AFL to launch 2nd team in Sydney

[stellation]

Dimetriou has said it will be 18 teams,and Wardy you are kidding your self if you think enough people in western sydney can support an AFL club.

Well if there is so much intrest in AFL in western sydney then why do the Swans have a lousy 25000 members in Sydney,and its the biggest city in the country.

If you think that only 3 people in sydney call it gayFL your kidding your self again.Its a thugby league town through and through,AFL will never equal NRL.

Heres a little question?

Q..How many people in your work place actully follow AFL/or are a member of a club?

A...Not even 3 i reckon

You follow AFL and you remind me quite a lot of the people in Western Sydney.

[stellation]

Thanks Dad.
You can go back to the shed now.

Do your homework then clean your room.

[AnnieH]

Do your homework then clean your room.

But we never got any homework tonight!!!

[Big Al]

... they don't make gurnseys with two-head openings.

ROFLMAO.

The future Tassie side would be:

Smith Jones Smith
Jones Smith Jones
Smith Jones Smith
Jones Smith Jones

Jones Smith Campbell(Victorian)

Coach. Their Dad

[TheGrimReaper]

I hope we don't have too many Tasmanians on this site, that are sensitive about Tassie jokes.

[Big Al]

I hope we don't have too many Tasmanians on this site, that are sensitive about Tassie jokes.

I'm from the Western Suburbs of Sydney and I have put up with all the jokes in this thread. It's called having a sense of humour and knowing when someones taking the piss.

[swantastic]

ROFLMAO.

The future Tassie side would be:

Smith Jones Smith
Jones Smith Jones
Smith Jones Smith
Jones Smith Jones

Jones Smith Campbell(Victorian)

Coach. Their Dad

Their wife=Their Mother

[swantastic]

You follow AFL and you remind me quite a lot of the people in Western Sydney.

Take it easy Stell i'm not that bad.

[goswannie14]

What makes me laugh about this is the amount of people on here who are saying, "I won't support them." I have news for you, the AFL don't want you to support them.

That's the idea, to try to gain more new supporters for Aussie rules.

[Robbo]

Isn't Western Sydney meant to be feral central?

[Big Al]

Isn't Western Sydney meant to be feral central?

Nope. A long over used stereotype. Anyway, say that again and I'll glass ya.

[TheGrimReaper]

Isn't Western Sydney meant to be feral central?

Sounds like the western suburbs of Melbourne.

[hammo]

Nope. A long over used stereotype. Anyway, say that again and I'll glass ya.

There are plenty of misconceptions at the moment.

Blacktown also happens to be very close to the northwest of Sydney which is as close to an AFL heartland in Sydney as there is. The participation rates for junior football must be one of the highest in Sydney. The northwest is quite a wealthy area and definitely not league territory. For people living in the Hills etc, Homebush Bay will be a lot more accessible than the SCG.

[connolly]

There are plenty of misconceptions at the moment.

Blacktown also happens to be very close to the northwest of Sydney which is as close to an AFL heartland in Sydney as there is. The participation rates for junior football must be one of the highest in Sydney. The northwest is quite a wealthy area and definitely not league territory. For people living in the Hills etc, Homebush Bay will be a lot more accessible than the SCG.

True but this area is still the weakest base that the AFL has ever attempted to place a club. Not only is it not AFL dominant (as in Port Adelaide and Freo) but there is a an existing club that is competing for support in a very competative sports market. The only comparison I can think of is the Sydney Kings and Razorbacks establishment in the NBL and that doesn't inspire much confidence. Also the concept of suburban club loyalty and affiliation seems really dated now. The really ominous thing is that there is no evidence of a strong feeling from AFL followers in the Blacktown area that they really want their "own" club. Wheres the passion and committment going to come from. From an advertising campaign headed up by Sheeds?

[Bas]

If they want to grow the game in NSW then the ideal market is the Central Coast/ Newcastle region. The central coast has been ignored by the NRL much tot he dismay of the fans up there, soccer is capitalising on it.

Its a growing region heavily populated and ideal spot for a new team in an area that has no winter sport team.

The central coast bears could be the name hey hey..

Other than that TASSIE should get a team, we are suppose to be a national competition aren't we...

But again for me WEST SYDNEY is a no go and CENTRAL COAST if it is in NSW then that should be the way to go, maybe some central coasters would liek to see a team based and play up there.

I would like to see a team up here but I don't think there is the mass support. We have the Black Diamond Comp up here which covers Central Coast/Newcastle. Reasonably healthy junior comp and the Central Coast has provided 4 of the 16 year scholarships.

Western Sydney would be a logical place. However, the AFL would have to pump lots of money into junior AFL development in that area.

Although the AFL is saying an 18 team comp, I bet it will really be a 16 team comp with 2 Melbourne teams to get relocated. Western Bulldogs has a ring to it.

Central Coast Mariners has really taken off up here. In the third year it was a brand new team, no history, no local boys standing out to attract at its inception. However, there is a large grass root following here for soccer. It also doesn't really clash with the NRL season.

Most likely the team won't start until 2015 but you never know.

If you want to go to both games, take up AFL membership now. I have and I get a part membership with the Swans where I have a reserved seat up in The Chardonnay Stand. I get my final ticket allocations from the AFL membership and not the Swans but all games I attend in Melbourne during the year are free.