Sydney taking Swans to heart

[liz]

Nice piece from a quality journo who seems to have recently appeared on the AFL scene.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/09/22/1158431906515.html

We may still live in a rugby (both codes) stronghold but in my neighbourhood there was no doubt yesterday which game had people excited. In my group at work (about 30 people) 7 of us were - with our separate groups of friends - going to the game. I don't know of a single person going to the Broncos-Bulldogs game. Within the larger building, there was a decent smattering of people wearing Swans scarves around the place. There has been only one game talked about all week in the lifts, kitchen areas and the foyer. And it wasn't the league game.

Meanwhile I've been bantering all week with a lady who works in the coffee shop I frequent daily and who revealed herself as a Freo fan.

All this contrasts with 1996, when Sydney had started to sit up and take notice of the Swans but I was still considered an oddity when I wore my scarf to the office on the Thursday before the GF.

[swansrock4eva]

I walked through my local shopping centre before getting the bus to the game and got 3 "Go Swannies!" calls, including the check out guy at Woolies wishing he could give me my stuff for free because I support such a good team! It was awesome!

[Agent 86]

It's hard for people who grew up in a city where the bumsniffers ruled to admit their game is inferior. I know - I grew up in a small town that was evenly split between Aussie Rules & League. For people who crossed over it was considered blasphemy. My dad & older brothers were RL men & it took me many years to accept that AR was a better game.

My dad grew to love the Swannies towards the end of his life but missed the chance to see them win a Final (although he was alive when they won the previous time). My brother still despises them.

The following & acceptance here will only improve as a new generation grow up with their own (successful) team.

[R-1]

Bronchos-Bulldogs crowd last night was about 25k, and my mate who worked the Manly-Dragons game last week said those two drew about the same. Half empty stadiums for Aussie Stadium finals... hrrrm.

[Big Al]

Front AND Back page of the Daily Terror and Front Page of the Sydney Yawning Herald. It was as though there wasn't a League Prelim last night.

[573v30]

Originally posted by R-1
Bronchos-Bulldogs crowd last night was about 25k, and my mate who worked the Manly-Dragons game last week said those two drew about the same. Half empty stadiums for Aussie Stadium finals... hrrrm.

I'm not surprised, they should play more games back at Sydney Football (Aussie) Stadium. Times are a changing...

[cruiser]

Originally posted by swansrock4eva
I walked through my local shopping centre before getting the bus to the game and got 3 "Go Swannies!" calls, including the check out guy at Woolies wishing he could give me my stuff for free because I support such a good team! It was awesome!

I get a lot of that up here in this supposedly NRL bastion of The Central Coast.

[ROK Lobster]

Driving up the Hume yesterday there was quite a bit of support on the road for the Swannies - people obviously heading up for the game. While not in the same league as the drive up the Hume from Melbourne on the 25th of Sept last year, it was similar enough to bring back some good memories.

[CroatianSwans]

probaly cause the doggies lost if they had won they would of been on the front!

[woo]

I can say that I know some MASSIVE dog supporters who went to their game last night but secretly revealed to me that deep down they wished they were going to the swans instead, I think honestly that says it all. our crowd would have poticially been bigger last night should the game not have clashed

[AnnieH]

Told ya Sydney are behind us 100%!!!
I'm excited ... when we go down next week .... MELBOURNE are going to be behind us 100% as well.
That's 200% ... plus Freo, that's 300% ... plus the crows, that's 400%. (Now I haven't used a calculator here!!)
I think we're lookin' good kiddies!!!
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by woo
I can say that I know some MASSIVE dog supporters who went to their game last night but secretly revealed to me that deep down they wished they were going to the swans instead, I think honestly that says it all. our crowd would have poticially been bigger last night should the game not have clashed

Add in quite a few Yids who didn't go coz it was New Year too....

[Northern_Swan]

Originally posted by cruiser
I get a lot of that up here in this supposedly NRL bastion of The Central Coast.

Cheer Here... Lots of Support for the Swannies here in Newy...Many people ive spoken to taking a big interest in the AFL over NRL.

Plus at work...lots of "you must be stoked with the Swannies going well" comments from students and staff alike

needless to say i'll be wearing something red and white all week

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by CroatianSwans
probaly cause the doggies lost if they had won they would of been on the front!

I got an SMS from Destructive saying that Doggies fans actually rocked up to Homebush, thinking their match was there.

Like how dumb can some people be!

JF
PS:- We were hooning down Enmore Rd with scarves out our windows. A group of Bulldogs fans were there and looked rather 'fully sick' & sorry for themselves.

[airpoe]

It will be the biggest week of AFL in Sydney's history, with no Sydney club in the NRL, we could get massive media coverage the whole week.

Funny I heard a few people scream swannies as well.

Just hope we get the front & back pages of the paper the whole week!!