FOOTBALL and netball fans have helped the Warrnambool and District league set a new gate-takings record for finals.
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WDFNL president Ken McSween revealed the six finals reaped the league $5000 more than the previous record, set in 2013.
McSween wouldn’t reveal the actual figure but said the executive was rapt with the popularity of the 12-club competition.
Gate takings for the first four finals were up on 2013 while three of the four — the second semi-final was the exception — were records. The preliminary final and grand final — both at Reid Oval — were down on the previous year but not substantially.
The preliminary final suffered due to a clash with the Hampden league qualifying final at Friendly Societies’ Park, a source of angst for the league.
But the grand final came close to setting a new mark, falling just $1500 short of the record takings from the same match in 2011.
That was despite Merrivale featuring in three of the four football matches and Panmure having a presence in the two senior netball grades.
“I think it’s a pretty good gate,” McSween said of the grand final.
“If you’ve got a really good spread you’re guaranteed to have a really big day. There also needs to be really strong interest in the senior football and netball.
“The year in itself was a very good year. We had record gates in the early finals which was due to the fact there were lots of different clubs.”
McSween said the figures, achieved without an increase in ticket prices, justified the mantra of taking the action to the people.
Four matches were in Warrnambool while a fifth was at Allansford, although this was because most of the competing sides were city-based.
“The majority of clubs involved this year were city-based clubs. That’s the gist of it. Every year you judge where to take your games on their merits, who’s in them.
“I’ve got no qualms taking them out of town. The best gate we’ve had in the early finals was at Noorat in 2011.”
McSween believed the WDFNL had a bright future. He said the improved standard of football had become an appeal of the competition.
“There seems to be strong interest in the league. I’ll admit we are only a district league but I believe the quality of the football is improving,” McSween said. “I reckon only in the last couple of years there’s been a marked difference in the quality of the football. And it’s not just the top teams.
“I’ve been around to watch a few of the bottom-of-the-ladder teams and the football they’re playing is markedly improved on what it has been in the past.”
McSween said the 12 clubs would be the big winners out of the record gate takings, with the league vowing to re-invest some of the proceeds.
“It puts us in a good position and we can look further at what we can do to help the clubs,” he said.
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au