AFL to launch 2nd team in Sydney

[AnnieH]

There's only one team in Sydney.

[stellation]

Currently.

[Wardy]

What would the team be called? The Blacktown Bandits? Blacktown Bolts? Blacktown Bandicoots? Lets come up with some names!!! its gonna happen whether we like it or not, they will be to Sydney what Freo is to Perth!

[elroy67]

As others have said it has to happen now. Soccer will have a team out there soon and as with the Titans on the GC the AFL can't afford to lose any momentum, we are at a distinct disadvantage to those codes as well with the costs of an AFL team being threefold of the other codes.

I'm not so sure of the timing.

I don't see how the A League, as a summer sport in this country 'competes' with with the AFL. Surely it is garnering additional support from those who are looking to follow something other than cricket during the AFL off-season.

Certainly the AFL seems to have missed the boat with regards to a team on the Gold Coast, however there will be no additional NRL teams in the west of Sydney. What are the growth rates, in terms of members and supporters for the established NRL teams? I can't imagine they are significantly higher than the Melbourne based AFL teams strugglng to build support.

[moa999]

The Gold Coast Gorillas and the Bankstown Bandicoots
will become within 5 yrs the
Gold Coast Kangaroos and the Bankstown Dogs/ Saints

Also think the AFL would be better off introducing the new teams in the same year. Starting one year after another new entrant would put you at a major disadvantage in the recruiting stakes as the first entrant is still building their squad

[goswannie14]

The Gold Coast Gorillas and the Bankstown Bandicoots
will become within 5 yrs the
Gold Coast Kangaroos and the Bankstown Dogs/ Saints

I'd tip "Western Bulldogs" when they merge with the West Sydney team.

[CJK]

What would the team be called? The Blacktown Bandits? Blacktown Bolts? Blacktown Bandicoots? Lets come up with some names!!! its gonna happen whether we like it or not, they will be to Sydney what Freo is to Perth!

Blacktown Swans

[gossipcom]

I must admit when I saw this in the paper the other day, I was more shocked than anything else that Northern Territory was snubbed. I've got no affiliation to the NT, but the other two things that I could think of is that the conditions is the reason they didn't want to put a team up there, or have problems finding sponsorship for a team up there.

It's definitely not for a lack of players, fans, etc. I would be more for a team in NT and on the Gold Coast than a second team in Sydney.

[AnnieH]

I must admit when I saw this in the paper the other day, I was more shocked than anything else that Northern Territory was snubbed. I've got no affiliation to the NT, but the other two things that I could think of is that the conditions is the reason they didn't want to put a team up there, or have problems finding sponsorship for a team up there.

It's definitely not for a lack of players, fans, etc. I would be more for a team in NT and on the Gold Coast than a second team in Sydney.

There's stacks of industry (read, money) in Darwin.

I think they should put a team in Tasmania - and one in Darwin (or maybe even Canberra). That's where I think the support is.

It would make it a truely "national" competition.

[gossipcom]

Well AFL is saying it's because of Western Sydney's population outgrowing NT, etc. Ugh.

Tassie definitely is the other option, heck all those Hawks home matches in the past couple of years shows there's definitely an interest there. Plus the damn fine players that come from Tassie too.

[barry]

It will be a great day when the Blacktown ......'s enter the comp and we establish an awesome derby with them twice a year.

It will be a great time to be a swans supporter. It will also make our board face a bit of local competition and stop being so "hearing impared" on issues.

[connolly]

It will be a great day when the Blacktown ......'s enter the comp and we establish an awesome derby with them twice a year.

It will be a great time to be a swans supporter. It will also make our board face a bit of local competition and stop being so "hearing impared" on issues.

This has got to be one of the worst thought out decisions from the evil empire and thats saying something. What will the structure of the club be? Private ownership, AFL owned or public incorporated football club? Hardly the last option as there is no tradition, infrastructure or Australian football culture out west. The AFL rather than taking head on the suburban fotball culture of the Melbourne based clubs is trying to create a suburban football club and culture in the most AFL hostile part of the country - western Sydney. Brilliant. One is reminded of One Tel and other corporate disasters created by out of touch egomaniacs who think they are the smartest guys in the room. There is a desperate need for the AFL to develop the second tier competition in Sydney and the investment should be entirely concentrated on building the junior and Sydney club competition infrastructure. From that may emerge the foundation of a second club. Meanwhile the Blacktown Boofheads will be an enormous dunny down which will be flushed desperately needed resources for the development of the game. The AFL is now dominated by the Melbourne clubs and it shows.

[barry]

This has got to be one of the worst thought out decisions from the evil empire and thats saying something. What will the structure of the club be? Private ownership, AFL owned or public incorporated football club? Hardly the last option as there is no tradition, infrastructure or Australian football culture out west. The AFL rather than taking head on the suburban fotball culture of the Melbourne based clubs is trying to create a suburban football club and culture in the most AFL hostile part of the country - western Sydney. Brilliant. One is reminded of One Tel and other corporate disasters created by out of touch egomaniacs who think they are the smartest guys in the room. There is a desperate need for the AFL to develop the second tier competition in Sydney and the investment should be entirely concentrated on building the junior and Sydney club competition infrastructure. From that may emerge the foundation of a second club. Meanwhile the Blacktown Boofheads will be an enormous dunny down which will be flushed desperately needed resources for the development of the game. The AFL is now dominated by the Melbourne clubs and it shows.

What a load of pesimistic rabble. Sydney was more hostile than Western Sydney is, and that didnt stop the swans coming here. A decision that has paid off for all of us 1000 fold. Sydney wasnt getting 60K crowds prior, nor had the luxury of a cross town rival, nor had any local kids making their way in the AFL.

And dont get me started on brisbane. They didnt even have a stadium!

[connolly]

What a load of pesimistic rabble. Sydney was more hostile than Western Sydney is, and that didnt stop the swans coming here. A decision that has paid off for all of us 1000 fold. Sydney wasnt getting 60K crowds prior, nor had the luxury of a cross town rival, nor had any local kids making their way in the AFL.

And dont get me started on brisbane. They didnt even have a stadium!

Pessimistic rabble is probably a good way to describe the future supporter base of the "Western Whoevers". Hey we have a cross town rivallry starting already. Clearly the strategy is working. I would remind you that the Bloods very nearly went under after the brilliant privatisation "experiment'. We only survived due to the committment and dedication of the South Melbourne stalwarts that had been forced basically to accept the relocation. If you reckon you can build a football club from scratch with no football culture or tradition in the most competative winter sports market in the world then good luck to you. Would you buy shares in the organization? No doubt the punters will be lining up to put their hard earned readies into this folly. Nobody would anyone apart from the clowns in AFL House. There is a terrific club with dollops of football tradition that needs the assistance of the AFL to become a national footie club. They are called the Southport Sharks and they play in the biggest expanding population base in Australia.

[Thunder Shaker]

It will be a great day when the Blacktown ......'s enter the comp....

Bogans?

On a more serious note, I'm wondering how many would choose to attend an AFL game every week if there were two teams in Sydney.