Roos warns of Sydney "catastrophe"

[Vonsteinman]

Why would you slash your wrists over one game that was a clear abboration?

It was perfect storm based on shocking weather all week, low drawing opponent, high ticket prices, large stadium many Swans fans do not like to travel to, grinding style of football not bringing in the theatre-goers...

Even Ricky Pointing who is NM's 1# ticketholder was in town and didn't go, and his excuse to Glenn Archer was "the weather"!!!

Some perspective is required.

From what people on here said at the time, 19,000-odd hardcore Swans fans made the effort and good on them, I only wish I could have been there. Some claimed - rightly or wrongly - that the crowd figure reflects the true number of die-hard fans of the red and white in Sydney. But my point was not about Swans fans.

You reckon you'll get 10,000 members to this new side in the first year.

How can you predict that that many will sign up for the club if they're not prepared to head out in inclement weather (it is a winter game after all) to watch finals football in their own backyard between two teams that had fought out a controversial regular-season draw???

I'll repeat, I hope you are right Bear, but I just can't see it and you just insisting like some character out of a bad Kevin Costner film that "people will come" doesn't cut it IMO.

[Cheer Squad]

Sydney viewer lapse no block to AFL club

Does anyone agree with me that this new franchise is the only realistic way to get significantly broader interest across Sydney for AFL football?

Yes, as long as that significantly broader interest does not centre on how many members and supporters the Swans are losing to the new franchise.

[Cardinal]

Demetriou wrong-footed as ACT plays hard ball - RFNews - realfooty.com.au

The funniest thing about this article is the ACT chesting up to the AFL and telling it how to suck eggs.

Would love to have been in the room to see Vlad's reaction.

Assuming the AFL were to bend over, so to speak, to these demands (which is highly unlikely, based on the personalities involved) one of the most interesting elements was that the ACT is expecting up to six "home games" from the new franchise.

"The Government also wants a separate playing jumper for use at Canberra home games, of which there could be up to half a dozen each year."

If that happens, the "AFL in Sydney every week" raison d'etre is on shaky ground already. The ACT govt aren't talking about taking some of "the new franchise's" (since the story implies even the name WS is a potential bargaining chip) away games.

So we have "the new franchise" with a foot in each place, splitting games, and wearing different jumpers depending on where the "home game" is. So much for giving the good people of the west a team of their own.

These stories show just how malleable the AFL might ultimately be when determining the final make up of how "the new franchise" might run. Basically, anything and everything is possible - but if some of the ideas wanted by the ACT get up, then the risk is it will satisfy no-one.

The reason arrangements such as the Hawks in Tassie and Dogs in Darwin work is that there are enough readily accessible away games in their home town for fans to get to. I'm not sure, but I think Melbourne based members of the Hawks can go to some away games in Melbourne for free to compensate for the lost home games. Not sure what the Dogs do for the Darwin game.
But even if their members don't get compensated, it is only $20 for a walk up ticket at the G, tickets for which would be readily available for all bar the biggest blockbuster games.

If "the new franchise" gives up three, four, five (or in the ACT's wildest dreams, six home games), then the new AFL product on offer in Sydney is already compromised.

If nothing else, it is interesting to see stories such as this cause arguments to swing around wildly. Not too long ago, WS residents couldn't be bothered to go cross town to watch the game at the SCG. According to some, those same immovables are now going to be happy to travel 3 hours to Manuka to watch games.

Harking back to a former successful AFL promo, "I'd like to see that!"

I also suspect that a mixture of home and away games played in Canberrra might be the way forward for the team.

If the new team has any basis in Canberra I will take out a membership. I can't expect that I will make it to too many of the games between all the travel up to Sydney and interstate to watch the Swans. However, I'd like to do my bit to support the expansion.

[jono2707]

[
Does anyone agree with me that this new franchise is the only realistic way to get significantly broader interest across Sydney for AFL football? Especially whilst we are never bottoming out then topping up with exciting players like Nic Natanui. Not to mention our less-than-exciting style.

I believe it is the only way to get more people interested across Sydney, leading to a doubling of TV ratings and other KPIs in 5 years.[/QUOTE]

And where will all of these people magically appear from? The Swans are well down the pecking order here in Sydney after league, union and even soccer - he reality is that this is not an AFL town. Most people in Sydney aren't all that fussed about AFL so I really can't see how another team will spark that much interest.

This is a league town and will always be so - try as it may the NRL will never be able to kill itself off. The Swans have filled a niche here and the AFL is really misguided if it thinks AFL will ever be number #1 here.

A West Sydney team will be a mistake and will hurt all Sydney fans in the long run.

[connolly]

I also suspect that a mixture of home and away games played in Canberrra might be the way forward for the team.

If the new team has any basis in Canberra I will take out a membership. I can't expect that I will make it to too many of the games between all the travel up to Sydney and interstate to watch the Swans. However, I'd like to do my bit to support the expansion.

Buy a Kangas memebership ticket. They are on the hop. The Anywhere and Everyone West of Bondi frolic wont happen. Andy will have have his hands full rescuing Port Power. So the scenario apparently is this. The second team in an AFL mad city is going under financially despite on field success and a very strong history and ethos. The AFL pours money into the rescue. At the same time the AFL establishs a second team in a non-AFL area (refuse to call it a city, sub-region or community. West of the Sydney CBD as a social entity is simply a figment of beauracrats imaginations) and pours money into it. While sponsors are fleeing sports sponsorship and the punters have the arse out of their strides. Strokes of genius.

[jono2707]

Buy a Kangas memebership ticket. They are on the hop. The Anywhere and Everyone West of Bondi frolic wont happen. Andy will have have his hands full rescuing Port Power. So the scenario apparently is this. The second team in an AFL mad city is going under financially despite on field success and a very strong history and ethos. The AFL pours money into the rescue. At the same time the AFL establishs a second team in a non-AFL area (refuse to call it a city, sub-region or community. West of the Sydney CBD as a social entity is simply a figment of beauracrats imaginations) and pours money into it. While sponsors are fleeing sports sponsorship and the punters have the arse out of their strides. Strokes of genius.

Hear hear well put!

[SwansFan1972]

The ACT Government didn't tell AD to "suck eggs". They told him they want to come in with a bigger bang and to give meaningless pre-season games a miss in the short term. AD would be very happy - they have demonstrated a long term support for AFL football with (say) 2 home and 2 away RAMS games - but good try....

Have another read of the article. The ACT government was pretty strong in putting its views forward - and the tone hardly sounded positive or cooperative - more threatening and abusive. How happy do you think Andy D would have been at the veiled threats about other codes calling upon the ACT government's resources?

On the one hand you say the AFL won't accept the "6 home games" demands and on the other hand you're all doom and gloom based on the fact that they will!

There was nothing so absolute in my post - have another read with your glasses on this time. Obviously (as I indicated) a mix of games is up for grabs, from three to six. Like everything with "the new franchise" it is all up for grabs. What you can be sure of is that 11 home games in western sydney is a long shot, if not dead already.

Trying to have it both ways means you're the one on shakey ground.

I'm not having anything both ways - but the AFL and ACT probably will. WS is just a bargaining chip in the middle. Whatever they ultimately come up with, I hope you enjoy it. And the ground under me is pretty solid - same can't be said for your precious new franchise however.

In any case, just wait for the facts rather than beleiving everything you read.

Pardon? Facts? Which uni of hypocrisy did you graduate from again? Everything you've posted on this subject is based on a wish fest, and you lecture others about facts and what to believe.

There's quite a few things you're not sure about...

Yes - I don't live in a utopian world of certainty. Clearly living there has made you into a model of self assuredness and charm, comfortably surrounded by certainties in life such as the success of the new franchise.

[Bear]

You reckon you'll get 10,000 members to this new side in the first year.

How can you predict that that many will sign up for the club if they're not prepared to head out in inclement weather (it is a winter game after all) to watch finals football in their own backyard between two teams that had fought out a controversial regular-season draw???

You are missing the whole point of expanding the game. Because it is not their (WS) team. When will this sink in?

[Darren Thomson]

AFL need to avoid Sydney &squo;catastrophe&squo;, says Roos | The Daily Telegraph

From today's DT. Roos speculates on what impact low ladder finishes by the Swans in the lead up to West Sydney would have.

The subtext to the AFL surely is - tell the umpires department to get off our backs and give us a fair go, or you'll be putting your West Sydney money up the wall for sure (as opposed to just maybe!)

Going the orthodox path about umpire bias has achieved nothing, so Roos needed to be creative! Wonder if the message will get through!

Good thinking Roosy, I don't care how he does it, if he gets us a fair shake from the umps I will be happy, especially if HAlly gets the odd free

[Cheer Squad]

You reckon you'll get 10,000 members to this new side in the first year.

How can you predict that that many will sign up for the club if they're not prepared to head out in inclement weather (it is a winter game after all) to watch finals football in their own backyard between two teams that had fought out a controversial regular-season draw???

Try not to take Planet Bear seriously. It only encourages him.

[Vonsteinman]

Try not to take Planet Bear seriously. It only encourages him.

Yes, that is certainly beginning to "sink in"...

[connolly]

The ACT Government didn't tell AD to "suck eggs". They told him they want to come in with a bigger bang and to give meaningless pre-season games a miss in the short term. AD would be very happy - they have demonstrated a long term support for AFL football with (say) 2 home and 2 away RAMS games - but good try.

On the one hand you say the AFL won't accept the "6 home games" demands and on the other hand you're all doom and gloom based on the fact that they will!

Trying to have it both ways means you're the one on shakey ground.

In any case, just wait for the facts rather than beleiving everything you read.



There's quite a few things you're not sure about...

O dear tears well before bedtime. The exciting foray into AFL expansion has taken a tumble already. The 70 year old plus former Mayor of Blacktown and main urger for the nonsense has savaged the partners at the nations capital. Crikey a split already. This beats any record in the ALP. The flannellette mob are a charasmatic (or is it asthmatic?) bunch. Kelly retired ALP hack, Sheeds retired AFL hack and the current serving Mayor is another political hack, over the age of 70. A pommie who loves soccer to boot.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/articles/2009/06/18/1244918139052.html

[pinkemu]

O dear tears well before bedtime. The exciting foray into AFL expansion has taken a tumble already. The 70 year old plus former Mayor of Blacktown and main urger for the nonsense has savaged the partners at the nations capital. Crikey a split already. This beats any record in the ALP. The flannellette mob are a charasmatic (or is it asthmatic?) bunch. Kelly retired ALP hack, Sheeds retired AFL hack and the current serving Mayor is another political hack, over the age of 70. A pommie who loves soccer to boot.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/articles...918139052.html

He is right though. Wether you believe the WS venture will work or not, any thought of sharing it with the Capital will no doubt put off a lot of the yocals either side of the M4 giving it any attention in the first place.

It can't be flanno one week then suite and tie the next.

[Cheer Squad]

He is right though. Wether you believe the WS venture will work or not, any thought of sharing it with the Capital will no doubt put off a lot of the yocals either side of the M4 giving it any attention in the first place.

It can't be flanno one week then suite and tie the next.

It all depends on how they decide to try and brand it. The Macarthur Rams might work as a name, instead of the NSW-ACT Rams.

[pinkemu]

It all depends on how they decide to try and brand it. The Macarthur Rams might work as a name, instead of the NSW-ACT Rams.

I see your thinking but Macarthur only covers a small pocket of South western Sydney.

Maybe brand them "The Non - Victorion, South Australian, Western Australian, Northern Territory, Queensland, tasmanian and Sydney Swans Rams".