Broncos voted Australia’s most popular football club
By Wayne Heming, 31 Oct 2009 Wayne Heming is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, Brisbane Broncos, NRL, Rugby League, Sydney Swans
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Broncos celebrate at fulltime from left Alex Glenn, Lagi Setu and Joel Clinton: NRL Rugby League Playoffs Round 2, Brisbane Broncos v St George Illawarra Dragons at Suncorp Stadium, Saturday September 19th 2009.
The Brisbane Broncos have knocked off the Sydney Swans in an independent ratings survey to find Australia’s most popular sporting team.
It completes a double for the NRL’s Broncos who also came out winners in TV viewer rankings compiled by brands researcher Repucom in a study of 2009 television audience numbers across the NRL, AFL, rugby’s Super 14 and A-League.
The Swans took the most supported tag from the Broncos in 2004 after their golden AFL premiership run.
But September figures released this week by prominent pollsters Roy Morgan — who surveyed more than 20,000 people on topics ranging from peanut butter to football teams — put the Broncos’ supporter base at 1,202,611, knocking off the Swans (1,163,872).
The AFL’s Brisbane Lions came in third on 879,597 in the poll which asked people which team they supported in each code.
Broncos general manager of commercial operations Terry Reader said topping the survey gave some negotiating clout and appeal with sponsors in a very competitive market place.
“It’s a great result for us as the outcome means a good flow on for our sponsors and corporate partners who invest in our brand,” he said.
“It shows they’re getting a bit more bang for their buck.
“It shows the Broncos are well liked and well received and that they get exceptional exposure in the national market place.
“We’re really proud of the result when you think we’ve been around for 22 years and some clubs have been around for a century.”
Melbourne Storm, who appeared in the past four NRL grand finals, winning two, have gone from 497,000 supporters in 2004 to almost 800,000 in the 2009 results and are fourth overall despite being based in AFL heartland.
Industry communications director at Roy Morgan Research, Norman Morris, said the poll results would make interesting reading for the AFL and A-League, both planning new teams for Sydney’s western suburbs.
“While the survey showed the best supported NRL clubs came outside the Sydney area, the strongest Sydney-based clubs – Parramatta, Bulldogs and the merged Wests Tigers – all had strong ties to Sydney’s west,” said Morris.
© AAP 2012FINAL VOTES 2009 / 2008
Brisbane Broncos (NRL) 1,202,611 (1) 1,220,959 (2).
Sydney Swans (AFL) 1,163,872 (2) 1,272,049 (1).
Brisbane Lions (AFL) 879,597 (3) 880,233 (3).
Melbourne Storm (NRL) 789,603 (4) 761,724 (4).
Essendon (AFL) 707,506 (5) 710,067 (5).
Collingwood (AFL) 701,803 (6) 704,806 (7).
Melbourne Victory (A-League) 701,119 (7) 616,748 (9).
West Coast Eagles (AFL) 658,542 (8) 708,194 (6).
Adelaide Crows (AFL) 633,441 (9) 617,536 (8).
Sydney FC (A-League) 630,593 (10) 605,359 (10).
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TammyS said | October 31st 2009 @ 6:11am | Report comment
These polls are a load of crap imo though Im not surprised the broncos are no.1
Rusty said | October 31st 2009 @ 6:39am | Report comment
A new poll has revealed that 99 percent of polls aren’t worth the paper they are printed on.
Robbos said | October 31st 2009 @ 6:49am | Report comment
Melbourne Storm no 4!!!!! Haha. Ahead of Collingwood, Carlton, St George & Parramatta????
Chris said | October 31st 2009 @ 6:51am | Report comment
This is of course the same man who said that Mark Latham would win the 04′ election in a landslide.
oikee said | October 31st 2009 @ 8:04am | Report comment
What can i say, i tell you roar readers every week the Broncos are a powerhouse, but what really makes me feel good is my prediction that the storm will be the next powerhouse club. Its only common sense you dills. One team one city, and a huge city at that. Collingwood, yeah right, nobody North of Melbourne has even heard of them. I thought it was some sort of tree plantation.
Kurt said | October 31st 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
You have to hand it to the Queenslanders though, they are a loyal bunch.
AndyRoo said | October 31st 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
The poll asks you which team you support in “each” code. In a city like Brisbane with 1 team in each code I would have expected Brisbane teams 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th…. who likes the Tahs more than the Reds?
San Jorge said | October 31st 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Beat me to it AndyRoo, obviously asking which team do you support in each code will skew the results. If you were to ask which team is your number 1 regardless of code you would get teams like Collingwood and St George at the top. There is no way on God’s Green earth that Sydney FC have more fans than the BUlldogs, Eels or Dragons…just as there is no way that the Swans are the most popular AFL team. What a bunch of crap
TammyS said | October 31st 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Yeah, they should’ve done it that way. The broncos would still end up on top though
Peter said | October 31st 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
‘More’ vic folk follow the Murdoch Storm over Melbourne Victory FC?
the swannies 1,163,872????? The Iron Chef must be at 7,307,812 fans then.
Tom Alexander. said | October 31st 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
Makes sense. The Broncos pretty much have Australia’s 3rd largest city to itself. Sydney and Melbourne have between them 20 professional clubs to choose from. Maybe the Broncos publicity machine/brand has played a part in this poll. A bit like the Chicago Bulls being all the rage in this country back in the 90s. You see a lot of Broncos merchandise and clothing being worn by a lot of people around the place these days.
Paley said | November 3rd 2009 @ 1:58am | Report comment
Not exactly relevant but I rarely see Brisbane Broncos kit here in England – its mostly Roosters or Eels.