The AFL cant afford to let the swans languish

[Triple B]

I don't subscribe to the theory that Sydney cannot afford to languish at the bottom for a few years more than any other club.

The AFL may not like it, we might not like it, but if it happens they'll have to wear it.

After our boom period crowd wise from 96, a quick fall from grace would have been disastrous. Eade paid that penalty by having to prop up the list and stay competitive.

Now a dozen years down the track, those new found Class of '96 fans who may have dropped off if we fell out of the 8 quickly are now fully entrenched and bona fide members. Our supporter base has stabilised and a few years at the bottom would see only a marginal dropoff which would be regained when things turned around.

[connolly]

I don't subscribe to the theory that Sydney cannot afford to languish at the bottom for a few years more than any other club.

The AFL may not like it, we might not like it, but if it happens they'll have to wear it.

After our boom period crowd wise from 96, a quick fall from grace would have been disastrous. Eade paid that penalty by having to prop up the list and stay competitive.

Now a dozen years down the track, those new found Class of '96 fans who may have dropped off if we fell out of the 8 quickly are now fully entrenched and bona fide members. Our supporter base has stabilised and a few years at the bottom would see only a marginal dropoff which would be regained when things turned around.

A lot of the corporate suits will be filing for bankruptcy next season anyway triplicate. Would they be able to pony up the price of the membership in the midst of the George Street meltdown? There is a kinda nice epiphany about it all.

[barry]

The AFL cant change the rules to the detriment of Sydney's style, and implement a draft system which forces teams to rebuild by finishing near last, and then not expect Sydney to be on a "downward slide" as NMW puts it.

What did they think would happen.?

Until 2nd sides are set up in NSW and QLD, the Lions and us need to have avenues to build competitive teams without having to finish bottom 4, 3 years in a row. Whether that be local zones, or a form a free-agency where we can use our extra cap room, I dont care.

The AFL has made a rod for its own back here.

[goswannie14]

Nothing wrong with rebuilding a team. Has to happen whether you're in Sydney or Manangatang!

Except Manangatang merged with Tooleybuc recently. Last time they merged it was with Chinkapook in the early 70's.

Is that what you mean by rebuilding?

[The Big Cat]

Nothing wrong with rebuilding a team. Has to happen whether you're in Sydney or Manangatang!

Don't bring it up! When Manangatang started rebuilding I got dropped to the seconds!

[AnnieH]

Isn't the draft system structured so that every team spends some time on the bottom?

[Industrial Fan]

If everyone who said they were there actually was, there would have been sell-outs every week

I missed one of them watching Nirvana at the Big Day Out.

[The Big Cat]

Except Manangatang merged with Tooleybuc recently. Last time they merged it was with Chinkapook in the early 70's.

And where is the Chinky name now? GAWN! How long before it's just Tooleybuc? Then the famour Manang will be GAWN. I suggest the swans don't merge with Tooleybuc.

[satchmopugdog]

Don't bring it up! When Manangatang started rebuilding I got dropped to the seconds!

Is that you Achilles Jones?

[royboy42]

Didn't realise I was opening the good old Manangatang bucket of worms! It's a risky caper, posting on here.

[Dogzbody]

Many sat through 26 losing games in a row.
We can do it again.

With you 100% Annie...........although marketing will have to do better than NOG rambling about a lack of meat trays

[The Big Cat]

Is that you Achilles Jones?

No it's Achilles Smith. I'm not bitter. I had to take one for the club.

[goswannie14]

Didn't realise I was opening the good old Manangatang bucket of worms! It's a risky caper, posting on here.

Who would have thought that in mentioning Manangatang you would have a poster who used to drive through there regularly and another that used to play for them?

[DST]

I am not sure I agree with the talk about the Sydney markert not being able to take a team that is down the bottom.

The big difference compared to the early 90's is that this time the club now has a solid base in both Sydney and Melbourne that will stick with it to a certain piont.

Besides the base that we now have, in the early 90's the club was so low it really didn't have any hope and this reflected in our results across the board.

We couldn't attract decent players, quality coaching staff or football department expertise and the club itself lacked a winning culture.

Fast forward to now and we have a fantastic head of football in Andrew Ireland, a strong coaching group with a would be coach in Longmire and have invested heavily in our recruiting staff with quality people like Maxfield.

Add to that our own player driven culture that is looked upon by the rest of the AFL with respect and a sustained period of success (see afl.com.au story today) that has built a new club story.

We are a vastly different club that we were in the early 90's.

Yes there will be a drop off in members and sponsors, but I don't see it as a big issue as long as the club sticks to it's hard won respect and can put out a face to the public that we are building something new and exciting.

I for one, look forward to seeing us turn the list over and have a go with a new crop of players and hopefully Roos will see the upside in this and want to stay and give it a go with a new group of players.

DST

[dimelb]

Agree. In toto. (Not the dog)