AFL to launch 2nd team in Sydney

[Lucky Knickers]

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.

Bogans?

Personally, and I can be a footy bogan, I would definitely go to a game every week no problem.

[connolly]

Bogans?

Personally, and I can be a footy bogan, I would definitely go to a game every week no problem.

Well this bogan can't afford it. Those of us in fibro country are struggling to afford the pie and sauce at the stadium. Have the AFL done a study of disposable income levels in Western Sydney or is it just assumed that spending power of directors of CRA applies to us all?

[goswannie14]

connolly, why are you so scared about a second team in Sydney?

[connolly]

connolly, why are you so scared about a second team in Sydney?

Not scared just believe it is a collossal waste of resources that should be poured into the development of a strong Sydney comp and a worlds best practise junior system. Ask the Mums and Dads who are battling to keep the juniour clubs afloat with sausage sizzles what they would rather see. But of course the smartest guys in the room haven't bothered to consult with the people who really keep the game going out west. In my area the kids play on slag heap and there is no help from the AFL. This is all about trying to drum up more broadcasting rights in the future. It is absurd that our ressies have to play in a comp in Canberra because the second tier is so underesourced in Sydney. Couldn't care less if there is a second club in Blacktown. As relevant to me as Carlton was when the Bloods were at Albert Park. How many Melbourne club supporters go to the footie when their club is out of town? 5% or 10%? Do Celtic supporters follow Rangers when Celtic is out of town? A genuine cross town rivalry by definition defeats the very notion of supporters watching the "other" club. I gather all the supporters will be happy when two of their best players are compulsarily drafted to fill the player's roster. Its a crock.

[Glenn]

Now unless they are going to based at ANZ, how are they going to be viable with a capacity of 10,000 at Blacktown.
If they are ANZ based, good luck working into a already crowded schedule with a number of league teams either being based their fulltime, or playing marquee "home" matches there.

[Zlatorog]

Sorry, connolly, but I disagree with you on this one. AFL has no time to develop the game form the "grass-roots", because of ever changing ethnic population in people movements around Sydney. Besides, how many players do you think they could draft from Sydney alone? Probably not many. Even in Melbourne majority of draftees come from Country Victoria not from Melbourne, so do the math. It is very romantic to talk to about a grass-roots football (I heard that a lot in Victoria), but the reality is that not many kids in big cities are or will be interested in playing footy on a professional level.

[sfan]

This is a content play for Pay Television first and foremost. The AFL expect to get a billion dollars in 2012 with 18 teams. I still suspect that a team will move for $100 million handout. Western Sydney has 230,000 businesses and a population of 2.5 million. There must be sponsors who would be happy to get their brand on a national team.

As a loyal swans supporter who attends every game and lives in Western Sydney, I would probably go to 4-5 games a year just out of interest.

[robamiee]

Personally, i think it is a mistake. NSW is made up of other areas besides Sydney to grow the game in the NSW market.
Prior to m oving to Perth i was heavily involved in the local junior comp in Penrith, and yes there has been a great in roads made in the west, the swans are well and truly entrenched, and why should a new club benefit of the work the swans have done in these areas, with junior clinics etc.

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.

[hammo]

Now unless they are going to based at ANZ, how are they going to be viable with a capacity of 10,000 at Blacktown.

They will play games at ANZ. Blacktown will be the training and admin base.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

I don't come from the Silver side of Sydney. I originally come from a battler suburb South Melbourne. lol

Been there lately?

JF

[connolly]

Sorry, connolly, but I disagree with you on this one. AFL has no time to develop the game form the "grass-roots", because of ever changing ethnic population in people movements around Sydney. Besides, how many players do you think they could draft from Sydney alone? Probably not many. Even in Melbourne majority of draftees come from Country Victoria not from Melbourne, so do the math. It is very romantic to talk to about a grass-roots football (I heard that a lot in Victoria), but the reality is that not many kids in big cities are or will be interested in playing footy on a professional level.

Fair enough. I think probably we probably all agree that a second Sydney team is inevitable. The questions are when and how. Would be nice if the AFL could get our kids onto decent grounds with well resourced coaching

[hammo]

Fair enough. I think probably we probably all agree that a second Sydney team is inevitable. The questions are when and how. Would be nice if the AFL could get our kids onto decent grounds with well resourced coaching

I would have thought if you want those things you should be praying for a second Sydney team. The team / code will come with tens of millions worth of development money to build a support base. Junior football will be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

connolly, why are you so scared about a second team in Sydney?

I know the great Beaussie will hate me for this, but seeing Sydneysiders avidly cheering for a side other than the Swans unsettles me greatly. Actually makes me sick in the stomach & goes against alot of what I have spent the last
25 years trying to do. But having said that, more exposure for footy in NSW is a good thing. so I'm genuinely torn by all this.

I have mixed feelings about a second team in Sydney, especially before 2015. Relocating an existing club would be easier.But they aren't exactly queuing up are they? But we saw what happened with the North Melbourne fiasco in Sydney/Canberra, didn't we?

JF
PS:- Bea, why no posts in this thread?

[connolly]

I would have thought if you want those things you should be praying for a second Sydney team. The team / code will come with tens of millions worth of development money to build a support base. Junior football will be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

The record of the AFL in tipping clubs into hostile territory under resourced and under prepared is notorious. Swans and Bears are their two previous efforts. Suppose we will have to wait for the business plan. An interesting issue is where will their reserves play. Canberra? There is a huge structural problem with Australian football in NSW. 25 years after the Swans transplant we still don't have a viable second tier competition.

[Old Royboy]

I live in the outer west. Over the last five years there has been a gradual transformation of school yards and playing fields. Real football posts! They have appeared at St Doms Kingswood, (Bratt Fittler's old school and a traditional RL stronghold ) Nepean High, Dukes Oval (Emu Plains), Glenbrook Oval and many more. Last year the trains headed west after Homebush games were packed to the rafters. There are all sorts of mixed signals that come out of this forum's local board, but there are indesputable signs that our code is slowly gaining more participation, acceptance and credibilty out here. When I talk to kids there is less "gayful" and more "right on" re Aussie Rules. Provided the AFL is prepared to spend big and wisely, they can definitely increase Aussie Rules popularity to the level required to support a Westrn Sydney team. Given that happens, the biggest problem they will face is weaning all those kids off the Swans and on to the Blacktown Bogans.

Fact is, Aussie rules out here means the Sydney Swans. It's not like Perth or Adelaide where the support base was just too big for one team.