Statistics, Damn Statistics. I happen to know how they get such large numbers for the Lions and Swans at least. My sister in law, who wouldn't know a football from a ping pong ball was fronted by a survey taker a few months ago. He asked these questions:
1. Do you follow any of these codes of football: Rugby League, Rugby Union or Australian Rules? Her answer was NO!
2. If you did follow one of the codes, which one would it be? Answer - I don't know the difference in them.
3. Assuming you had to pick a favourite club from each code, which clubs would you pick? Answer, tell me some clubs names.
4. Well we're in the western Suburbs of Brisbane, so I suppose you would pick the Bronco's, Lions and University. Answer - Yeah that'll do, I gotta go and pick up the kids from school now.
Thanks for your time Ma'am.
That little gem of research is not worth a crumpet. If you were to ask a cross section of Sydneysiders who they followed in the AFL, the standard answer would be the Swans even though most of them have never been to a game or have any interest in it.
One only needs to look at the crowds at interstate games when the Blues play there. I can tell you we almost outnumbered the Lions fans in round 13. In previous years even when the Lions were travelling well, we had a large proportion of crowd support. It is different in Perth and Adelaide with their huge Membership base. It is hard to get a ticket there.
Don't fret. We will be back, and it will be bigger than ever.