GWS Discussion Thread

**Bas** · 3 April 2011, 11:08 PM

Well they still are 12 months away from playing and have about 8 senior positions to fill.

"Show me the money" and they will line up to join. The recruiting of Folau is a different issue but he is a professional footballer and I'm sure will be ready to play Rd 1 next year.

Sheedy will never really coach them alone as his understudy Mark Williams will be the man for the future.

The AFL will fund GWS for the next 25 years so they won't be going away.

**Mug Punter** · 4 April 2011, 10:22 PM

Originally posted by Bas

Liz as a moderator on this forum, you really should do better than that.

My point ? Is that I have a life outside of football and still understood what Des was writing about. To put simply, that you can't compare kids on the GWS list to the Swans ressies. They have been playing and training at a superior level for years with players from the seniors list.

And they have less than 12 months to put a competitive team on the field at senior AFL level.

bas, you are clearly sold on the GWS bandwagon but as someone who lives in the real world they will be atrocious.

Yeah, they'll get the good kids but they'll get hidings for 2-3 years and then head back to Melbourne. They'll be playing in front of crowds of 5,000 muppets who will quickly get sick of being poked fun at.

Gold Coast have been years in the making, they haven't been thrown together on a corporate whim and look how tough they are going. No decent player in their right mind would swap a chance at Premiership glory for being flogged like that. The Suns also had a massive head start on revruitment and other clubs have been quickly been tying their talent to contracts past next year. Even if I was coming off contract that result and the Suns season will be a big turn off for most players with an offer on the table.

See, they only get the concessions once.....

This whole shambles is a big money play by Gonzo to get his billion dollar TV deal. Expansion could easilly blow up in his face. We got 28,000 to see that brilliant match on Sunday, how many will turn up to see a bunch of no-names get flogged by 150 points and Israel Folau being the biggest joke in Australian sport.

I cannot wait

**Auntie.Gerald** · 4 April 2011, 10:26 PM

ouch

GWS is good for sydney and the game.............just not fun for 10yrs !

**ugg** · 4 April 2011, 10:34 PM

In dangeous territory of drifting into GWS talk, but I was very surprised they didn't draft more mature age players in the rookie draft as GC did with Daniel Harris, Danny Stanley and Sam Iles. In fact they only utilised 6 of their 8 picks in that draft.

**Mug Punter** · 4 April 2011, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by ugg

In dangeous territory of drifting into GWS talk, but I was very surprised they didn't draft more mature age players in the rookie draft as GC did with Daniel Harris, Danny Stanley and Sam Iles. In fact they only utilised 6 of their 8 picks in that draft.

The whole thing has been a shambles since day one.

No-one in Sydney asked for this team, unlike the Gold Coast who have been lobbying for years. Appoint a self-absorbed publicity as coach who is showing signs oif early senility, pay MILLIONS for a bloke who cannot get a kick. Insult the existing AFL fan base (i.e. Swans fans) by their arrogant approach that shows no respect or understanding of how hard this marketplace is. I know I speak for most Swans fans I talk to when I say I will not put one dollar into this mob. So now they need new fans. All those fans that somehow the Swans have missed since 1982 and will come out of the woodwork to see Izzy make a fool out of himself.

They now have a B-grade list that cannot get even close to an AFL reserves team. How on earth can they be competitive. Wait for the uproar when they demand (and get) more concessions once they see how hard it is....

It will be absolutely hilarious and I cannot wait

**Bas** · 4 April 2011, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by Mug Punter

bas, you are clearly sold on the GWS bandwagon but as someone who lives in the real world they will be atrocious.

We got 28,000 to see that brilliant match on Sunday, how many will turn up to see a bunch of no-names get flogged by 150 points and Israel Folau being the biggest joke in Australian sport.

I cannot wait

As you live in the real world, how is GWS' entry into the Sydney market any different from the Swans in 1982? At least the market has been established.

To have TWO teams in Sydney is much better for the development of AFL in this city. Any high school economics student will tell you that a duopoly is much better for a market than a monopoly. It leads to competition as is the case between Coles and Woolies at the moment.

I have been a Swans member since 1997 and am a foundation member of GWS. I am also a an AFL full member as well. So I might know a thing or two. GWS also means more opportunity for kids playing AFL in Sydney/NSW. How is that not good?

If the Swans aren't playing in Sydney, apart from the Saturday afternoon game on the ABC, there is no other AFL content on Sydney radio. Nothing. Ten years ago we had a friday night game, saturday afternoon and night and Sunday afternoon. Haven't the Swans helped that. NOT.

Two things you have not mentioned is that for some players it is a job and they will take the money. Don't kid yourself otherwise. Second, the AFL will fund GWS for 20 years like they did with the Swans.

I think there should be much greater concerns as to why only 28,000 people turned up on Sunday. That number had nothing to do with GWS.

As far as Folau is concerned. He has the money. If the experiment works, just watch the westies flood in if GWS gets their marketing right.

**Bas** · 4 April 2011, 11:08 PM

Originally posted by Mug Punter

The whole thing has been a shambles since day one.

No-one in Sydney asked for this team, unlike the Gold Coast who have been lobbying for years. Appoint a self-absorbed publicity as coach who is showing signs oif early senility, pay MILLIONS for a bloke who cannot get a kick. Insult the existing AFL fan base (i.e. Swans fans) by their arrogant approach that shows no respect or understanding of how hard this marketplace is. I know I speak for most Swans fans I talk to when I say I will not put one dollar into this mob. So now they need new fans. All those fans that somehow the Swans have missed since 1982 and will come out of the woodwork to see Izzy make a fool out of himself.

They now have a B-grade list that cannot get even close to an AFL reserves team. How on earth can they be competitive. Wait for the uproar when they demand (and get) more concessions once they see how hard it is....

It will be absolutely hilarious and I cannot wait

Are you upset they didn't ask your permission?

GWS has a foundation membership base of about 8,500 members. I was told that by someone I know who is associated with the Club. Swans had less than 2000 in 1996. It only went up the following year and that figure was boosted because they got into the GF. The Brewongle stand up to 1996 was reserved for Swans members, There was hardly anyone there in 96.

You mention insulting the existing AFL fan base as being Swans fans. You might be surprised. The red zone at ANZ for last years magies game had hundreds of black and white jumpers. Where did they come from?

You've missed the point on why they recruited Folau. He's laughing stock today. He, like Hunt are professional athletes and they will make it. If Mike Pyke can then these two are far superior non AFL athletes to Mike.

Time will tell. GWS might get flogged in the first year or two but that will change. The AFL will make sure it does.

**Big Al** · 5 April 2011, 07:50 AM

I agree 100% with everything Bas has said on here regarding GWS. I too have bought a foundation membership and more than likely get some type of game package next year.

I do this because I like a lot of people who love AFL understand that the failure of GWS will damage the AFL in this city which in turn will damage the Swans. The only caveat I put on my support is that the AFL and GWS must ensure that all their policies are aimed at growing the code and supporter base and not cannibalize the existing support for Sydney. It will be a tough road no question and short sighted people will take great delight in the early failings but I'm heartened by the fact the AFL are in it for the long haul and when GWS becomes a success these people will look rather foolish.

**Big Al** · 5 April 2011, 07:56 AM

As for Folou he has somewhat earned his money already. Without Folou GWS would barely rate a mention in the media. Everyone knows what GWS is now.

Will he make it as an AFL player?? Really not sure but he's an elite athlete and if Pyke can make it Folou certainly can.

**Triple B** · 5 April 2011, 08:32 AM

I'm with Bas and BigAl on the GWS issue as well. They may well get flogged, but I'm very much looking forward to attending the first match next year, if only for the 'I was there' factor.

**Mug Punter** · 5 April 2011, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by Bas

Second, the AFL will fund GWS for 20 years like they did with the Swans.

Early contender for ignorant quote of the year.....

**Chilcott** · 5 April 2011, 11:42 AM

Second, the AFL will fund GWS for 20 years like they did with the Swans.

Originally posted by Mug Punter

Early contender for ignorant quote of the year.....

Ignorant. Not sure about that? More likely fact.

**jono2707** · 5 April 2011, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by Triple B

I'm with Bas and BigAl on the GWS issue as well. They may well get flogged, but I'm very much looking forward to attending the first match next year, if only for the 'I was there' factor.

It'll be kind of like slowing down to look at a really bad car crash....

**Mug Punter** · 5 April 2011, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by Chilcott

Second, the AFL will fund GWS for 20 years like they did with the Swans.

Ignorant. Not sure about that? More likely fact.

The AFL went within an inch of letting us go bust in the early 90s. If it wasn't for the likes of Willesee, Kimberley and co doing their dough for the love of the club we would not be here.

We repeatedly asked for concessions like getting a prioroty pick for the best NSW junior and never got. Even salary cap concessions were fought all the way.

I know nothing of the AFL ever giving us special funding since the inception of the club. The new owners back in the 80s even had to pay a licence fee.

Fact? I don't think so......

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