Let’s put some context around this:
Leichhardt games are considered event games by people in the area and they tend to show up no matter what. 3-4 games at Leichhardt is the right number to keep this going.
Leichhardt has a long history with the Balmain Tigers side of the joint venture whereas Campbelltown was new and not established for Western Suburbs.
This years games at Campbelltown:
V Warriors 6pm Friday (very hard ground to get to at that time and an OS team)
V Manly Sunday afternoon - decent crowd for this one given how we have been travelling.
V Knights Sunday afternoon when both teams are having terrible seasons. Not many want to watch that (I wish I didn’t)
This year at Leichhardt:
V Bulldogs 6pm Friday (easier to get to at that time, Sydney team, massive chance for a win)
V Parramatta Saturday night - parra had plenty of fans there as well. It’s a big rivalry between the clubs as they are both based next to each other.
Campbelltown has shown it can generate support when we are winning, just as Leichhardt has shown it can get rubbish crowds for rubbish games.
I said after the first game v Melbourne when we got 9000 at commbank that’s crowds could get very poor this season as we were expected to be rubbish. Our home game average would be around 11000 at a guess. The team is playing poorly and aren’t going to drag in many casuals.
I grew up watching football at Leichhardt and will always be fond of the place. I have refereed on the ground, played football there, have many memories of games there. However I believe increasing the number of games there will help the club.