirring victory for Johnno's 300th, which would have stirred the passion and emotion in any Bulldog fan.
"We came out two weeks ago against Melbourne and instead of winning by five or six goals we ended up winning by 95 points.
"And then, we had our biggest test on Friday night, and we came out with one of the most exciting victories in years against St Kilda.
"We, as a football club, need these members to come on board."
Smorgon went as far as pledging to talk to supporters personally if they are disgruntled.
"If they want to contact Campbell or I and explain why they're not happy to renew, we're happy to take their calls and answer them," Smorgon said.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade took the step of calling for members to renew at his press conference on Friday night.
THE Western Bulldogs are facing a dramatic membership shortfall of up to $1.2 million despite their unbeaten start to the season.
More than 8000 members from 2007 have yet to re-commit, leaving the Dogs increasingly anxious about the impact on the bottom line.
The Dogs are last on the membership ladder with 23,564 paid-up supporters.
Even embattled Melbourne - the club the Dogs thumped by 95-points in Round 2 - has sold more memberships.
Despite a shocking start to the season on the field, the Demons have managed to scrounge together 23,622.
"As chief executive, I feel embarrassed," Bulldogs boss Campbell Rose said yesterday.
"The club has never been better positioned, however, a loss of 8000 members from last year would put our club into a precarious financial position.
"It could border on a crisis.
"This is a call to arms to our supporters."
The Dogs had set a target of 32,000 members this year, but have been stunned by a lack of interest from supporters.
The club sold less than 200 memberships at its Friday night home game against St Kilda at Telstra Dome.
The lack of activity came despite a Friday morning email from Bulldogs president David Smorgon, urging more than 2000 unsigned members to jump back on board.
Smorgon said the task of re-signing the bulk of the 8000 "lost dogs" could prove to be the difference between a profit and loss.
"We know who they are, we know where they are, the question we want to understand is why these people haven't renewed their membership," Smorgon said,
Smorgon said the Dogs had been expecting an "avalanche" of phone calls after the win against St Kilda. Instead, there has been stone-cold silence.
"There's been barely a drip," Smorgon said. "My appeal is 'Where's the pride in the Bulldog?'.
"Have a look at some of our competitors, who haven't got that much to hang their hat on.
"Carlton has lost 14 games in a row and their membership is over 35,000."
The Dogs now face an uphill battle to get close to last year's club record of 28,752 members.
Smorgon said surveys had revealed supporters were bitterly disappointed with the Dogs' run home last year, which included six losses and a draw.
"The view of those surveyed was there was a lack of effort from the club," Smorgon said.
"My view is, we've addressed that very strongly in a public manner over the summer with the football report.
"We, as a board, weren't happy and we've made the hard changes.
"Last year is last year.
"The first week we had a stirring victory for Johnno's 300th, which would have stirred the passion and emotion in any Bulldog fan.
"We came out two weeks ago against Melbourne and instead of winning by five or six goals we ended up winning by 95 points.
"And then, we had our biggest test on Friday night, and we came out with one of the most exciting victories in years against St Kilda.
"We, as a football club, need these members to come on board."
Smorgon went as far as pledging to talk to supporters personally if they are disgruntled.
"If they want to contact Campbell or I and explain why they're not happy to renew, we're happy to take their calls and answer them," Smorgon said.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade took the step of calling for members to renew at his press conference on Friday night.
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