Chant

[Craig]

What's the story with that ridiculous chant of SYDNEY then about 10 claps then another SYDNEY and so on??

It is the most boring chant I have ever heard and is better suited to a game of lawn bowls. Made no difference to the atmosphere and never came close to firing the crowd up.

[Damien]

I think our biggest problem is every section is out of synch! it totally ruins it. We can't seem to get it right at the SCG or Telstra.

[BAM_BAM]

I sat between the cheer squad and Peter last night and watched Peter try in vain to get the people around him involved in the normal Sydney chant. Most of the time no one would have a bar of it. Each time he started I tried to get our little section going. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. I felt sorry for you Pete, I couldn't believe the lack of support in your section.

Same as when I heard the drum start with the 10 beat Sydney chant, I got that going a couple of times when JF started it up.

I quite like both and as long as we're making noise to support the boys, does it matter what it is we're saying. Craig, what do you suggest we do differently next year? It's alright to bag it, but do so constructively. Make a suggestion as to where we go to get the crowd more involved.

I was disappointed last night with amount of cheering, once again Sydney went quiet when the boys looked to be losing.

[desredandwhite]

That chant only works well when it's done in big numbers by people close together. It's hard to coordinate over long distances as everyone goes out of time and it ends up being a big mess. I'll join in, but it's bloody hard when there's 5-6 of you trying in vain to get the whole grandstand started.

The aussie crowd just is NOT used to doing it, and it shows.

[Mike_B]

Agree there Des.....was very difficult to get a bunch of Swans regulars going up on Level 4. Even they looked at us like we were freaks!

I wonder why I bother sometimes - I'm hoarse today, and NEED a voice on Tuesday for work. ARGH!

[Ruda Wakening]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
I sat between the cheer squad and Peter last night and watched Peter try in vain to get the people around him involved in the normal Sydney chant. Most of the time no one would have a bar of it. Each time he started I tried to get our little section going. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. I felt sorry for you Pete, I couldn't believe the lack of support in your section.

Same as when I heard the drum start with the 10 beat Sydney chant, I got that going a couple of times when JF started it up.

I quite like both and as long as we're making noise to support the boys, does it matter what it is we're saying. Craig, what do you suggest we do differently next year? It's alright to bag it, but do so constructively. Make a suggestion as to where we go to get the crowd more involved.

I was disappointed last night with amount of cheering, once again Sydney went quiet when the boys looked to be losing.

I really feel for the people who try in vain, and the players for that matter ...

Where I was sitting, I couldn't help but notice, that hardly anyone even knew the words to the club song . Some did, but in turn they seemed to bit a bit shy, almost like they were worried about making idiots out of themselves by singing it . However, I do appreciate that some of these people mightn't have ever been to an AFL game before, let alone, turn up and know the words to the song. I asked a few people last night why they weren't getting into it, and basically they all said the same thing " We don't know the words " , " Otherwise we'd love to " . Then we have the ones who seem to cheer in some form when the team does something good, but then tend to sit there like stunned mullets if they don't .

The club song is something that all football clubs and players take great pride in . Its something that means a lot . Its all about fight and spirit . I remember back to my Collingwood days ( oh how much that hurts ESPECIALLY right now ) ...whilst the song might usually only be sung when the team run on, or after a victory - when the Pies were down, the supporters would start up " Good Ol' C'Wood Forever " . Actually some of you might have seen that at the Telstra Stadium game .I'm not exaggerating by saying, that it certainly seemed to help the team in times of need, and it always stirred the old emotions.

So what I've been thinking is ....
Would it be at all possible to come up with a way to print off however many copies of the words to our Club song, and say, hand them out to ' Red and White ' people on their way through the gate . I know its a long shot, but at least then people might be more willing to become involved if they feel they have a good idea about what they're doing, instead of worrying about making a gig of themselves .

Who knows, maybe the Club could clear the moths out of the wallet, and throw in for the cost . Afterall, it's not as if they're not going to benefit by it if it helps get the guys home one night .

I know a good few people involved with the club. Do you want me to put this idea to them, or should I just mind my own business and let someone else come up with a plan, and act accordingly ?

[Bron]

Originally posted by Ruda Wakening
So what I've been thinking is ....
Would it be at all possible to come up with a way to print off however many copies of the words to our Club song, and say, hand them out to ' Red and White ' people on their way through the gate . I know its a long shot, but at least then people might be more willing to become involved if they feel they have a good idea about what they're doing, instead of worrying about making a gig of themselves .

Who knows, maybe the Club could clear the moths out of the wallet, and throw in for the cost . Afterall, it's not as if they're not going to benefit by it if it helps get the guys home one night .

I know a good few people involved with the club. Do you want me to put this idea to them, or should I just mind my own business and let someone else come up with a plan, and act accordingly ?

It would be easier and cheaper and create less mess to put the words up on the big screen in time to the music so that people can follow ....

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by Bron
It would be easier and cheaper and create less mess to put the words up on the big screen in time to the music so that people can follow ....

Which is what they have done in Brisbane. Apparently, one game they forgot to put them up at the end of a Brisbane win, but the crowd just sung along anyway, coz they were regulars, who had got to know the words.

[Bron]

And if we pick up new members and fans, we need to be inclusive and bring them into the Club, the game and the culture .... NOT criticise and ridicule them. The Club needs more fans ... for financial security, to build the game and to Cheer Cheer the team Onward To Victory next year and beyond.

[Ruda Wakening]

What do you mean by " NOT criticise and ridicule them " ?

[Swansinger]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
I sat between the cheer squad and Peter last night and watched Peter try in vain to get the people around him involved in the normal Sydney chant. Most of the time no one would have a bar of it. Each time he started I tried to get our little section going. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. I felt sorry for you Pete, I couldn't believe the lack of support in your section.

....once again Sydney went quiet when the boys looked to be losing.

I know how Pete must feel - I shouted my chords dry last night,supplementing it with maniacal fist pumping , with little support.

The "demographic" of the section is an issue :a few young kids , old ladies and FWF's will not mke much noise.
But if any of the "regulars" were quiet - especially when we were shaky - shame on them.

[Grant]

Originally posted by Swansinger
I know how Pete must feel - I shouted my chords dry last night,supplementing it with maniacal fist pumping , with little support.

The "demographic" of the section is an issue :a few young kids , old ladies and FWF's will not mke much noise.
But if any of the "regulars" were quiet - especially when we were shaky - shame on them.

Ditto!

[swansrock4eva]

I was trying my guts out as usual. The chat craig is talking about worked really well around the origin (the CS area) because we now have that stand behind us to create a great echo. But the thing with it especially was that it actually went on long enough to get out of sync which is a rarity in itself! On the whole the crowd was its usual self - great when there was something to chant about, pathetic when the chips were down. Big thumbs up to those who tried to get things going or help us out etc too

[Bron]

Originally posted by Ruda Wakening
What do you mean by " NOT criticise and ridicule them " ?

I mean some of the "old timers" paying out on people who don't know the song or the chants .... we all got started somewhere. Let's be inclusive for our new members, we need them and the more we have, the better for the Club.

[Go Swannies]

I was about 15 rows above Peter and a bit further way from the CS. I synchronised my efforts with his and thought the crowd were getting into it better than usual - certainly better than at the Pies game at TS when they all sat like stunned mullets. And we all sung the song about three times when the boys ran onto the ground.

I really don't like the idea of the words to the song on the screen. Melbourne friends have given me a hard time about fickle Swans fans because this used to be done years ago. Can you imagine Collingwood doing it?

I've already suggested to the club that it should be on the website. Ideally, both the words and a downloadable sound file so they can hear the tune. A friend ran off about 20 copies and distributed them at her area at a game and that was well received. Maybe we should all do it when there will be newcomers like game 1 next year? It'd be a nice welcome to newcomers, too.