why do melb based supporters always get stooged ???

[melb_swan012]

i also loved the fact that in the last week i have seen jared crouch in melbourne and today paul williams was at a charity golf day in melbourne... he couldnt have attended for even half an hour ?

U guys cant honestly think that having 5 players rock up to a "swans family day" was good do you?

[OldE]

Originally posted by melb_swan012
U guys cant honestly think that having 5 players rock up to a "swans family day" was good do you?

Look at the number of player attending each of the Premiership cup tour dates. Around five at best. So you are essentially suggesting the club provide more players for Melbourne events then Sydney events. Now that would cause problems.

Melbourne based supporters are not stooged. Look at all the comments made: you have better player attendance at aftermatches, and an equivalent number of players to the dates on the premiership cup tour. The only way in which you may claim you are "stooged" is that there are less events in Melbourne in total, but considering the team is based in Sydney, that is hardly suprising nor reflective of any kind of neglect on the club's behalf. It is merely a matter of convenience.

[Tuesday]

Keep digging, MS_12.
Keep right on digging.

[Glenn]

Well at least you get the family days down in Melb, so hard to say if that is a good or bad turn up since us in Sydney have very little to judge it by.

[BonBon]

Originally posted by melb_swan012
U guys cant honestly think that having 5 players rock up to a "swans family day" was good do you?

Seriously, the situation wasn't really affecting me. It's epsecially not enough to make me turn my back on the club! I'm not sure if it's that a big a deal or not?

[Bolton brothers]

There were more than 5 players in attendance so don't "under exaggerate" to argue your position.
I thought the day was fine - didn't expect much more. The queueing for autographs, pictures, etc. is a necessary evil to give everybody a chance to get access to the players.
Yes we would all like some personal time with the players but family days are mass-marketing exercises so you can't expect much more.
Tis a pity that having waited so long to enjoy the ultimate success you choose not to be supportive of the Club.
They try to serve two cities and, on the whole, I think they do a good jobb (from a Melbourne perspective.)

[ROK Lobster]

What a whinge.

How many interstate clubs put on family days in Melb at all?

[Big Al]

This coming year will be my 20th as a Swans supporter. I can tell you the interaction of the club with its supporter base especially in Melbourne has had a marked improvement over that time.

The Swans are in a unique position in that they are based in one city but have a great support in another. The Swans over the years have recognised the importance of its Melbourne base and have put in mechanisms to ensure that this supporter base is nurtured. Employing a capable person like Tony Morwood is an indication of how the Swans perceive its Melbourne operations.

They have to do all this while trying to grow and nurture its Sydney supporter/corporate base in arguably the hardest sporting market in the world.

So my suggestion to MS-012 is to calm down, re-new you're membership and sit back and await the first game of the Reigning Premier (will I ever get used to this term)

[Benevolent Ert]

I was there and I thought it was pretty well done. I couldn't fault the selection of the players who were there - 4 of the premiership 22, along with the 2 new recruits, and a couple of young guys - I thought it was a nice mix. Having said that it might have been a good opportunity to introduce the 3 new draftees - Laidlaw, Thornton and Brabazon.

Yes the queues were long - but the Premiership cup is a pretty big drawcard.

I think Tony, Rebecca and Lucinda do an excellent job here in Melbourne, and I'd be willing to bet that half the clubs in the league don't look after their fans the way the Swans Melbourne office does.

(No I am not Tony Morwood)

[Big Al]

Originally posted by Ert
I
(No I am not Tony Morwood)

[Tuesday]

Originally posted by Ert
Having said that it might have been a good opportunity to introduce the 3 new draftees - Laidlaw, Thornton and Brabazon.

Perhaps. But they would have only arrived mid-week, and chances are they are/were still getting settled in to their new Sydney digs.

[goswannie14]

I have been a Swans supporter for 37 years. This year has been the first time I have been a member for a number of years due to personal financial difficulties and distance...living in places like Townsville doesn't lead to getting to any games

MS12, you may be unhappy, that is your prerogative. To say we, in Melbourne are being stooged is a load of crap. Yeah, I would have liked to see all of the players there, but that would be unfair on them and their families. Roosey had left the autograph area before I got to the front of the line, but that's the way it is. I was able to speak briefly with each of the players signing autographs. I was particularlu impressed with Amon, as he explained how he "shinned" the winning goal. Each of the guys signed 6 items for me and all were extremely friendly.

I believe that the club is great when dealing with and relating to those of us who are old enough to have been to games when they were South Melbourne. Tony Morwood was my hero when he was playing so I may be slightly biased (Gee he must be getting old then!) but I think he and his staff do a tremendous job.

Lets face it, we won the premiership, and there is a certain price to pay in terms of intimacy with the players, because we all believe that we deserve that little bit extra time with them, but that is selfish. It will never be like it was when there was a reserves game before the main game, and if you got to the Lake Oval early, you could talk to, get to know and get the autographs of all the players. If you want that then head off back to the VFL, because I think you will find that we get a great deal more time with our favourite players than any other major sporting leagues supporters get any where else in the world.

Oh well, looks like there will be one less person in the autograph lines next year as we celebrate another succesful year witht the family day in December 2006, but it will be your loss.

[liz]

Originally posted by goswannie14
It will never be like it was when there was a reserves game before the main game, and if you got to the Lake Oval early, you could talk to, get to know and get the autographs of all the players.

I realise this is only of relevance to Sydney based supporters (or those who can travel to the odd Sydney game) but if anyone ever goes along to the SCG early to watch the reserves play, they will see the majority of the senior team sitting in the outer, near the race, watching their colleagues play, at least for the first half.

They'll have a wander out onto the ground at half time, then some will sit and watch part of the second half, while others go downstairs, no doubt to begin their own preparation.

I've never gone to speak to any of the players in this situation but you'll usually see the odd supporter wander up to them and exchange a quick word and it all looks pretty amicable and friendly. I'm sure an odd autograph wouldn't be refused, so long as people respect that they won't want to be majorly hassled before a game.

I'm still surprised, even after a decade, at the amount of access supporters have to chat with their 'idols' and get autographs, if that is their wont.

[Foreign Legion]

Originally posted by Big Al
This coming year will be my 20th as a Swans supporter. I can tell you the interaction of the club with its supporter base especially in Melbourne has had a marked improvement over that time.

The Swans are in a unique position in that they are based in one city but have a great support in another. The Swans over the years have recognised the importance of its Melbourne base and have put in mechanisms to ensure that this supporter base is nurtured. Employing a capable person like Tony Morwood is an indication of how the Swans perceive its Melbourne operations.

They have to do all this while trying to grow and nurture its Sydney supporter/corporate base in arguably the hardest sporting market in the world.

So my suggestion to MS-012 is to calm down, re-new you're membership and sit back and await the first game of the Reigning Premier (will I ever get used to this term)

Well said Big Al - agree 100%.

Looking forward to next year!

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by j s
The coach and CEO were there. Perhaps melb_swan012 could have made her protest to Myles in person at the event.

BTE - It's also more players than turn up to a lot of Sydney events.

You said it JS. I read this thread with a somewhat rueful smile to be honest. Because that is the way things may well be now that our players are wanted commodities now that we are Premiers.

This sort of thing has been happening in Sydney for ages. The WA Supporters club was lied to their faces by the club about players catching an overnight flight back. The turn-ups to the after-matches you pay $40 extra on your membership are verging on laughable. Which is part of the reason I now choose to forgo these 'events' and head to the SARC.

It sounds strange that I'm expressing my concerns aloud for the first time after the Premiership win. But I fear how much access supporters & members will have to the players now that we have 'made it' as a football club. The corporates are going to want more, the media are going to want more. Is anyone seriously going to worried about the dyed-in-the-woolsd who have always been there?

I don't think this sort of this is any serious vendetta against the Melbourne-based fans. I however hold fears that that may well be the Sydney Swans Football Club we will all have to get used to in years to come.

To be honest that scares the hell out of me.

JF