Become the Bad Guy, Reap the Rewards?

[Ape_Man]

My thoughts on this are deep, but I want to give you an abridged version to see if anyone else thinks my ideas have merit.

Here goes...

We will never be able to compete against the big clubs. We don’t have the money, the premierships, social awarness or membership numbers.

We should, in wrestling term, turn heel.

What that means is becoming the bad guy. Or, in my vision, the anti-hero.

By being the ‘bad guy’, we should fight the ‘man’. Publicly take on the AFL, umpires, media, everything.

Call out what we feel is egregious. Every single time.

This would allow us to market to anyone that has ever felt hard done by, where they think the system has let them down.

Which is everyone.

If I was in charge, I would set aside $100,000 or more per year just to pay fines to play to this image. Imagine telling a senior coach to go nuts and the press it would get if they did.

In fact, I would work with the AFL to create the image. To be the ONE club that doesn’t toe the line. I think that, behind the scenes, they would love the drama. They could set themselves up to be the solution to the St Kilda problem.

They could fine us every second week and talk about how we need to be brought in line. We’d be their North Korea. Over time someone would need to win.

Of course it would be the AFL that eventually wins but we would be in the news all the time. Then bide our time before we would start again.

It would have to be carefully managed, but I think it could work.

Anyway, that is my brief version. More thoughts available if this idea takes off.

We are already considered a problem, so let's use that as a solution.

Look forward to any discussion.

[Enrico_Misso]

Couldn't do it with our current yes-man president.
Could we get Donald Trump to be our president after his impeachment?

[congorozides]

I like it.
A niche market.
Brad Scott and the Kangas have been sort of flirting with this a bit I think.

Our half baked nice guy suck up to HQ approach sure as s*** isnt working. We are just a lame follower.
Following social trends but two years late.
Embarrassing at the moment.

[chico2001]

Agree with all posts.

[St Chris]

City Hall always wins.

GT walked this line a bit in his day, and didn’t get us anywhere.

[Waltzing St Kilda]

Might stir up some existing Saints supporters but is unlikely to appeal to neutrals.

Does anyone like a whinger? I despised the Injectors when they were constantly calling foul (and I still do).

The club sure need some character but it can't be contrived. Put the marketing department in charge and the results are bound to be cringe-worthy.
Play better and the lustre will return.

[congorozides]

City Hall always wins.

GT walked this line a bit in his day, and didn’t get us anywhere.

Got us somewhere.
We were relevant back then.

[Ape_Man]

Might stir up some existing Saints supporters but is unlikely to appeal to neutrals.

Does anyone like a whinger? I despised the Injectors when they were constantly calling foul (and I still do).

The club sure need some character but it can't be contrived. Put the marketing department in charge and the results are bound to be cringe-worthy.
Play better and the lustre will return.

I wasn’t saying to cry foul, just call it as you see it.

As an example there would be no tiptoeing around the noise of affirmation.

[Ape_Man]

Couldn't do it with our current yes-man president.
Could we get Donald Trump to be our president after his impeachment?

Yes we would need a new administration.

Maybe someone with deep pockets could get Eric Bana to play the front man.

I would also hire writers and producers to make sure it was a real product.

We are in the entertainment industry. It would be nice if we could be entertained.

[fugazi]

Reminds me of the way Liberatore senior reinvented himself at the bulldogs, and became the bad guy, scragging nasty tagger and the Doggies had a really tough edge for a few years.

[Scollop]

How the f*** are cokesnorting marketing and media ideas going to improve the team onfield?

I'd rather clean out the deadwood on our board and on our coaching and footy department first

[Ape_Man]

Profile and Perception.

My idea is obviously not about the on-field work but our utter lack of visibility.

There is more to this club than just the games. From the animal enclosure, world war 1 enemy colour conflict and requiring police on horseback to safely escort umpires after a game.

We have a rich history, full of colour and infamy.

We are now beige. At best.

Trying to be like the big clubs isn’t, hasn’t, and never will work for us.

It’s just an idea I have and know will never come to fruition. But one I wanted to share.