Second Sydney team hits a hurdle...

[Cheer Squad]

Today's Telegraph is full of gloating about the decision of the NSW Government to withdraw funding for the upgrade of the Sydney Showground for the proposed second AFL team in Sydney.

NSW Government withdraws financial backing for planned AFL expansion | The Daily Telegraph

The story is written with all the usual objectivity you'd expect to find in the Telegraph.

Check out the Buzzwords blog by Phil Rothfield. He's leading the nya-nya-nyaaahing.

[dimelb]

I haven't read the links but I'm delighted. The stupidity of the NSW government cancels out the stupidity of the AFL supremos. Talk about poetic justice!

[swantastic]

Today's Telegraph is full of gloating about the decision of the NSW Government to withdraw funding for the upgrade of the Sydney Showground for the proposed second AFL team in Sydney.

NSW Government withdraws financial backing for planned AFL expansion | The Daily Telegraph

The story is written with all the usual objectivity you'd expect to find in the Telegraph.

Check out the Buzzwords blog by Phil Rothfield. He's leading the nya-nya-nyaaahing.

good we dont need 1

[BigD]

good we dont need 1

Here, here.

I was listening to WS-FM this morning. They have a segment attached to their 7am news bulletin entitled "WS-FM feedback line' where theyask a question prior to the news and then play listeners comments after. The question asked today was "regarding the second AFL team in Sydney -Yes or no or do you not care.

The majority of comments were pretty much the same as swantastic. I didn't here one person say they agreed with the idea of a second AFL team in Sydney. One person eveen made the suggeation that the AFL should look to Tasmania which I have thought for years would have been the logical thing for the AFL to do.

[Bloody Hell]

IMHO the success of the WSYD team can't be measured in the categories put forward up till this time. There is no doubt that the WSYD team will struggle with regard to support, crowds etc and most probably victories on the park.

Success should be measured in the form of players drafted from Western Sydney. Give it 20 years and we'll see if kids grow up playing AFL or rugby league...cause lets be honest you aren't going to get may draftees from the North Shore or the Eastern Suburbs. (Swans Real Base).

Another problem is going to be attracting players. It will be a dark day if I ever have to live out there!

[AnnieH]

Ha.
I broke this news yesterday in another thread.

[pinkemu]

Here, here.

I was listening to WS-FM this morning. They have a segment attached to their 7am news bulletin entitled "WS-FM feedback line' where theyask a question prior to the news and then play listeners comments after. The question asked today was "regarding the second AFL team in Sydney -Yes or no or do you not care.

The majority of comments were pretty much the same as swantastic. I didn't here one person say they agreed with the idea of a second AFL team in Sydney. One person eveen made the suggeation that the AFL should look to Tasmania which I have thought for years would have been the logical thing for the AFL to do.

"WSFM!", Old persons radio

I know I'll get bagged but I agree with the timming of the second team in Sydney.
If they are going to do it, the sooner the better. The window of oportunity will only shrink from this point on.
At the same time I could'nt care less if it did'nt happen

One cost cutting measure for the team out West could be the guernseys. They could buy cheap Flannos from Lowes and cut the sleaves off .

[Wardy]

"WSFM!", Old persons radio

I know I'll get bagged but I agree with the timming of the second team in Sydney.
If they are going to do it, the sooner the better. The window of oportunity will only shrink from this point on.
At the same time I could'nt care less if it did'nt happen

One cost cutting measure for the team out West could be the guernseys. They could buy cheap Flannos from Lowes and cut the sleaves off .

Nice touch, and tracky dacks from the same establishment cut off too the length desired, of course they will need to be slung low enough for the appropriate "plumbers smile" showing at the back!

[ShockOfHair]

[B]

I know I'll get bagged but I agree with the timming of the second team in Sydney.
If they are going to do it, the sooner the better. The window of oportunity will only shrink from this point on.
At the same time I could'nt care less if it did'nt happen

One cost cutting measure for the team out West could be the guernseys. They could buy cheap Flannos from Lowes and cut the sleaves off .

Totally agree. If they've done the numbers and they really want to do it, they may as well go ahead.

If it works I'll look forward to the derbies and the flannel uniforms.

BUt I saw Colless estimate it'll cost $20m a year, so good luck.

[Cheer Squad]

Here's an article by Roy Masters on the financial implications for the AFL of the Gold Coast and Western Sydney ventures. It's quite well written, unlike the childish nonsense in the Telegraph the other day.

Figures don't add up as Demetriou tries to grab bigger slice of pie - RFNews

[top40]

Like the vast majority of AFL patrons both in Sydney and outside Sydney, I don't give this Western Sydney venture much chance of success. Herein I agree with NRL senior official Geoff Carr that Western Sydney could become the AFL's Vietnam.

That said, the only real chance of success would be:

First, upgrade the Sydney Showground to accommodate and seat 25,000 to 30,000, with cover. (I can't believe however that this would cost 100 million) The Westerns could play about 4 games there against the lesser popular Victorian teams like St Kilda or Melbourne and perhaps West Coast Eagles.

Second, build a Leagues Club or a really good social club at Olympic Park. Give the fans a real reason to travel to Homebush. (Herein, for the sake of equality, also build a Leagues Club for the Swans at Fox Studio, say adjacent to the Trumper Stand, instead getting buses to the Cross)

Third, build good administration buildings at Blacktown, (akin to Basil Sellers at Moore Park), making the new Blacktown centre the training and administrative heart of the club.

Fourth, additionally, venture to Canberra, with three games played there. Make it Canberra's as well as West Sydney's team. Play say three games there against non Victorian teams. (Their 4 biggest games would then be played at Stadium Australia against obviously the Swans, and teams like Collingwood and Carlton).

Fifth, big big money spend on game promotion in exclusively Western Sydney the A.C.T

Finally, and this is the most controversial one. A Western Sydney club would need the strength of an existing club. Further, there are simply too many teams from Victoria. Hence, as was the initial plan with the Kangaroos and the Gold Coast, get one of the weaker Melbourne clubs to relocate. An obvious candidate would be the Western Bulldogs. They wouldn't even have to change their name. Further, the AFL could guarantee their Victorian fans six Melbourne/away games, as well as a totally financially supported VFL team, namely the Footscray Bulldogs.

[Nthblood]

Totally agree with Top40. North Melbourne will rue the day they did'nt move to the Gold Coast. In about ten years you will probably see a couple of teams link up together, cause the market in Melbourne will not support ten clubs. Thank god South Melbourne moved to Sydney when they did otherwise I probably wouldn't have a team to follow.