Good Friday footy - what's the pass mark for the crowd?

[Ned_Flanders]

Quality Post

Unfortunately all throughout North's history they have proved themselves to be the club that just flies in and flies out. They historicaly do just enough to get the match payments - nothing more

(Did no community work while playing in Sydney and Canberra as a prime example)

Look what Collingwood and Essendon have done the with Anzac day game. Corporates literally fall over one another to attend this game.

Yet all North seen to have done to promote the inaugural GF clash at Etihad is to send Brad Scott along to the RCH to get his picture taken with a sick kid.

This was also an issue with the stupid sheedy eureka game idea he did witb richmond and north

Heard from someone connected to the league that the year north was the host they did virtually no promotuon of it, just assuming the afl would do all that stuff

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Next year they'll market the shit out of it.

There's an unknown/Religious/unchartered element to this game and not falling flat on their faces seems part of the AFL and both teams priorities. Channel 7 and fox could be doing better advertising.

Getting through with a decent turnout/showing for North/Dogs is enough to consolidate the fixture and ensure the annual fixture is a success for the hospital and the AFL.

The absurdity of how North are being run onfield and the required cull (onfield and off) should be dealt with at a later date when the media and club ordered suppression of everything Brad Scott is lifted.

The entrenched mediocrity and hiding from hard calls will continue to cause end of season shit storms until they sweep the the place once and for all.

Luckily Scott's style of coaching is suited to stadiums with a roof so don't be surprised if North get up in a tight one.

Just don't let the coaching staff know they are rubbish at the game...
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Why would you market it next year and not now? That makes no sense

 

[maskmcgee]

Collingwood and Essendon do not fill out the stadium.

100% of seats are always sold, we don't get 100,000 because AFL members and MCC don't show up.

The pass mark for this has to be a public ticket sellout.

 

[Golden_6]

I would suspect it's more of a directive not to heavily market the game from the higher ups. I feel as though they wan't the game to draw a high crowd but at the same time 'blend in' to the whole RCH appeal for at least the first year. I'm assuming it's more of a wait and see event whilst not trying to overshadow the appeal, for now anyway.

 

[Thats Wright]

Why would you market it next year and not now? That makes no sense

From what angle do you suggest they market it?
I agree it's been lame but can see that North don't really want the spotlight right at the minute while being directionless and carrying some particularly horrendous 100-200 game players and some less than quality coaching staff.

The breaking of the religious ice creates an awkward marketing opportunity that will gain ground in future years.

There's probably not a real need to shove this initial game down everyone's throats. They'll get near 50k and a lot of viewers anyway.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

From what angle do you suggest they market it?
I agree it's been lame but can see that North don't really want the spotlight right at the minute while being directionless and carrying some particularly horrendous 100-200 game players and some less than quality coaching staff.

The breaking of the religious ice creates an awkward marketing opportunity that will gain ground in future years.

There's probably not a real need to shove this initial game down everyone's throats. They'll get near 50k and a lot of viewers anyway.

You market the event.

Promote being a part of afl history. The huge fundraising the game will generate. The history and rivalry of the two clubs.

As everyone loves reminding us, richmond and carlton have been shit for years, yet they get 70k+ to their opener. Why? Its the rivalry between the two clubs and the event its become. Our boards have banned preview threads being made for it prior to the end of the preseason comp. Reason being, we used to start talking about the game in nov and it became a four month slagfest between our two fans.

North and the dogs need to elevate this game above form and h&a status. You dont do that with silence

 

[Thats Wright]

You market the event.

Promote being a part of afl history. The huge fundraising the game will generate. The history and rivalry of the two clubs.

As everyone loves reminding us, richmond and carlton have been shit for years, yet they get 70k+ to their opener. Why? Its the rivalry between the two clubs and the event its become. Our boards have banned preview threads being made for it prior to the end of the preseason comp. Reason being, we used to start talking about the game in nov and it became a four month slagfest between our two fans.

North and the dogs need to elevate this game above form and h&a status. You dont do that with silence

Agree with all that but there's still the issue of going out of their way to offend and insult those that identify with church.

It's still a thing I think. As hard as the greens, homosexuals and Islamists try, it's still around and they probably should be shown some respect in this first whack at easter.

Hope to see a better effort in the next day or so though.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Agree with all that but there's still the issue of going out of their way to offend and insult those th
at identify with church.

It's still a thing I think. As hard as the greens, homosexuals and Islamists try, it's still around and they probably should be shown some respect in this first whack at easter.

Hope to see a better effort in the next day or so though.

Then you manage that concern.

Get the christians (who are willing to talk about their faith) at the club to hit the media like LightFM and the other christian outlets. Talk about how their faith and football co exist. How they will be honoring the day prior to the game. Promote morning masses that are close to the ground for the various denominations, which will allow people to attend both.

You dont reassure people with silence.

 

[Thats Wright]

Then you manage that concern.

Get the christians (who are willing to talk about their faith) at the club to hit the media like LightFM and the other christian outlets. Talk about how their faith and football co exist. How they will be honoring the day prior to the game. Promote morning masses that are close to the ground for the various denominations, which will allow people to attend both.

You dont reassure people with silence.

Flying under the radar then playing the victim is better. That way you won't alienate Muslims or gays. But seriously, it seems more a case of avoiding obstacles than driving over targets.

It's not a grand final. It's an annual fixture the AFL are using to condition the community into choosing football over religion.

Much in the same way the AFL are using women's football to condition the community into choosing football over soccer.

Perhaps the data on this year will allow the game to venture into more adventurous marketing in future games.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Flying under the radar then playing the victim is better. That way you won't alienate Muslims or gays. But seriously, it seems more a case of avoiding obstacles than driving over targets.

It's not a grand final. It's an annual fixture the AFL are using to condition the community into choosing football over religion.

Much in the same way the AFL are using women's football to condition the community into choosing football over soccer.

Perhaps the data on this year will allow the game to venture into more adventurous marketing in future games.

Thats good for an afl perspective, but not from a north/dogs one.

They need to make this game their grand final of the h&a.

They need this to be the game members prebook seating for months in advance. Going under the radar doesnt do this.

You have one shot to make this a success, why would you use half measures?

 

[Thats Wright]

Thats good for an afl perspective, but not from a north/dogs one.

They need to make this game their grand final of the h&a.

They need this to be the game members prebook seating for months in advance. Going under the radar doesnt do this.

You have one shot to make this a success, why would you use half measures?

Higgins was on 360

We do half measures quite well.

It would take a lot of effort for the AFL to pry this game away from North.

It would instantly put unwanted rotational heat on other blockbuster fixtures and add a greed element to Good Friday.

North are a bit shell shocked at the moment as the driver just crashed the car and is continuing on as if nothing happened. Everyone's just holding on, relatively hopelessly and waiting for the driver to stop and get out.

The fixture will gain momentum and these 2 clubs often have decent contests.
Mediocrity does work to a point and perhaps being a rudderless ship will work anyway. After all, the day is about passing the buck.

48-49k and a local community involved and charitable event on Good Friday will win the day regardless of marketing or drummed up premature passion from the clubs involved.

 

[Jade]

If I were a betting man, I'd be thinking the AFL will schedule the game involving at least one of Collingwood, Hawthorn, Essendon, Richmond by 2019/2020.

I doubt they'll let it sit at between 30-40k attendance and 'just ok' TV viewership for much longer than that.

 

[RodneyMaynard]

game should be rotated regardless of crowd result. Good Friday should be a major event game, either the grand final replay or a game played between the two exciting teams predicted to play well that year. Every other holiday game is stuck between the same two teams every year regardless of form, and we've had some stinkers as a result.

 

[yodellinhank]

Higgins was on 360

We do half measures quite well.

It would take a lot of effort for the AFL to pry this game away from North.

It would instantly put unwanted rotational heat on other blockbuster fixtures and add a greed element to Good Friday.

It wouldn't at the moment. Been discussing the fact there's footy on this year around the water cooler. Everyone seems to know there's a game but not who's playing it.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

I maintain that the Showdown is the perfect clash for Good Friday.

Thing about standalone marquee matches... particularly those on public holidays when people who aren't normally into footy might be flicking around on TV... is you need it to be a marketing tool. You want them to see something great that will get them in.

The Showdown is probably the one game which will always produce an emotional spectacle and palpable atmosphere no matter what. The Derby as well I guess, but the Showdown is another level.

Crows v Port in the City of Churches would work best as a permanent fixture imo and the AFL could really create something with it.

North v Bulldogs seems just a strange choice. There's no current, geographic or traditional rivalry, I don't really see what it presents for the neutral.

Of course footy fans will still watch it, but for others who are bored and tune in, will it really be an atmosphere that grabs them?

I'm not saying either of those clubs shouldn't be involved, its just an odd matchup for mine. I'm sure if you asked both sets of fans who they consider their rivals, the other wouldn't be high up the list. I'm sure if you told either club they were to host the game and could have their pick of opponents to ensure a sellout and great atmosphere, neither would choose the other.

For all the myriad of options and combinations available, for all the massive buildup to footy on "the most boring day of the year", which has gone on for decades... if we have a game that can't even sell out a 50k stadium, it all seems very odd.

North seem to believe they have a birthright to it. If that is the case, ok. Tell them it's there's to host where they want against who they want to ensure the best game, crowd, event and atmosphere. I highly doubt they'd have picked the Bulldogs.

Adelaide and Port are not from Melbourne mate, footy is only important in Melbourne according to the AFL.

 

[Thats Wright]

If I were a betting man, I'd be thinking the AFL will schedule the game involving at least one of Collingwood, Hawthorn, Essendon, Richmond by 2019/2020.

I doubt they'll let it sit at between 30-40k attendance and 'just ok' TV viewership for much longer than that.

Lucky you don't bet. There's not a chance in hell of Essendon or Collingwood getting this game.

The crowd for this game will never be under 45k.

 

[Jade]

Lucky you don't bet. There's not a chance in hell of Essendon or Collingwood getting this game.

I dunno. The AFL can always be relied upon to do what makes the most commercial sense.

The crowd for this game will never be under 45k.

Well first chance for you to be wrong is a little over a day away, so I guess we'll see.

 

[eth-dog]

Once it dawns on people - aka after this year - you can go out and have a few beers and then see the footy on Good Friday, the most boring day of the year, it will sell out every year.

Same as once people worked out you could have a few beers and go to the footy on Friday nights, they became big.

The same pattern as Friday night is evident here. Sniping petty Essendon supporters will bag the concept. But once is proven to be a success, they will whinge and moan and to get some of the action.

Unfortunately, as was demonstrated when 34 of their players were suspended for systemic drug cheating, Essendon cannot be relied upon to provide reliable large crowds, so their argument is moot.

Collingwood don't go to Etihad for some reason.

North and the Dogs will make it work perfectly, just alternate between who has the home game every year.

Essendon have literally never dropped out of the top 8 for average attendances and have been outside the top 4 twice in the AFL era. The last time North were in the top 8 was in 2001, and last time they were in the top 4 in 1996.

 

[RightYouAreThen]

Why aren't the saints playing the demons?

brilliant !

 

[Thats Wright]

It wouldn't at the moment. Been discussing the fact there's footy on this year around the water cooler. Everyone seems to know there's a game but not who's playing it.

Yep, first year pioneering.

By not marketing this game the AFL avoids any religious protest and leaves their options open to exploit the fixture in the future.

Pioneering things in the AFL isn't meant to be easy. If it was, even the shit clubs would be doing it.

 

[Kciza]

There's a narrative that North should get Good Friday. The AFL seem to agree, so that's fine.

If that's the case they should have been given the opportunity to negotiate and pick a willing opponent to make the absolute best go of it possible. They themselves want to make it an annual event.

The Bulldogs seems an odd choice. If North did in fact choose the Dogs, I'm a bit unsure as to why.

I believe we wanted the opponent to be Carlton, due to our geographical proximity to the RCH. AFL decided they wanted the Dogs. Will probably be a better game in the short term as a result

 

[yodellinhank]

Yep, first year pioneering.

By not marketing this game the AFL avoids any religious protest and leaves their options open to exploit the fixture in the future.

Pioneering things in the AFL isn't meant to be easy. If it was, even the shit clubs would be doing it.

And you expect people will identify the game with north v bulldogs? Just like the way you "pioneered" friday night football?

 

[Thats Wright]

And you expect people will identify the game with north v bulldogs? Just like the way you "pioneered" friday night football?

Bit hard to monopolize Friday nights.

Even North were probably sick of the 2 day benders back in the day.

This year is more about building a base of connections through the hospital, the staff of the hospital and the kids as well as getting a contest and scorecard under the belt to expand from.

Once the ground work is done this year and 45-50k turn up and the religious don't kick up a storm, next years game has no limits on the easter spectacular they'll abuse through all types of marketing and advertising.

Nothing wrong with respecting the wishes of the religious while garnering attention for the kids hospital. The footy game will grow in hype over time.

 

[Tas]

You dont get corporates interested by not promoting it though

The corporations have already purchased the seats, they are reserved, we don't know which companies have access to the seats. AFL/Etihad stadium know, I would imagine they have promoted because they are the main beneficiaries of these people attending. I hope you are not suggesting that we flood the airways with generic advertisement to encourage those who have already paid for seating to attend. That would be a very expensive process for no financial return.

North and the dogs should be in the media daily pushing this game - hard.

We are in the media, we are doing promotion events. Could we do more? You can always do more, however, the clubs do not have infinite resources, they have to make a determination as to what is needed and where.

You dont make a blockbuster just by picking the date on the calendar, you have to get out there and create a buzz and excitement about the game.

I didn't see any round 1 advertising other than what Channel 7 itself has self-promoted out of self-interest. I don't remember Collingwood and Essendon heavily promoting ANZAC day, it grew to what it is over time. We didn't heavily promote Friday Night football and it took a while to grow but became the biggest time slot. I think the strategy would have needed to be different if this game was at the MCG. Our two sides got 47k last year, granted we were travelling better last year, but I think our two clubs have the capacity to fill out the public and member reserves without going all out on advertising blitz. What we do not have any control over would be too difficult to target effectively by the club themselves.

I should be sick of hearing about this game by now on sen. Instead im sick of hearing about hawthorn. Guess which game im most invested in now outside the tigs?

I would expect most if not all the public available seating is going to be taken up North and Dogs supporters, if this game was going to be at the MCG where it would need neutral support it would make sense to advertise more aggressively. I think if the ticket sales were struggling they would have hit it hard with promotion. You are sick of hearing about Hawthorn because the AFL has no confidence that the game is going to sell well.

The clubs and the AFL have people specialised on promotion and planning, you have to put some faith in these people that they know what they are doing and while it is romantic to believe scrubs on a football forum know better, I lean towards people who have access to sales data to make that judgement call.

We can only tell with hindsight if they have made the right calls or not, we do not have the data to make a judgement.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

The corporations have already purchased the seats, they are reserved, we don't know which companies have access to the seats. AFL/Etihad stadium know, I would imagine they have promoted because they are the main beneficiaries of these people attending. I hope you are not suggesting that we flood the airways with generic advertisement to encourage those who have already paid for seating to attend. That would be a very expensive process for no financial return.



We are in the media, we are doing promotion events. Could we do more? You can always do more, however, the clubs do not have infinite resources, they have to make a determination as to what is needed and where.



I didn't see any round 1 advertising other than what Channel 7 itself has self-promoted out of self-interest. I don't remember Collingwood and Essendon heavily promoting ANZAC day, it grew to what it is over time. We didn't heavily promote Friday Night football and it took a while to grow but became the biggest time slot. I think the strategy would have needed to be different if this game was at the MCG. Our two sides got 47k last year, granted we were travelling better last year, but I think our two clubs have the capacity to fill out the public and member reserves without going all out on advertising blitz. What we do not have any control over would be too difficult to target effectively by the club themselves.



I would expect most if not all the public available seating is going to be taken up North and Dogs supporters, if this game was going to be at the MCG where it would need neutral support it would make sense to advertise more aggressively. I think if the ticket sales were struggling they would have hit it hard with promotion. You are sick of hearing about Hawthorn because the AFL has no confidence that the game is going to sell well.

The clubs and the AFL have people specialised on promotion and planning, you have to put some faith in these people that they know what they are doing and while it is romantic to believe scrubs on a football forum know better, I lean towards people who have access to sales data to make that judgement call.

We can only tell with hindsight if they have made the right calls or not, we do not have the data to make a judgement.

Short version is "we dont need to"

If essendon need to, collingwood need to, im surprised north and the dogs dont