Campus Convos: How loyal footy fans influence team performance

Fan culture and engagement is a huge part of any sport enthusiast’s experience. The energy of a strong fan-base can be enough to push a team to peak performance. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, disappointed fans can really bring the players’ spirits down hard when they lose a game.

In this video, ESPN’s Steph Brantz talks to two Geelong Cats stars, defender Zach Tuohy and forward and midfielder Patrick Dangerfield about their fan experiences – both the uplifting and the awkward. Dr Henry Wear, Deakin lecturer in Sport Management also weighs in with some insights from research behind fan culture.

This video is part of the Campus Convos series, a collaboration between Deakin University and ESPN. Keep your eye out for our other episodes.