Letter in the Herald-Sun today

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Bandwagoner'96
Lions are a merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Lions...Sydney is more like the LA raiders moving to Oakland...

I think a team name change and a relocation to a non-AFL state looking for a new market is 2 different things...

You just dodged the point. Twice.

So if all the attention was on Sydney and South Melbourne and the rich history was ignored...you telling me you wouldn't be worked up? Think about that.

It'd be disappointing, but that's because I'm a history buff. I was never a South Melbourne fan. I just believe that history is something to be celebrated, not swept under the carpet.

[swansrule100]

hope melbourne dont get called the fuschias if they win there will be an uproar!

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by BayseysLeftBoot
I don't think references to South Melbourne are something you will have to worry about in the future, I think it was just the fact that it was the first swans premiership in 72 years that caused it's over use by the media.

Secondly the red and white have been known as the swans ever since most melbourne based supporters were born so I don't think anyone has a problem refering to them as the swans. I doubt any Melbourne based supporters would prefer the team to be known as the bloods than the swans anyway, but if the media and the players want to use it as a nickname I'm more than happy for them to do so (It's no different to the roos being reffered to as the shinboners).

Personally I use all three terms: Bloods, Swans and Sydney when refering to my team and happily interchange between them when screaming my lungs out at the footy. The only thing I really hold sacred is the colours and I was outraged when the suggestion of changing them came up in the early 90s.

There's no danger of the Swans changing their name to the Bloods. (Otherwise future WEG premiership posters would be a bit gross.)

At the Grand Final, I joined in the SYDNEY chants, and I used Swans and Bloods interchangeably. Although I live in Melbourne, the side is now the Sydney Swans and I am quite happy with that. Especially when we have this year's premiership cup to add to the trophy cabinet. I have a feeling that it will have company soon.

The club colours are red and white, but what of it? St George are red and white as well, but nobody's suggesting they change their colours.

[Bandwagoner'96]

It'd be disappointing, but that's because I'm a history buff. I was never a South Melbourne fan. I just believe that history is something to be celebrated, not swept under the carpet.

History is something I am fond of too, and not only AFL all footy codes, 'cept NFL...I keep having to defend...show me where I mentioned the history or cultural identity should be tossed out? Maybe my skin isn't as thick as some...yes I am a proud Sydneysider and have nothing against 'drizzle city' ;-) infact have a ball everytime I've been down there but I'd have liked to see the recognition that Sydney deserved...it's THAT simple.

My interest in AFL would never have been this much if it weren't for the SYDNEY SWANS...surely you have to understand that.

ps - I'm not folllowing, how have I dodged the point twice?

don't get sucked in...it's probably Mike Gibson's nom de plume...

Anyone recall the first Channel 10 sports program before Sports Tonight that featured McGuire and Gibbo?

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Bandwagoner'96


ps - I'm not folllowing, how have I dodged the point twice?

Simple. Rather than acknowledge the comparable situations, you manufactured differences between them.

It is of absolutely no material difference whether the Brisbane Lions have links to Melbourne via a merger or a relocation.

[Bandwagoner'96]

Simple. Rather than acknowledge the comparable situations, you manufactured differences between them.

Please, tell me what is comparable about 2 teams merging and one changing name but staying in the same geographical location with that of the swans??? 'cause I surely can't see it.

[Bandwagoner'96]

It'd be disappointing, but that's because I'm a history buff. I was never a South Melbourne fan. I just believe that history is something to be celebrated, not swept under the carpet.

I forgot to make mention of this earlier but if history is something to be celebrated then Sydney too has a history...according to the history books Sydney's took place in the early 80's and slowly over the years it's fan base in it's new environment began to grow...I don't think that should be swept under the carpet either or ignored on GF victory day...I don't think I can be any clearer than that!

[goswannie14]

"So much for not wanting to make this a Syd v Melb thing. Too much discussion on Sydney 'NRL' types and no real mention of 'fickle' southerners who still don't rate Sydney AFL or swan fans."



At the risk of sounding like Pauline Hansen...please explain

My reference to Cliff and the NRL had nothing to do with Syd/Melb, that's what you made it. Just comparing hime to the "Colliongwood" type supporters who would still prefer to be playing in the VFL...in fact on their present form that's where they belong

In the big wide world of a national code like the AFL all teams have supporters from outside the state in which they are based, for Cliff to deny this to the Swans is just ridiculous.

I loved the swans when they were the SMFC, and I still love them because they are still the Swans...yeah they live in another city and I can't get to every game, but I can live with that cos they're still the Swans, and if it wasn't for them moving to Sydney in 1982 they wouldn't exist and all of the history would have been lost to the national league.

I will now get down off my soapbox

[swan_song]

Bandwagoner, I wasn't talking to you or about your post...and frankly, I'm quite surprised that you would think I would....I was only replying to the thread subject -- the letter in the paper, and was suggesting that such a divisive letter can only be intended to put a wedge between sydney and melbourne based swans fans. One could only speculate on who would write such a thing and their motives. But to me, personally, I couldn't give a rats where Swannies (the supporters) come from as long as they share a passion for the club and the team...bloods, swans, sydney, south...I don't give a stuff whatever theyre called, theyre my team!

[Bandwagoner'96]

@goswannie14, okay but why call him an NRL fan? That's typical stereotyping. Kinda like being a swans fan from Sydney and expecting every swan fan from Melbourne you meet giving you grief...that's what I was on about.

Cliff is entitled to his opinion (no I don't agree with him and believe it or not love the SMFC on the back of the guernsey - even if it reminds me of the hated South Melbourne
Hellas football club ;-) ) doesn't make him an anti-AFL fan.


@swan song - hope you accept my sincerest apologies...I'm gonna remove my comment right now...can't
blame me though for thinking you aimed it at anyone else but me ;-)

But to me, personally, I couldn't give a rats where Swannies (the supporters) come from as long as they share a passion for the club and the team...bloods, swans, sydney, south...I don't give a stuff whatever theyre called, theyre my team!

Everyone's different...to me if a team called South Melbourne Swans was still in the AFL...I wouldn't be here, not because of hatred but because they wouldn't have been my foot into AFL...I'd be a Sydney [insert nickname] fan...and I suspect the same applies to a lot of ppl who started following the swans after they relocated north...

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Bandwagoner'96
@goswannie14, okay but why call him an NRL fan? That's typical stereotyping. Kinda like being a swans fan from Sydney and expecting every swan fan from Melbourne you meet giving you grief...that's what I was on about.

Cliff is entitled to his opinion (no I don't agree with him and believe it or not love the SMFC on the back of the guernsey - even if it reminds me of the hated South Melbourne
Hellas football club ;-) ) doesn't make him an anti-AFL fan.

I just checked my earlier post...I don't think that I called Cliff an NRL fan. It was more about his attitude to the national comp. The VFL didn't become the AFL until it had teams from nearly all of the states. His attitude to the national comp lines up with the attitudes that you are refering to with some of the old South supporters

know what you mean about SM Hellas!!! But I never called Cliff anti AFL...just hinted that he is anti National Comp and the reality that every team has supporters that don't live in the state in which they are based.

By the way...as an old South supporter, you're always welcome to sit next to me at Melb games and I won't give you a hard time cos you're from Sydney (my wife comes from Sydney originally) as l;ong as you cheer loudly for the Swans. With a bit of luck we'll get up to some Sydney games next year too, so you can return the compliment

[swan_song]

Bandwagoner, done....but only if you say 12 hail Roosies!

[Bandwagoner'96]

@goswannie14, okay my apologies, I was under the impression you were alluding that way. I guess some ppl are strictly
black and white, you live in Sydney, you support Sydney. If I recall correctly the slogan for Melbourne Victory was
along the lines of 'A team for all Victorians'...maybe Cliff subscribes to that theory.

Re: Hellas I can't believe they had the gall to actually change their strip for one game to red and white with the big V!
Made me cringe as a Swans fan and Hellas hater!

The idea for Syd and Melb games sound good, I'll bring along all my friends who are now Bandwagoner'05ers ;-)



For you swan song, I'll do double that number!

[Piobaireachd]

Originally posted by Bandwagoner'96
...Listen, I was really proud that the Swans still had old fans south of the border and even those old 'Bulldogs' on the other side of the country....but comments made after the victory have left me with some regret.

I have no problem admitting that I actually cried after the game, however it turned bitter with all the constant references to South Melbourne and Bloods...I'm a Swannie not a blood. I have no issue with history and that's great BUT SYDNEY and SWANS should be made mention of before South Melbourne or Bloods...otherwise you're gonna be alientating a large portion of fans in a market you're trying to attract.

Watching some of those old Wide World of Sports moments with Davis and Richards was always good...now Davis can get f&$cked! from tears to bitterness is what I felt when he came up to present the cup...Hell I'd have preferred Barassi or even Rocket Eade!! it got worse Kirk yelling out 'for the bloods' - what about the rest of us? Some as my nick will suggest have been fans since the 1996 season...are we considered still as Sydney newbies and not as important as the bloods?? I don't care if Roos said 'South Melbourne SLASH Sydney'...at the end of the day SYDNEY comes first and then you can mention the rest.

At the end of the day if the Swans are South Melbourne in disguise to appease old fans then that's me out. If Sydney is there to attract a new market and WELCOME old fans who RESPECT the new and not continually going on about HISTORY then I'll stick around.

tissue?

[Piobaireachd]

Originally posted by Doctor J.
Welcome to The Nation.

Kirks reference to "The Bloods" was a reference to the ethos that the current Sydney players have adopted. ie the never say die, in it together, one in all in ethos. By saying "this is for the Bloods" was more to do with recognising the effort that the players had put in for the last 3 seasons to achieve the success. In my opinion it had nothing at all to do with the past history of the club.

As for Bob Davis. Effing old fossil.
No Problem with Roosy's speech.

Spot on