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Obviously this is a very good decision for Swans fans based in Melbourne but it sure puts egg on the face of Eddie . We probably all remember the hype at the time that Collingwood were going to turn the Western suburbs into a new AFL and Magpie heartland. Reality bites!!!
Pies back down on 'home' game
By Jake Niall
August 14 2003
Collingwood has retreated from its plan to play a home game in Sydney next year and will now play only once as the away team at Telstra Stadium.
The Magpies are now set to play in Sydney, as the away team, on the bye weekend next year - meaning Sydney-Collingwood would be the only AFL game on that weekend.
The Magpies had received backing from the AFL to play a home game at Telstra Stadium in Homebush, provided they still had their customary 18 games in Melbourne and members were compensated with home game privileges at an "away" match.
But, because of the complexities of the AFL draw, Collingwood has been told that it cannot play the Swans at the bye weekend - which was after round 12 this year - and play in Sydney a second time.
Thus, the Magpies were faced with a choice between playing a novel Sydney blockbuster on the so-called bye weekend, or playing the Swans twice in Sydney, early and late in the season.
Collingwood chief executive Greg Swann said the club could play twice at Telstra Stadium only if it played once about Easter and then later in the season, round 18 or 19.
He said Collingwood preferred to play on the bye weekend, which would heighten interest in the game from a marketing viewpoint, since it would be the only game in the country that weekend.
The club had hoped to play twice and play one of those games, preferably the "home" game, on the bye weekend. "We can't do it," Swann said. "It's logistically impossible.
"We just said we'd prefer to play the bye game," Swann said. As the only game in Australia that weekend, Sydney-Collingwood would have great promotional potential.
Sydney chairman Richard Colless said while he had not formally been told by the AFL that the Collingwood home game was off the agenda, he understood that the bye weekend arrangement was likely. He said the club understood that a Collingwood home game in Sydney would not be easy to organise.
Colless said the Western Bulldogs, who have played a home game at the SCG in recent years, were keen to continue that schedule, "almost in perpetuity".
One of the issues for Sydney is its desire to keep playing its share of away games in Melbourne, where it has a relatively large supporter base. "We want to increase the number of games we play in Melbourne, not decrease them," said Colless.
The Swans are expecting their largest Sydney crowd to the blockbuster against Collingwood on the evening of Saturday week, although Colless said each club's results at the weekend would probably shape the level of interest in the game.
"I think anything over 50,000 will be really good. Anything approaching 60,000 will be stunningly good."
Pies back down on 'home' game
By Jake Niall
August 14 2003
Collingwood has retreated from its plan to play a home game in Sydney next year and will now play only once as the away team at Telstra Stadium.
The Magpies are now set to play in Sydney, as the away team, on the bye weekend next year - meaning Sydney-Collingwood would be the only AFL game on that weekend.
The Magpies had received backing from the AFL to play a home game at Telstra Stadium in Homebush, provided they still had their customary 18 games in Melbourne and members were compensated with home game privileges at an "away" match.
But, because of the complexities of the AFL draw, Collingwood has been told that it cannot play the Swans at the bye weekend - which was after round 12 this year - and play in Sydney a second time.
Thus, the Magpies were faced with a choice between playing a novel Sydney blockbuster on the so-called bye weekend, or playing the Swans twice in Sydney, early and late in the season.
Collingwood chief executive Greg Swann said the club could play twice at Telstra Stadium only if it played once about Easter and then later in the season, round 18 or 19.
He said Collingwood preferred to play on the bye weekend, which would heighten interest in the game from a marketing viewpoint, since it would be the only game in the country that weekend.
The club had hoped to play twice and play one of those games, preferably the "home" game, on the bye weekend. "We can't do it," Swann said. "It's logistically impossible.
"We just said we'd prefer to play the bye game," Swann said. As the only game in Australia that weekend, Sydney-Collingwood would have great promotional potential.
Sydney chairman Richard Colless said while he had not formally been told by the AFL that the Collingwood home game was off the agenda, he understood that the bye weekend arrangement was likely. He said the club understood that a Collingwood home game in Sydney would not be easy to organise.
Colless said the Western Bulldogs, who have played a home game at the SCG in recent years, were keen to continue that schedule, "almost in perpetuity".
One of the issues for Sydney is its desire to keep playing its share of away games in Melbourne, where it has a relatively large supporter base. "We want to increase the number of games we play in Melbourne, not decrease them," said Colless.
The Swans are expecting their largest Sydney crowd to the blockbuster against Collingwood on the evening of Saturday week, although Colless said each club's results at the weekend would probably shape the level of interest in the game.
"I think anything over 50,000 will be really good. Anything approaching 60,000 will be stunningly good."
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