Atmosphere in Melbourne this week

[Claret]

Afternoon all,

First time poster and Swans fan for the last fifteen years (too young to remember before then).

The bride and I moved down to Melbourne halfway through the season (coincidental that it was around the time the Swans began playing the majority of their games down here of course!) and have been quietly enjoying the success and publicity of our beloved side.

I'm not sure of the level of interest in Sydney at the moment but down here amongst the Mexicans it is electric. 24 hours in every day on SEN/Swans radio seems to be devoted to the Granny and the general consensus of the public is that they are pushing for a win for the Bloods.

Put simply - it's a good week to be a Swans fan in Melbourne.

How has the reaction been in Sydney compared to, say, 1996 and 2003?

P.S. The highlight for me was watching the Saints fans leave early on Friday night. You know the moment where the painfully loud Saints guy sitting behind you decides that midway through the last quarter is a good time to leave?

Tip: Swans by 4 straight.

[giant]

Gday Claret

Can't compare 96 - wasnt here. But gotta say very disappointed with the atmosphere in the CBD at least. Listening to SEN atm & some fella raving about how Sydney is in thrall of the GF.

Not my experience I'm afraid - not a flash of R&W to be seen anywhere & the only people talking about it are my mates.

Hope it changes in the next couple of days.

[Bunyip]

The experience at UNSW (Randwick) is very different to the CBD. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a hotbed of Bloodmania, but there is definitely a vibe about the place.

I'm wearing my jersey to work, and have seen others wearing theirs around campus. Lots of people have given me a gee up upon seeing the jersey too. I've also seen scarves, streamers on cars and a flag hanging off one of the buildings here.

CARN SYDNEY!

[cruiser]

I reckon that there should be a wear red and white day on Friday (I'm having a wear red and white week). Maybe we can ask radio stations to promote a wear red and white day?

At the very least Sydney Town Hall should be flying the red and white flag. If people wanna email Sydney City Council re the Town Hall: [email protected]

[Mike_B]

Definitely seems alot more low key in terms of the vibe on the street, although lots of people seem to be commenting on my Swans scarf up in my office.

I think when you compare to 96, first time for the Swans since they moved to Sydney, the attitude was "we've done enough" - they had a thing in Martin Place for the team and things like that.

This time around, it seems as though the celebrations will happen after we win the flag, not when we give ourselves a chance to win it. Was reading that it's likely there will be a ticker-tape parade for the team if they get up.

There's been good news coverage in the lead-up as well, so things are definitely more prominent compared to earlier in the year, but nothing over the top.

Feels like alot of people are keeping a lid on things - not wanting to get their hopes up in case of disappointment, but quietly confident we can do the job.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by cruiser
At the very least Sydney Town Hall should be flying the red and white flag. If people wanna email Sydney City Council re the Town Hall: [email protected]

Apparently it will be flying on Saturday (read that in the same article about the talk of the ticker tape parade).

[giant]

Originally posted by cruiser
I reckon that there should be a wear red and white day on Friday (I'm having a wear red and white week). Maybe we can ask radio stations to promote a wear red and white day?

Great idea Cruiser! How do we create the ground swell for this?

I believe the flag will be flown over Town Hall.

[Bunyip]

Originally posted by cruiser
(I'm having a wear red and white week)

At the very least Sydney Town Hall should be flying the red and white flag.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one whose red and white gear will need a wash by Sunday.

Apparently Clover Moore has agreed to fly the flag on Saturday.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by Bunyip
Glad to hear I'm not the only one whose red and white gear will need a wash by Sunday.

Apparently Clover Moore has agreed to fly the flag on Saturday.

It should be flying NOW!

My workstation is covered in Swans pics and all things red and white. And I'm doing a lot of washing

[cruiser]

Originally posted by giant
Great idea Cruiser! How do we create the ground swell for this?

Phone or email radio stations. I'm sure Triple MMM would get behind it, possibly ABC 702 as well.

[Mel]

Originally posted by Bunyip
The experience at UNSW (Randwick) is very different to the CBD. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a hotbed of Bloodmania, but there is definitely a vibe about the place.

I'm wearing my jersey to work, and have seen others wearing theirs around campus. Lots of people have given me a gee up upon seeing the jersey too. I've also seen scarves, streamers on cars and a flag hanging off one of the buildings here.

CARN SYDNEY!

I'm at NewSouth too and it is a good feeling. Seen quite a few hats and scarves myself and all my colleagues are talking (to me at least) about the Swans/Barry Hall

[lescygnes]

here in brisbane, the grand final is getting heaps of coverage and all of the locals are supporting the swans. aka had a great article in todays courier mail supporting us too.

people at work have been coming over and chatting to me about saturday, yada yada. i guess seeing as brisbane were in the last four grand finals, there still in the habit of being interested in it!

[SimonH]

Very little (well, okay, nothing that I've seen) visible in the Sydney CBD, but the Tele's full-page, page 1 stories on Sat, Tue and today (among other saturation media coverage) has certainly got tongues wagging among people who'd normally be mum on the topic.

At the end of last night's 7:00pm news, the ABC's (trained, objective) reporter at the Tribunal was so busy repeatedly shouting with obvious glee that Barry was free to play, that she failed to give any decent account of what actually transpired at the hearing!