This is the model being followed for the Greater Western Rabble #2.
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2017 did irreparable damage to not just thr Force but the sport. I know people who left the sport completely due to it.
I know others that used to travel from down south for the games. It's hard for some people to jump on the bandwagon for lack of better word and commit to a team where there is no permanency. An organisation where corruption, manipulation, deceit reign. The media are constantly banging on about Australia dropping back to 3 teams. Doesn't exactly instil confidence.
This being an AFL state, I wear a lot and of Force gear, I always get asked "didn't they get kicked out?", "Are they still around?"
There is also, the success. (Why 2017 really grates my gears, I reckon we were onto something). We need wins, we need to not be the bottom of the table.
The most I heard rugby being duscussed outside of Rugby fans was the start of this season. I made the joke, All this time looking at cutting under performing teams and the most interest has come from fall of the over dominating team. There was competition, the outcome unknown.
The thing that grinds my gears is, yes 2017 we'd finally built up enough momentum to be positive and we were killed off (it was likely the reason they wanted rid of us tbh)
This year the Rebels are in the same boat. Finally getting somewhere.
Yes it's with a team they can't afford, but since when has that ever stopped them?
I signed up as a foundation member in a group of 6 and I'm the last one standing from that group.
Anecdotally the perception of the side being losers doesn't help. I was speaking with a mate at work after the QLD game and his reaction was "shit, they actually won a game". This wasn't isolated incident either.
All the negative coverage of the game as a whole and poor performances across the board at Super Rugby level and National level probably doesn't help either.
The friends we sit with have been in for the long haul and follow NRL as well. We are obviously the exceptions. 23000 members playing out of Subi seems unbelievable now. IIRC the base prediction at the time of the bid was 5000 members to break even, so 23K was a pleasant surprise. It would be more than a little interesting to know the demographics of those 23K. Doubt many of them were rusted on AFL fans but have they drifted to AFL or are they mostly just watching RL nowdays? Both codes have had a long term advantage - plenty of FTA coverage. RL (including UK) also releases full match replays 24 hours after full time. That indicates to me that the NRL has control over it's content rather than the broadcaster.
In any event the remedies are simple really. 1). Real tangible backing from RA instead of roadblocks. 2). Winning consistently.
I wonder if when the SA teams were removed from Super did that also cause a drop in viewers / members for the Force. It is possible some may of been members to watch there original home team? I remember seeing a lot of opposition colours for certain games but then back to Force at other games. It is an argument I have with NZ counterparts, going to the Force game isn't turning on your tram but supporting rugby and if wearing your saders/chiefs/etc shirt on those games so be it. Rugby wins
My mind goes back to our first match after the axing …. Full house and the majority wearing some form of Force merch …..