Angry AFL fans: Is the supporter base as volatile as it's ever been?

The Advertiser

21-05-2025

Football fans are seldom, if ever, a very happy bunch. The main reason is obvious, really. For those for whom everything is going swimmingly (meaning their team is winning), there's a far, far bigger group whose sides are doing it tough, or at best struggling along.
That's always been the case, of course. But when you throw in some general dissatisfaction with how the game is being run, it can be a pretty angry mix. And right now, it feels like AFL football's fan base is as volatile as it's ever been.
I'm usually a bit sceptical about the "game is in a mess" crowd, for a number of reasons, mainly that given the size of the business these days and the continual issues emerging, the AFL usually manages to at least get the job done reasonably competently. But lately, I'm not so sure.
And if you want the most recent examples of discontent, the past few weeks have provided plenty.
Certainly, media discontent, anyway, the loudest public foghorns in the game are ropeable about misleading communications out of head office from football operations boss Laura Kane on the matter of Collingwood player Lachie Schultz's concussion, and a lack of due diligence and diplomacy surrounding Port Adelaide player Willie Rioli's various indiscretions.
But it's the fan discontent which could in the long run do the game more damage, and there's no doubt that is being fanned not only by the incessant reporting of mistakes and cock-ups, but that of the increasing frustration and dissatisfaction of AFL clubs with the administration, simply increasing the sense of "us versus them" in virtually any debate about the code.
And what amplifies that further is when the regular punters are themselves directly exposed to the sort of arrogant, high-handed lack of consideration that the clubs are now complaining about.
Fans are far more used to that, of course, a point of which I was reminded last Saturday at the Collingwood-Adelaide game as I, along with scores of other bedraggled, wet, rain-soaked spectators, briefly got out of the drizzle at half-time for some desperately needed hot food, only to queue for an inordinate amount of time at a food stall inadequately staffed, and as usual, exorbitantly-priced.
Saturday in Melbourne was pretty dismal weather-wise, and given that backdrop, and the fact a non-Victorian team was playing, the turnout of 67,697, the most for a Pies-Crows home-and-away game and second overall only to the 2002 preliminary final, was quite remarkable.
Does the fact crowds continue to rise, though, give the AFL a false sense of security about how in love with the product the fan base really is?
Or does every new insult or indifference to the football lover act as just another little straw added to the weight on the camel's back, perhaps set to break when least expected after just one too many impositions on supporter patience?
Another one of those issues causing a creeping sense of anger among diehard football fans is the fact Saturdays in Victoria are now the exclusive domain of Fox Footy, Channel 7 having shifted its live broadcasting commitment to Thursday night along with Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
MORE AFL NEWS
We've had some cracking Saturday football already this season, but they are games which for those unable to afford a Fox Footy or Kayo subscription, remain inaccessible, and now thanks to the latest broadcasting rights agreement, will be so for at least the next seven years.
That was a hugely significant line in the sand in terms of a game which has always prided itself on its egalitarianism and availability to everyone. And yet it was snuck through almost by stealth, the fact not dawning on most until we arrived at the actual start of this season.
The AFL could have argued a case, it could have explained its reasoning, it could have helped prepare the fan base for the change, but it did none of that.
Instead, the lack of Saturday free-to-air coverage has become just another of those festering wounds with football fans, talked about in the outer at games and in pub bars, but seldom given a moment's thought or discussion by mainstream media, because those in that sphere are themselves unaffected.
Then throw in the usual grumbles about the standard of umpiring, the inconsistency of Match Review Officer and AF Tribunal decisions, and the inadequacy of technology in decision-making more than a decade after its introduction, and you have what feels like an entire constituency at times following the game almost with an air of resentment more than excitement.
Will the AFL at some stage stick its collective head out from the bunker and take note? On current trends you'd think it was unlikely.
But it is a growing tide it will ignore at its own peril. Because when that anger turns instead to battle-weary apathy, not only will those impressive crowds potentially dwindle in the blink of an eye, as has happened in other Australian sporting leagues, but the game will have kick-started an exodus which might not ever be stemmed.
Football fans are seldom, if ever, a very happy bunch. The main reason is obvious, really. For those for whom everything is going swimmingly (meaning their team is winning), there's a far, far bigger group whose sides are doing it tough, or at best struggling along.
That's always been the case, of course. But when you throw in some general dissatisfaction with how the game is being run, it can be a pretty angry mix. And right now, it feels like AFL football's fan base is as volatile as it's ever been.
I'm usually a bit sceptical about the "game is in a mess" crowd, for a number of reasons, mainly that given the size of the business these days and the continual issues emerging, the AFL usually manages to at least get the job done reasonably competently. But lately, I'm not so sure.
And if you want the most recent examples of discontent, the past few weeks have provided plenty.
Certainly, media discontent, anyway, the loudest public foghorns in the game are ropeable about misleading communications out of head office from football operations boss Laura Kane on the matter of Collingwood player Lachie Schultz's concussion, and a lack of due diligence and diplomacy surrounding Port Adelaide player Willie Rioli's various indiscretions.
But it's the fan discontent which could in the long run do the game more damage, and there's no doubt that is being fanned not only by the incessant reporting of mistakes and cock-ups, but that of the increasing frustration and dissatisfaction of AFL clubs with the administration, simply increasing the sense of "us versus them" in virtually any debate about the code.
And what amplifies that further is when the regular punters are themselves directly exposed to the sort of arrogant, high-handed lack of consideration that the clubs are now complaining about.
Fans are far more used to that, of course, a point of which I was reminded last Saturday at the Collingwood-Adelaide game as I, along with scores of other bedraggled, wet, rain-soaked spectators, briefly got out of the drizzle at half-time for some desperately needed hot food, only to queue for an inordinate amount of time at a food stall inadequately staffed, and as usual, exorbitantly-priced.
Saturday in Melbourne was pretty dismal weather-wise, and given that backdrop, and the fact a non-Victorian team was playing, the turnout of 67,697, the most for a Pies-Crows home-and-away game and second overall only to the 2002 preliminary final, was quite remarkable.
Does the fact crowds continue to rise, though, give the AFL a false sense of security about how in love with the product the fan base really is?
Or does every new insult or indifference to the football lover act as just another little straw added to the weight on the camel's back, perhaps set to break when least expected after just one too many impositions on supporter patience?
Another one of those issues causing a creeping sense of anger among diehard football fans is the fact Saturdays in Victoria are now the exclusive domain of Fox Footy, Channel 7 having shifted its live broadcasting commitment to Thursday night along with Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
MORE AFL NEWS
We've had some cracking Saturday football already this season, but they are games which for those unable to afford a Fox Footy or Kayo subscription, remain inaccessible, and now thanks to the latest broadcasting rights agreement, will be so for at least the next seven years.
That was a hugely significant line in the sand in terms of a game which has always prided itself on its egalitarianism and availability to everyone. And yet it was snuck through almost by stealth, the fact not dawning on most until we arrived at the actual start of this season.
The AFL could have argued a case, it could have explained its reasoning, it could have helped prepare the fan base for the change, but it did none of that.
Instead, the lack of Saturday free-to-air coverage has become just another of those festering wounds with football fans, talked about in the outer at games and in pub bars, but seldom given a moment's thought or discussion by mainstream media, because those in that sphere are themselves unaffected.
Then throw in the usual grumbles about the standard of umpiring, the inconsistency of Match Review Officer and AF Tribunal decisions, and the inadequacy of technology in decision-making more than a decade after its introduction, and you have what feels like an entire constituency at times following the game almost with an air of resentment more than excitement.
Will the AFL at some stage stick its collective head out from the bunker and take note? On current trends you'd think it was unlikely.
But it is a growing tide it will ignore at its own peril. Because when that anger turns instead to battle-weary apathy, not only will those impressive crowds potentially dwindle in the blink of an eye, as has happened in other Australian sporting leagues, but the game will have kick-started an exodus which might not ever be stemmed.
Football fans are seldom, if ever, a very happy bunch. The main reason is obvious, really. For those for whom everything is going swimmingly (meaning their team is winning), there's a far, far bigger group whose sides are doing it tough, or at best struggling along.
That's always been the case, of course. But when you throw in some general dissatisfaction with how the game is being run, it can be a pretty angry mix. And right now, it feels like AFL football's fan base is as volatile as it's ever been.
I'm usually a bit sceptical about the "game is in a mess" crowd, for a number of reasons, mainly that given the size of the business these days and the continual issues emerging, the AFL usually manages to at least get the job done reasonably competently. But lately, I'm not so sure.
And if you want the most recent examples of discontent, the past few weeks have provided plenty.
Certainly, media discontent, anyway, the loudest public foghorns in the game are ropeable about misleading communications out of head office from football operations boss Laura Kane on the matter of Collingwood player Lachie Schultz's concussion, and a lack of due diligence and diplomacy surrounding Port Adelaide player Willie Rioli's various indiscretions.
But it's the fan discontent which could in the long run do the game more damage, and there's no doubt that is being fanned not only by the incessant reporting of mistakes and cock-ups, but that of the increasing frustration and dissatisfaction of AFL clubs with the administration, simply increasing the sense of "us versus them" in virtually any debate about the code.
And what amplifies that further is when the regular punters are themselves directly exposed to the sort of arrogant, high-handed lack of consideration that the clubs are now complaining about.
Fans are far more used to that, of course, a point of which I was reminded last Saturday at the Collingwood-Adelaide game as I, along with scores of other bedraggled, wet, rain-soaked spectators, briefly got out of the drizzle at half-time for some desperately needed hot food, only to queue for an inordinate amount of time at a food stall inadequately staffed, and as usual, exorbitantly-priced.
Saturday in Melbourne was pretty dismal weather-wise, and given that backdrop, and the fact a non-Victorian team was playing, the turnout of 67,697, the most for a Pies-Crows home-and-away game and second overall only to the 2002 preliminary final, was quite remarkable.
Does the fact crowds continue to rise, though, give the AFL a false sense of security about how in love with the product the fan base really is?
Or does every new insult or indifference to the football lover act as just another little straw added to the weight on the camel's back, perhaps set to break when least expected after just one too many impositions on supporter patience?
Another one of those issues causing a creeping sense of anger among diehard football fans is the fact Saturdays in Victoria are now the exclusive domain of Fox Footy, Channel 7 having shifted its live broadcasting commitment to Thursday night along with Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
MORE AFL NEWS
We've had some cracking Saturday football already this season, but they are games which for those unable to afford a Fox Footy or Kayo subscription, remain inaccessible, and now thanks to the latest broadcasting rights agreement, will be so for at least the next seven years.
That was a hugely significant line in the sand in terms of a game which has always prided itself on its egalitarianism and availability to everyone. And yet it was snuck through almost by stealth, the fact not dawning on most until we arrived at the actual start of this season.
The AFL could have argued a case, it could have explained its reasoning, it could have helped prepare the fan base for the change, but it did none of that.
Instead, the lack of Saturday free-to-air coverage has become just another of those festering wounds with football fans, talked about in the outer at games and in pub bars, but seldom given a moment's thought or discussion by mainstream media, because those in that sphere are themselves unaffected.
Then throw in the usual grumbles about the standard of umpiring, the inconsistency of Match Review Officer and AF Tribunal decisions, and the inadequacy of technology in decision-making more than a decade after its introduction, and you have what feels like an entire constituency at times following the game almost with an air of resentment more than excitement.
Will the AFL at some stage stick its collective head out from the bunker and take note? On current trends you'd think it was unlikely.
But it is a growing tide it will ignore at its own peril. Because when that anger turns instead to battle-weary apathy, not only will those impressive crowds potentially dwindle in the blink of an eye, as has happened in other Australian sporting leagues, but the game will have kick-started an exodus which might not ever be stemmed.
Football fans are seldom, if ever, a very happy bunch. The main reason is obvious, really. For those for whom everything is going swimmingly (meaning their team is winning), there's a far, far bigger group whose sides are doing it tough, or at best struggling along.
That's always been the case, of course. But when you throw in some general dissatisfaction with how the game is being run, it can be a pretty angry mix. And right now, it feels like AFL football's fan base is as volatile as it's ever been.
I'm usually a bit sceptical about the "game is in a mess" crowd, for a number of reasons, mainly that given the size of the business these days and the continual issues emerging, the AFL usually manages to at least get the job done reasonably competently. But lately, I'm not so sure.
And if you want the most recent examples of discontent, the past few weeks have provided plenty.
Certainly, media discontent, anyway, the loudest public foghorns in the game are ropeable about misleading communications out of head office from football operations boss Laura Kane on the matter of Collingwood player Lachie Schultz's concussion, and a lack of due diligence and diplomacy surrounding Port Adelaide player Willie Rioli's various indiscretions.
But it's the fan discontent which could in the long run do the game more damage, and there's no doubt that is being fanned not only by the incessant reporting of mistakes and cock-ups, but that of the increasing frustration and dissatisfaction of AFL clubs with the administration, simply increasing the sense of "us versus them" in virtually any debate about the code.
And what amplifies that further is when the regular punters are themselves directly exposed to the sort of arrogant, high-handed lack of consideration that the clubs are now complaining about.
Fans are far more used to that, of course, a point of which I was reminded last Saturday at the Collingwood-Adelaide game as I, along with scores of other bedraggled, wet, rain-soaked spectators, briefly got out of the drizzle at half-time for some desperately needed hot food, only to queue for an inordinate amount of time at a food stall inadequately staffed, and as usual, exorbitantly-priced.
Saturday in Melbourne was pretty dismal weather-wise, and given that backdrop, and the fact a non-Victorian team was playing, the turnout of 67,697, the most for a Pies-Crows home-and-away game and second overall only to the 2002 preliminary final, was quite remarkable.
Does the fact crowds continue to rise, though, give the AFL a false sense of security about how in love with the product the fan base really is?
Or does every new insult or indifference to the football lover act as just another little straw added to the weight on the camel's back, perhaps set to break when least expected after just one too many impositions on supporter patience?
Another one of those issues causing a creeping sense of anger among diehard football fans is the fact Saturdays in Victoria are now the exclusive domain of Fox Footy, Channel 7 having shifted its live broadcasting commitment to Thursday night along with Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
MORE AFL NEWS
We've had some cracking Saturday football already this season, but they are games which for those unable to afford a Fox Footy or Kayo subscription, remain inaccessible, and now thanks to the latest broadcasting rights agreement, will be so for at least the next seven years.
That was a hugely significant line in the sand in terms of a game which has always prided itself on its egalitarianism and availability to everyone. And yet it was snuck through almost by stealth, the fact not dawning on most until we arrived at the actual start of this season.
The AFL could have argued a case, it could have explained its reasoning, it could have helped prepare the fan base for the change, but it did none of that.
Instead, the lack of Saturday free-to-air coverage has become just another of those festering wounds with football fans, talked about in the outer at games and in pub bars, but seldom given a moment's thought or discussion by mainstream media, because those in that sphere are themselves unaffected.
Then throw in the usual grumbles about the standard of umpiring, the inconsistency of Match Review Officer and AF Tribunal decisions, and the inadequacy of technology in decision-making more than a decade after its introduction, and you have what feels like an entire constituency at times following the game almost with an air of resentment more than excitement.
Will the AFL at some stage stick its collective head out from the bunker and take note? On current trends you'd think it was unlikely.
But it is a growing tide it will ignore at its own peril. Because when that anger turns instead to battle-weary apathy, not only will those impressive crowds potentially dwindle in the blink of an eye, as has happened in other Australian sporting leagues, but the game will have kick-started an exodus which might not ever be stemmed.