2023 membership

[Bulldog4life]

You have to wonder what incentivses people to take memberships so late in the season? 53K is a great number for us.

Finals tickets maybe.

[Prince Imperial]

53,376

[GVGjr]

53,376

Steady improvement. Will we get to the magical 54K number?

[Prince Imperial]

Steady improvement. Will we get to the magical 54K number?

No doubt in my mind. 55k a real possibility now.

[Prince Imperial]

53,552

[HOSE B ROMERO]

53,552

Boy, membership bandwagon is just about seized up.

[Prince Imperial]

Boy, membership bandwagon is just about seized up.

Considering it's June, small steady increases is all we can expect. Losing our last 3 wouldn't have helped.

[Prince Imperial]

53,646

[Prince Imperial]

53,832

[GVGjr]

53,832

Getting very close to that magical number. Perhaps by the end of the week.

[dalek]

53,832

It would be great if we can reach 54,000

[bornadog]

It would be great if we can reach 54,000

or 55K

[Prince Imperial]

or 55K

There are now free memberships for kids 12 and under and we have the AFLW season still to start in September. Could be 57k or more by the time they stop counting for this year.

https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/fans/kids/the-pack

[The Adelaide Connection]

Hey all, ticketing question- is the Collingwood game accessible via GA still? Or was I in need of upgrading?

[bornadog]

Hey all, ticketing question- is the Collingwood game accessible via GA still? Or was I in need of upgrading?

Check here for some information:

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?23250-Ticketing-for-2023&highlight=ticketing

[Axe Man]

Hey all, ticketing question- is the Collingwood game accessible via GA still? Or was I in need of upgrading?


Check here for some information:

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?23250-Ticketing-for-2023&highlight=ticketing

I asked the same question in that thread - never got answered. I'm still not sure

[EasternWest]

I asked the same question in that thread - never got answered. I'm still not sure

You've also got history discussing threads that don't exist.

[bornadog]

I asked the same question in that thread - never got answered. I'm still not sure

the way I see it, best to upgrade as Collingwood fans are going to games in droves. I think a GA is risky.

[Axe Man]

the way I see it, best to upgrade as Collingwood fans are going to games in droves. I think a GA is risky.

I thought you used to be able to just confirm a GA ticket or for a nominal fee for big games. Having to fork out $20 minimum just to attend on top of a membership is crap in my opinion.

[bornadog]

I thought you used to be able to just confirm a GA ticket or for a nominal fee for big games. Having to fork out $20 minimum just to attend on top of a membership is crap in my opinion.

Agree.

Did you end up ringing the club?

[Axe Man]

Agree.

Did you end up ringing the club?

No I'm still waiting on Stevo to report back. :D

[EasternWest]

No I'm still waiting on Stevo to report back. :D

Too busy polishing Barnaby's image.

[Axe Man]

Too busy polishing Barnaby's image.

I assume it's a different Stevo but you never know.

[EasternWest]

I assume it's a different Stevo but you never know.

Ah you're right it could be out Stevo. In which case I withdraw.

[azabob]

How your membership contributes to the bottom line and governance of your AFL team

Being a part of a footy club is like being a part of a family. Most kids dream of growing up and donning the colours of their clubs on the big stage.

For most of us, the best we can do is to faithfully turn up each week and support the team. For members, that little bit of real or digital plastic provides a sense of belonging, for Saturdays and beyond.

Footy clubs represent that there is something greater than us out there, something bigger to look towards. There are more members of AFL clubs in Australia than political parties, a sign of where the nation's priorities truly lie.

Clubs fight and scrap for members, looking to convert casuals into fans and fans into fanatics. The number of members a club has is a sign of a club's size, and often has a direct effect on the financial bottom lines of clubs.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-23/what-membership-means-to-afl-clubs/102513546?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

[Prince Imperial]

The magical 54.

54,369

[azabob]

How your membership contributes to the bottom line and governance of your AFL team

Being a part of a footy club is like being a part of a family. Most kids dream of growing up and donning the colours of their clubs on the big stage.

For most of us, the best we can do is to faithfully turn up each week and support the team. For members, that little bit of real or digital plastic provides a sense of belonging, for Saturdays and beyond.

Footy clubs represent that there is something greater than us out there, something bigger to look towards. There are more members of AFL clubs in Australia than political parties, a sign of where the nation's priorities truly lie.

Clubs fight and scrap for members, looking to convert casuals into fans and fans into fanatics. The number of members a club has is a sign of a club's size, and often has a direct effect on the financial bottom lines of clubs.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-23/what-membership-means-to-afl-clubs/102513546?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

According to this article in 2022 we grossed $180 per membership and netted $90 per membership (making $90 per member on average).
Interestingly during the 1950's we had the most members in the VFL.

[Scraggers]

The magical 54.

54,369

The goose drank the wine ...

No? Just me?

[I'm Not Bitter Anymore!]

The monkey chewed tobacco on the street car line

[Eastdog]

According to this article in 2022 we grossed $180 per membership and netted $90 per membership (making $90 per member on average).
Interestingly during the 1950's we had the most members in the VFL.

Actually didn’t know we the highest number of members in the 1950s. It was a very strong era for us winning our first premiership and making a number of finals series.

[Prince Imperial]

54,860

[bulldogtragic]

695 to go.

[Grantysghost]

695 to go.

Does that spell boobs?

[bornadog]

Does that spell boobs?

Wrong website this is woof.net.au:D

[bulldogtragic]

Does that spell boobs?

I was going for 55,555

But maybe I need to be more ambitious and go for boobs. 58,008. Not sure we can wrangle up another 3,000. But we should be targeting ‘boobs’ next year.

[Axe Man]

But maybe I need to be more ambitious and go for boobs. 58,008.

Damn, I'm going to have to change my pin number.

[Grantysghost]

I was going for 55,555

But maybe I need to be more ambitious and go for boobs. 58,008. Not sure we can wrangle up another 3,000. But we should be targeting ‘boobs’ next year.

Ha aaaaa. Gold.

[Grantysghost]

Damn, I'm going to have to change my pin number.

Ok I was already laughing like a 12 year old, that made me spit out my coffee.

Apologies to the adults on woof.

[GVGjr]

Granty, Bornadog, BT and Axe discussing numbers


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4w2XUqxcBk

[bulldogtragic]

Here to bring the IQ levels up!

[bornadog]

Granty, Bornadog, BT and Axe discussing numbers


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4w2XUqxcBk

Granty gets the last laugh :D

[GVGjr]

Granty gets the last laugh :D

Never in doubt. :)

[Prince Imperial]

55,064

[bornadog]

55,064

Thanks for the update - that is terrific

[Prince Imperial]

55,229

[bulldogtragic]

55,229

326 more to go to get 55555

Cmon Smorgo or Gordo get it done.

[Prince Imperial]

55,371

[bulldogtragic]

Just 184 to go for 55,555!!

[Prince Imperial]

55,707

[bulldogtragic]

55,707

Blew through the 55,555

I guess now the target is 56,789 - 1,082 to go

[Prince Imperial]

55,796

[bornadog]

Club is getting the 2024 membership packs ready :D

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F3eL6psbIAAmKtd?format=jpg&name=smallhttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/F3eL6pubUAAneXd?format=jpg&name=small

[Prince Imperial]

55,975

[bornadog]

55,975

Is that due to AFLW members?

[Eastdog]

Appreciate the membership updates Prince Imperial. Great work. Now to do it all on the field.

[Prince Imperial]

Is that due to AFLW members?

You would think so, especially with matches returning to the Whitten Oval. There's still 13 days until the 31 August cutoff for the official AFL final tally for the year.

[bornadog]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeFqq4wD1TQ

[angelopetraglia]

There are rusted on members who will buy a membership no matter what. But to get many across the line, you need to sell hope. Memberships are sold on hope. Something to look forward to. A journey you are willing to go on.

It is going to be a tough job for the marketing team for 2024 the way we are finishing this year.

[G-Mo77]

There are rusted on members who will buy a membership no matter what. But to get many across the line, you need to sell hope. Memberships are sold on hope. Something to look forward to. A journey you are willing to go on.

It is going to be a tough job for the marketing team for 2024 the way we are finishing this year.

The hush over the people who turned up was deafening yesterday. That loss probably cost them close to 10k in memberships for 2024, tough gig trying to get them back.

[Vred]

The hush over the people who turned up was deafening yesterday. That loss probably cost them close to 10k in memberships for 2024, tough gig trying to get them back.

I've turned off auto-renewal with the club, I'll renew if I like the changes in the off season, until then they have lost me.

[G-Mo77]

I've turned off auto-renewal with the club, I'll renew if I like the changes in the off season, until then they have lost me.

I stopped the 18 game option after 2022. I'll always be a member but the days of blindly dropping money into the club are long gone. I'll rethink the Social club option for 2024, never use it anyway.

[bulldogtragic]

I suspect numbers are going to plummet unless the club can sell a better vision. If this forum is anything to by, in the last week a player sponsor is leaving that tier, social club might be dropped, auto renew stopped and many memberships put on hold. And this forum is the hard core. Imagine what the feeling is like on more casual members. I think GVGjr said it (or something like it), in these harder financial times people want value for money as we all stretch our dollars. Safe to say if the club wants the money still, but not give everyone value for money. It might actually cost more keeping Bevo.

[Prince Imperial]

56,143

[bornadog]

I suspect numbers are going to plummet unless the club can sell a better vision. If this forum is anything to by, in the last week a player sponsor is leaving that tier, social club might be dropped, auto renew stopped and many memberships put on hold. And this forum is the hard core. Imagine what the feeling is like on more casual members. I think GVGjr said it (or something like it), in these harder financial times people want value for money as we all stretch our dollars. Safe to say if the club wants the money still, but not give everyone value for money. It might actually cost more keeping Bevo.

Carlton haven't played finals for 10 years, yet their members keep paying up for memberships.

[CarnTheScray]

Carlton haven't played finals for 10 years, yet their members keep paying up for memberships.
They have also won 16 premierships (albeit VFL ones but to the average supporter that doesn’t matter), get favourable fixturing regardless of ladder position, double ups vs the other large teams at the MCG, and marquee games gifted to them, which then leads to bigger crowds, which leads to more favourable fixturing and more exposure, which leads to bigger crowds, which leads to more favourable fi- you get the point.

[angelopetraglia]

Carlton haven't played finals for 10 years, yet their members keep paying up for memberships.

How much larger is their Membership base? What % of their supporters buy Memberships verus the Bulldogs?

We are talking about the most successful club in terms of Premierships in VFL/AFL history. We don't have that luxury.

[angelopetraglia]

They have also won 16 premierships (albeit VFL ones but to the average supporter that doesn’t matter), get favourable fixturing regardless of ladder position, double ups vs the other large teams at the MCG, and marquee games gifted to them, which then leads to bigger crowds, which leads to more favourable fixturing and more exposure, which leads to bigger crowds, which leads to more favourable fi- you get the point.

They don't have to play games in Geelong, Darwin, Canberra, Hobart or Launceston ever!

[bornadog]

They have also won 16 premierships (albeit VFL ones but to the average supporter that doesn?t matter), get favourable fixturing regardless of ladder position, double ups vs the other large teams at the MCG, and marquee games gifted to them, which then leads to bigger crowds, which leads to more favourable fixturing and more exposure, which leads to bigger crowds, which leads to more favourable fi- you get the point.

I am not talking about numbers in total, I am talking about drop offs. I never hear Carlton supporters wanting to burn their membership tickets. They stick with their club through thick and thin.

[G-Mo77]

I am not talking about numbers in total, I am talking about drop offs. I never hear Carlton supporters wanting to burn their membership tickets. They stick with their club through thick and thin.

Did you miss what happened about 11 weeks ago. It was pretty rough.

[Sedat]

Did you miss what happened about 11 weeks ago. It was pretty rough.
Yep, they have single-handedly kept the microwave oven industry afloat in the last two decades.

[CarnTheScray]

I am not talking about numbers in total, I am talking about drop offs. I never hear Carlton supporters wanting to burn their membership tickets. They stick with their club through thick and thin.
I know many Carlton supporters, their fans are the closest you will get to soccer mentality in the AFL. They didn’t personally do anything stupid but they were upset and threatened to revoke their membership, plus they had stories of others throwing their scarves in the toilets, stuff like that, oh and the countless acts of booing and player harassment.

[1eyedog]

I am not talking about numbers in total, I am talking about drop offs. I never hear Carlton supporters wanting to burn their membership tickets. They stick with their club through thick and thin.

Are you kidding?

[bornadog]

Are you kidding?




2014 (https://www.blueseum.org/2014)
47,485
-
-


2015 (https://www.blueseum.org/2015)
47,305
-
-


2016 (https://www.blueseum.org/2016)
50,202
-
-


2017 (https://www.blueseum.org/2017)
50,557
-
-


2018 (https://www.blueseum.org/2018)
56,005
-



2019 (https://www.blueseum.org/2019)
64,269




2020 (https://www.blueseum.org/2020)
67,035
-



2021 (https://www.blueseum.org/2021)
81,302
-



2022 (https://www.blueseum.org/2022)
88,776



and no finals.

We have been playing finals for how many years, and one blip and memberships out the door. (well people threatening)

[Rocket Science]

Blues fans appetite for pain aside, the phrase “one blip” is doing so much heavy lifting here it just tore itself a new arsehole.

[bornadog]

Blues fans appetite for pain aside, the phrase “one blip” is doing so much heavy lifting here it just tore itself a new arsehole.

Try following the club from 1962 to 1973 no finals, then 1977 to 1984 no finals and see what sort of supporter you end up.

[Grantysghost]

Try following the club from 1962 to 1973 no finals, then 1977 to 1984 no finals and see what sort of supporter you end up.

Like Essendon's 2004 - ???

What are we all doing for the 7000 day anniversary?

[bornadog]

Like Essendon's 2004 - ???

What are we all doing for the 7000 day anniversary?

Essendon are different, the media builds them up every year and they get excited and buy memberships. Their PR firm aka HUN makes sure.:D

[Prince Imperial]

56,281

Probably our final tally.

[bornadog]

56,281

Probably our final tally.

Hopefully they all re-sign for next year and we get to 60,000

[josie]

A few high profile assistants, a few exciting draft picks, rejuvenated list and Bont, Bevo, Bains smiling and looking rested and positive and I reckon folks will sign up again. Hope I’m right!

[Prince Imperial]

Final club totals.

1. Collingwood = 106,470
2. West Coast = 103,275
3. Richmond = 101,349
4. Carlton = 95,277
5. Essendon = 86,274
6. Geelong = 82,155
7. Hawthorn = 80,698
8. Melbourne = 70,785
9. Adelaide = 68,536
10. Sydney = 65,532
11. Port Adelaide = 64,041
12. Fremantle = 62,064
13. St Kilda = 60,239
14. Western Bulldogs = 56,302
15. Brisbane Lions = 54,676
16. North Melbourne = 51,084
17. GWS = 33,036
18. Gold Coast = 23,359

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1024903

[bornadog]

Even though we had record membership, we are still way behind the competition sitting at 14th.

Hope all those who threatened to burn memberships change their mind.

[Grantysghost]

Final club totals.

1. Collingwood = 106,470
2. West Coast = 103,275
3. Richmond = 101,349
4. Carlton = 95,277
5. Essendon = 86,274
6. Geelong = 82,155
7. Hawthorn = 80,698
8. Melbourne = 70,785
9. Adelaide = 68,536
10. Sydney = 65,532
11. Port Adelaide = 64,041
12. Fremantle = 62,064
13. St Kilda = 60,239
14. Western Bulldogs = 56,302
15. Brisbane Lions = 54,676
16. North Melbourne = 51,084
17. GWS = 33,036
18. Gold Coast = 23,359

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1024903

15k behind Melbourne crikey

[ReLoad]

15k behind Melbourne crikey

I have one demons mate who bought 200 memberships as his way to support the club.

He was saying due to the way the AFL hand out money; memberships mean they get free AFL money as opposed to a sponsorship or coterie to the same value.

[Sedat]

15k behind Melbourne crikey
That 8 minute collapse in the 3rd qtr of the 2021 GF has been costly in many different ways.

[Grantysghost]

I have one demons mate who bought 200 memberships as his way to support the club.

He was saying due to the way the AFL hand out money; memberships mean they get free AFL money as opposed to a sponsorship or coterie to the same value.

Must have deep pockets!

[Grantysghost]

That 8 minute collapse in the 3rd qtr of the 2021 GF has been costly in many different ways.

Yep. They've been consistently up there too. Think they've won the most games over the last 4 seasons.

[Prince Imperial]

I have one demons mate who bought 200 memberships as his way to support the club.

He was saying due to the way the AFL hand out money; memberships mean they get free AFL money as opposed to a sponsorship or coterie to the same value.

They do now get more AFL funding than us so that strangely does make sense.

[Axe Man]

I have one demons mate who bought 200 memberships as his way to support the club.

He was saying due to the way the AFL hand out money; memberships mean they get free AFL money as opposed to a sponsorship or coterie to the same value.


They do now get more AFL funding than us so that strangely does make sense.

Doesn't make any sense to me at all. You don't get more funding for having more members - that would be the opposite of equalisation.

I'm not disputing it but on face value it is confusing, you would think it wouldn't matter how the clubs generate their income, it's not like they pay tax.

[bornadog]

Doesn't make any sense to me at all. You don't get more funding for having more members - that would be the opposite of equalisation.

I'm not disputing it but on face value it is confusing, you would think it wouldn't matter how the clubs generate their income, it's not like they pay tax.

It's more based on total revenue.

[GVGjr]

That 8 minute collapse in the 3rd qtr of the 2021 GF has been costly in many different ways.

It really knocked the confidence of a lot of supporters that the club can deliver on the big stage. Missing finals this year especially given we should have knocked over Hawthorn and West Coast late in the season and controlled our own fortunes will test some members.

I'm not that keen on comparing our membership level to other clubs but 56K is a huge number compared to where we have come from.
On top of that we've recorded strong profits for 9 years. The club is very healthy off the field and needs to get the footy department to play it's part.

I'm confident that with our ability to train on an elite surface at the Whitten Oval over the preseason we can get the boys fitter than ever and that will be a huge boost for us.

[Axe Man]

It's more based on total revenue.

That's what I'm saying, what difference does it make if the club makes it's money from membership or sponsorship or chook raffles?

[bornadog]

That's what I'm saying, what difference does it make if the club makes it's money from membership or sponsorship or chook raffles?

I was agreeing with you.

[Eastdog]

Western Bulldogs member tally

2013 = 30,209 (3.99%)
2014 = 31,538 (3.92%)
2015 = 35,222 (4.21%)
2016 = 39,459 (4.51%)
2017 = 47,653 (5.25%)
2018 = 43,246 (4.29%)
2019 = 44,373 (4.20%)
2020 = 38,876 (3.92%)
2021 = 46,541 (4.18%)
2022 = 50,941 (4.28%)
2023 = 56,302 (4.45%)

Total member tally

% of membership relative to the competition
• 56,302 / 1,264,972 = 4.45%

So there’s evidence of small growth since 2020.

Our 2017 figure would be the equivalent of 66,411 nowadays.

[Prince Imperial]

The AFL states in its annual reports that :


Variable funding distributions are determined based on
an estimation of revenue-generating disadvantages that
may be caused by, among other things, different supporter
base sizes, differing commercial arrangements with
stadiums, the financial impact of the fixture and access
to income from non-football related businesses.

However, the AFL is obsessed with total club memberships growing every year and it would not surprise me that clubs have been told that any increases in numbers they achieve won't get taken into account in variable funding decisions and that what ReLoad has been told is correct.

Melbourne have $30m in cash and investments courtesy of the sale of their two pokie venues (the land of their Bentleigh Club was worth a fortune), have more members than us and are massively commercially advantaged by being a MCG club rather than a Marvel tenant.

That Jake Niall reported earlier in the year that they will get fractionally more variable funding than us which would seem further to support what that Demons fan has said.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/winners-and-losers-the-2023-afl-club-funding-ladder-revealed-20230202-p5chix.html

[G-Mo77]

2017 = 47,653 (5.25%)


Our 2017 figure would be the equivalent of 66,411 nowadays.

2017 was costly. Internally we just went "meh, we'll be right". It really was a chance to build something strong and we failed. Richmond and Melbourne both went on with it after their drought breaking GF wins while we have struggled.

[Eastdog]

2017 was costly. Internally we just went "meh, we'll be right". It really was a chance to build something strong and we failed. Richmond and Melbourne both went on with it after their drought breaking GF wins while we have struggled.

To be honest it was very disappointing that we couldn't be in the hunt again challenging after we won in 2016. Fell right away and of course that will have an impact on membership numbers.

[GVGjr]

2017 was costly. Internally we just went "meh, we'll be right". It really was a chance to build something strong and we failed. Richmond and Melbourne both went on with it after their drought breaking GF wins while we have struggled.

We basically had a gap year for coaches and players in 2017 and the impact to our club culture was costly.

[Grantysghost]

2017 was costly. Internally we just went "meh, we'll be right". It really was a chance to build something strong and we failed. Richmond and Melbourne both went on with it after their drought breaking GF wins while we have struggled.

To be fair to us, both those sides had an example of what not to do!

[bulldogsthru&thru]

To be fair to us, both those sides had an example of what not to do!

Don't do what Donny don't does.

[bornadog]

We basically had a gap year for coaches and players in 2017 and the impact to our club culture was costly.

Just like Geelong this year

[G-Mo77]

Just like Geelong this year

Not even close. Geelong have been powerful for such a long time, we dropped the ball.


To be fair to us, both those sides had an example of what not to do!

Haha. I'm glad we could be of some assistance to them.

[bornadog]

Not even close. Geelong have been powerful for such a long time, we dropped the ball.

Won a premiership and they didn't make finals the following year.

[GVGjr]

Just like Geelong this year

I know you want to compare both scenarios but the age profile of both sides is/was very different.
Where Geelong tried to milk another year out of their group, we just took the foot off the accelerator and missed our chances to build on the momentum. We knocked our club culture around as a result.

[Grantysghost]

Just like Geelong this year

Geelong is different they've been good for ever.

[bornadog]

Geelong is different they've been good for ever.

No, history shows they didn't make a final the year after a Premiership year


I know you want to compare both scenarios but the age profile of both sides is/was very different.
Where Geelong tried to milk another year out of their group, we just took the foot off the accelerator and missed our chances to build on the momentum. We knocked our club culture around as a result.

We lost 12 players from Premiership team in 2017/2018 and had a mini rebuild in 2018.

[GVGjr]

No, history shows they didn't make a final the year after a Premiership year



We lost 12 players from Premiership team in 2017/2018 and had a mini rebuild in 2018.

They are just figures and nothing to do with how we dropped the ball and allowed our club culture to unravel.

[Boots]

This is tangentially related to membership and doesn’t really deserve its own thread: I got a phone call yesterday from a woman saying she was calling for the club and asking for $200 for a raffle ticket with a prize of a corporate box and a signed guernsey and up to $100,000. I didn’t buy a ticket but it all sounded quite legit (and in fact I got the same phone call last year) but I can’t find anything about it on the club website. Is it for real or a scam?

[azabob]

This is tangentially related to membership and doesn’t really deserve its own thread: I got a phone call yesterday from a woman saying she was calling for the club and asking for $200 for a raffle ticket with a prize of a corporate box and a signed guernsey and up to $100,000. I didn’t buy a ticket but it all sounded quite legit (and in fact I got the same phone call last year) but I can’t find anything about it on the club website. Is it for real or a scam?

Likely real. But boy she would be having a tough time selling tickets!

[Scraggers]

I have moved the messages on here about 2024 Membership to a new thread.

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?23837-2024-Membership-Thread&p=869991#post869991

[bornadog]

I have moved the messages on here about 2024 Membership to a new thread.

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?23837-2024-Membership-Thread&p=869991#post869991

Thanks

[EasternWest]

I have moved the messages on here about 2024 Membership to a new thread.

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?23837-2024-Membership-Thread&p=869991#post869991

Control freak.


Thanks

Nonsense the power's gone to his head.