Mar 01, 2016

AFL

Reviewing every AFL Club’s Membership Campaign Slogan

141 Comments

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!