Fight fire with fire

[Cumberland Throw]

In the current dog eat dog football climate, I believe it is time for the Melbourne Storm to start picking at the seams of Melbourne Demons FC.

From all reports you hear from down south the Demons are really struggling in terms of, On field performance, Members, Crowds, Sponsors etc.

Is it time for the Storm to start targeting the corporate dollars that the demons are currently receiving, should they be actively marketing to casual Demons fans to jump ship.

Next week the Demons are playing at the MCG to what could be a lower crowd than the storm average this season. Should we start programming head to head clashes with them.

Don't think for a minute this is not what the Swans have done for the past decade,

Thoughts??

 

[Nuke]

Interesting theory. Will it work? Who knows until it's tried. Will the NRL try it? Doubtful. Should the NRL try it? Yes, I believe so. If it doesn't work, then so be it. The Storm won't be in a worse position than they are now (I'm not saying they're in a bad position, but what have they got to lose in a big way by trying it?).

 

[philstorm]

Bloody good idea, Cumberland.

Melbourne usually draw poor crowds against the likes of Fremantle, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.

The NRL SHOULD be trying to get head to head clashes with these games, but they instead decide to give us the freakin' bye ...

 

[Nuke]

To be fair, the NRL draw was out before the aussie rules one was. Therefore, all the byes were allocated before the aussie rules season was scheduled. Can't blame the NRL for that one.

 

[lotti]

the Demons aren't the only Melborune based AFL team and as part of teammelbourne I think the Demons are a protected species. Phil the Demons aren't the only ones playing at the G in round 7 the Hawkes/Pies game is there as well.

 

[spacemanspiff]

I really dont think people outside of Melbourne understand just how rusted on to AFL the entire city is. As a massive league fan (no, not the Storm) I think its a unbelievably big achievement what the Storm have managed to do down here in Mexico. Most people dont just love AFL, they geniunely dont know a thing about League...nothing, zilch, zero. Their distatste for League and Union (and believe me - they dont differentiate between the two) is borne mostly out of ignorance. The Storm are chipping away at this one year at a time - and it is having an impact. I wont ever knock an idea just because its new, but I dont think chasing blue-blooded Melbourne supporters will have much effect. They wont jump ship because they're team is rubbish - It's been rubbish for years. Corporate dollars is another matter, but Melbourne tend to have the most affluent supporters in the AFL (They represent the most numbers in the MCC) Money goes where money is.

 

[Twizzle]

The problem is that Melbourne also has a heap of other AFL teams in town, including Hawthorne who are second on the ladder.

They'd have to pick at the seams of the other teams as well.

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

I really dont think people outside of Melbourne understand just how rusted on to AFL the entire city is. As a massive league fan (no, not the Storm) I think its a unbelievably big achievement what the Storm have managed to do down here in Mexico. Most people dont just love AFL, they geniunely dont know a thing about League...nothing, zilch, zero. Their distatste for League and Union (and believe me - they dont differentiate between the two) is borne mostly out of ignorance. The Storm are chipping away at this one year at a time - and it is having an impact. I wont ever knock an idea just because its new, but I dont think chasing blue-blooded Melbourne supporters will have much effect. They wont jump ship because they're team is rubbish - It's been rubbish for years. Corporate dollars is another matter, but Melbourne tend to have the most affluent supporters in the AFL (They represent the most numbers in the MCC) Money goes where money is.

Right on the money.

The ignorance is astounding for a population that passes it self off as the Sporting Guru's of the Universe.

The ignorance can be directly linked to the NRL slackness of not having games played FTA at reasonable times.

I believe Gallop is supposedly getting tough with CH 9, saying "Use it or Lose it" (can anyone verify or update on this progress?) But really, shouldn't this have been in place to capitalise on the success of Melbourne Storm.

The Melbourne Storm potential supporter base should have been acclimatised with the game through a period of success than otherwise, you would think?

This should have been a priority and the NRL have really dropped the ball.

Free to Air Footy at reasonable times for Melbourne new-comers should be an absolute priority, before any other strategys, for obvious reasons.

 

[kia ora storm]

The problem is that Melbourne also has a heap of other AFL teams in town, including Hawthorne who are second on the ladder.

They'd have to pick at the seams of the other teams as well.

Agree...it is not just the Demons that need to be targetted. If we are banking on getting Demon fans over to Storm games then this will not work.

We are better to target the likes of Western Bulldogs or Collingwood fans...yes we will never threaten their supporter base but the typical Pies or Dogs fan are more likely to attend a Storm game than the typical posh latte sipping Demons fan.

 

[Brownie.Kougari]

For mine I think the Storm should be working with the demons, have combined training drills etc to help them win more, make it high-profile & them maybe the demons fans might show more interest.

I don't think we should be taking on any AFL teams, thats what made the Lions hated here, we should be building relationships with a couple of teams that will raise interest for the Storm.

 

[butchmcdick]

Agree...it is not just the Demons that need to be targetted. If we are banking on getting Demon fans over to Storm games then this will not work.

We are better to target the likes of Western Bulldogs or Collingwood fans...yes we will never threaten their supporter base but the typical Pies or Dogs fan are more likely to attend a Storm game than the typical posh latte sipping Demons fan.

If the shoe was on the other foot and the swans were targetting casual fans (what the f**k is a casual fan ?) of your club would you be tempted ? I mean collingwood fans are a breed apart. They are staunch pies fans and league doesn't rate with them. Think Manly fans in the 80's, everybody hates their club and they in turn hate everybody back.

The AFL fans in Victoria righty or wrongly are rabid about their team and AFL in general. In my experience the female fans are even more full on than the blokes. The only way we will have any impact is to show the game on free to air at a resonable time.

Instead of trying to convert fans we should be trying to get them to have an interst in the storm and NRL in general. I can see people being AFL and NRL fans not either or as some of the posters here are suggesting. If you look at the lions there are plenty of supporters who are bronco/titan/cowboys fans as well as being lions fans.

 

[bulldog]

I believe Gallop is supposedly getting tough with CH 9, saying "Use it or Lose it" (can anyone verify or update on this progress?)

Yeah Gallop said it once but hasn't pushed or insisted as far as I know, games are still being shown at horrendous times and it doesn't look like changing any time soon.

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

Yeah Gallop said it once but hasn't pushed or insisted as far as I know, games are still being shown at horrendous times and it doesn't look like changing any time soon.

If he can't see that this is the way to penetrate the AFL market and act upon it relentlessly until it is actioned, he may not be the right person for the job.

With the AFL announcing it's impending expansion in to the Gold Coast and West Sydney, I can't help but think that this issue should be priority #1.

To put it bluntly. The AFL is going to the lengths of introducing new teams into new areas and the NRL can't even show the game on "Free-to-Air" television at a reasonable time. Sounds very weak on the NRL's behalf.

It really is "pointing out the Elephant in the room" and I can't help but feel that Gallop has fallen asleep at the wheel because it really should have been rectified by now.

Not only is it burying their head in the sand over the growth of our great game in our "National" League, It is a fairly big slap in the face for people who are existing fans.

The message sent, in my opinion, is that Ch. 9 is dictating terms to NRL who is supposed to be the care-taker of Rugby League.

This is not putting the interests of Rugby League first.

 

[Billythekid]

I believe Gallop is supposedly getting tough with CH 9, saying "Use it or Lose it" (can anyone verify or update on this progress?)

:lol:

 

[Slackboy72]

If you think a Demons crowd is going to up and start watching league....

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You'd have more luck with the Arden st crowd. Which will still be none.

 

[BWNB]

The problem is that Melbourne also has a heap of other AFL teams in town, including Hawthorne who are second on the ladder.

They'd have to pick at the seams of the other teams as well.

Who wouldnt wanna pick up the hawks with the way they are playing atm, especially Franklin.

 

[Perth Red]

People only know what they are shown or taught! You can't blame the population of melbourne when the NRL has had such a shocking strategy for developing the game there. Plonking a team in and crossing fingers seems to be Gallops way. One SOO and the odd Test match isn't going to convert years of ignorance. Regular rep matches, link up with media outlets and fta coverage will.

Is anyone really surprised given the NRL's lack of direction? Melbourne is just a sad reflection of the state of the whole game in terms of National profile.

 

[_Johnsy]

Problem is that Melbourne is full of fuggtards. *note sarcasm* before some Melbournians have a little cry.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Who wouldnt wanna pick up the hawks with the way they are playing atm, especially Franklin.

androtop.

 

[_Johnsy]

City of Melbourne = AFL drones who would do anything to protect their game.
AFL drones who would do anything to protect their game = Fuggtard