Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

[Bornadog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

Report this to the club, pathetic!

He is writing to the club.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

So you are doubting my post?

It's not personal. I just find it SUCH a disrespectful thing to say to a kid. I find it incredible. Is it possible it could have been a joke?

[LongWait]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

So you are doubting my post?

You did get the information about the refusal to sign autographs third hand BAD - no-one doubts your belief that you posted the truth but the woman who "heard" the comments may have been mistaken. Just sayin'.

[Bornadog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

It's not personal. I just find it SUCH a disrespectful thing to say to a kid. I find it incredible. Is it possible it could have been a joke?

No it wasn't a joke, they didn't sign.

You did get the information about the refusal to sign autographs third hand BAD - no-one doubts your belief that you posted the truth but the woman who "heard" the comments may have been mistaken. Just sayin'.

No it was not a mistake, my mate was there and none of the kids had autographs. The women came over and told my mate, and he saw the kids faces they were all pissed off. They were very upset and my mate is writing to the club. He has many other similar stories.

When my daughter was about 5 or 6 I took her to the family day (around 2005). We got there early and there was hardly anyone there. My daughter saw Johnno and ran up to him to get an autograph, and he said sorry I am not allowed to sign autographs now, but you will get an opportunity later at the marque (pointing to where it was). She was very upset. I know its a fine line and if some other kid saw him signing it would be a rush, but there were no other kids around.

We have to get it right as these kids are our future supporters.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

No it wasn't a joke, they didn't sign.



No it was not a mistake, my mate was there and none of the kids had autographs. The women came over and told my mate, and he saw the kids faces they were all pissed off. They were very upset and my mate is writing to the club. He has many other similar stories.

When my daughter was about 5 or 6 I took her to the family day (around 2005). We got there early and there was hardly anyone there. My daughter saw Johnno and ran up to him to get an autograph, and he said sorry I am not allowed to sign autographs now, but you will get an opportunity later at the marque (pointing to where it was). She was very upset. I know its a fine line and if some other kid saw him signing it would be a rush, but there were no other kids around.

We have to get it right as these kids are our future supporters.

Be interested to see what the club's response is. I can understand players being given instructions on a Family day. You can't fault the player in that situation as they are doing what they are told.
But with the earlier event, no idea why they wouldn't do it. Is it club policy?
Oh for the days when you tossed coins in a blanket, you could get a decent doughnut at the ground, and our blokes were working class, not hanging out in King street!!

[Bornadog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

I can understand players being given instructions on a Family day. You can't fault the player in that situation as they are doing what they are told.

Common sense should prevail when you see a little girls face all lit up with excitement, only to be shot down in flames.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

Funnily enough the club has listed an open training session for saturday on it's website. Where fans and members can get the chance to get an autograph before the end of the season......

[G-Mo77]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

Common sense should prevail when you see a little girls face all lit up with excitement, only to be shot down in flames.

Exactly. If I was directed not to sign autographs from the club I'd say F 'em and do it anyway. Supporters help pay the bills, a bit of respect and gratitude wouldn't go astray.

[azabob]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

Reality is neither have set the world on fire this year, so they could be pusing pens for a living rather than kicking a footy...

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

Common sense should prevail when you see a little girls face all lit up with excitement, only to be shot down in flames.

This is the sad world we live in isn't it?

[AndrewP6]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

As a child, I was at a family day, having a go at the Handball competition. Dougie Hawkins was there, and doing his best to get me the win by picking up the target to 'assist' me. His wife commented "Doug, he'd be better off without your help!"

I have pics of me with Dogs players such as Jim Edmond, Terry Wheeler, Dougie, KT, down in the rooms straight after games... and the young blokes today don't even want to scribble an autograph?

As Bob Dylan once said, things have changed.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

As a child, I was at a family day, having a go at the Handball competition. Dougie Hawkins was there, and doing his best to get me the win by picking up the target to 'assist' me. His wife commented "Doug, he'd be better off without your help!"

I have pics of me with Dogs players such as Jim Edmond, Terry Wheeler, Dougie, KT, down in the rooms straight after games... and the young blokes today don't even want to scribble an autograph?

As Bob Dylan once said, things have changed.

Point is, things are different now.

Do players really, really, give a rats about the fans anymore?

[Bornadog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

Do players really, really, give a rats about the fans anymore?

argh, now to the point of the thread. Should we be pushing the players to do more PR? We are losing kids left right and centre. We need to keep at it and reassure the kids we are building for the future, so they need to stick with the club. Maybe more clinics, free training days, more school visits, free merchandise hand outs to all the kids, etc etc.

[Max469]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

I remember years ago at the ground a friend of mines son asked Simon Beasley for an autograph and he told him to .... off.

I bet he never said it again to a kid after I told him what I thought of him.

I don't care who it is, with out the kids they would be nothing - it is the kids who make them the heroes they think they are.

Of course there are certain times you would not approach but in this case he was at the ground and just standing there.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Fan base from the ground up - we suck at it.

I remember years ago at the ground a friend of mines son asked Simon Beasley for an autograph and he told him to .... off.

I bet he never said it again to a kid after I told him what I thought of him.

I don't care who it is, with out the kids they would be nothing - it is the kids who make them the heroes they think they are.

Of course there are certain times you would not approach but in this case he was at the ground and just standing there.

Unbelievable.