The Appeal of Football – Editorial

Michael Sholly

Well done to all our clubs who hosted matches on last Saturday on ANZAC day. It was a great occasion and an ideal way for people to come together and commemorate the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli.

No doubt club volunteers made a special effort to ensure the assembled crowd respectfully observed the ceremony. The extra effort was valued by all the participants, officials and spectators who placed extra significance on the day.

The crowds at the two venues I attended were stronger than normal and it made me think about the importance of turning a football match into an event. The match is just one component of the day and we have the ability to bring together various segments of our community. The more spectators at the match has extra benefits both socially and financially.

The financial returns are obvious with extra canteen and bar sales after the match; however, it is the social aspects that transform a game of Australian rules into an event. It doesn’t always have to be ceremonial but there are a variety of different people that can be especially engaged in a match.

Most clubs host nine senior and reserves matches in a season. Clubs use themes at the luncheons to ensure the tables are filled.  These usually include past players and premiership reunions, a charitable cause or a ladies lunch. These are ideal opportunities to showcase and engage your club to various groups. For most clubs, luncheons only provide an extra twenty or thirty people to a game and only a certain amount of people are interested in attending this event. We need to be endeavouring to think of ways to get hundreds more people to our matches.

The best attended games that I have witnessed have been rivalry games between neighbouring suburbs or competing schools, Sunday games at Sportscover Arena, games played at elite ovals and the Friday night match at Collegians last year. Whilst I acknowledge that VAFA football is a Saturday competition, there is no denying that one off peak matches can be a winner.

When we had the storms a few years back and a number of games were cancelled, we played Wednesday and Thursday night at Sportscover Arena and large crowds attended. The players enjoyed the experience of playing under lights, and being the centre of attention at the workplace that day. Club supporters and volunteers got to watch and enjoy a match without the constant worry of organising the volunteers or getting the team sheet signed. These occasions have the ability to swell the crowds not by just 20 or thirty but from 100 to 1000.

All of the club can attend the match not just those that are playing in the reserves. For example the club’s Under 19 team, the Thirds and Club XVIII players from both teams can all come and watch. People who work or have another sporting activity on a Saturday can come along and watch. As grounds are being renovated, upgrading the lights to allow for matches to be played need to be included in the requests.

This year Premier B provides a wonderful opportunity for clubs to instil some local rivalries and have some one off matches that the whole community could engage. This section has nine of the ten clubs south of the city and many in neighbouring suburbs. Already these games have had large crowds and with a little imagination can turn a football match into an event. When there is an atmosphere, people are more likely to come back to the club more often than just for a one off lunch.