Humpers wrote:
Kaptain Kouta wrote:
NSW has 14% of supporters yet only 4% of members, compared to 7% of Supporters and 5% of members in WA.
It probably comes down to what you classify as supporters. Many of the NSW "supporters" probably don't follow the AFL as religiously as they do in WA.
I remember 6-7 years ago when it seemed that every 2nd person in a non AFL state was an Essendon* "supporter".
First, those figures come from 2004, which is during our period of the worst performances on and off the field by the Club. So to say that supporters in "non-AFL" states are somehow fairweather supporters is a blatantly false and hollow argument.
I don't care if Carlton supporters only watch a handful of games a year, or if they live breathe and bleed Navy Blue, but the main thing is to help get them to convert their support from a verbal association to a real literal and financial attachment to the Club.
Making the assumption that the figures and percentages have remained somewhat static from 2004 to 2007, the NSW (when I say NSW, I mean NSW and ACT) members account for almost 1500 members at this stage.
To make that number increase, and as a result help the club achieve new heights in memberships, the Club has to make a sustained and serious long-term commitment to the NSW market.
If they do, you can guarantee that membership numbers in NSW can't help but rise, especially if NSW supporters see that the Club values their support and membership. As it is, we feel often neglected, I hate to think how forgotten Qld and NT fans feel year in year out.
To invest in NSW is in the long term interests of the Club, and, as a result, the AFL itself.