Hawthorn fans deserting team after on-field decline
HAWTHORN is set to play to one of its smallest MCG crowds in years on Saturday, with the Hawks’ on-field decline likely to cost them primetime exposure next season.
HAWTHORN is set to play to one of its smallest MCG crowds in years on Saturday, with the Hawks’ on-field decline likely to cost them primetime exposure next season.
The MCC has forecast an attendance of 26,000 against Gold Coast, based on factors including weather, ladder positions and timeslot.
While that wouldn’t be a drastic tumble from the 28,112 which watched the Hawks beat the Suns at the MCG in 2013, Hawthorn’s rebuild will bring a reduction in Broadway games.
The Hawks have five standalone games this year — Geelong (Easter Monday, MCG), Port Adelaide and Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Thursday nights) and Sydney (SCG and MCG, Friday nights).
That was down from nine last year, which the Hawks entered searching for their fourth-straight premiership.
They have played 127 home games at the MCG since 1997 and only drawn less than 20,000 four times.
In their past 49 MCG games the Hawks have played in front of less than 30,000 just twice — against Greater Western Sydney in 2014 when Brendon Bolton was the caretaker coach, and in Round 5 this season against West Coast.
Hawthorn’s Launceston crowds are also down.
Only 10,553 fans attended on a sunny day against the Brisbane Lions in Round 8, the third-smallest crowd from 54 matches at the Hawks’ second home.
Coach Alastair Clarkson hoped a form revival would bring back Tasmanian fans.
“We’d like a bigger crowd, but maybe we’ve got to perform a little bit better to draw the crowd,” he said.
“Last time we came down here we weren’t fantastic. Hopefully that’ll return pretty soon.”
The AFL has set about rewarding finalists with extra primetime matches after a flood of uncompetitive blowouts in recent seasons — the Western Bulldogs have nine marquee games this year.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed last year that traditional powerhouses no longer held a monopoly on marquee timeslots.
“People want to see a contest,” he said when this season’s fixture was unveiled in October.
“I think bigger clubs or the biggest-supported Melbourne clubs don’t necessarily command the premium they did for those slots.
“I think people want to bank on known form and teams that are going to turn and up and provide a contest and hopefully a close game.”
Originally published as Hawthorn fans deserting team after on-field decline