Be warned, check first...

[Bas]

Most who put there money into GWS are doing for purely selfish reasons. So they can see more AFL. Not to really support the GWS.

There is nothing selfish about that and GWS Giants will exist whether we buy memberships or not. I can support two teams however as shown in a past thread there are many who can't grasp that concept.

Although you may be starved of Swans games in Melbourne, you are not starved of high quality AFL games. We in Sydney can at least from next year enjoy weekly games even if they will be lop sided for a year or two

That's the theory.

But I can't help thinking that if you're a Swans member who's prepared to invest in some sort of GWS membership, at some stage you're going to develop an emotional attachment to them.

You would have to be happy when they beat every other team, except the Swans. And if we lost Reid to them, and he kicked the winning goal for GWS against any team other than the Swans, I can't see how, as a GWS member, you'd be unhappy with that.

So what if you develop an emotional attachment. The talk of losing Reid to GWS on these threads has been just short of hysteria. We could lose quite a few others as well. People have little faith in the Swans to retain Reid and build a team around him.

So how would you feel if Reid left the Swans because he wanted to? And then went to another team you're supporting as a financial member?

Hypothetical hysterical question based on nothing but fear. To answer it anyway - I would love it! If he wanted to leave then why should any fan base dictate what a player does with his life. His life and future he is putting first.

I've heard Mitchell will probably be asking to go back west after his contract is up. Worry about that instead.

[BSA5]

So how would you feel if Reid left the Swans because he wanted to? And then went to another team you're supporting as a financial member?

I'd be devastated. And whether I'm supporting the team he went to financially has no bearing on that. I will want GWS to win games whether or not I buy a membership. If Reid wins them games, I'll be happy insofar as it achieves that goal. It won't make losing him any easier to swallow.

[jono2707]

There is nothing selfish about that and GWS Giants will exist whether we buy memberships or not.

Yes but for how long? The AFL is spending huge amounts of money and creating massive upheavals in a successful competition to build a product for which there is very little demand.

[Bas]

Yes but for how long? The AFL is spending huge amounts of money and creating massive upheavals in a successful competition to build a product for which there is very little demand.

I think I heard for 20 to 25 years was their commitment.

The AFL is too arrogant to pull out in the short term and when Folau starts consistently kicking 6 pointers each week, the people will come in masses to check what it's all about.

GWS is in a significantly superior position to the Swans in 1982. You know the latter history.

[Triple B]

Bas, you're not alone in this thread, but you are doing such a good job, especially post #31, I'll just sit back and leave it up to you at this stage.

[jono2707]

I think I heard for 20 to 25 years was their commitment.

The AFL is too arrogant to pull out in the short term and when Folau starts consistently kicking 6 pointers each week, the people will come in masses to check what it's all about.

GWS is in a significantly superior position to the Swans in 1982. You know the latter history.

I don't want the whole GWS venture to not succeed, but I do see it as a high risk venture that could have negative impact on the Swans. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see the masses flocking to GWS any time in the near future. I've heard the 20-25 year figure being bandied about by the AFL too - geez I'd like to be able to put up business plans at work with that sort of timeframe for a pay-off....

Anyway I'm getting a bit off-topic here.... I think the hysteria is a bit high that our players will be poached by GWS - I would hope there is a 'hands-off' directive in terms of Swans players in order to grow the game here. I hope we can enjoy Sam having an even better 2012 and not let talk of potentially losing him ruin things....

[Cheer Squad]

I'd be devastated. And whether I'm supporting the team he went to financially has no bearing on that. I will want GWS to win games whether or not I buy a membership. If Reid wins them games, I'll be happy insofar as it achieves that goal. It won't make losing him any easier to swallow.

Let me ask you a general question about being a member of different clubs.

Suppose the Swans are drawn to play Port Adelaide at the SCG on the same day as GWS are drawn to play Collingwood out at Homebush. Which game would you choose to attend, if timing or other commitments prevented you from attending both?

[AnnieH]

Let me ask you a general question about being a member of different clubs.

Suppose the Swans are drawn to play Port Adelaide at the SCG on the same day as GWS are drawn to play Collingwood out at Homebush. Which game would you choose to attend, if timing or other commitments prevented you from attending both?

Love this question!!!

Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool. Loving both of you is breaking all the rules.
Torn between two lovers ...

[Primmy]

Tape GWS and watch the Swans of course!! Priorities come in to it. And I can quite frankly admit that I have red and white retinas; same as most. But if it was a day game and an evening one, on the same day, then both.

[liz]

Let me ask you a general question about being a member of different clubs.

Suppose the Swans are drawn to play Port Adelaide at the SCG on the same day as GWS are drawn to play Collingwood out at Homebush. Which game would you choose to attend, if timing or other commitments prevented you from attending both?

It is almost certain they won't be fixtured that way. We can expect one team to be playing at home when the other is away, as happens with the SA and WA teams.

[Cheer Squad]

It is almost certain they won't be fixtured that way. We can expect one team to be playing at home when the other is away, as happens with the SA and WA teams.

What a relief.

[msb]

That's the theory.

But I can't help thinking that if you're a Swans member who's prepared to invest in some sort of GWS membership, at some stage you're going to develop an emotional attachment to them.

You would have to be happy when they beat every other team, except the Swans. And if we lost Reid to them, and he kicked the winning goal for GWS against any team other than the Swans, I can't see how, as a GWS member, you'd be unhappy with that.

Wow, I wonder if crows and port supporters think like that as cross town rivals, or freo and eagles? I think not, personally though I really hope it can work for them because they will be up against it and it is a huge gamble by the AFL but on the other hand I hope we beat GWS to a pulp when we play them.

[Cheer Squad]

Wow, I wonder if crows and port supporters think like that as cross town rivals, or freo and eagles? I think not, personally though I really hope it can work for them because they will be up against it and it is a huge gamble by the AFL but on the other hand I hope we beat GWS to a pulp when we play them.

If they hold memberships for both clubs, they probably do.

[AnnieH]

It is almost certain they won't be fixtured that way. We can expect one team to be playing at home when the other is away, as happens with the SA and WA teams.

Both teams in those respective States share one stadium.
We won't be sharing an oval with the bogans, so there's no reason why they couldn't put two games on at the same time in Sydney.
Separate the men from the boys.

[ugg]

For broadcast reasons alone, they won't even schedule two matches (non Vic of course) from the one state at the same time. Anyway, even if it were hypothetically were to happen I still fail to see the point of the question. Maybe some fans will rank one team higher than the other, some may elect to go to a Swans game this time and then the Giants the next time a clash happens. Doesn't mean they can't be members/supporters of both teams.