According to recent research released by Roy Morgan Research 653,000 Australians 14+ support the West Coast Eagles, compared with 498,000 behind the Hawthorn Hawks. West Coast’s fan-base is also a bit more gender neutral, with women making up 44% compared with 40% of the Hawks’.
The research also revealed that only around 1 in 5 West Coast fans actually went to a match (21%) compared with more than 1 in 3 Hawthorn supporters (35%). Clearly, the Hawks’ supporters have been more, well, supportive: they are around twice as likely as West Coast fans to be a financial member of the club (15% vs 7%), to play AFL themselves (9% vs 7%), or to have placed a bet on AFL in the past year (6% vs 3%). The two sides share virtually the same proportion of fans that watch AFL matches on TV (81% vs 79%).
“With Hawthorn now going for its third consecutive Premiership, it’s perhaps not surprising that their supporters seem to be the more fervent fans—more likely to go to games, watch on TV, bet on them, pay club dues or play AFL themselves.” Norman Morris, Industry Communications Director, Roy Morgan Research commented
“By comparison, it’s been almost a decade since West Coast played in a Grand Final. It will be interesting to track the change in attendance and viewing rates should the Eagles beat the home-town favourites at the MCG this Saturday.”
Morris went on to point out that the team spirit of West Coast fans may perhaps be dimmed because they’re too busy enjoying the good life: compared with Hawthorn supporters they’re more likely to have a swimming pool (17% vs 13%) or barbecue (74% vs 69%), or to have had an overseas holiday in the past year (27% vs 23%). They donate almost $50 more per year to charity, and spend $16 more going out in an average week (although Hawks supporters spend $10 more on at-home entertainment).