Canberra emerges as a key for new Sydney team?

[Cheer Squad]

Canberra emerges as a key for new Sydney team - RFNews - realfooty.com.au

Hmmm. I wonder what the thinking is here. It sounds like they're latching on to an offer from the ACT Government just for the sake of getting a "western Sydney" team up and running, regardless of any consequences further down the track.

I can't see how involving Canberra like this is going to help with developing a brand identity that will resonate in Sydney's west. It's not really going to be a "western Sydney" team if the ACT has a say on the club colours, name, and mascot.

[laughingnome]

I read it more that this team would be representative of the greater sydney area, hence the avoidance at calling it West Sydney. Having a couple of games played in Canberra a year and being representative of a broader group gives the new team the possibility of country supporters, something the Swans realised was as good way to bump up the membership figures and get some more cash in the 90's.

My only concern is the idea of playing games at three venues - The Showgrounds, ANZ and Manuka - which could stop the development of a "home team" mentality, like North Melbourne 5 years ago. Maybe playing away games in Canberra would be better, certainly Manuka offers an attractive cash injection to Victorian Clubs struggling for funds.

[Cheer Squad]

I read it more that this team would be representative of the greater sydney area, hence the avoidance at calling it West Sydney. Having a couple of games played in Canberra a year and being representative of a broader group gives the new team the possibility of country supporters, something the Swans realised was as good way to bump up the membership figures and get some more cash in the 90's.

My only concern is the idea of playing games at three venues - The Showgrounds, ANZ and Manuka - which could stop the development of a "home team" mentality, like North Melbourne 5 years ago. Maybe playing away games in Canberra would be better, certainly Manuka offers an attractive cash injection to Victorian Clubs struggling for funds.

Canberra shapes as major force behind west Sydney | The Australian

Here's another perspective on the same story in today's press.

What the AFL is trying to do doesn't really make much sense all do in terms of developing the new team's identity. It all comes down to the question of who is going to support them, because the ACT and western Sydney are worlds apart in terms of outlook and identity.

I think the Swans brand has far more appeal to the average resident of the ACT than a brand based on anything to do with western Sydney. That's why we have a lot of support in Canberra. How many Canberrans would identify with a team based in western Sydney?

It seems to me that the whole venture is being driven by commercial considerations linked to the next round of TV negotiations and not much else.

[laughingnome]

It seems to me that the whole venture is being driven by commercial considerations linked to the next round of TV negotiations and not much else.

And that's what scares me. I don't have an issue with expanding the code and putting a team into WS, because there is quite simply a great potential for growth there of the game. But for it to work the AFL will need to call a spade a spade and label the club as something people out Blacktown/Parramatta way can identify with. Otherwise it's down the toilet and the AFL look like mugs.

[dimelb]

No more Manuka games for Swans after 2012?

"Canberra's Manuka Oval will continue to stage AFL games hosted by Melbourne-based clubs for another two years, but from 2012 it will be solely the domain of the new club, where the AFL hopes it will play at least three games a year." (in The Oz)

Another factor - Manuka is an easy and pleasant trip down the expressway from West Sydney.