I actually find it hard to believe the size of the crowd on Friday night. The supporters must be incredibly disillusioned not to show up for such a big clash (for the record I was there). There should have been another 8,000 @ a minimum $25 and that is $200,000+ dropped. If they won't show up for that one then it makes the numbers very shaky whatever Grant puts up.
Talking to fans all over the peninsula there are a number of things that have left them disheartened:
- the original public airing of Max's owed monies, which most believe should have been kept private in respect of what he did for the club.
- the way the season launch degenerated. At the time I knew it was a media beat-up, but consider all the facts and it is hard to get away from how badly it was all handled.
- the loss of Snake, the did he/didn't he, the suspension and now the injury.
- the dramatic fall from form. From champs to chumps with almost no real explanation except that they don't want it enough.
- the on-going boardroom saga, now in it's fourth month (or is it longer?)
Every other team's supporters are revelling in our demise and loving to tell us all about every news snippet that paints us in a poor light. If it wasn't for Sticky and the gummies we would still be the target of choice. They probably haven't forgiven themselves for actually supporting us last GF.
That is a lot to get over for the local should I/shouldn't I go to the game crowd. It is going to take a great deal to get them back. The Board needs to understand that it is now a very long road and it will take leadership and harmony from them to get it started.