Every year, some work experience kid in the marketing department has to come up with a marketing slogan for the club’s membership drive.
A line from a song is often used or sometimes something just bizarre. Strangely, despite most of them being innocuous, they can go spectacularly wrong, look at Essendon’s ‘Whatever it takes’ or Carlton’s ‘They know we’re coming.’
Let’s have a look at the 2016 crop and recommend some helpful alternatives.
Adelaide
Slogan: We Fly as One
Review: Hard to not like this one, especially after the classy way it was used following Phil Walsh’s passing last year, when even opposition supporters used it as a mark of respect. No pressure on the person coming up with next years’ one then.
Alternate slogan: Now containing 100% less Dangerfield
Brisbane
Slogan: Believe. Belong.
Review: Had this for a while now which suggests the marketing department just can’t come up with a new one because you wouldn’t keep this one by choice.
Alternate slogan: Come for the inflatable Lion, stay for the footy, or don’t
Carlton
Slogan: Bound by Blue
Review: This one is perfect. It captures the trapped feeling a Carlton supporter must have all the time. Like organised religion, supporting Carlton is only something a person would do if they are constrained by family and community ties.
Alternate slogan: Trapped by Blue
Collingwood
Slogan: Side by Side
Review: Another old slogan that’s been around for a few years but let’s give Pies fans a chance to finish reading it before introducing a new one.
Alternate slogan: See year five of the coaching transition
Essendon
Slogan: Don the Sash
Review: The Don the Sash part is not new and is actually pretty good. On their membership page they’ve got ‘Standing Firm?’ I like the question mark. They’re both aware you wouldn’t want to but it also reads a bit like a threat, “You’re not thinking of leaving us are you?”
As a sub heading they’ve got ‘We understand it’s not that simple’. This might be the most honest thing Essendon have said in a while.
Alternate slogan: Don the Sash, if legally allowed
Fremantle
Slogan: Forever Freo
Review: Not sure if this is a slogan or a sad realisation. I can only imagine how excited the marketing team were when they worked out a slogan containing two words starting with F.
Alternate slogan: Who wants the last slice of Pav?
Geelong
Slogan: Greatness. Our Tradition. Our Ambition
Review: Is something only going back to 2007 a tradition? I was hoping it was more a passing fad. The ambition bit is true though, given they’ve got Patrick Dangerfield now and he’ll solve all their problems.
Alternate slogan: Highway to the Dangerfield
Gold Coast
Slogan: We are Gold Coast. We are your Suns
Review: The second bit is coming on a little strong. A bit like telling someone you’re their soul mate on a first date. Slow down Suns, at least buy us a drink, which I know you like.
Alternate slogan: Suns of God
GWS
Slogan: Expect big things
Review: In my experience, saying something like this is usually overcompensating. Trust me, this is a like me on a date. Talks a good game but can’t back it up, which is the Giants in a nutshell.
Alternate slogan: Please notice us Sydney
Hawthorn
Slogan: Hawthorn. Always
Review: Just a depressing statement of reality really. I would have added a few swear words but this still works I guess.
Alternate slogan: Rinse, repeat
Melbourne
Slogan: My heart beats true
Review: It would have to be your heart because no person using their brain would fork over their hard earned based on the last decade. On the positive side, it may be a celebration that you haven’t had a heart attack watching the garbage served up under the Schwab years and the painful rebuilding the rebuild period.
Alternate slogan: See Jesse Hogan. Hurry, last shows
North Melbourne
Slogan: Shinboner Spirit. One & All
Review: Shinboner spirit is a classic but the ‘One & All’ should probably have a question mark after it to be accurate.
Alternate slogan: Watch Todd Goldstein carry a whole team
Port Adelaide
Slogan: We are Port Adelaide
Review: Another that’s been in use a few years. Useful for their fans to make sure they don’t accidentally barrack for the wrong team.
“Who are we again?”
“It’s written on your membership.”
“So you’re not going to be helpful then?”
Alternate slogan: Now with added Jimmy Toumpas
Richmond
Slogan: Strong & Bold
Review: Needs a disclaimer saying ‘offer does not apply in September’.
Alternate slogan: Secure your final tickets
St Kilda
Slogan: Be St Kilda
Review: Were was the marketing team when they came up with this? Not in the room obviously and not at that charity cricket match the whole team snubbed either. This may be the worst of the lot.
Considering they are actually based in Seaford but are moving to Moorabbin means even the club can’t ‘Be St Kilda’.
Alternate slogan: Help fund our poor home base choices
Sydney
Slogan: Welcome to the Spectacular
Review: It’s flashy with little substance so it’s perfect for the Harbour City.
Alternate slogan: You don’t have to go to ANZ Stadium anymore
West Coast
Slogan: The West is United
Review: This is really trolling given the Dockers play in the same stadium as them. The only thing Western Australia is united over is their dislike of the east coast and mining taxes.
Alternate slogan: We’re flying high but now in a good way
Western Bulldogs
Slogan: Be more Bulldog
Review: I’m not sure if being more of something that hasn’t won a premiership since 1954 is what you want. I suppose ‘Be more like Hawthorn’ would be odd though.
Alternate slogan: Still Liam Jones free
COMMENTS
ntkingo_1989
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily Melbourne: 'Jesse who? If it's working for the Crows, it just might work for us'
RossT17
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily "We Are Port Adelaide" is for the people that keep calling us Port Power.
Nt11Smd
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily Great work as always
Gary Bruce
Mar 01, 2016
Freo's alternate is sublime
AlexWard64
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily - swans should be "pissing off Collingwood since like forever!"U0001f609
debmar27
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily One of the many things I love about the footy season is reading your material. Loved this. Thank you!
MattRobertsonMe
Mar 01, 2016
The 'we are' and 'be more' is just pure laziness.
NathanCherry_Au
Mar 01, 2016
‘Standing Firm?’ is this not a reference to the Melanotan II side effects?
sheppo
Mar 01, 2016
Forever Freo is not a sad realisation. Considering the monumental hurdles Freo have had to overcome in it's short history, and the fact AFL stands for Anti Fremantle League, everyone of our 44,000 members are extremely proud to be FOREVER FREO. :p
pivotubi
Mar 01, 2016
AlexWard64 TitusOReily its a fun game. #eadytarget
Bernard O'Dwyer
Mar 01, 2016
This was gold a few years back Matt Pocock
Phill Tee
Mar 01, 2016
The Geelong review is 100% true which makes it funnier.
Michael Charlton
Mar 01, 2016
Melbourne should use the hogan slogan. ☺
Ryan Burles
Mar 01, 2016
Ross Pawson Maxum Onya-Tiger Chubb the best thing I've read today
Jake Lambert
Mar 01, 2016
David Lambert Carlton's U0001f44cU0001f3fc
Danny Palmer
Mar 01, 2016
Doggies. Good Jamie Barnes Jacob Smith JC Collie
Jacob Akroyd
Mar 01, 2016
Great stuff Robert Brody
Henry Renwick
Mar 01, 2016
Some light reading that will make your day Tom Scott
AJ Johnston
Mar 01, 2016
And we ain't going away any time soon Titus U0001f609 #HawthornAlways
Michael Johnston
Mar 01, 2016
Rinse and repeat
Chloe Penn
Mar 01, 2016
Phoebe Elizabeth Richmond U0001f44f
Jacob Smith
Mar 01, 2016
Highway to the dangerfield and who wants the last slice of Pav were personal favorites. Good showing from Titus.
Maxum Onya-Tiger Chubb
Mar 01, 2016
Be st kilda haha wtfU0001f602
Cate Irene
Mar 01, 2016
Very amusing Ben Zylbersztajn
Jarred Schafer
Mar 01, 2016
Mitch Westhead the roos & Eagles alternative ones are pretty spot on
Thanasi Samaras
Mar 01, 2016
The best Titus yet! Michael Zoumaras Stavro Zacharia Costa Morias Kris Krotiris Adrian Macolino Daniel Kouts
Robyn Hay
Mar 01, 2016
I would rather draw my last breath than "Be More Like Hawthorn"!! lol #bemorebulldog
Robyn Hay
Mar 01, 2016
I would rather draw my last breath than "Be More Like Hawthorn"!! lol #bemorebulldog
Jacinta Glover
Mar 01, 2016
Beat me to it!
Michael Johnston
Mar 01, 2016
Hehe gotta be swift
Sam Ross
Mar 01, 2016
Greg Judy Ross I think you're to blame for this #boundbyblue
Jason Murrihy
Mar 01, 2016
That's OK - not everyone can embrace success.
Jacob Fuller
Mar 01, 2016
Who wants the last slice of Pav?
Mitch Westhead
Mar 01, 2016
Titus doesn't disappoint
Tom Cairns
Mar 01, 2016
Those alternate slogans are great U0001f602U0001f602
George Trumble
Mar 01, 2016
Now containing 100% less Dangerfield
Travis John
Mike Robbins
Mar 01, 2016
brilliant! love carlton Craig Hawkes...'Slogan: Bound by Blue
Review: This one is perfect. It captures the trapped feeling a Carlton supporter must have all the time. Like organised religion, supporting Carlton is only something a person would do if they are constrained by family and community ties.'
Craig Hawkes
Mar 01, 2016
By Blue tape
Darcy O'Connor
Mar 01, 2016
Good read Will Long Samuel William
Miriam RW
Mar 01, 2016
"Trapped by blue"
Samuel William
Mar 01, 2016
Just read it. Spot on
Robyn Hay
Mar 01, 2016
That's exactly right Jason - for a life-long Bulldog supporter, it just would feel very strange (but I reckon I could easily become accustomed to it!!)
Nick Branković
Mar 01, 2016
Secure your final tickets Hahahaha Ben Jenkins
Debbie Martin
Mar 01, 2016
The Richmond one is my favourite, not valid in September. Lol.
Penny Beitzel
Mar 01, 2016
Hopefully you'll find out Robyn, what a party that will be.
Will Long
Mar 01, 2016
"still Liam Jones free"
Robyn Hay
Mar 01, 2016
Thank-you Penny, all I will say is they had better jolly well hurry up - I 'aint getting any younger!! lol
Travis John
Mar 01, 2016
Now With More Jimmy Toumpas
Toby Evans
Mar 01, 2016
Duncan Lyons... Have a read of this when you get the chance U0001f602
Tom Stanfield
Mar 01, 2016
Or the alternate for Melbourne hahahahaha
Chris Wood
Mar 01, 2016
Adrian Palone some of his finest work
Harrison Rennick
Mar 01, 2016
I was expecting it tho, titus supports melbourne
Tom Stanfield
Mar 01, 2016
Expecting the fact that hogan will be gone next season ?
Harrison Rennick
Mar 01, 2016
Yeah, every melbourne supporter is thinking it, plus we wont be able to pay him enough
Christopher Poole
Mar 01, 2016
Tim Cognito read west coasts alternate slogan
Curtis McDonald
Mar 01, 2016
Adrian Holland Qual read
Tom Gubbins
Mar 01, 2016
Darren McCall Harrison Talarico Josh Cahill read port Adelaides
Kevin Martin
Mar 01, 2016
Or Schulz ... we know nothing?
Chris Grech
Mar 01, 2016
Wes James Gavin Cori Nelson #StillLiamJonesFree
Chris Horsell
Mar 01, 2016
Love our alternate one U0001f602
Theo Tastanellis
Mar 01, 2016
Trifona Terrence Kostantakis read the port section lol
Chris Guild
Mar 01, 2016
Christian Arkell Matthew Adamson haha brilliant!
Oliver Young
Mar 01, 2016
Matt burgi Harfield
Josh Walker
Mar 01, 2016
Last tickets to the Hogan show Zac Moon
Scott Mclaughlin
Mar 01, 2016
Haha Samuel Bishop Dave Lloyd Matt Long
Dean Fothergill
Mar 01, 2016
Haha Bulldogs, still Liam Jones free!
Josh Cahill
Mar 01, 2016
Toump starting to fire up judging by the weekend, surely a lock in for port bnf this year, Brownlow 2017
Tom Gubbins
Mar 01, 2016
Absolutely on the rise
Max Stevens
Mar 01, 2016
Jono Parker Jacob Crossman Mackinley Mitchell Liam Wright Titus is in good form
Jimmy McCaffrey
Mar 01, 2016
Oscar Mason Zach Schloeffel
We should definitely adopt the alternate
Patrick Glover
Mar 01, 2016
Hahaha this is brilliant!!!
Dave Cannon
Mar 01, 2016
Some good chuckles there
Max Stevens
Mar 01, 2016
Suns of God
Jono Parker
Mar 01, 2016
Suns of Gary
Ajay Asthana
Mar 01, 2016
Meredith....St Kilda?
Paul and Peter...are we really carried by Goldy?
Meredith Young
Mar 01, 2016
It's actually "How I want to be". And I like it. No claims about winning or anything. Just this is us, take it or leave it
Josh Colvin
Mar 01, 2016
Love goldsteins haha
Josh O'Reilly
Mar 01, 2016
I love doggies. Still liams jones free
And the saints. Should be hawthorn haha
Adrian Palone
Mar 01, 2016
very good, melb & richmonds were top.
Zach Schloeffel
Mar 01, 2016
And just as great, Carlton are stuck with him
Jimmy Purcell
Mar 01, 2016
I thought the saints slogan was 'how i want to be'
Aaron Spence
Mar 01, 2016
Aaron Currie Rhiannon Lewis Hannah Lewis Western Bulldogs alternative is spot on!
Tom Basso
Mar 01, 2016
Patrick Moller hahahaha
Dhruv Piers
Mar 01, 2016
"Still Liam Jones free"
Peter King
Mar 01, 2016
We'd be a little less likely to succeed without him so maybe?
Meredith Young
Mar 01, 2016
Why don't you value my opinion on the Goldy matter Ajay?
Ivan Rutherford
Mar 01, 2016
Should be , BEYOND BLUE , depressed team lol
Craig Hawkes
Mar 01, 2016
Settle dowm Mr Athena beyond Blue and above
Ajay Asthana
Mar 01, 2016
I asked for subject matter expert opinions Mez U0001f609
Ivan Rutherford
Mar 01, 2016
How are you ! Going Hawkesy ?
Meredith Young
Mar 01, 2016
So the fact that I watch the same North Melbourne games as you, free from the bias that comes with being a supporter is unimportant? U0001f609
Craig Hawkes
Mar 01, 2016
Hot I'll be glad when this summer is over, still running my little gig but might have a new job very soon and you guys all good moving to acres ?
Ivan Rutherford
Mar 01, 2016
Craig Hawkes all good my friend , not the time to move yet, but yes bit of property nice, stay well mate , go WCE , ?
Alison Brown
Mar 01, 2016
This is good too Nathan Brown U0001f60a
Phill Tee
Mar 01, 2016
Robyn Hay You can give us Luke Beveridge back and also Matt Suckling :) lol
Tom Nicoll
Mar 01, 2016
One of the many highlights
Steve Burke
Mar 01, 2016
Brett New Aaron Warner very good read..... I'm still going
Cath Wallace
Mar 01, 2016
OMG THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING EVER READ IT!!! Ryan Maxwell Trent Barri Lachlan Cameron Ben Van Zeyl David Wallace Steve Bice
Pooja Khushalani
Mar 01, 2016
Shannon Hughes Rinse. Repeat
Shannon Hughes
Mar 01, 2016
Some of these were such quality
Pooja Khushalani
Mar 01, 2016
Be more bulldog cause be more like hawthorn would be Awks
Luke Pupillo
Mar 01, 2016
Jason Palazzoloread this, some beauties haha
Ajay Asthana
Mar 01, 2016
We North supporters do a lot of additional internet research Mez....but yes you are one of us U0001f61bU0001f61bU0001f61b
Lachlan Cameron
Mar 01, 2016
Matt Johnston the bulldog one U0001f602U0001f602U0001f602
eatay3
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily very very funny, thanks
TitusOReily
Mar 01, 2016
eatay3 You're welcome.
Meredith Young
Mar 01, 2016
Ajay, I find it hard to believe that Peter and Paul are researching football on the internet but whatever you reckon!
Charlie Styles
Mar 01, 2016
Jeremy Gonis This is the best one in a while
michaeljsmiddy
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily Gold. "Who wants the last slice of Pav?"!
JB_1050
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily personally love #foreverfreo & yes #thewestisnotunited LOL
digitalwoch
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily brilliant
katieoh9
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily I'd have thought the Suns would have gone with something like "Just trying to keep Gary fit"
t01132715
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily
Jeremy Gonis
Mar 01, 2016
They're all so true. Hilarious
Sam Chandler
Mar 01, 2016
Very good indeed.
Alistair George
Nathan Attard
Patrick DellAglio
Carla Marturano
Cheryl Feigen
Mar 01, 2016
Miriam RW haha
Patrick DellAglio
Mar 01, 2016
Alot of thought went into Port Adelaide's slogan.
I like the Bulldogs alternate slogan
happyhanging
Mar 01, 2016
TitusOReily This should be compulsory reading! Set the high bar pretty early in the season, fella. Thanks.
Jason Palazzolo
Mar 01, 2016
Lost it at 'Trapped by blue'
Jason Palazzolo
Mar 01, 2016
Ahahahah 'flying high, but now in a good way'
Luke Pupillo
Mar 01, 2016
flying high got me haha
Luke Hunyadi
Mar 01, 2016
Hilarious. Aden Tutton Tony Scott Matt Jones Matt Richter Michael Humphries Andrew Roy Earl Sam Boehm Stuart Maycock
Damian Bourke
Mar 01, 2016
Be more like Hawthorn
Anthony Nankervis
Mar 01, 2016
Colin Tim... file these in your 'inspiration' folder. My faves are Sydney, and West Coast... Although 'Be more Hawthorn' is great too!
Paul Jacobs
Mar 01, 2016
Lol. I've been doing my supercoach. Can tell you that my team will struggle without Goldy! Great player but I think we have sufficient back up. Daw can hold his own in ruck
Ally Apeldoorn
Mar 01, 2016
Hey at least they picked us for the image ;)
Andrew Nicholls
Mar 01, 2016
This is gold. Brad Emerson Erik Gray
Guy Harris
Mar 01, 2016
My favourite was "who wants the last slice of Pav?"
Cath Wallace
Mar 01, 2016
It makes fun of all the teams not just the Blues. Loosen up U0001f623
Ryan Maxwell
Mar 01, 2016
Haha sorry, I only read the Blues one!
Tony Caccaviello
Mar 01, 2016
Good article talking about the important things Joshua G Anderson
Cath Wallace
Mar 01, 2016
Admittedly it probs is the funniest
Seagull31327
Mar 02, 2016
TitusOReily love your work. Just fyi wedt coasts slogan was actually #thewestisours which makes it even worse i know
Olivia Dalton
Mar 02, 2016
Amanda Price some crackers in here!
Olivia Dalton
Mar 02, 2016
i also like Fred's last serve of Pav U0001f602
Olivia Dalton
Mar 02, 2016
and GWS: "please notice us, Sydney"
Amanda Price
Mar 02, 2016
The creepy Suns. U0001f602U0001f602U0001f602U0001f602
Olivia Dalton
Mar 02, 2016
they are weird that bunch, half the team is in the church and the other half are in the pub. The sun is always greener on the other side?
Billious
Mar 15, 2016
You have to be joking Daws holding his own without Goldie , trouble with Daws he spends more time holding is own on the bench than on the ground.
Billious
Mar 15, 2016
Titus is still the best in the business when it comes to footy humour. If only the AFL Commission and executive had the same sense of humour and creativity our great game could do anything.
Arky
Oct 21, 2016
Hindsight is a cruel mistress, vis a vis the Be More Bulldog joke. And also vis a vis Richmond even having one final to play. Other than that, it held up pretty well!