Q's: Angels, Bloods, Swans, the SCG etc.

[Refried Noodle]

Just a few curious questions I have about Sydney:

I've read that the Swans were nicknames the Bloods in the early 1900's but also the Angels before then, does anyone know why they were called 'The Angels'?
Were the bloods called the bloods cause they were red?

I don't know how much of an effect it has on team performance, but I feel that the name "Swans" does nothing beneficial to the image of our team among Sydneysiders. I feel that for the growth of the Swans in Sydney lies in the working class demographic and the 'swan' name, mascot and image is a barrier to tapping the blue collar market, who traditionally support and attend all footy codes in all states. This was virtually ruined I feel in the mid 80's with all the razamatazz the dodgy Doctor introduced.
I hate the fact that Ch10 has been advertising Sydney games as a perv fest on the players shorts.....no wonder their ratings are poor. If they advertised the game as rough, physical, fast and exciting it would work!

Would a move back to "The Bloods" be possible for Sydney and would it be beneficial? A silly thought: Blood Angels....sounds scary.....I dunno, just some thoughts.
West Adelaide in the SANFL are called the Bloods, but do they have copywrite of the name?

The SCG: I remember watching test cricket at the SCG (round 2001/02) and Tony Grieg was commentator at the time and he mentioned there were plans for a new stand/hotel (dunno why hotel) to replace Yabba's hill and the Doug Walters Stand. Is/Was this true, or what are the future plans for the SCG?

[Sanecow]

I don't know the origin of "The Bloods" but for my old man's generation, the 1945 Grand Final was one of the reasons for the nickname:

http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/The%20Bloodbath%20Grand%20Final.htm

[ScottH]

I think it was related to that, they were called the "Blood Stained Angels", then that became the bloods. Nothing to do with them wearing red.

[Tuesday]

Re: Q's: Angels, Bloods, Swans, the SCG etc.

Originally posted by Refried Noodle
IWest Adelaide in the SANFL are called the Bloods, but do they have copywrite of the name?

I know there are a heap of towns around the country with the name 'the Bloods', but I know little about copyright law, so I shall not comment on that.

The Benambra (Vic) Bloods is the team in my friend's home town. Our dear recruit, Luke Vogels played for the Terang-Mortlake Bloods... Not necessarily all red and white in colour. A google search also came up with teams in the Mid Gippsland, Bendigo and the Yarra Valley-Mountain comps, to name but a few....

I like the name the Swans, though. I like its origin, the fact they are not all placid (see my avatar!) and the fact that they are the only birds with male appendages. Certainly gives us a leg up on the Eagles, hey

[Charlie]

Originally posted by ScottH
I think it was related to that, they were called the "Blood Stained Angels", then that became the bloods. Nothing to do with them wearing red.

Well, it does in that the name 'Blood Stained Angels' was a reference to them wearing white uniforms with red 'stains'.

I don't think that nicknames were formalised in the early years. .

[Norris Lurker]

The "blood-stained angels" was a reference to the red markings on a white background. At the time, Essendon was nicknamed by some with the very politically-incorrect "blood-stained niggers".

As for the idea of the luxury hotel on the hill, I think that's been abandoned. Hope so, otherwise night games would end up like around Luna Park with upper-class wankers in their luxury apartments whingeing and taking out injunctions against night games because they can't stand the sound of people having fun.

[Xie Shan]

Re: Re: Q's: Angels, Bloods, Swans, the SCG etc.

Originally posted by Tuesday
the fact that they are the only birds with male appendages.

I didn't know this...on RWO, you learn something new every day!

[cruiser]

Re: Q's: Angels, Bloods, Swans, the SCG etc.

Originally posted by Refried Noodle
I feel that for the growth of the Swans in Sydney lies in the working class demographic and the 'swan' name, mascot and image is a barrier to tapping the blue collar market, who traditionally support and attend all footy codes in all states.

I would totally resist any attempt to change from the Swans. If you dont like it then maybe you should wait until Sydney get's a second team which will most likely target Sydney's Western (and more working class) suburbs. As it is now, Sydney's support in Sydney is largely middle class and I see no reason to alienate the people who have supported Sydney SWANS for almost 25 years.

[Dooloo]

Re: Q's: Angels, Bloods, Swans, the SCG etc.

I don't know how much of an effect it has on team performance, but I feel that the name "Swans" does nothing beneficial to the image of our team among Sydneysiders.


For those who are intertested, the name the Swans originated from the early 1930's when the then South Melb. had so many West Aust. players in the side, that the Sporting Globe (brings back memories) claimed they should be called the Swans, and so the name stuck. though I also love the name the Bloods. Sounds more agressive, especially if asscoiated with BBH

[cruiser]

I think we can still use both names, Swans officially, Bloods unofficially. However, I rarely hear Bloods used in Sydney, unlike in Melbourne where it is frequently heard at games.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

Yeah, yelling "GO BLOODS" is definately more fun than "GO SWANS" but I would be 100% opposed to a name change of any sort. The club is doing everything it can not to distance itself from the old south melbourne supporters, SMFC on the jumper etc. I will always follow the team no matter what but a change of either colours or team name would be unforgivable.

[floppinab]

Re: Q's: Angels, Bloods, Swans, the SCG etc.

Originally posted by Refried Noodle

West Adelaide in the SANFL are called the Bloods, but do they have copywrite of the name?

Similar to the Swans, the name comes from the colours/jumper. Westies are black and red and were known as the Blood 'n Tars.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Re: Re: Q's: Angels, Bloods, Swans, the SCG etc.

Originally posted by floppinab
Similar to the Swans, the name comes from the colours/jumper. Westies are black and red and were known as the Blood 'n Tars.

West Adelaide, hmmmmm. Well, they do know ways of getting free-kicks, don't they!

http://www.sanfl.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/023687ah.pdf

JF

[Wil]

I don't mind the Swans. Though I would like to see them try and use the Black Swan instead of the Mute Swan for their mascot/colour scheme. Black Swans are native and it would look better (though probably too much like Essendon).

[timthefish]

i've noticed that my more boofhead mates tend to call them the "swannies" with a bit of gutteral inflection.

the point about the current advertising "perve" angle is spot on. it's crap and a focus on the toughness, brilliance and aggression will pull them in every time.

it's very clear that the perve angle is a contributing factor so use that in specific campaigns for certain female and gay (well, why not?) demographics but make the mainstream campaign based on the strengths of the game.