Mr Magic wrote:
This passionless poster is so bored with AFL Football in general and StKilda specifically that he feels the need to post a thread on a St Kilda fan forum telling us all how the Club and AFL have evolved into a business designed to rob him of his feeling of excitemement.
That's not what I've posted at all.
They haven't robbed me of anything. It's disappointing as as a kid, it was something that I loved and something that gave me lots of joy. But as an adult, you tend to get things in perspective, and more important and fulfilling things come into your life. Footy naturally takes a back seat.
What the club needs to be wary of, is that people who loved the club won't simply 'move on' or 'get over it' if they don't actually see the Saints as 'their' club.
The AFL and the clubs expect alot from the average fan these days. You need to book your seats. You need to pay exhorbident prices for food. You need to buy a membership to attend games. You need to drink light beer at night games. You need to buy Foxtel to watch games. You need to sit politely in designated areas.
The list goes on.
Only people who feel something for their club will continue to tow this line. Once you no longer really care about the club, only a moron would continue to be a supporter under these 'rules'. You just simply find something better to do on your weekend.
Therefore, the clubs need to be careful that they give supporters a reason to continue to 'care' about the club.
Recently, I don't think the Saints are doing anything, anything at all to give supporters a reason to want to support the club.
They can only rely on people's love of the club, for as long as the club still resembles the club that they fell in love with.
The Saints need to be very careful.