Sydney deserves better

[Bear]

Originally posted by Country Member
Bear - I agree with your comments, but how does getting a vote stop supporters cheering mediocrity?

Good point. Generally, as mentioned, I think giving voting rights gives members a better understanding of the football club and then hopefully more passion and desire to see them perfom up to their full potential.

I had the benefit of being brought up in a football culture, taken to the footy by my dad, etc, so I have this 'bred' into me.

Many others don't so perhaps may need advice... and as ridiculous and patronising as this may first sound, perhaps we need to have regular 'tips' or pointers in Swans news.

Trouble is, its hard to get a consensus on what's right and wrong. We certainly don't want our supporters behaving like Richmond supporters or Collingwood scum.

[Bart]

Originally posted by Bear
Trouble is, its hard to get a consensus on what's right and wrong. We certainly don't want our supporters behaving like Richmond supporters or Collingwood scum.

Agree. As per my post earlier Sydney is just different. You will never supplant a Melbourne-type footy culture here. The atmosphere can be flat at times, but is generally always a safe, pleasant environment. Yes I cringe at the devotion to players after losses sometimes too, but you can't ask them not to. It will alomst take a generational change for that to differ.

but it's what makes the Swans popular for families and it amazes me to see the number of kids and prams at the footy on Sundays. If the alternative is to take them to a Roosters-Bulldogs game next door...erm..no thanks.

[monopoly19]

I've been going to the Swans since I was fairly young along with brothers/sisters etc, and almost every group that sits around us in Sydney is a mum/dad with a couple of kids. Against Richmond I noticed a large group (about 10-12) 20-30yr old guys (Tiger supporters) sitting somewhere near us and it struck me how different the demographics are between Sydney and other clubs.

Personally, I think it's a wonderful thing, but generally it does mean that we're not going to get the same atmosphere as a Melbourne game probably does (keep in mind I've never been to the footy outside of Sydney so I don't really know that much).

A few years ago I would have been one of those people clapping after a loss, and while I don't think I'd take my disappointment to the levels of a particular Richmond supporter, I won't be clapping any bad losses anymore. If anything, as the kids (of which I was one) grow up, the culture will probably continue to change, but I hope that it never strays too far from what I grew up with (except maybe the fairweather aspect).

As for the fans accepting mediocrity (and being able to do something significant about it) - I still don't completely buy that we have any effect at all over what the players do/believe. I remember some of the players commenting last year that their new-found confidence came from knowing that Roosy wasn't going to drag them for making a mistake, and it's almost like the clapping after a crappy game is the same thing - Sydney's own way of saying "we still love you and believe in you" (or at least that's why I used to clap ). I guess it may also be construed as "it's okay if you don't try", which could be problematic for our quest to win the premiership ...

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Bear

Many others don't so perhaps may need advice... and as ridiculous and patronising as this may first sound, perhaps we need to have regular 'tips' or pointers in Swans news.

At the Gabba the fans clap when the Lions kick a behind! And the Lions seem to play alright, despite that.

And I think you'd have to look hard in any official club newsletter for the advice on how you shouldn't clap when the team plays like crap. (Though a few other clubs could run an etiquette column on how you shouldn't spit on your coach or throw bottles at the players.)

[Alec]

Originally posted by Bart
True only to some extent. Yes crowds and membership have come down. But we will have roughly 25000 members this year up from low 20s last year which was the lowest in recent years. This compares to about 3000 in 1994 before the Swans took off.

So yes, lack of sustained success has meant we haven't been able to see increases every year, but 1996 has resulted in a new 'core' many of whom post on this board regularly.

Every club has bandwagons. Watch the lemmings jump of Collingwood's next year.

I actually agree. I only meant that the "Bandwagon Effect" has almost become synonymous with Sydney...which is not only wrong in fact (as you point out) but is really only thinly veiled snobbery. It's sort of like the English continuing to call us Colonials - not because it's true, but because they know it touches a nerve.

[Alec]

Originally posted by monopoly19
I've been going to the Swans since I was fairly young along with brothers/sisters etc, and almost every group that sits around us in Sydney is a mum/dad with a couple of kids. Against Richmond I noticed a large group (about 10-12) 20-30yr old guys (Tiger supporters) sitting somewhere near us and it struck me how different the demographics are between Sydney and other clubs.

Strange you say that...I took a couple of Newbies to the Collingwood game at Telstra last year. They'd been to several games at the SCG, but were totally unprepared for the crowd down there.

[ScottH]

Collingwood and Richmond crowds can be pretty feral, especially when they are losing. (See STK V COL, Sat Nite, and they are blaming Gehrig, Ha)

[Old Royboy]

When I first started going to the footy the crowd stood shoulder to shoulder swilling beer, abusing the umpires, opposition and rival fans non stop. It was no place for kids or ladies and the only way a kid could see the game was to worm your way to the front or build a pyramid of empties. (yes, they were steel then) Then I came to Sydney in the early 70?s and the new girlfriend took me to see the dragon type red and whites ? what a difference. Blankets and fold up chairs on a grassed hill in the sun. So is it any wonder there is a different culture.

I would guess that the vast majority of Sydney based Swan fans are converted locals. If you grow up a tiger or a bomber in Melbourne, you are branded for life. As an old royboy I am an exception. Why else does our crowd swell when we play the dons or pies.

The differences came home to me at a game against Richmond about 7 or 8 years ago. I started trading insults with a tiger fan, people around us were looking askance, looking for escape routes if we came to blows. At half time tiger came up and said ?what?s up with this mob? and we had a good laugh. Even now the girlfriend (now wife of many years) refuses to come to the footy because of the embarrassment I cause her, daughter is alternately ashamed or thinks its cool that the old man makes an idiot out of himself. And I?ve toned down dramatically since the old days. Only my son has joined the faith.

I don?t believe this lack of fan passion has affected the way the club has been run, but we have lost games because the lack of noise means we don?t influence maggot decisions as much as other clubs do.

Since 94 our club has been free to recruit as it sees fit, unencumbered by budget constraints etc. Basically our club has not been as well run (or cheated as well) as those who have had success. If there is a rich, intelligent and committed fan who can get himself on the board and be responsible for recruiting the best possible management team, then he can make a difference. Muggins in the outer, bring your hopes, your support and your lungs.

[dendol]

I agree there with the crowd noise, royboy. When the team is down and needs the crowd to get them going, sometimes the stadium is so quiet you can hear the players shouting at each other from the other wing.

That last Richmond game was a good example. A goal or two down and we could have really fired up the boys if we all made some noise. We all know the result of that game. The players fizzled out, just like the crowd.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Charlie,

I'd never heard that. Do you know if there was a similar deal for the Brisbane Bears/Lions? I presume there wasn't for Port or Freo when they started up? What was the rationale - paying back a "loan"?

Don't know. This little tidbit of information was gleaned from '100 Years of Australian Football'.

Each club also apparently got a lump sum payment of $263,000.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Margie
YThe Syyyyydddneyy chant was truly born that night.

I could only watch on TV, but it does sound awsome, like a English soccer crowd!!!