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Time will tell but I wonder if they will ever have the same intense rivalry of say, Port and Crows, or Freo and WCoast. I'm sure they, media etc., will try to manufacture something much as was done with NRL's Origin. That would make it good for ratings but I'm not sure it would not exist naturally. Those of us with a love of Aussie Rules would just appreciate the extra game, the extra coverage etc. Hope the AFL has to courage to keep moving with this.
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I wasn't around in 1982 when NRL Origin for formulated, but it seems to me that in the present day the rivalry is huge. I think that while the Swans/GWS rivalry will be pumped up by media in the begining, it won't take long for it to live up to the hype. Someone will get knocked out, or finals will be on the line, or fans will go feral bragging about it (I honestly think Fremantle calls the year good if they finish the year with only 2 wins - both over West Coast).
Like a good souffl?, it just needs time to rise.10100111001 ;-)Comment
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i think it will only help having West sydney
it will make kids think I have two possibilities to stay in sydney
it will strengthen the numbers and the standard of the syd comp
good article with Sheedy
Tigers-Dons the blueprint for Sydney - RFNews - realfooty.com.au"be tough, only when it gets tough"
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Best wishes to GWS, but that said just another team to dislike.
Hmmm going to have some great battles of the "bogan" fans.. Port vs GWS, Collingwood vs GWS.
Premiers 09,18,33,05
"You Irish Twit", Quote attributed to a RWO member who shall remain nameless.Comment
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Yeah, this is probably me as well. I like the idea of a second Sydney team and really hope it works. But as far as picking them as a second team, it would depend on a lot of deep and meaningful sporting factors ... their colours, the name ... um ... like that. If they go anywhere near purple or maroon, or pick a lame name like Power or Storm or some other singular market-tested thing or are a bunch of lemmings and choose a name of a North American animal, I'll hate them.Comment
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That's what I do already...That said, I reckon that those of us who've said we want an extra "footy fix" should probably start up an RWO group next year to pick a SFL team to follow and get along to their games on the weeks that the Swans aren't playing at home! Unless there already is such a thing!
The fact that under 10% of respondants to that poll are looking at any significant investment in this startup company is quite concerning. In short they will need to find "new" fans. Well, it's taken over 20 years for us to get enough real fans to be viable and most Swans fans would have had a disposition towards the games anyway.
Given that we're not for changing how long will it take for them to their base to a sustainable level?
This notion of "Casual Fans" and "Neutral Supporters" is an idiotic one. You are either in or you aint. For this to have any chance of success they will need a hard-core full-paying support within 5 - 10 years. Just my opinion of course but I can't see it happening.
Don't forget, we haven't seen the NRL fightback yet. Companies like News Ltd aren't in the habit of taking losing market share lying down.....Last edited by Mug Punter; 15 November 2009, 08:41 PM.Comment
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Because Swans supportes make up the majority of AFL fans in Sydney at the moment.
What the AFL are hoping is that a fair % of Swans fans will buy a GSW ST so they can see AFL every week. Some (less than 10%) may but most will watch a game they really want to on Foxtel or go to the pub rather than pay their hard-earned on a plastic team.
Think the Swans know, after all their battles, that their fans won't turn so that aint an issue though the corporate dollar may be. In a way they are now a protected species anyway with a second team....
Think it's pretty clear, GWS will need to build their own supporter base. Even with the advantages of being first the Swans only just have a viable support now after nearly 30 years.
I voted in the "won't watch, don't care" category and it is really how I feel. Don't actively want them to fail but couldn't care if they do. EXCEPT, if they do fail it will be $200M down the gurgler that ould have been better invested elsewhere.
Gotta say though, geez it's going to be fun watching this circus unfold.
Being the cynical b@stard I am obviously am I am clearly in a no-lose situation here
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I think I do want them to succeed. Everything I've seen and read suggests the AFL has done their homework on what went right with the Swans and the Bears and why what went wrong did go wrong. The AFL is prepared to back this club for 20 years, which is long enough to draw a supporter base from the Western Suburbs without really impinging on the Swans brand.
Compare that to the Melbourne Storm, which are making multi-million dollar losses every year despite playing in the last 4 Grand Finals, and the reluctance of the NRL to pour money into the franchise further. My understanding is that there is a small but growing voice suggesting a move of the Storm to the Central Coast entirely. The Club has been in existance 10 years and the support from HQ is waning. I can't see the AFL, flush with cash and vision, doing the same thing with GWS after a similar time period.10100111001 ;-)Comment
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gnomey, whatever you are on I want some of....
League SOO is right up there with Carlton-Collingwood, Man U-Liverpool, Celtic-Rangers, Real Madrid-Barca, Arsenal-Tottenham derbies. REAL rivalries bourne out of decades, generations, OVER 100 years of rivalry and sometimes hatred....
Even the WC derby is based upon traditioanl Freo-Perth derbies built for over 100 years. The SA derby is based on the fact that everyone except Port supporters hates Port Adelaide.
I vividly remember SOO 1 when Beetson landed one on the Crow. That was real but it was symbolic, the rivalry was there for almost 80 years, SOO just released it based on the fact that we had been stealing their players for the last 15 - 20 years.
That the AFL can get a plastic team that no-one asked for, with no members, no backers and no history create a MEANINGFUL rivalry and passion apart from manufactured rubbish is totally absurd. For starters there will be no-one there......Comment
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Surely if the AFL has to back this team for 20+ years it is equally unsustainable as the Storm. BTW I agree totally with your take on that. With the new Super 15 Franchise, which I think is sustainable as Melbourne has a real Rugby culture (bit like the Sydney AFL culture pre-swans actually) I can see News Ltd cutting their losses, taking the NRL relocation allowance and setting up in the Central Coast as soon as 2011 (Don't forget you heard it here first)
If enough people have your view it WILL be a success and I will be happy, as much as I can be as I don't really care, because the ONLY way it will be is if the AFL pour enormous money into grass roots football in Sydney. For mine that will be a fair trade-off.
I am just of the opinion it won't work. I think this is a massive ego trip by a meglomaniac AFL CEO who wants a "legacy". We could have the grassroots legacy for a fraction of the cost of a $200+ 20 year+ subsidisation but there is no personal glory in this.....Comment
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I wanted to vote but can't see an option that sums up my feelings.
"I live in Sydney, but will only attend when they play against the Swans, and really don't care but part of me hopes they can be sucessful and part of me hopes they fall flat, but, having said that, maybe in time they will be my second team.Red & White forever.Comment
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I ended up going with
"I live in Sydney and don't care and won't be attending games."Red & White forever.Comment
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