Central District Football Club pleas with fans to come out in force for SANFL finals
CENTRAL District is calling on its fans to get behind the club for this year's SANFL finals series following its worst attendance figures in a decade.
CENTRAL District is calling on its fans to get behind the club for this year's SANFL finals as figures show home crowds have almost halved over the past decade.
This year's average crowd at Elizabeth Oval is about 2200, down from 4330 in 2002.
It comes despite the Bulldogs qualifying for its 14th straight finals series after turning around its worst start to a season in 40 years.
Central District chief executive Kris Grant said the falling crowd figures painted a bleak picture for the future of the club.
He said it was vital the players saw a sea of blue, red and white at the club's final home match on Saturday, August 31, which is being billed as a special family day to raise money for Novita Children's Services.
"This year we have such an exciting group of young players who deserve the support," Mr Grant said.
"And I think we offer a really good product for football fans.
"It's concerning. To have a successful team on the field costs money and if fans stay away, it's going to start to affect results.
"It's not only the admission fees we lose out on, it what people spend in the ground."
The club posted a $110,867 cash loss last season.
Mr Grant said the last five matches at Elizabeth had been played in wet and windy conditions, which was in part behind the smaller crowds.
He also said time-poor supporters and admission costs - an adult ticket to a home and away match is $14 - was a reason fans stayed home.
He suspected some traditional supporters may have been turned off by the ongoing debate, and eventual decision, to allow a Crows reserves team in the competition next year.
Central District marketing manager Kym Jarman said the club would work hard in the off-season to come up with ways to make local footy more attractive.
"It's quite emotional at this time for local football but we'd hope by the time the start of December rolls around and memberships go on sale things would have calmed down a bit and supporters will stick with their clubs," Mr Jarman said.
"I'd rather see support for clubs, which for the first time since 1991 could now have playing lists with no AFL players.
"Supporters should take much pleasure in their players, who have full-time jobs, knocking off a team of full-time professional footballers who are on big bucks."
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