No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by The Undertaker
I went to the Wizard Cup game against Carlton in Feb and was quite disgusted with the poor crowd we got that day!Ok,it was pre season and not a premiership game but i thought the general public would appreciate a little bit more AFL footy here in Sydney.Then again,we are talking about Sydney here.

I think it was a combination of underpromotion from the AFL and the Swans. As well as apathy to the Wizard Cup in general by pretty much most of the coaches and players in the league. Roos saw it as a trial. Hence people even as passionate as Peter H stayed away. Why Swans members had to pay $18 to watch it is laughable. Advertise to them they can get in free and the crowd is doubled automatically.

Seriously, have a look at Henson Park. A (well-promoted) pre-season game would be just awesome there. You could easily get 20000 there on the hills. Another pre-season AFL facility in Sydney is hardly unwelcome. And the normal tenants of the ground the Newtown Jets will benefit from the improved facilities as well. (So no whinging leaguies hey Brycey! )

And yeah, Lavington ain't half bad as as AFL-venue, despite the awful brick guttering around the ground that players fall into and hurt themselves on.

I'm with Peter H on this. Do as the NRL used to do and bring the game to the bush. Play matches out of Melbourne in places like Newcastle Wagga Albury Broken Hill Port Pirie Mount Gambier Darwin Alice Springs Cairns Townsville Bundaberg etc etc. Use these matches as a way to bring new fans to the game, as well as generate interest and revenue in AFL senior footy in the struggling bush footy communities.

JF

[peterh_oz]

Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by The Undertaker
I went to the Wizard Cup game against Carlton in Feb and was quite disgusted with the poor crowd we got that day!Ok,it was pre season and not a premiership game but i thought the general public would appreciate a little bit more AFL footy here in Sydney.Then again,we are talking about Sydney here.

Ok I'll bite.

I love footy. I live it, I breathe it, I umpire it, I sit up til 2am watching the Footy Show (cos its not on @ a reasonable time here). Geez I even LISTENED to the Brownlow last year on the net cos I couldn't wat for the replay! I annoy the **** out of people @ work with my footy.

I love the Swans.

I hate Wizard Cup games at the best of times, and there is NO way I'd go to TS to share a 72k stadium with 500 other people. About as muc atmosphere as a Sheffield Shield match @ the G (or anywhere really!).

[Mark]

Re: Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by peterh_oz
I hate Wizard Cup games at the best of times, and there is NO way I'd go to TS to share a 72k stadium with 500 other people. About as muc atmosphere as a Sheffield Shield match @ the G (or anywhere really!).

Could not agree more, games are just a trial for the season proper and everyone knows it.

Stade Aus lacks atmos at best of times, let alone during these games.

[The Undertaker]

Re: Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by peterh_oz
Ok I'll bite.

I love footy. I live it, I breathe it, I umpire it, I sit up til 2am watching the Footy Show (cos its not on @ a reasonable time here). Geez I even LISTENED to the Brownlow last year on the net cos I couldn't wat for the replay! I annoy the **** out of people @ work with my footy.

I love the Swans.

I hate Wizard Cup games at the best of times, and there is NO way I'd go to TS to share a 72k stadium with 500 other people. About as muc atmosphere as a Sheffield Shield match @ the G (or anywhere really!).

Fair enough.Look,peterh_oz,i do not like TS myself.It just lacks something plus it a shocker to get too.But if the swans are out there and whether they play,in front of 500 or 80,000 people,i will still go.My rugby league team(roosters)is my first priority and i try to get to many swans matches as possible.Lucky for me and some others,they rarely clash.I just appreciate more times i can see the swannies play,whether its Wizard Cup or an away game is taken to the scg(eg Bulldogs or Nth Melbourne)

[barry]

Re: Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG

I'm with Peter H on this. Do as the NRL used to do and bring the game to the bush. Play matches out of Melbourne in places like Newcastle Wagga Albury Broken Hill Port Pirie Mount Gambier Darwin Alice Springs Cairns Townsville Bundaberg etc etc. Use these matches as a way to bring new fans to the game, as well as generate interest and revenue in AFL senior footy in the struggling bush footy communities.

JF

The trouble is, that during the Wizo cup, all the regional grounds are still being used for cricket.
Appart from many not being up to AFL standard, the biggest drawcard of Stade de Oz is its avaliability, and surface quality. Its by far the best option.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Re: Re: Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by barry
The trouble is, that during the Wizo cup, all the regional grounds are still being used for cricket.
Appart from many not being up to AFL standard, the biggest drawcard of Stade de Oz is its avaliability, and surface quality. Its by far the best option.

You certainly weren't there this season then mate. It was a complete cow paddock against Carlton. And wasn't much better when we played Melbourne either to be brutally honest.

I'd love a match at Henson Park. 10000 there would look excellent, I reckon. A perfect potential AFL venue I reckon.

JF

[swansrule100]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
You certainly weren't there this season then mate. It was a complete cow paddock against Carlton. And wasn't much better when we played Melbourne either to be brutally honest.

I'd love a match at Henson Park. 10000 there would look excellent, I reckon. A perfect potential AFL venue I reckon.

JF

ur kidding right?

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by swansrule100
ur kidding right?

No, I'm deadly serious to be quite honest.

I walk on Telstra Stadium at least 3 times a year. The surface was only decent when we played Collingwood and Essendon.
Against Melbourne it was atrocious.

Benny_W and Swansrock4eva can attest to this as they were out on the banner with me.

JF

[Dr Worm]

now is the time to purge the ridiculous pre season comp, that is just a way for players to be affected by heat and risk serious injury.

Extend the season to 24 rounds then more teams would be able to play each other twice and it would give teams that bit of extra time to be ready with 2 or 3 proper practice matches under practice match conditions , stupid trial rules that would be difficult for everyone ot get used to for no more than 4 matches, waste of time I say GET RID OF THE WIZARD CUP

[benny_w]

Correct JF

The surface was so slippery against Melbourne that I nearly slipped and dropped the banner (thanks to my safety shoes that i had on at the time it didn't happeen). But Henson Park would be a sensational Pre-Season venue. You have a stand for 5,500 people and grass for the rest. Roughly 20,000 people could fit in there.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Re: Re: Re: Re: No More Wizard Cup Matches at Telstra Stadium

Originally posted by Mark
Could not agree more, games are just a trial for the season proper and everyone knows it.

Stade Aus lacks atmos at best of times, let alone during these games.

So not turning up and supporting your team is all the more acceptable then, is it?

JF

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Dr Worm
now is the time to purge the ridiculous pre season comp, that is just a way for players to be affected by heat and risk serious injury.

Extend the season to 24 rounds then more teams would be able to play each other twice and it would give teams that bit of extra time to be ready with 2 or 3 proper practice matches under practice match conditions , stupid trial rules that would be difficult for everyone ot get used to for no more than 4 matches, waste of time I say GET RID OF THE WIZARD CUP

I have to say that in its present form I have to agree with you. A few years ago they still seemed to treat it with some degree of seriousness. Nowadays it is seen as little more than a televised trial match, with both coaches and players decidedly half-hearted about putting in.

It has always been played in the heart. And in any match there is a risk of injury. I used to see the pre season cup as a change for us to finally win a flag, any sort of flag. Now knowing that people don't care about it, why should I bother caring?

Having said that though, we may well have a car down from Sydney for the Bulldogs match at the Dome. Benny_W and Boofhead seemed keen when we were talking about it last.

JF