Return to fold, lost SANFL members urged

SANFL clubs are urging members who walked away when AFL reserves were admitted to the competition to return.

SANFL clubs are urging members who walked away when AFL reserves were admitted to the competition to return.

Central District and North Adelaide both believe a decline of about 10 per cent in membership was virtually directly attributable to a protest vote against reserves.

West Adelaide also said this may have been a factor in membership decline.

Dogs chief executive Kris Grant understood members frustration but he said the club felt let down in a sense because it was still striving as hard as ever for success and believed it could add to its nine premierships in the future.

“I don’t think you can judge what AFL reserves has done to the competition in one year and we would urge those members who have walked away to come back,’’ Grant said.

“We are still the Central District Football Club the same as we always have been and that won’t change regardless of who we’re playing.”

Edwards echoed the sentiments and added:

“I think most of us agree it would be great if the SANFL was like it was 30 years ago but the fact is the football landscape has changed considerably,’’ Edwards said.

“I can understand supporter frustration at that but we still have a great competition in my opinion and we’re still a serious footy club.”