Posts Tagged W-League

Most popular AFL and NRL teams on Facebook

Posted by Laura on Friday, 30 July, 2010

This list extends a bit beyond the AFL and NRL but not much.  The following list contains the total number of fans or members of a Facebook group or fanpage today.  All the official AFL and NRL club pages and accounts are included.  Beyond that, there are a number of other groups and clubs that I had looked at before.  Some of these are official accounts.  Some of them are not.  A number have been deleted after they were originally looked at.  This gives a bit of an idea of what I’m interested in.  It also gives an idea as to how successful official club pages are at capturing the majority of their audience or if fans are going elsewhere.  In some cases, it also gives an idea as to how successful anti-campaigns are at garnering attention.

League Team Name Url Total members Official
AFL AFL AFL https://www.facebook.com/AFL 175,275 Yes
Rugby League/State of Origin Queensland Maroons Queensland Maroons https://www.facebook.com/queenslandmaroons 164,028 Yes
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Socceroos – Australian National Football Team https://www.facebook.com/Socceroos 122,725 Yes
NRL Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Broncos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Hill-Australia/Brisbane-Broncos/99453774630 83,157 Yes
AFL Richmond Tigers I hate it when I’m kicking the footy around and Richmond try to recruit me. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-VA/I-hate-it-when-Im-kicking-the-footy-around-and-Richmond-try-to-recruit-me/116177261751551?v=wall 70,250 No
AFL Essendon Bombers Essendon FC https://www.facebook.com/Essendon 68,724 Yes
Rugby League/State of Origin New South Wales Blues NSW Blues https://www.facebook.com/nswblues 62,852 Yes
AFL Adelaide Crows Adelaide Crows https://www.facebook.com/adelaidecrows 51,467 Yes
AFL Collingwood Magpies Collingwood Football Club https://www.facebook.com/collingwoodfc 49,007 Yes
AFL West Coast Eagles West Coast Eagles https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Coast-Eagles/38862387223 47,295 Yes
AFL St. Kilda Saints St Kilda Football Club https://www.facebook.com/stkfc 33,109 Yes
AFL Carlton Blues Carlton Football Club https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCarltonFC 30,322 Yes
AFL Sydney Swans Sydney Swans https://www.facebook.com/sydneyswans 27,261 Yes
NRL Gold Coast Titans Gold Coast Titans https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold-Coast-Australia/Gold-Coast-Titans/22602574592 25,714 Yes
AFL Hawthorn Hawks Hawthorn Football Club https://www.facebook.com/hawthornfc 25,267 Yes
AFL Fremantle Dockers Fremantle Football Club https://www.facebook.com/fremantlefootballclub 23,293 Yes
NRL Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles https://www.facebook.com/pages/Manly-Warringah-Sea-Eagles/222674735992 20,241 Yes
NRL Wests Tigers Wests Tigers – Official National Rugby League Club https://www.facebook.com/WestsTigers.com.au 19,355 Yes
AFL Richmond Tigers Richmond Tigers https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melbourne-Australia/Richmond-Tigers/7769834477 18,045 No
NRL Newcastle Knights Newcastle Knights https://www.facebook.com/NewcastleKnights 16,470 Yes
NRL Sydney Roosters The Official Sydney Roosters Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Official-Sydney-Roosters-Page/222342250384?ref=sgm 15,362 Yes
AFL Brisbane Lions Brisbane Lions https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brisbane-Lions/21301860172 15,014 No
AFL Brisbane Lions Brisbane Lions https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brisbane-Lions/21301860172 15,014 Yes
AFL North Melbourne Kangaroos North Melbourne Football Club https://www.facebook.com/northkangaroos 14,496 Yes
AFL Richmond Tigers Richmond FC https://www.facebook.com/Richmond.FC 13,504 Yes
AFL Port Adelaide Power Port Adelaide Football Club https://www.facebook.com/portadelaidefootballclub 13,229 Yes
NRL Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Cronulla Sharks https://www.facebook.com/cronullasutherlandsharks 11,230 Yes
Rugby League New Zealand Kiwis New Zealand Kiwis https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Zealand-Kiwis/29087221880 10,745 Yes
AFL Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/Western.Bulldogs 9,304 Yes
NRL Melbourne Storm Sucked in Melbourne Storm! HAHA https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sucked-in-Melbourne-Storm-HAHA/119988934680797 8,566 No
AFL Collingwood Magpies Collingwood Magpies https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2208766149 8,066 No
Rugby League Australian Kangaroos Australian Kangaroos https://www.facebook.com/australiankangaroos 8,042 Yes
AFL Melbourne Demons Melbourne Football Club https://www.facebook.com/MELBOURNEfc 8,015 Yes
AFL Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5483691593 7,086 No
AFL Hawthorn Hawks hawthorn football club https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2210288061 6,557 No
AFL Geelong Cats Geelong Cats https://www.facebook.com/pages/Geelong-Australia/Geelong-Cats/64398281288 6,278 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/canberraraiders 6,269 Yes
AFL Geelong Cats Geelong Cats Insider https://www.facebook.com/GeelongCatsInsider 5,906 Yes
AFL Adelaide Crows Adelaide Crows https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2208515594 5,810 No
AFL North Melbourne Kangaroos North Melbourne Kangaroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Melbourne-Kangaroos/33221186760 5,173 No
ANZ Championship ANZ Championship ANZ Netball https://www.facebook.com/pages/ANZ-Netball/92385331744 5,158 Yes
AFL West Coast Eagles West Coast Eagles Appreciation Group https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2212678352 5,031 No
NRL Melbourne Storm Storm Man https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=725961793&ref=search&sid=7259 4,986 Yes
AFL Sydney Swans Sydney Swans https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2210531221 4,670 No
Rugby League England Rugby League England Rugby League https://www.facebook.com/pages/England-Rugby-League/22459291791 4,645 Yes
NRL Melbourne Storm Give Melbourne Storm Their Premierships Back https://www.facebook.com/pages/Give-Melbourne-Storm-Their-Premierships-Back/119876964691459 4,479 No
AFL St. Kilda Saints St Kilda Football Club https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2215006752 4,265 No
AFL Gold Coast Football Club Gold Coast Football Club https://www.facebook.com/GoldCoastFC 4,111 Yes
AFL Melbourne Demons Melbourne Football Club, The Mighty Demons https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2207848796 4,052 No
AFL Geelong Cats GEELONG FOOTBALL CLUB https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2528050096 3,939 No
AFL Fremantle Dockers Fremantle Dockers Fan Club https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2207069891 3,725 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Israel Folau https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-Folau/10150092717680478 3,577 No
Super 14 ACT Brumbies ACT Brumbies https://www.facebook.com/actbrumbies 3,542 No
Super 14 Western Force Western Force https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Force/24790235284 3,472
Super 14 Western Force Western Force https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Force/24790235284 3,472 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=wall&ref=profile&id=1589355881 3,413 Yes
Rugby League Papua New Guinea Kumuls Papua New Guinea Kumuls https://www.facebook.com/pages/Papua-New-Guinea-Kumuls/48575750514 3,310 Yes
NRL North Queensland Cowboys North Queensland Toyota Cowboys https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kirwan-Australia/North-Queensland-Toyota-Cowboys/9098495661 3,208 Yes
AFL Hawthorn Hawks Hawthorn Hawks https://www.facebook.com/hawthornhawks 3,182 No
AFL Port Adelaide Power Port Adelaide Power https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2373641808 3,152 No
AFL Richmond Tigers Richmond Tigers https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2249604493 2,748 No
AFL North Melbourne Kangaroos North Melbourne Kangaroos https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2600790272 2,413 No
AFL Brisbane Lions Brisbane Lions AFC https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2210819520 2,321 No
Women’s World Cup Matildas Matildas – Australian National Women’s Football Team https://www.facebook.com/matildas 2,204 Yes
Super 14 ACT Brumbies Official Brumbies Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/BrumbiesFanPage 2,196 Yes
AFL Adelaide Crows Adelaide Crows The team for all proud South Aussies https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adelaide-Crows-The-team-for-all-proud-South-Aussies/153984865902 2,116 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs 2010 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Bulldogs-2010/217871884770 2,019 No
AFL Essendon Bombers Essendon Bombers https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14594414804 2,016 No
Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Western Sydney Rollers Western Sydney Rollers https://www.facebook.com/pages/Penrith-Australia/Western-Sydney-Rollers/42792267115 2,001 Yes
AFL Carlton Blues Carlton Blues Supporters Club https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205002774 1,614 No
Rugby League/State of Origin New South Wales Blues New South Wales Rugby League https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-South-Wales-Rugby-League/62360768317 1,436 Yes
W-League W-League Westfield W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westfield-W-League/284833825576 1,424 Yes
AFL Greater Western Sydney Team GWS https://www.facebook.com/teamgws 1,359 Yes
NRL Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Australia/Canberra-Raiders/44722778922 1,255 Yes
NRL Melbourne Storm Support the Melbourne Storm this Sunday Night https://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-the-Melbourne-Storm-this-Sunday-Night/112926535407833 1,244 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Anything To Do With Footy. https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46374304132 984 No
AFL West Coast Eagles West Coast Eagles SUCK! https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Coast-Eagles-SUCK/283601832162 953 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis/301148780410 943 No
AFL Western Bulldogs WESTERN BULLDOGS 2010 PREMIERSHIP TEAM https://www.facebook.com/pages/WESTERN-BULLDOGS-2010-PREMIERSHIP-TEAM/304790027975 673 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis is a homophobe. https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118380594866779 631 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis/107712129252191 630 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Socceroos/106353142733985 617 No
AFL St. Kilda Saints ST KILDA SAINTS https://www.facebook.com/pages/ST-KILDA-SAINTS/76945789299 599 No
SEABL SEABL SEABL https://www.facebook.com/pages/SEABL/156802199436 599 Yes
AFL Collingwood Magpies COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES PREMIERS OF 2010. https://www.facebook.com/pages/COLLINGWOOD-MAGPIES-PREMIERS-OF-2010/206003434840 591 No
AFL Carlton Blues Carlton Blues https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melbourne-Australia/Carlton-Blues/159855878819 590 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Don’t you hate it when you’re in the shower and Jason Akermanis comes in? https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-you-hate-it-when-youre-in-the-shower-and-Jason-Akermanis-comes-in/124465230905493 548 No
AFL Western Bulldogs The Jason Akermanis Appreciation Society https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20900401086 482 No
W-League Canberra United Canberra United Fans https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31893404397 459 Yes
AFL Essendon Bombers Essendon Bombers Premiers 2010!! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Essendon-Bombers-Premiers-2010/292548086075 444 No
NRL Melbourne Storm melbourne storm :) https://www.facebook.com/pages/melbourne-storm-/234035998634 426 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos 100,000 Strong Socceroos Supporters To Win 2010 World Cup https://www.facebook.com/pages/100000-Strong-Socceroos-Supporters-To-Win-2010-World-Cup/362147231671 403 No
AIHL Sydney Bears Sydney Bears https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sydney-Bears/231164562115 372 Yes
WNBL Canberra Capitals WNBL – Canberra Capitals https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5865846788 368
AFL Fremantle Dockers Fremantle Dockers : Rebuilding since 1995 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fremantle-Dockers-Rebuilding-since-1995/320031751833 365 No
AFL Carlton Blues Carlton Blues FC https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=85618681803 361 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Socceroos to dominate in 2010 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Socceroos-to-dominate-in-2010/125877250762609 356 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Bulldogs/109838169034373 352 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jarrod Harbrow Stay At The Western Bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jarrod-Harbrow-Stay-At-The-Western-Bulldogs/111810932186509 348 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Karmichael Hunt & Israel Folau: Smartest NRL players in history https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karmichael-Hunt-Israel-Folau-Smartest-NRL-players-in-history/125580140798379 333 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Israel Folau https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-Folau/116955588324978 308 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Raiders/107811962573583 281 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos I’m not a traitor to my sport… LOL jks, im Israel Folau https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-not-a-traitor-to-my-sport-LOL-jks-im-Israel-Folau/126807534010649 261 No
NBL Wollongong Hawks Wollongong Hawks https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2511926702 246
NRL Brisbane Broncos its not all about the money… LOL jkz im Israel Folau https://www.facebook.com/pages/its-not-all-about-the-money-LOL-jkz-im-Israel-Folau/128394483853228 246 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney ACT 4 GWS https://www.facebook.com/pages/ACT-4-GWS/131873296847254 226 Yes
AFL Greater Western Sydney Supporters of Greater Western Sydney (Team GWS) AFL https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=197444073672 224 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney Team GWS https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=211851956941 222 No
AFL Port Adelaide Power Port Adelaide Power https://www.facebook.com/pages/Port-Adelaide-Power/9426342069 221 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Todd Carney 16 – Canberra Raiders 6……..(17/4/2010) Roosters Vs. Raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/Todd-Carney-16-Canberra-Raiders-61742010-Roosters-Vs-Raiders/117965208220477 218 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Australian University Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-University-Socceroos/279400107713 217 No
World Interuniversity Games Australian University Socceroos Australian University Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-University-Socceroos/279400107713 217 No
NWBL Wollongong Roller Hawks Wollongong Roller Hawks https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34282398124 215
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis is a legend https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10308061363 211 No
WNBL Bendigo Spirit The Official Bendigo Spirit Basketball https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bendigo-Australia/The-Official-Bendigo-Spirit-Basketball/227515051849 183 Yes
AFL Western Bulldogs Vote Julia Gillard as full forward for the Bulldogs!!! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vote-Julia-Gillard-as-full-forward-for-the-Bulldogs/135068153186079 177 No
Archery Australia Guy Phillips Guy Phillips https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-Phillips/136216599725314 177 Yes
AFL Richmond Tigers Trent Cotchin https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=288344968328 174 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Australia/Canberra-Raiders/142939450791 174 No
Greater Western Sydney and Blue Mountains Senior AFL Penrith Rams IGA PENRITH RAMS https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34780778851 170 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney Greater Western Sydney https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greater-Western-Sydney/110850405598090 163 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Bulldogs/275365171824 156 No
NRL Wests Tigers Wests Tigers NYC https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14767245041 153 No
VFL Bendigo Bombers Bendigo Bombers Football Club https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=166091156567 151
AFL Western Bulldogs Julia Gillard, full-foward for Western Bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/pages/Julia-Gillard-full-foward-for-Western-Bulldogs/138828299460524 142 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Im Not Really That Awesome, LOL jk, Im Israel Folau ♥ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-Not-Really-That-Awesome-LOL-jk-Im-Israel-Folau-3/120925127943654 141 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos SOCCEROOS :) https://www.facebook.com/pages/SOCCEROOS-/126051170744978 136 No
AFL Richmond Tigers Daniel Jackson – TIGER TUFF! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123091481992 134 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Israel Folau has discraced rugby league and is a DOG https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-Folau-has-discraced-rugby-league-and-is-a-DOG/131445246866465 126 No
WNBL Townsville Fire Townsville McCafe Fire https://www.facebook.com/pages/Townsville-Australia/Townsville-McCafe-Fire/239691963244 123 Yes
World Cup Soccer Socceroos kickoff.com.au: A-League, Socceroos, Australian and International football https://www.facebook.com/pages/kickoffcomau-A-League-Socceroos-Australian-and-International-football/238919388600 119 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos I’m going to be an AFL superstar. Oh wait, no i’m not. I’m Israel Folau. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-going-to-be-an-AFL-superstar-Oh-wait-no-im-not-Im-Israel-Folau/130787570267787 114 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Brett Holman shouldn’t play for the Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brett-Holman-shouldnt-play-for-the-Socceroos/155289433083 114 No
NRL Newcastle Knights Matt Johns to coach the Newcastle Knights in 2010! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105298639854 110 No
Super 14 ACT Brumbies act brumbies https://www.facebook.com/pages/act-brumbies/188338778385 107 No
AFL Western Bulldogs WESTERN BULLDOGS https://www.facebook.com/pages/WESTERN-BULLDOGS/271303674325 105 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Bulldogs/110292775655582 104 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos I love NRL, LOL jk i’m Israel Folau. https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-love-NRL-LOL-jk-im-Israel-Folau/132015913479883 98 No
Super 14 New South Wales Waratahs Waratahs 2008 https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6889666197 98
Super 14 New South Wales Waratahs Waratahs 2008 https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6889666197 98 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Cheering for the Socceroos at the local club in the World Cup https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheering-for-the-Socceroos-at-the-local-club-in-the-World-Cup/406886935323 98 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis handstand appreciation society https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19647855868 97 No
AFL Richmond Tigers Greeks who support Richmond F.C the Tigers https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56793324172 94 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Akermaniacs!! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13979751018 88 No
AFL Gold Coast Football Club Gold Coast Football Club https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116206475832 87 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Langerak is a God, and will be in the Socceroos one day :) p.s hes HOT https://www.facebook.com/pages/Langerak-is-a-God-and-will-be-in-the-Socceroos-one-day-ps-hes-HOT/103909322982210 86 No
WNBL Townsville Fire TOWNSVILLE FIRE https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7634104737 80 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis/376142636801 78 No
NRL Canberra Raiders i bet u i can find 10,000 people who hate canberra raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/i-bet-u-i-can-find-10000-people-who-hate-canberra-raiders/115693885138853 69 No
AFL Western Bulldogs for people who wanna see Jason Akermanis shove his head up his own Ass https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38642639632 68 No
NRL Sydney Roosters Sign Up Jake Friend https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=311599952794 66 No
NRL Canberra Raiders I’m a 2010 Canberra Raiders member https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Australia/Im-a-2010-Canberra-Raiders-member/217845443478 65 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Raiders/370953541588 62 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Socceroos/108710262493191 57 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Socceroos/112443855448354 57 No
AFL Richmond Tigers No matter how bad they are, I will still barrack for the Richmond Tigers! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=80991032015 56 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney GO Team GWS https://www.facebook.com/pages/GO-Team-GWS/201507074991 55 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Western bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-bulldogs/208698572908 51 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney Greater Western Sydney Football Club https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greater-Western-Sydney-Football-Club/100573089984951 49 No
VFL Frankston Dolphins Aaron Edwards Fan page https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139834293787 46
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis is a dick https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118537708183794 45 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos I miss my family in brisbane…lol jk im Israel Folau https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-miss-my-family-in-brisbanelol-jk-im-Israel-Folau/121631641206963 45 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Hi I’m Julia Gillard, I’m a politic LOL jk, I’m full forward for the bulldogs https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hi-Im-Julia-Gillard-Im-a-politic-LOL-jk-Im-full-forward-for-the-bulldogs/133430483342149 41 No
Victorian Amateur Football Association Werribee Tigers Werribee Amateur Football Club https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7111400046 41
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Socceroos/106019049438817 33 No
AFL Hawthorn Hawks The New Hawks Cheer Squad 2009 hawthorn football club https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14866934870 32 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Raiders/148093829783 32 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Israel Folau to switch codes and Play AFL, Stick that where it fits Gallup https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-Folau-to-switch-codes-and-Play-AFL-Stick-that-where-it-fits-Gallup/121244824577993 31 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Ive always wanted to play AFL LOL jk I’m Israel Folau https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ive-always-wanted-to-play-AFL-LOL-jk-Im-Israel-Folau/121790094527530 31 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney Team Gws https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=432992410322 30 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Queensland will win Origin 2010… LOL JK, Israel Folau plays AFL now. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Queensland-will-win-Origin-2010-LOL-JK-Israel-Folau-plays-AFL-now/121736904533450 30 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney GWS AFL TEAM WE DO NOT WANT YOU !!!! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115243691825820 24 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis slept with me https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis-slept-with-me/115552025153010 24 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Petition for Israel to come play the Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Petition-for-Israel-to-come-play-the-Socceroos/124315894249250 24 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs 2010 :) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Bulldogs-2010-/121258311217816 21 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos I’m loyal to rugby league….lol JK I’m Israel Folau https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-loyal-to-rugby-leaguelol-JK-Im-Israel-Folau/101306539918069 21 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos I’m Israel Folau I’m an NRL superstar, LOL jk im gonna go play footy https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-Israel-Folau-Im-an-NRL-superstar-LOL-jk-im-gonna-go-play-footy/118386028202456 19 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Israel Folau ♥ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-Folau-3/118502131501099 19 No
AFL AFL I Loved football, then Andrew ‘Dollars’ Demetriou came along https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=376087484378&ref=search 18 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney BOYCOTT TEAM GWS https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127403363954150 18 No
AFL Hawthorn Hawks Law Hawks https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5033799337 18
AFL Western Bulldogs I’ll never play for the Bulldogs, LOL jk, I’m Julia Gillard https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ill-never-play-for-the-Bulldogs-LOL-jk-Im-Julia-Gillard/104083189641887 18 No
NRL Wests Tigers Melbourne-based Wests Tigers Fanatics https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4979514491 18 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis should be locked and gagged in a closet! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109095775801131 16 No
AHL Tassie Tigers Tassie Tigers Hockey – Top 4 three years in a row https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10850081395 16
NRL Brisbane Broncos Israel folau, please stay with NRL https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-folau-please-stay-with-NRL/129283270431508 16 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Supporting the Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/Supporting-the-Canberra-Raiders/378099581051 15 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Raiders/105808109459157 14 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Support for the Socceroos in South Africa https://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-for-the-Socceroos-in-South-Africa/118426448190124 14 No
AFL Western Bulldogs jason akermanis is amazing! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=344061166761 13 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos israel folau is injury prone https://www.facebook.com/pages/israel-folau-is-injury-prone/114024501946027 13 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Change the name of the Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brisbane-Australia/Change-the-name-of-the-Socceroos/206601790281 12 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney I live here and don’t support Team GWS https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140288354383 11 No
WNBL Townsville Fire Fire Roster https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10595065717 10 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis for Brownlow 2008 https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16522463154 9 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis to win the Coleman medal. https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21877556009 9 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos socceroos fan? get on it!!!!! https://www.facebook.com/pages/socceroos-fan-get-on-it/118141831550071 9 No
AFL Western Bulldogs JASON AKERMANIS’S IQ OF A PLANT https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107444465957654 8 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney Team GWS is stupid – Nobody cares! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=201349721647 7 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos Israel Folau an AFL player? https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-Folau-an-AFL-player/125596160796485 7 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis/105738419448658 6 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Socceroos/119664741377244 6 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos The Football Supporters’ Pledge: A-League, Socceroos & Grassroots https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Football-Supporters-Pledge-A-League-Socceroos-Grassroots/114421618592491 5 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Only Homophobes think Jason Akermanis is a homophobe! https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128825660465576 4 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos I’m not angry Israel Folau, I’m just very disappointed in you. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-not-angry-Israel-Folau-Im-just-very-disappointed-in-you/122542961115419 4 No
NRL Canberra Raiders CANBERRA RAIDERS (GREEN MACHINE) https://www.facebook.com/pages/CANBERRA-RAIDERS-GREEN-MACHINE/131955160151271 4 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney Team GWS https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-GWS/110182962355046 3 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney Team GWS https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-GWS/110460898989193 3 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=124872100865630 3 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis Biography https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis-Biography/106142142741832 3 No
W-League Brisbane Roar Brisbane Roar FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brisbane-Roar-FC-W-League/113243915352961 3 No
World Cup Soccer Socceroos Young Socceroos https://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Socceroos/115695218444154 3 No
AFL Western Bulldogs The Battle Within by Jason Akermanis https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Battle-Within-by-Jason-Akermanis/110570445624262 2 No
NRL Canberra Raiders On a scale of 1-Canberra Raiders how premature are you https://www.facebook.com/pages/On-a-scale-of-1-Canberra-Raiders-how-premature-are-you/125897990754134 2 No
W-League Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melbourne-Victory-W-League/114789105203249 2 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis Can’t Drive A Race Car https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123972501889 1 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis/373300971735 1 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis Autobiography https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis-Autobiography/106446502709782 1 No
NRL Canberra Raiders Raiders de canberra https://www.facebook.com/pages/Raiders-de-canberra/106471522724049 1 No
W-League Adelaide United Adelaide United FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adelaide-United-FC-W-League/108294542532589 1 No
W-League Adelaide United Adelaide United F.C. W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adelaide-United-FC-W-League/111672428851109 1 No
W-League Adelaide United Adelaide United W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adelaide-United-W-League/110542468965980 1 No
W-League Brisbane Roar Brisbane Roar W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brisbane-Roar-W-League/106111719427974 1 No
W-League Canberra United Canberra United FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-United-FC-W-League/109991445697639 1 No
W-League Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melbourne-Victory-FC-W-League/107986482554786 1 No
W-League Queensland Roar Queensland Roar W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Queensland-Roar-W-League/106361719403254 1 No
W-League W-League Westfield W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westfield-W-League/106287136076565 1 No
AFL Greater Western Sydney Team GWS https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-GWS/116207325073108 0 No
AFL Melbourne Demons Melbourne Demons https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melbourne-Australia/Melbourne-Demons/8283147091 0 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis Is Totally Gay https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118573961511057 0 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis is a F*ckwit https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18564050741 0 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis: Homophobe and complete fuckwit! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis-Homophobe-and-complete-fuckwit/105067262872425 0 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis is a coward https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis-is-a-coward/105337389512086 0 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis is an idiot. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis-is-an-idiot/125326927493237 0 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Jason Akermanis, you are a MORON! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Akermanis-you-are-a-MORON/109009685810123 0 No
AFL Western Bulldogs Western Bulldogs FC https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Bulldogs-FC/22912285819 0 No
NBL Wollongong Hawks Wollongong Hawks https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wollongong-Australia/Wollongong-Hawks/250640730611 0
NRL Brisbane Broncos I’d rather see the world end in 2012 then see Israel Folau play AFL https://www.facebook.com/pages/Id-rather-see-the-world-end-in-2012-then-see-Israel-Folau-play-AFL/125789914109136 0 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos I hate AFL…lol jk i’m karmichael hunt and israel folau https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-hate-AFLlol-jk-im-karmichael-hunt-and-israel-folau/121488781224409 0 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos israel folau turned gay for 3 million https://www.facebook.com/pages/israel-folau-turned-gay-for-3-million/128843927141424 0 No
NRL Brisbane Broncos sucks Israel Folau joined AFL, LOL jk AFL needs better players anyways https://www.facebook.com/pages/sucks-Israel-Folau-joined-AFL-LOL-jk-AFL-needs-better-players-anyways/132172480131292 0 No
NRL Melbourne Storm Best team in NRL.. Melbourne Storm ! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-team-in-NRL-Melbourne-Storm-/43558529287 0 No
NRL Melbourne Storm Melbourne Storm https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melbourne-Australia/Melbourne-Storm/21222300614 0 Yes
W-League Canberra United Canberra United W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-United-W-League/106044356102375 0 No
W-League Central Coast Mariners Central Coast Mariners FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Coast-Mariners-FC-W-League/108518769173365 0 No
W-League Central Coast Mariners Central Coast Mariners W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Coast-Mariners-W-League/111835622169478 0 No
W-League Newcastle Jets Newcastle Jets FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-Jets-FC-W-League/105841596122300 0 No
W-League Newcastle Jets Newcastle Jets W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-Jets-W-League/110694742284280 0 No
W-League Newcastle United Jets Newcastle United Jets FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-United-Jets-FC-W-League/107745802588731 0 No
W-League Newcastle United Jets Newcastle United Jets W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-United-Jets-W-League/106256169412363 0 No
W-League Perth Glory Perth Glory W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perth-Glory-W-League/106426936059962 0 No
W-League Perth Glory FC Perth Glory FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perth-Glory-FC-W-League/105709786128298 0 No
W-League Queensland Roar Queensland Roar FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Queensland-Roar-FC-W-League/106577539379058 0 No
W-League Sydney FC Sydney FC W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sydney-FC-W-League/107350229294344 0 No
W-League W-League Westfield W-League https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westfield-W-League/112250692140005 0 No
W-League W-League W League https://www.facebook.com/pages/W-League/105657402802575 0 Yes
W-League W-League W League https://www.facebook.com/pages/W-League/105657402802575 0 No
W-League W-League W League https://www.facebook.com/pages/W-League/109267555759761 0 No
W-League W-League W League https://www.facebook.com/pages/W-League/119918504685192 0 No
WNBL Bendigo Spirit WNBL – Bendigo Spirit https://www.facebook.com/BendigoSpirit 0 Yes

Related Posts:

Most popular Australian clubs and teams on Twitter

Posted by Laura on Thursday, 29 July, 2010

I haven’t done an update in a month or so… but this is my list of Australian clubs, leagues and athletes on Twitter.  It is sorted by followers.  The list is rather comprehensive but not all comprehensive.  A few accounts have been deleted since the last time I did this.  Those accounts aren’t noted this time around. And unlike the last time around, I haven’t htmled the Twitter accounts.  If you see any people or clubs or fansites that I’m missing, let me know in the comments.

League Team Account Date collected Following Followers Lists
First class cricket New South Wales Blues PH408 (player) 29-Jul-10 0 12,146 407
Super 14 Natal Sharks JohnSmit123 (player) 29-Jul-10 21 11,368 414
AFL AFL AFL (official) 29-Jul-10 269 11,326 388
Super 14 Pretoria Bulls (Northern Bulls) VictorMatfield (player) 29-Jul-10 36 10,651 414
Rugby World Cup South Africa Lions LionsRugbyTeam 29-Jul-10 10,529 9,738 291
NRL Wests Tigers LoteTuqiri (player) 29-Jul-10 70 9,307 449
Rugby World Cup All Blacks nzru 29-Jul-10 88 8,795 432
NRL NRL NRL 29-Jul-10 29 6,816 216
NRL St. George Illawarra Dragons RealBigDell (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 113 6,641 215
AFL Collingwood Magpies Collingwood_FC 29-Jul-10 5,516 6,205 207
AFL Essendon Bombers Essendon_FC 29-Jul-10 5,677 5,791 196
AFL Adelaide Crows Adelaide_FC 29-Jul-10 5,642 5,656 199
AFL Melbourne Demons jimstynes (player) 29-Jul-10 13 5,508 142
Super 14 Queensland Reds QuadeCooper (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 50 5,439 215
AFL Collingwood Magpies harry_o (player) 29-Jul-10 498 5,329 201
AFL Essendon Bombers JobeWatson (player) 29-Jul-10 5 4,937 156
AFL Sydney Swans sydneyswans (official) 29-Jul-10 2,461 4,848 195
Super 14 Canterbury Crusaders mornesteyn (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 2 4,566 213
Super 14 Wellington Hurricanes NeemiaTialata (Neemia Tialata) 29-Jul-10 1,283 4,541 283
Swimming Australia Stephanie Rice ItsStephRice (athlete) 29-Jul-10 93 4,418 225
NRL Gold Coast Titans mat_rogers6 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 132 4,285 224
AFL Essendon Bombers AngusMonfries (player) 29-Jul-10 16 4,264 157
World Cup Socceroos socceroos (official) 29-Jul-10 756 4,043 181
AFL Hawthorn Hawks lehmo23 (player) 29-Jul-10 521 4,010 154
Super 14 Wellington Hurricanes Hurricanesrugby 29-Jul-10 3,320 3,825 159
AFL St. Kilda Saints stkildafc (official) 29-Jul-10 3,885 3,816 157
AFL Carlton Blues Carlton_FC (official) 29-Jul-10 2,979 3,659 169
AFL Geelong Cats Geelong_FC (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 1,992 3,119 126
Rugby World Cup Wallabies QantasWallabies 29-Jul-10 383 3,076 172
First class cricket New South Wales Blues NBRACKEN142 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 85 2,828 152
Super 14 Wellington Hurricanes Powza13 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 390 2,690 173
AFL Hawthorn Hawks HawthornFC (official) 29-Jul-10 8 2,597 139
AFL Richmond Tigers Richmond_FC 29-Jul-10 148 2,525 122
AFL Melbourne Demons nathan2jones (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 253 2,490 106
NRL Gold Coast Titans GCTitans 29-Jul-10 12 2,447 109
AFL Collingwood Magpies mickmalthouse (Mick Malthouse) 29-Jul-10 11 2,297 66
AFL North Melbourne Kangaroos northkangaroos (official) 29-Jul-10 69 2,241 125
A-League Melbourne Victory gomvfc 29-Jul-10 1,429 2,211 144
AFL Brisbane Lions BrendanFevola05 (player) 29-Jul-10 27 2,189 72
NRL New Zealand Warriors (Auckland Warriors) nzwarriors (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 372 2,182 77
AFL Melbourne Demons DemonsHQ (official) 29-Jul-10 311 1,896 114
World Cup Socceroos socceroos_news (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 1,723 1,858 80
Super 14 Cape Town Stormers (Western Stormers) THESTORMERS 29-Jul-10 213 1,828 76
AFL Melbourne Demons CamSchwab (ceo) 29-Jul-10 288 1,810 81
AFL Port Adelaide Power PAFC (official) 29-Jul-10 31 1,804 123
NRL Wests Tigers Wests_Tigers (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 827 1,787 74
AFL West Coast Eagles WCEofficial 29-Jul-10 4 1,775 113
Super 14 Durban Sharks (Coastal Sharks)(Natal Sharks) sharksrugby 29-Jul-10 36 1,766 86
AFL Collingwood Magpies DT_13 (Dale Thomas) 29-Jul-10 6 1,751 44
NRL North Queensland Cowboys northqldcowboys 29-Jul-10 37 1,649 77
Tennis Australia Tennis Australia TennisAustralia (official) 29-Jul-10 63 1,638 165
NBL Melbourne Tigers Follow24Hodge (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 27 1,638 93
NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs SSFCRABBITOHS 29-Jul-10 789 1,610 89
AFL Fremantle Dockers Fremantle_FC (official) 29-Jul-10 147 1,578 104
NRL Melbourne Storm MelbStormRLC (official) 29-Jul-10 1,184 1,473 87
AFL Gold Coast Football Club GoldCoastFC (official) 29-Jul-10 571 1,458 110
AFL Hawthorn Hawks Hawks_AFL (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 1,979 1,446 29
ANZ Championship Melbourne Vixens MelbourneVixens 29-Jul-10 706 1,405 56
NRL Manly Sea Eagles manlyseaeagles 29-Jul-10 111 1,338 72
First class cricket Victorian Bushrangers Bushrangers 29-Jul-10 1,389 1,336 89
First class cricket New South Wales Blues ClarkeVC (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 34 1,264 41
AFL Melbourne Demons Rickypetterd15 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 66 1,260 57
NBL Adelaide 36ers Adelaide36ers 29-Jul-10 834 1,132 66
AFL Melbourne Demons howcroft 29-Jul-10 68 1,127 38
AFL North Melbourne Kangaroos andrewswallow (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 13 1,096 67
NRL NRL NRLNEWS (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 182 1,068 27
NRL Penrith Panthers penrithpanthers (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 83 1,067 70
Super 14 Canterbury Crusaders crusadersrugby 29-Jul-10 2 1,065 75
AFL Western Bulldogs westernbulldogs (official) 29-Jul-10 9 1,053 68
AFL Brisbane Lions ALFbrisbane (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 3 1,053 45
A-League Melbourne Victory mitchlangerak (player) 29-Jul-10 13 1,010 58
NRL Parramatta Eels parramatta_eels 29-Jul-10 1,090 993 27
AFL Collingwood Magpies PeterDaicos (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 684 964 60
ANZ Championship Melbourne Vixens SharelleVixens 29-Jul-10 35 961 37
A-League Sydney FC SydneyFC1011 29-Jul-10 786 955 78
AFL AFL SENfooty 29-Jul-10 59 946 48
A-League Central Coast Mariners Football Club LawrieMcKinna (coach) 29-Jul-10 1 922 68
A-League Melbourne Victory adrianleijer (player, Adrian Leijer) 29-Jul-10 48 906 65
NBL Wollongong Hawks wollongonghawks 29-Jul-10 1,568 881 63
AFL Melbourne Demons MCC_Members 29-Jul-10 558 857 27
NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs benross23 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 48 854 42
Super 14 ACT Brumbies BrumbiesRugby 29-Jul-10 135 848 65
NBL South Dragons Joeingles7 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 43 830 50
NRL Melbourne Storm MelbourneStorm_ (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 13 827 28
Super 14 Queensland Reds RedsRugby (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 166 824 44
Super 14 Queensland Reds Reds_Rugby 29-Jul-10 26 817 58
AFL Collingwood Magpies bigdyman (player) 29-Jul-10 19 810 54
AFL AFL AFLphotos (official) 29-Jul-10 75 798 46
NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs therabbitohs (official) 29-Jul-10 10 790 61
NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs therabbitohs (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 10 790 61
NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs rabbitohs (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 665 788 36
A-League North Queensland Fury FC nqfuryfc 29-Jul-10 1,808 786 52
Super 14 Natal Sharks KeeganDaniel (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 5 761 42
NRL Parramatta Eels PirtekParraEels (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 7 759 46
NRL NRL NRLTweet (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 161 731 43
AFL Collingwood Magpies collingwoodnews (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 1 729 31
First class cricket Queensland Bulls andrew_symonds (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 5 716 28
NBL Perth Wildcats perthwildcats 29-Jul-10 74 704 54
Super 14 Melbourne Rebels melbournerebels 29-Jul-10 738 695 38
AIS University of Canberra National Institute of Sport Studies unicanberra 29-Jul-10 118 688 36
NSW Premier League Sydney Olympic MarkBosnich (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 16 676 44
Basketball Australia Australian Boomers aussieboomers 29-Jul-10 0 656 53
NBL NBL NBLhoops 29-Jul-10 47 651 52
NRL Gold Coast Titans AshHarrison1 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 25 618 40
A-League Melbourne Victory victoryinmelb 29-Jul-10 80 616 47
NRL New Zealand Warriors (Auckland Warriors) thenzwarriors 29-Jul-10 72 614 49
A-League Wellington Phoenix wgtnphoenixfc 29-Jul-10 57 612 41
NRL Canberra Raiders RaidersCanberra 29-Jul-10 5 608 58
A-League A-League thefootballsack (fansite) 29-Jul-10 1,920 594 39
NBL New Zealand Breakers johnrillie (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 347 592 48
AFL Fremantle Dockers Freo_Dockers (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 319 581 44
NRL Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks SharksOnline (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 846 569 11
NRL Gold Coast Titans lukeodwyer (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 49 561 42
Netball Australia Netball Australia NetballAust 29-Jul-10 121 559 53
AFL West Coast Eagles wingsofperth (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 5 555 11
A-League Brisbane Roar BNERoar (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 186 539 42
AFL Greater Western Sydney team_gws (official) 29-Jul-10 102 538 50
A-League Perth Glory PerthGlory_FC 29-Jul-10 13 526 56
AFL St. Kilda Saints njbrown17 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 19 506 34
NRL Manly Sea Eagles gorgeousgrose (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 28 503 27
AFL Brisbane Lions AFLBrisbaneFC 29-Jul-10 25 484 21
NRL NRL TWiLeague (show) 29-Jul-10 1,262 480 29
A-League Adelaide United adelaideunited 29-Jul-10 134 480 46
A-League Newcastle Jets newcastle_jets 29-Jul-10 15 480 30
Super 14 Queensland Reds L_Weeks (player) 29-Jul-10 77 475 34
World Cup Socceroos GGArmy (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 576 471 28
AFL Fremantle Dockers FremantleFC (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 0 461 12
AFL Essendon Bombers JasonJohnson14 (former player) 29-Jul-10 17 460 18
NRL Parramatta Eels PlanetEels (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 551 456 26
A-League Sydney FC SFCNews (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 135 455 51
ANZ Championship Queensland Firebirds laurafirebirds (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 11 451 21
NBL Perth Wildcats CatsGM 29-Jul-10 53 424 53
NBL Wollongong Hawks milisimic (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 736 422 30
A-League Adelaide United adelaidereds 29-Jul-10 280 409 52
A-League Brisbane Roar brisbaneroar 29-Jul-10 4 404 47
Super 14 ACT Brumbies snorkymortlock (player) 29-Jul-10 9 403 23
NRL Brisbane Broncos broncosbigfan (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 398 389 20
ANZ Championship Adelaide Thunderbirds NatTbirds 29-Jul-10 0 389 20
AFL AFL AFL_Shifter (talent scout, Kevin Sheehan) 29-Jul-10 9 386 16
NRL NRL NRLlivebetting (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 17 379 2
NBL Townsville Crocodiles TsvCrocs 29-Jul-10 343 377 34
Netball Australia Australian Diamonds (national team) AussieDiamonds 29-Jul-10 40 371 21
ANZ Championship New South Wales Swifts SusanSwifts 29-Jul-10 23 360 22
AFL Sydney Swans JaredCrouch (former player) 29-Jul-10 72 356 22
Netball Victoria Netball Victoria netballvic 29-Jul-10 633 355 21
AFL AFL AFLInsider (official) 29-Jul-10 85 354 26
NBL Melbourne Tigers Wortho33 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 81 352 30
NBL Sydney Kings thesydneykings (official) 29-Jul-10 5 352 31
First class cricket Tassie Tigers crickettas 29-Jul-10 1 352 18
Rugby League/State of Origin New South Wales Blues NSWRL 29-Jul-10 58 345 23
NRL Wests Tigers fakebrycegibbs (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 369 344 19
NRL St. George Illawarra Dragons mighty_dragons (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 7 330 17
ANZ Championship Melbourne Vixens Renaehallinan (player) 29-Jul-10 35 328 14
NRL Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Fergo1990 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 16 327 21
NBL Townsville Crocodiles chomicide (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 201 323 26
AFL AFL AFL_JenWitham 29-Jul-10 140 322 34
NRL Parramatta Eels blueandgoldarmy (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 61 320 12
NBL Cairns Taipans Dusty_Rychart (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 45 317 22
Australian Cycling Federation rachel neylan rachneylan (athlete) 29-Jul-10 225 306 29
World Cup Socceroos HalfTimeHeroes (soccer fansite) 29-Jul-10 790 302 18
AFL West Coast Eagles WestCoastEagles (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 0 299 5
A-League A-League ultimatealeague (fansite) 29-Jul-10 44 287 29
AFL Melbourne Demons MelbourneFC (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 0 281 11
NRL Brisbane Broncos BrisbaneBronco (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 86 277 10
AFL Essendon Bombers essendonfc (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 0 266 9
AIS University of Canberra National Institute of Sport Studies 520507 (Keith Lyons) 29-Jul-10 336 265 12
AFL West Coast Eagles MitchJbrown17 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 7 263 30
NRL Newcastle Knights Corypato (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 25 261 16
First class cricket Victorian Bushrangers MatthewWade13 (player) 29-Jul-10 62 260 18
A-League Gold Coast United GCUSC (unofficial supporter club) 29-Jul-10 242 259 20
First class cricket New South Wales Blues eddiecowan (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 134 258 27
First class cricket Victorian Bushrangers AaronFinch5 (player) 29-Jul-10 78 256 17
NBL New Zealand Breakers NZBreakers 29-Jul-10 12 254 28
UCI Continental Team (Oceania Region) Team Jayco Skins / Cycling Australia teamjaycoskins (official) 29-Jul-10 19 249 19
AFL Melbourne Demons demonland (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 176 247 9
AFL Western Bulldogs _the_kennel_ 29-Jul-10 28 245 15
Hockey Australia Hockeyroos katehollywood10 29-Jul-10 66 242 13
AIHL Sydney Bears sydneybears 29-Jul-10 568 240 4
Tennis Australia Sam Stosur samstosurnews (official) 29-Jul-10 54 235 19
NBL New Zealand Breakers oscarforman (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 38 232 22
Handball Australia Canberra Handball Club sashpet (player) 29-Jul-10 897 222 6
NRL Brisbane Broncos broncobasher (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 243 219 5
ANZ Championship New South Wales Swifts nswswifts 29-Jul-10 8 216 16
A-League Central Coast Mariners Football Club CCMarinersFC (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 117 215 27
VFL Casey Scorpions CaseyScorpions 29-Jul-10 5 211 8
Volleyball Australia Volleyball Australia ausvolley 29-Jul-10 10 207 12
First class cricket South Australian Redbacks (Southern Redbacks) RedbacksT20 29-Jul-10 7 206 23
NBL Perth Wildcats TheRealSchensh (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 17 202 21
NBL Townsville Crocodiles rustyhinder (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 100 200 26
First class cricket Victorian Bushrangers petersiddle (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 1 193 18
AIHL Melbourne Ice TheMelbourneIce 29-Jul-10 1 193 9
NRL Parramatta Eels 1eyedeel (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 646 188 11
VFL Williamstown Football Club WilliamstownFC 29-Jul-10 175 188 7
ANZ Championship Adelaide Thunderbirds AdelaideTBirds 29-Jul-10 0 188 14
ANZ Championship Melbourne Vixens JulieCorletto (Julie Corletto) 29-Jul-10 27 187 6
Super 14 Western Australia Force (Western Force) s14_force 29-Jul-10 2 183 13
AFL Fremantle Dockers ryanmcrowley (player) 29-Jul-10 17 179 15
WNBL WNBL WNBL 29-Jul-10 38 178 22
Super 14 Central Cheetahs (Vodacom Cheetahs) VodacomCheetahs 29-Jul-10 44 177 13
AFL Sydney Swans BionicSwan (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 20 177 26
Super 14 Queensland Reds s14_queensland (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 2 169 10
VFL North Ballarat Roosters NB_Roosters 29-Jul-10 26 167 10
Rugby League/State of Origin Queensland Maroons QLD_Maroons 29-Jul-10 1 167 4
NBL Adelaide 36ers DarrenNg8 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 59 163 14
NRL St. George Illawarra Dragons jsaffy (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 11 159 13
NRL Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs bulldogsnews (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 105 145 6
A-League Melbourne Victory victorytwit (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 49 143 11
A-League Melbourne Victory mvfcfanzone 29-Jul-10 115 142 20
ANZ Championship West Coast Fever SusanWCFever 29-Jul-10 23 142 13
AFL Melbourne Demons matesOmelbourne (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 1 141 11
NRL Balmain Tigers tigers1908 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 7 137 11
AFL Western Bulldogs ccaallward (player) 29-Jul-10 0 136 24
AFL North Melbourne Kangaroos Marcus__White (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 27 135 16
AFL Hawthorn Hawks bmsew (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 22 132 21
NBL Perth Wildcats catslisch 29-Jul-10 10 132 8
First class cricket Queensland Bulls qldcricket 29-Jul-10 13 130 6
AFL AFL AFL_Aus (fansite) 29-Jul-10 0 126 7
NBL Adelaide 36ers jgovereasy (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 35 122 11
W-League W-League AusWomensGame (fansite) 29-Jul-10 43 112 11
AFL St. Kilda Saints RWBFooty (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 70 111 9
SFL Caulfield Bears CaulfieldBears 29-Jul-10 195 107 1
Gridiron Australia Nationals Perth Blitz fatloaf (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 170 100 4
Gridiron Australia Nationals WA Raiders fatloaf (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 170 100 4
AIHL AIHL AIHL 29-Jul-10 31 99 2
AIHL Gold Coast Bluetongues gcbluetongues 29-Jul-10 47 97 2
AFL Geelong Cats thecattery (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 16 97 5
NBL Sydney Kings sydneykings 29-Jul-10 61 94 12
Netball New South Wales Sydney_Netball 29-Jul-10 64 90 5
AFL Fremantle Dockers briansham (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 12 87 12
NBL Wollongong Hawks danjackson9 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 60 84 8
NBL Perth Wildcats CatsTM 29-Jul-10 26 84 8
NRL Gold Coast Titans Aaron_Cannings (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 3 81 11
AIS New South Wales Institute of Sport theNSWIS (official) 29-Jul-10 259 80 0
NBL Townsville Crocodiles JoshJenkins24 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 59 75 8
Volleyball Australia Volleyball SA mmurpha (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 113 74 2
AFL Richmond Tigers yellow_n_black (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 4 74 8
A-League Sydney FC SydneyFC 29-Jul-10 0 73 4
Semi Professional Basketball League Semi Professional Basketball League SEABL 29-Jul-10 12 70 8
AFL Melbourne Demons demonwiki (fansite) 29-Jul-10 70 69 1
AFL Canberra Sydney Swans Reserves swansreserves 29-Jul-10 24 67 4
NBL Perth Wildcats Cats_Coach 29-Jul-10 11 67 4
U18 National Championships Western Australia U18s team WA_U18s 29-Jul-10 9 67 1
NBL Adelaide 36ers BenFitz (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 54 66 7
U18 National Championships Victoria U18s team VicMetroU18s 29-Jul-10 4 66 2
NBL Perth Wildcats CatsWagstaff 29-Jul-10 10 65 5
U18 National Championships Tasmania U18s team TasU18s 29-Jul-10 7 64 1
NBL Adelaide 36ers 36ers (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 16 60 11
U18 National Championships South Australia U18s team SA_U18s 29-Jul-10 8 60 2
NRL NRL womeninleague 29-Jul-10 15 59 6
Australian Baseball League Australian Baseball League ABLeague 29-Jul-10 5 58 3
NBL Perth Wildcats CatsGear 29-Jul-10 35 57 2
U18 National Championships Victoria U18s team VicCountryU18s 29-Jul-10 5 57 2
Claxton Shield Barbagallo Perth Heat PerthHeat 29-Jul-10 23 56 4
U18 National Championships Northern Territory U18s team NT_U18s 29-Jul-10 16 55 1
U18 National Championships Queensland U18s team QldU18s 29-Jul-10 5 54 1
NBL Perth Wildcats CatsTickets 29-Jul-10 7 53 5
NBL South (Melbourne) Dragons SAVEOURDRAGONS (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 54 51 3
UCI Continental Team (Oceania Region) Team Jayco Skins / Cycling Australia AlexCarver91 (athlete) 29-Jul-10 71 50 3
AFL Collingwood Magpies VictoriaParkHC (grounds) 29-Jul-10 21 50 2
AFL Sydney Swans RTTF_AU (fansite) 29-Jul-10 99 47 5
NSW Premier League Manly United ManlyUnited 29-Jul-10 26 46 5
NBL Townsville Crocodiles willo43 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 24 46 6
U18 National Championships New South Wales U18s team NSWACT_Rams 29-Jul-10 7 46 1
AFL Greater Western Sydney ACT4GWS 29-Jul-10 40 44 1
WNBL Bendio Spirit bendigospirit 29-Jul-10 31 43 4
NRL Parramatta Eels parraeels (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 0 42 4
NBL Perth Wildcats CatsCommunity 29-Jul-10 79 41 3
NBL Townsville Crocodiles Kegs42 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 43 40 7
AIHL AIHL hnim (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 2 40 4
AFL Essendon Bombers bomberblitz (player) 29-Jul-10 19 38 1
AIHL AIHL hockeypulse (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 20 36 2
Australian Cross Country Ski Team Australian Cross Country Ski Team AUS_XC (official) 29-Jul-10 6 35 4
Netball New South Wales Petersham RUFC Netball Club PetershamNetbal 29-Jul-10 13 34 5
Brisbane Netball Association ACE Netball Club ACENetball 29-Jul-10 3 33 5
WNBL Dandenong Jayco Rangers JaycoRangers 29-Jul-10 1 32 7
Plenty Valley Netball Association Orcas Netball Orcas_Netball 29-Jul-10 2 31 8
NBL Gold Coast Blaze Vandy21 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 8 30 9
AFL Fremantle Dockers bc8977 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 10 22 7
Cycling Australia Velo Canberra velocanberra 29-Jul-10 24 20 0
NBL Perth Wildcats Cats_Media 29-Jul-10 11 20 2
VFL Port Melbourne Borough BoroughBoy (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 2 20 12
W-League W-League abcwleague (media outlet) 29-Jul-10 15 19 4
AFL Essendon Bombers jreynojreyno (player) 29-Jul-10 16 18 1
NBL Perth Wildcats nickmarvin (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 5 16 2
NBL Townsville Crocodiles ToffCedar (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 39 15 5
AIS University of Canberra National Institute of Sport Studies ucniss (official) 29-Jul-10 20 14 1
NBL Townsville Crocodiles cameronwhiting (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 11 13 6
WNBL Logan Thunder loganthunder 29-Jul-10 2 11 6
Triathlon TriathlonTSO TriathlonTSO 29-Jul-10 35 9 0
Tennis Australia Tennis Canberra tenniscanberra (official) 29-Jul-10 9 8 0
NBL Adelaide 36ers brad_393 (unofficial) 29-Jul-10 10 7 3
AFLNT AFLNT Chippa39 (official) 29-Jul-10 15 4 0
Gridiron Australia Nationals Perth Blitz perthblitz 29-Jul-10 0 1 2

One of the comments included links to several Australian athletes on Twitter that I had missed. Some of these athletes aren’t active in Australian leagues so they don’t necessarily really fit well with most of the people and leagues on the list… but included below for interest. Any more names of people, leagues and clubs I’m missing, let me know. :)

Service League Team Account Date collected Following Followers Lists
Twitter First class cricket Victorian Bushrangers AndrewMcDonald4 (Andrew McDonald) 30-Jul-10 16 199 8
Twitter V8 Supercars jamiewhincup (Jamie Whincup) 30-Jul-10 14 2,446 158
Twitter Basketball Australia Australian Boombers AndrewMBogut (Andrew Bogut) 30-Jul-10 175 25,068 1,292
Twitter AFL Essendon Bombers JasonJohnson14 (former Essendon AFL player) 30-Jul-10 17 461 18
Twitter AFL Essendon Bombers SteveAlessio (former Essendon AFL player) 30-Jul-10 145 943 63
Twitter First class cricket Victorian Bushrangers warne888 30-Jul-10 89 129,802 3,137

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An interview with Georgie Herbert from the Melbourne Victory

Posted by Laura on Tuesday, 6 July, 2010

On Monday, July 5, I had the pleasure of talking to Georgie Herbert at the W-League Melbourne Victory. I’ve tried to convey as accurately as possible what they have told me based on my memory and I asked their permission to reference them in my blog and paper while I met with them.

If you’re not familiar with the Melbourne Victory of the W-League, they are a W-League team based out of Victoria, playing most of their fixtures in Melbourne. They are affiliated with the A-League Melbourne Victory and are run by Football Victoria. The Melbourne Victory have one player who plays for the Matildas.

My purpose in talking to the Melbourne Victory was to help provide background knowledge for my literature review and to generally enhance my understanding of Australian team sport as it may apply other parts of my research. Going in, I had four questions I wanted answers to. These questions were:

1. How do you define fandom?
2. How do you reach out to the fan community?
3. How much influence does league management provide in terms of defining fandom and how to engage in outreach? Do they give guidance on social media policies?
4. How much do other sports, teams and leagues play a role in development and implementation of concepts related to fan engagement and social media?

The Melbourne Victory defines fans as spectators. Most of their fans are friends and family of current players, and players from women’s clubs. These groups account for a large percentage of attendees. Beyond these groups, they have limited definitions of the fan community for their club and appear to use an operating definition of “Fans of the A-League Melbourne Victory club.” The limited definitions appear to exist for several reasons. The first is that Football Victoria places a greater emphasis on promoting their top level Victorian based league over the W-League club. The second reason is because they rely heavily on the A-League Melbourne Victory for the promotion of their club; they piggy back on their promotional activities so it makes separating out the fanbases difficult. The third reason is that it is extremely difficult to carve out a niche for women’s sport in Victoria given the number of spectating options available to fans in the city. Fans just have too many choices of what do and the club doesn’t appear confident that they can successfully market the club in this environment.

The team doesn’t do much outreach of their own. They rely heavily on the A-League Melbourne Victory to do much of that outreach. This includes getting W-League Melbourne Victory news into the A-League club’s Twitter stream and Facebook fan page updates. This is a solution that they have found to be rather effective as they get a number of comments on Facebook in reply to these posts and their does not appear to be any backlash for including women’s updates alongside the men’s news. Beyond co-branded social media and other media spots, the club has an e-mail newsletter they send out and does school offers. They feel that some of their outreach is hampered because they do not have a fixed location for their fixtures; last season they played their five home games in five different venues.

The media comms coordinator does much of the club’s outreach. This is another issue because the media comms coordinator does not work exclusively on the Melbourne Victory W-League team; she is responsible for all of Football Victoria. Outreach is also problematic at times because they have to rely on the A-League Melbourne Victory. While there is an agreement in place that the two clubs will be co-branded, many of the people working for the Melbourne Victory are not used to working on the W-League team and that can take prodding. They were clear that the Melbourne Victory on the whole though are very good at updating when asked. Outreach with the A-League also requires people at Football Victoria remembering to pass on information to the club, which can be an issue as it is not always a priority.

Another issue that effects outreach involves contractual issues with the Victory’s star player and Matilda captain. The Victory only get so many contractual appearances with her a year outside general club requirements. The player is also heavily involved with her own personal branding. This can make it hard to use the player as a way to push their own brand as she has her own agenda that may not match with the club’s agenda.

Football Victoria has several young staffers who work for them whom are big soccer fans and who are social media savvy. They do not officially monitor social media sites for Football Victoria but if they see something that other clubs in leagues like the WPS or A-League are doing that they think would work for the Melbourne Victory, the club will consider implementing it. If they do find something that is extremely problematic on social media sites, fansites or forums, the club will inform the W-League who can then address the problem.

The W-League gives some guidance in this regard but much of the Victory’s social media, fan definitions and policies come from Football Federation Australia (FFA) who first try them out on the A-League. After that, these policies are often implemented on a much more scaled down version

Beyond the answer to the general questions, there were several other interesting things that came up in the interview.

First, the team does not have a formal social media policy for its players. This is similar to the Canberra United and the Canberra Raiders. They haven’t felt a need to have one because so far it has not been an issue. Most of their players are also on Facebook, not Twitter, and Facebook tends to get less media coverage. (Though this is not always the case. There was a player for one of the women’s national team who got into trouble for what she said on Facebook as it got picked up by a Melbourne newspaper.) Added to that, the team gets so little media coverage that the media is unlikely to care what players say on social media sites. That said, the club is planning on offering media training before the season starts. Part of this media training will involve teaching players about safety on social media sites.

The club sees its success as fundamentally tied to the A-League club. If the A-League Melbourne Victory succeeds, they should succeed too. This explains why Football Victoria has pushed to co-brand the W-League club with the A-League club and get them involved. They feel that they can increase their audience, build better awareness and raise the stature of women players and soccer in Victoria this way. Rather than turn to the W-League for guidance, they tend to be much more focused on their A-League counter part.

This decision to tie themselves with the A-League club means that the team finds it hard to get data about their specific fans as there aren’t different channels for the two: The Melbourne Victory of the W-League does not have its own Twitter account or its own Facebook fanpage. This could be problematic down the line as it may harm their ability to effectively target fans as they grow.

The Melbourne Victory are aware of the issues of branding the W-League correctly, finding that balance where you avoid lesbian stereotypes that might harm their brand and the growth of soccer in Victoria. At the same time, they don’t want to swing so far from one end of the marketing spectrum that they end up on the other by using glamour shots and heavily made up super feminine women. They want to find the middle to maximize interest in fans and future female Victorian soccer players.

The Melbourne Victory are in a tough market because of the presence of so many other sports and leagues. In Canberra, the United can garner a lot more media attention because there is less competition. The United and ACT Football can get attention for food eating contests; in contrast, the Victory are lucky if they can get the scores in the newspaper. This is part of their challenge.

Attendance at Victory games is very low. When they talked of high attendance matches, they were talking about 450 people at a game. The average attendance is much lower with a number mentioned of around 250 to 300. Their most successful games have been when they have played outside of the Melbourne area.

In preparation for talking with the Melbourne Victory, I completed an overview of the size of the online community for the team. It can be found at : ozziesport.com/Melbourne_Victory.pdf

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Traffic to W-League Related Wikipedia Articles by Date

Posted by Laura on Friday, 2 July, 2010

Sometimes, I make charts and I think they are just that pretty that I want to share. (mmm. Tasty data!) This is one of those charts and it offers an interesting comparison between two clubs, the league they are in and the national team for that sport. The clubs are the Canberra United, the Melbourne Victory, the W-League and the Matildas. The team pages generally get 1/2 to 1/5 the traffic of the league page. The league and national team both got about the same traffic. Then the Australian women win the AFC and the traffic to their page shoots right up. After that, the traffic to the national team page was about double that of the league that a lot of those players are drawn from. Club pages and league didn’t necessarily see a bump as a result though.  The implications for this are fascinating.  It could suggest that national team interest and support does not translate down to the local level.   Soccer seems to have pushed this idea: National team success in the US should help foster interest in the MLS and WPS, and it doesn’t always seem to be the case.  (Yes, not the same country, the Women’s World Cup isn’t going on, etc.  Still, interesting…)

Traffic to W-League Related Wikipedia Articles by Date

Stats for this chart were gathered using stats.grok.se/ .

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An interview with the CEO of the Canberra United

Posted by Laura on Saturday, 5 June, 2010

On Friday, I had the pleasure of talking to Heather Reid and Russ Gibbs at Canberra United.  I’ve tried to convey as accurately as possible what they have told me based on my memory and I asked their permission to reference them in my blog and paper while I met with them.

If you’re not familiar with the Canberra United, they are a W-League team based out of Canberra.  Unlike other teams in the W-League, they do not share a name or facilities with an A-League club.  Most of the funding and general support for the W-League comes from state based football associations.  This support insures a certain degree of financial stability that they might not be able to afford otherwise.  Some players in the league are paid but many are not.  The W-League was created in order to foster high levels of competition that could feed Australia’s women’s national football team, the Matildas.   The league intentionally schedules their games around the Matilda’s schedules to avoid conflicts for players. This has been successful in that many of the Matildas that played in the AFC championship played for W-League, three of whom play for the Canberra United.  The Canberra United have the highest average attendance of any team in the league, with over 1,000 people attending home matches.

My purpose in talking to them was to help provide background knowledge for my literature review and to generally enhance my understanding of Australian team sport as it may apply other parts of my research.  Going in, I had four questions I wanted answers to.  These questions were:

1. How do you define fandom?
2. How do you reach out to the fan community?
3. How much influence does league management provide in terms of defining fandom and how to engage in outreach?  Do they give guidance on social media policies?
4. How much do other sports, teams and leagues play a role in development and implementation of concepts related to fan engagement and social media?

The research out there about sport fandom defines it differently depending on your relationship to it.  Sport marketing and management literature tends to define fans and fandom as spectatorship or viewers.  Sport sociologist and historians tend to define fandom as identity that is sustained over longer periods of time.  Newspapers and fans themselves tend to define fandom as identity coupled with actions to express that.  I was interested to see how a team would define that.  In the case of the Canberra United, they define fandom for their team based on spectatorship.  In the case of spectatorship, it is not a wide definition of any possible fans but rather a subset of people they have identified as having the highest potential to attend their games.  The group that the team has decided to target is the female players in Capital Football, the ACT’s state soccer organization.  This is a group that the team feels would turn out to see the games as they are already interested in soccer, have knowledge of the club, and may dream of playing on that level or for the Matildas.    It is also easy to target as the team has access to Capital Football’s membership list.  They can easily send out e-mails to the members before a game to encourage them to attend and after a game to let them know the results.

Beyond that population, the club also hopes to attract an audience of general football fans located in the ACT.  The Canberra United are the highest level of soccer in the territory and play during the summer, when there are fewer sport options for people to watch.  When watching the team, fans have the potential to see future and current Matilidas, something that they might not otherwise have a chance to see regularly.

Most of the outreach that the team does involves reaching out through Capital Football.  They have a database of members which makes this easy to access this population.  Beyond that, they do outreach through sponsor related events.  Their major form of outreach beyond those two venues involves their website:  canberraunited.com.au. The site includes information about the W-League, the team and local Canberra football clubs.  When shown data regarding how the club ranked on Alexa compared to A-League clubs, they were pleased.  W-League sites, with the exception of the Canberra United, are hosted as subpages inside A-League sites.  It is not possible to use publicly available data to distinguish between different pages.  Using Alexa, the Canberra United ranked 52,076 in Australia.  This compares to 50,430 for the Adelaide United, 60,807 for the Central Coast Mariners and 26,091 for the Sydney Football Club.  The Canberra United outperformed two teams, are about even with one, and are behind three teams.  This comparatively high rank happened when the team is not playing and against A-League sites that have a bigger attendance draw than the Canberra United.  In addition to the website, the team has ventured some into social media with an official presence on Facebook, where they have 460 fans. When we looked through a list of networks that their followers belonged to, they were able to explain pretty much every network on the list. The team has a Twitter account but they do not actively maintain it.  In the future, they plan to grow their social media presence.

The club has a fair amount of autonomy when it comes to making decisions regarding how to promote their team in their own market and online.  The W-League has their own promotions that are intended at promoting the league as a whole and the Canberra United participate in those promotional events.  The club also has some guidance from Capital Football.   Still, there is no indication that there are a lot of restrictions regarding how the club goes about promoting themselves.  The W-League does not have a formal policy regarding social media usage for its clubs or players in the league.  Canberra United also does not have such a policy as it has not been an issue so far.  Senator Kate Lundy is involved with the Canberra United and is keenly interested in social media and the law.  She is apparently helping the club think about the legal implications involved with this issue.

The team is aware of what other teams and some of the other leagues in Australia are   doing.  They were able to discuss how the AFL handled things compared to the NRL, and were willing to speculate as to how each league would handle certain situations.  They are also aware of what is going on with the Socceroos and the Matildas.  However, they did not know if the FFA had official policies regarding player usage of social media.  This was interesting in that player usage has been an issue the media has paid attention to in the run up to the World Cup, with the US allowing players to use social media but England banning players from using it. The team appeared to be more aware of other Australian leagues than they were of how international footballing bodies handled social media and marketing related issues.

Several other things were discussed that are not easy to categorize as part of the four questions.  These were rather interesting.  The team is aware of the major blogs and message boards that cover their team.  One of these included Girls With Game, girlswithgame.blogspot.com/ .  Another was Capital Punishment, capitalpunishment.forumotion.net/canberra-united-w-league-f3/ .  It sounded like they monitor them to see what people are saying.  They were not as aware of the Wikipedia article about themselves.  They did find it thorough and assumed that some of content was generated by finding information from their site.

Another issue discussed was the marketing of the W-League.  If you’ve been to their site or seen some of their promotional pictures, the players look like models with their hair done and wearing lots of makeup.  This was originally done as the W-League was aiming for a teenaged girl audience and because some in the league believe that sex sells.  Players were given the option of it they wanted to be photographed like that and participate in a sponsor-related event where they were asked to model clothes.  There was a question of “Was that sexist?”  The team told me that the players did not necessarily feel that it was because they were given a choice and they were portrayed positively.  Some of them considered it very feminist in that they could be high level athletes who are also capable of being beautiful women.

One issue I brought up was the issue of being female fanspace.  I referenced a study done involving the WNBA and how lesbians carved out their own space and definition of the league as being lesbian friendly.  This happened in a space that is not obviously queer space and is shared equally by other groups that a team might have greater incentive to maintain.  I asked how this type of issue was handled inside the W-League.  According to the Canberra United, part of the early marketing attempts by the W-League were to counter stereotypes of female athletes as lesbians by using advertising that played up on the players’ femininity with the modeling type pictures. I was also led to believe that this was an ongoing issue with women’s sports defined as pinks vs. ponytails, where some teams and players have gone out of their way to identify one way or another. My impression of what they said was that this was a regular battle of how to be as inclusive as possible while realizing that certain segments are not going to be very tolerant of each other.

In conclusion, the Canberra United use a definition of sport similar to those described by sports marketers.  The only caveat is that they more narrowly define spectator to specific populations they are intentionally targeting.  The club has a great deal of freedom to define their target audience and create their own social media policies.  Most of the team’s influence for how to handle marketing and social media policies comes from within Australia.

In preparation for talking with the Canberra United, I completed an overview of the size of the online community for the team.  It can be found at : ozziesport.com/Canberra_United.pdf

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