Rodge', maybe you were at the 'scary Davenport' match at the 'G in 1991? (Or was it 1992?)
90000-odd crowd, with an estimated 20000 turned away. (My mob arrived late, but waltzed straight in - to the Ponsford Stand. Whilst everyone was trying to check out the then brand new Great Southern Stand.
)
Background: I used to work as an usher at the finals at Waverley. If the Skunks were playing, they
always had the majority of the crowd support. Even against fellow lowlifes like Carlscum and Effendrug. (The 80's, so not one Saint's game.
)
Back to that day at the 'G.
That crowd was 50/50 in their support!
In other words, I've seen
no other club's fan base being able to 'match it' with the Skunks. But,
we did!
The Saintas have a
huge (and historical) fan base. We should damn well be a league power! But being St Kilda
, we only ever were for that brief (but wondrous) period early 60's to early 70's. (Then interest rates going mad sent us crashing. And then, almost to oblivion.
)
But again, my point is, yes, we damn well do have a
huge following. All the more remarkable given our track record at times. 'Juggernaut' was the one thing Cuddles got right (even if he didn't really know it.)
But to my continual frustration, our lack of vision, sees us continually fail to leverage our supporter base, and all that makes our club so unique in a world of AFL vanilla. And yes, JO would/should be the key to us for fulfilling this destiny!
PS: Hey Rodge', this is a bit belated, I know, but, great to have you back posting.