Hi All
its been a while since I've posted but I've still been reading this site throughout the last 10 years through all the fongs, snakes and more recently brissyeels and griegs clashes. I recall a while ago there was posts about a coterie in terms of gathering funds to act as a TPA - where did this end up. I've been processing our recent defeat which I know we are all pissed at!! I also saw again from a friend the music clip parody of "7 years".... man if anything has described my life as an eels fan that is it!!!
We've gone out in the finals again this year but my question is what can we do as fans? Can we gather a tpa fund - quite regularly we hear people talk about their financial prowess? Can we organise more public pressure around refereeing and rules? Can we create a voice around new development partnerships in the country? These are just some ideas but I'd love to spark a conversation as to how we can influence more as a fan base from a grass roots level????
Replies
Thanks for creating a blog about this, I'm a great believer in the power and influence people coming together can have to affect change. During my soap-box moment in Brissy's corruption blog it occurred to me that as fans we're not very well represented in the game.
The CEO's and powerbrokers have their annual CEO's conference, and I know there's a coaches forum. But genuine consultation falls away pretty steeply from that point on. Even the players (arguably the most valuable asset in the game) had to throw their hands in the air at a lack of consultation from the NRL given the recent rule changes, and they have a bloody players union looking after their interests.
How are the fan's voices represented, and what happens with are our views on the game? I'm not talking about the Daily Telegraph/Courier Mail fan poll. I'm talking about a genuine seat at the table, not some piecemeal PR exercise.
As usual, we only need to look at the AFL to see what "better looks like", a quick google threw up this:
https://www.aflfans.org.au/about/
As far as I know, we don't have anything like this. Phil (and many others), showed what happens passion, determination, intelligence, and a platform come together. Systematic, transformational change.
I have to push the bile down my throat when the likes of Gus, Gal, and Kent, say things like "don't listen to the fans". These people would be without a job if it wasn't for us, and they get on national media and patronise us. Not fucking good enough.
We need a voice, it needs to be credible, well organised, and, ideally, representative of all the NRL clubs. We can of course, start here, as Paramatta fans and develop something. It won't be easy. But if we get it right, it can be a prototype that can be expanded across the other clubs.
One of my guilty pleasures in life is jumping on the Panthers, Raiders, Roosters, and Manly forums and reading the fallout when they lose an important game. Don't judge me, I find it soothing to indulge in a bit schadenfreude every now and then! Anyway, reading those forums, I know there are people who feel just like us.
The question is how we get this going. I'm happy to discuss it further and be involved in getting the ball rolling.
It certainly is a gap - I guess the starting point would be to look at other sports / fan bases that have mobilised - and from what we see in nrl being a paid "member" means jack all - its money in their coffers but as you said no seat at the table....
It was a guy “Snapper” who first put forward the idea of the coterie. Shame it didn’t come to fruition because it was about the only worthwhile idea anyone has ever posted on here.
Pretty sure the coitus was used to move 1EE to a less usable yet I'm sure more profitable platform.
Actually Phil Sim was the driver behind the coterie and I think he took it all the way only to find it was all too hard.
You need to talk to Phil (maybe through Super) to get the gist!
It wasn't Phils idea. Phil just put it in motion. It was tossed up as an idea by a member. Probably Snapper as old mate Adza mentioned.
No Snapper came up with Coitus, Phil came up with "Coterie" and fcuked if I know who "thought" it up.
It was Snapper, some people talk alot and say nothing whilst other say few words but you take notice of what is said. I remember it was his idea.