Email from Tony Morwood...

[CureTheSane]

Again, I am impressed with how much better things are being run down here, with a quick positive reply....



Dear Martin
Thank you for your comments on the 2005 fixture. As a club we are currently putting together our requests for the 2005 season and included in this is a request for there to be 6 games played in Melbourne, not including the Geelong game. If we do play against Geelong then we have asked for 7 games in total, however I would like to stress that we are only able to put requests in and the final decision does come down to the AFL.

In regards to the Kangaroos game in Canberra this is a deal that has been made between the Canberra Government and the AFL. The arrangement with the Western Bulldogs is one that the AFL has encouraged as it benefits the Bulldogs financially and this does help the Swans both financially and the added benefit of playing another home game.

Our club is built on members and supporters and Sydney are fully aware that Melbourne supporters are equally as important as the Sydney members and your email has been forwarded onto the management in Sydney.

With regard to the Foxtel situation, we will look into it for you and see if we can gain all the addresses.

Thanks again for you feedback.

Regards



Tony

Tony Morwood

General Manager, Melbourne
Sydney Swans


The reference to the addresses for Foxtel is for pubs who will be showing non free to air Swans games.
I didn't complain (or mention) the Kangaroos or Bulldogs games, so I would suggest that is part of a standard reply.

Anyway, nice to hear

[gloveski]

More away games in melbourne the better, less chance of playing two in Western Australia

[Dpw]

Originally posted by gloveski
More away games in melbourne the better, less chance of playing two in Western Australia

From a completely selfish point of view Iam loving the 2 games

[Mark]

Thanks CTS,

Great response from Morwood, with realistic summary of Bullldogs and North game situations.

Maybe some people can lose the paranoia now, but i doubt it !

[CureTheSane]

Personally, I am happy to sacrifice games in Melbourne if it means we have more home games.

Because that means that we
1) Have a better chance at a flag, and
2) Would possible earn the Swans more money in some ways.

Also with Manuka, I believe that as Sydney supporters, to some extent we owe it to the national league to give a little.

The Swans wouldn't be around if it were not for the VFL becoming the AFL, so I think part of our payback should be to continue to support a national game.

In the big wash up, all this could be resolved pretty much, by reducing the comp to 14 teams and having everyone play everyone else twice.

And I believe that will happen eventually, in fact I think it is inevitable as the AFL grows, and Melbourne won't be able to sustain all the Melbourne teams.

[Mark]

All valid and well expressed points CTS, which unfortunately will be drowned out by the usual howls of indignant selfishness

Alternate opinion on these matters will not be tolerated !

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

I have been emailing Tony about several things, and not only has he replied post-haste, but has done his utmost to find things out for us.

It is sad that myself as somebody from Sydney has to resort to going to something 1000 km away to get direct answers on questions that are important to me. But it is just nice to get somebody who not only understands the issues facing football supporters, but gives you the respect of replying professionally yet thoroughly.

In a nutshell what is it-a LOVE for one's footy club. Tony is a Swan through and through, was always a clubman, and will always have red and white in his veigns. Plus he comes across as an eloquent and professionally on-the ball manager as well.

Compare that to some of the muppets we have had working in the office up here in the past. Having to explain to them what exactly a Cheer Squad was? And why it was good to have one! We have people promising to sit with the Cheer Squad at Best & Fairest functions yet not delivering. We have places to make the banner not booked, which resulted in the banner for tomorrow's match nearly having to be scrapped because a private party had been booked in its place (true story!). We have supporters travelling the length and breadth of the country to support the club they love, yet they get given verbal warning for singing "Today is Monday."

If you think I'm grouchy tonight, try making a banner for 9 hours wth 2 other people, with little help or acknowledgement from anyone, and see how you feel.

Luckily we have Tony Morwood around. Let's ensure we KEEP him.

JF

[The Boot]

I've been reading the posts on this subject and have no gripe at all about how the draw is configured - look, I live in Sydney and we do very well for games.

I DO, however, like the Canberra match. Probably because I grew up there, and was astounded and appalled that the Raiders got a toehold way back when.

Aus Rules was the dominant code for many many years - so I am happy that our great game has an opporetunity to be represented .. and hopefully drive some growth. Don't forget the twos do play in that comp.

If the Roos were ever to relocate to the ACT, i think that would be a big positive for the growth of the code in NSW.

Uh-oh look at the time! Better get on the red and the whites & walk reverently to the ground - and hopefully walk on a cushion of air on the way home at 4:45!!!!!!

GO SWANS!!!!!!!!

[Charlie]

Boot - in an ideal world, you'd have teams in every market. You'd have teams in Tassie, the Gold Coast, North Qld, Newcastle, the Northern Territory, Canberra - but the reality is that these marginal markets aren't currently viable. Footy teams are expensive.

North Melbourne is currently using Canberra as a temporary cash-grab, without any realistic hope of it being a long-term alternative. Our game is a WASTE - there can be no long-term positive results for the competition, or the Kangaroos, that can come from us going there. The only reason that we get sell-outs at Manuka is because of several thousand travelling fans. It looks good on TV, but what does it do for game development? NOTHING. We go there in order to make a Kangaroos cash-grab LOOK viable.

[Tooth Fairy]

Originally posted by Mark
All valid and well expressed points CTS, which unfortunately will be drowned out by the usual howls of indignant selfishness

Alternate opinion on these matters will not be tolerated !

Gee you're on an agenda in this thread aren't you

[robbieando]

Originally posted by Tooth Fairy
Gee you're on an agenda in this thread aren't you

He just doesn't want to lose what he has at the moment. Can't blame him, but to call others selfish for wanting just one extra game is a bit much when he has 13 matches for himself.

[Tooth Fairy]

Originally posted by robbieando
He just doesn't want to lose what he has at the moment. Can't blame him, but to call others selfish for wanting just one extra game is a bit much when he has 13 matches for himself.

Yeah you're right. He's just a selfish git