Why are the Swans so Disliked by Others?

[YankeeConvert]

As someone relatively new to the boards forgive me if this has been discussed before.

This weekend I started to take a look at some of the other AFL boards and have been stunned by the outright nastiness, narrrow mindedness and double standards of the posts about the Swans.

I can't believe our team is able to garner this type of emotion - the team is hard working with no arrogant high profile tossers, our coach was an amazing player and has been above reproach - even reading this board the fans seem to be fair (as much as we can be) and give credit where credit is due.

But since we made the GF it seems everyone has it in for us.

Is this just because of the perceived salary benefits or the usual "AFL love child" stuff or is it that everyone needs someone to pick on and it happens to be us?

[Go Swannies]

For the same reason that we also have a very strong support base in Melbourne - a struggling Melbourne suburban club moved to Glam City and now looks to be successful. (The fact the Swans is the least "star-y" of all successful clubs is overlooked.)

[Sean]

Re: Why are the Swans so Disliked by Others?

Originally posted by YankeeConvert
Is this just because of the perceived salary benefits or the usual "AFL love child" stuff or is it that everyone needs someone to pick on and it happens to be us?

It's because they are scared. People from other states often ignore us because we are generally not seen as a threat. Now we are so we get criticised. It happened a bit in 2003 as well.

Overall it's a good sign.

[liz]

Re: Why are the Swans so Disliked by Others?

Originally posted by YankeeConvert
or is it that everyone needs someone to pick on and it happens to be us?

A lot of it will come down to that.

But amongst the general footy loving public (of which internet posters are not necessarily a representative sample) I think you will find a lot of sentimental support for the Swans.

Those who genuinely want a national competition understand the benefits of Sydney winning a GF in terms of what it could do to further cement our club's position in the hearts of Sydneysiders.

Others recognise that 72 years is a long long time between drinks and would love the Swans to finally break their drought.

And I think there are still more who respect what the club has done to build a squad based on team work and fitness and without the smattering of low picks that many other clubs have accumulated.

[ScottH]

SLS!!!!!






















(Sore Loser Syndrome)

[BarneyG]

I haven't noticed much negativity to be honest. I think that ppl are getting behind the swannies more than the weagles.

[NMWBloods]

Other sides would say that if they came to this site. That's the way it is in general when many supporters talk about other sides.

[mocaholic]

Originally posted by BarneyG
I haven't noticed much negativity to be honest. I think that ppl are getting behind the swannies more than the weagles.

Agree, actually.

[Diego]

Re: Why are the Swans so Disliked by Others?

The media has a lot to do with it. A lot of people down here seem to take what the HUN reports as gospel. Tabloid trash for the uneducated masses.

So if the hun says the swans are the afl love child, then the masses believe that. Sydney are the only team who floods, then the Melbourne people believe that.

Melbourne people are insular and refuse to accept that the national competition has been in place for 15 years now. A lot of myths are created by the media down here.

Well that?s my perception after surviving my first footy season in Melbourne.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by BarneyG
I haven't noticed much negativity to be honest. I think that ppl are getting behind the swannies more than the weagles.

Yep.

I don't know how anybody could be taking more negativity than support out of sites like Bigfooty. Sure, there's the Eagles fans who have an interest this week in bringing down the Swans, and there's the Saints fans who have a chip on their shoulder over Hall. But who cares about them?

We will have twice as many people cheering for us on Saturday than the Toast Puffs.

[Nico]

It is fair to say that some people that visit club supporter boards are feral, so no matter who was playing this week they would be getting stuck in, no matter what.

In Melbourne on radio we have plenty of support. Around the streets and talking to people there seems little anomosity, if anything jealousy that we are there.

Roosey said the melbourne media dont like us. But as I see it that was a silly statement. They just dont rate us and lets face it papers will sell better if they quote the likes of Sheedy and Malthouse. We probably dont get the publicity for our season that we should as to compared with say if it was Essendon, they would be raving.

Dean Laidley for instance seems to have plenty to say, but because it is North the papers rarely give him more than a paragraph.

So dont get too paranoid, because it will probably work in our favour because we are in Sydney, so the players are probably missing all the media frenzy of the Bazza case.

Also the papers are now rating us this week so best they dont hear that.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Nico
Also the papers are now rating us this week so best they dont hear that.

That's just about a sure fire way for us to lose!

[Nico]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
That's just about a sure fire way for us to lose!

Then again Roosey has them meditating, so they should all be calm, relaxed, well drilled and ready to go.

By the way NMW did I get my commas in the right place.

[Dave]

Originally posted by Nico
Then again Roosey has them meditating, so they should all be calm, relaxed, well drilled and ready to go.

By the way NMW did I get my commas in the right place.

You got the commas but forgot a question mark!

[NMWBloods]

Nothing stood out - all quite readable!

(although _don't_ has an apostrophe).