Team GWS

[Cheer Squad]

Each time it is mentioned it is discussed ad nauseum.

So far we've only been discussing the concept of the second Sydney team.

Now we've actually got a bit of meat on the bones with the unveiling of all the draft concessions this week. Obviously this has got real implications for us and the rest of competition.

But, we still don't really know who we're up against, because the second Sydney team still doesn't have a name, or brand. And that's the most important thing in determining whether the new club will work, and what sort of effect (if any) it's going to have on us. Will the AFL's target market identify with the new club's brand?

That's what fascinates me about this whole thing. The people who run the AFL have shown, time and again, how little they really know or understand about the Sydney market. Who could forget Demetriou's clumsy outburst against the style of football we played the very year we won the flag?

I can only imagine the AFL is spending a huge amount of time and money on getting the brand right, because the new club will certainly fail if they haven't.

[Wardy]

So far we've only been discussing the concept of the second Sydney team.

Now we've actually got a bit of meat on the bones with the unveiling of all the draft concessions this week. Obviously this has got real implications for us and the rest of competition.

But, we still don't really know who we're up against, because the second Sydney team still doesn't have a name, or brand. And that's the most important thing in determining whether the new club will work, and what sort of effect (if any) it's going to have on us. Will the AFL's target market identify with the new club's brand?

That's what fascinates me about this whole thing. The people who run the AFL have shown, time and again, how little they really know or understand about the Sydney market. Who could forget Demetriou's clumsy outburst against the style of football we played the very year we won the flag?

I can only imagine the AFL is spending a huge amount of time and money on getting the brand right, because the new club will certainly fail if they haven't.

I think that the AFL are so hell bent on not having a repeat of what happened when the Swans came to Sydney that they will dot every "i" and cross every "t" - the fact is its coming and it wont go away anytime soon - so we just have to wait and see what transpires.

[floppinab]

Be very interested to see how you go Cher. Please post any details of what happens here.

Links to Ticketmaster are reminiscent of Norths attempts of getting a foothold here a few years ago. We all know how that turned out.............

that they will dot every "i" and cross every "t"

Obtaining email addresses by very dubious means is not a good start I would've thought.

My own dealings with the local AFL over the years as now coming up to a 10 year involvement in junior and senior footy have been less than exlemplary. By and large the most savvy and hardest working heads are stuck at ground level and paid a pittance and as a result don't last long and those at the top are grossly overpaid and have no general idea. Given that, my impression in this venture is some serious concern given a few not so impressive individuals at Moore Park are heavily involved.

[AnnieH]

But, we still don't really know who we're up against, because the second Sydney team still doesn't have a name, or brand.

They're called the Blacktown Bogans and their brand is generic.

[Wardy]

Be very interested to see how you go Cher. Please post any details of what happens here.

Links to Ticketmaster are reminiscent of Norths attempts of getting a foothold here a few years ago. We all know how that turned out.............



Obtaining email addresses by very dubious means is not a good start I would've thought.

My own dealings with the local AFL over the years as now coming up to a 10 year involvement in junior and senior footy have been less than exlemplary. By and large the most savvy and hardest working heads are stuck at ground level and paid a pittance and as a result don't last long and those at the top are grossly overpaid and have no general idea. Given that, my impression in this venture is some serious concern given a few not so impressive individuals at Moore Park are heavily involved.

North was already an established club and the fans and team didnt want to move so there was opposition more from Melbourne than here. The GWS on the other hand is starting from scratch - Its a different ball game. Despite what we think of the AFL, they will be hell bent on making this work whether we like it or not.

[floppinab]

North was already an established club and the fans and team didnt want to move so there was opposition more from Melbourne than here. The GWS on the other hand is starting from scratch - Its a different ball game. Despite what we think of the AFL, they will be hell bent on making this work whether we like it or not.

All true Wardy, I was referring more to a parallel to the frurore that blew up when the Swans membership was contacted by North after they got their details from....... Ticketek I think it was then, rather than comparing generally what North was up against compared to GWS today.

[Wardy]

All true Wardy, I was referring more to a parallel to the frurore that blew up when the Swans membership was contacted by North after they got their details from....... Ticketek I think it was then, rather than comparing generally what North was up against compared to GWS today.

Fair enough - oh well lets see what happens - if I get another email - I guess all I have to do is delete - or send them a not so nice reply !!!

[Cheer Squad]

Despite what we think of the AFL, they will be hell bent on making this work whether we like it or not.

Yes, and that's what worries me...it might be at our expense.

[Wardy]

Yes, and that's what worries me...it might be at our expense.

Did you not read an earlier post??? I said that the AFL want to have 2 sides in Australia's largest city and populated state YES 2!!!- so do you honestly believe that they will let the Swans go down the tube?? they cant afford too - because if they did, then the AFL would have failed.

What the AFL are determined not to do though is make the same mistakes that the VFL made when Sydney first came here. It was a mess right from the start, corporate governence wasn't even entertained back then so they were left to their own devices. Now business practices have changed dramatically, audit requirements & business laws amoungst other things need to be adhered too. It is after all a business.

If you want to use the motorvehicle/supermarket analogy, its like having the Footy version of IGA (The Datsun 200B's) coming into a suburb that has previously only been serviced by Franklins (the Ford Cortina's) (I refuse to use the other two major supermarket players! ) its competition!!

The Swans Club also has to take the Bull by the horns and lift its game too - they have become complacent in some ways. Taking for granted the members loyalty for one and this year as we all know that back fired on them big time. They have been the lone team here for over 25 years - now its time for the Swans to step up and prove that they are the number one team in Sydney. So get cracking Swans!!!

[Cheer Squad]

Did you not read an earlier post??? I said that the AFL want to have 2 sides in Australia's largest city and populated state YES 2!!!- so do you honestly believe that they will let the Swans go down the tube?? they cant afford too - because if they did, then the AFL would have failed.

I honestly believe that Team GWS will be the AFL's baby in a way that we never were...the fact that Swans members are receiving marketing material from Team GWS indicates they're nibbling around the edges of our membership base, perhaps probing for weaknesses...yes, the club certainly shot itself in the foot this year with the membership changes...it will be interesting to see how they respond next year.

[ScottH]

I received a reply from team gws.

Dear Scott,

Thank you for your email regarding the Team GWS email.

Your name appeared on the ?Barry Hall Hall? database, which was an on-line AFL education initiative in NSW of which you must have signed up for ? and as such, a general email was sent out from AFLNSW outlining the progress of Team GWS.

We appreciate your advice regarding your support status for the Swans and will certainly remove your name from the database to avoid future correspondence regarding Team GWS ? and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Should you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to call me on (03) 9643 1947.

Yours sincerely,

Shaun Welch
AFL

Seems it is from the AFL.

[Wardy]

I received a reply from team gws.



Seems it is from the AFL.

Well done 86 - problem solved!!!

[AnnieH]

Barry Hall Hall?????

That's a bit rich using our details from there.

(Not that I got anything from them anyway.)

[Big Al]

I would have no issue with a second team in Sydney if the Swans were a financial powerhouse and have more members than they can accomodate. Sadly none of those things are true so it is my opinion that it's too early for a second team.

[ScottH]

Barry Hall Hall?????

That's a bit rich using our details from there.

(Not that I got anything from them anyway.)

I guess when the creditors moved in after Barry went bust, they must've sold everything in the Hall.