GWS board member Jimmy Bartel admits it was a “disappointing” crowd that turned up for Leon Cameron’s final game as Giants coach.
A crowd of just 8,754 attended Sunday’s match between GWS and Carlton at Giants Stadium.
Two other Round 9 matches – Gold Coast’s win over Fremantle at Metricon Stadium and Port Adelaide’s victory against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena – attracted crowds of under 10,000.
AFL legend Leigh Matthews told Bartel on Sportsday: “Just an observation. I noticed the crowd (on the weekend) … there were some low crowds across the competition.
“Giants playing Carlton. Carlton normally a pretty big drawing club and about 8,500 people bothered to turn up in a way.
“We always think that getting the coach who gets the team playing the best is important, and maybe ‘Sheeds’ (Kevin Sheedy) was an example of this when he came in a decade ago, do you sometimes need a big name to publicise the club as well?”
Bartel replied: “I also think on-field plays a big part … 2016 (preliminary final) and 2019 (Grand Final).
“But then you run into COVID as well, you didn’t capture as much of the momentum off the back of a couple of those finals series.
“The Giants going so-so – timing is a big issue, especially for the northern states, because you’re competing against (rugby) league and a different mindset of footy followers.
“There’s a number of factors – it was a disappointing crowd; I’m not going to shy away from that.”
Cameron’s final game as coach ended in defeat as the Giants lost to Carlton by 30 points.