Giants fans will outnumber Swans fans

[Bas]

Big effort Wolfy to get to Rooty Hill last week by public transport.

Andrew Demetriou has said On the Couch that he expects a crowd of 30 to 35,000. Hopefully 35 to 40,000. Made up mostly of Swans supporters.

[jono2707]

Who really cares who is a 'true supporter' and who isn't??? We in Sydney live in a place where AFL occupies a very small niche of a host of other sport, entertainment and cultural options. For many people AFL simply 'isn't in the blood' and following the Swans is one of a number of things that people can elect to spend their time and money on. Generally speaking it seems that Sydney people are more difficult to get to live sporting events en masse than for people in Melbourne. Sydney is also quite a spread out place where the transport isn't always easy to cope with for those not on a main artery. Add to that the weather, which hasn't been great in the last few months, and you have a host of ready-made excuses for those people who won't be in attendance on Saturday night.

I consider myself a good fan of the Swans and an advocate of AFL, and a bit of a student of the game, but I also understand that plenty of people just aren't that into it.

I look forward to being there in a sea of Red and White and look forward to us giving GWS a proper footy lesson.....

[Cheer Squad]

...Add to that the weather, which hasn't been great in the last few months, and you have a host of ready-made excuses for those people who won't be in attendance on Saturday night...

At this stage, Saturday's forecast is for sunny weather.

That's good for us, as we don't exactly like playing in wet weather.

It's also helps GWS in their effort to attract a big crowd.

[jono2707]

At this stage, Saturday's forecast is for sunny weather.

That's good for us, as we don't exactly like playing in wet weather.

It's also helps GWS in their effort to attract a big crowd.

I certainly hope its fine weather so we can rack up as big a score as possible - 2 matches against GWS and we have to boost our percentage as much as possible in each game.

Provided the weather stays fine this week that will assist with ticket sales...

[Bas]

Provided the weather stays fine this week that will assist with ticket sales...

In Sydney, people will turn up for the inaugural match of anything. So if the weather is good, maybe 40K.

We certainly need percentage boosts but so will the other teams that play them.

[Daisi]

I appreciate people responding to my post and I understand that many don't feel I am a genuine supporter of
the Swans because I wont go to Homebush.

That's fine, we all support the team in our own way.

One thing you don't consider is that I have to go to the footy by myself. I wont go to Homebush alone, but I
am quite happy to travel to the SCG alone. I have done that on several occasions, I feel safe and secure and
have no problems.

I don't feel the same at Homebush. I really dislike the feel of the place, the travel and the cost.

I'm not the only person who feels that way. I can't get any of my footy supporting friends to go to Homebush either

Anyway, it's just another point of view. I appreciate the comments...

[aardvark]

I appreciate people responding to my post and I understand that many don't feel I am a genuine supporter of
the Swans because I wont go to Homebush.

That's fine, we all support the team in our own way.

One thing you don't consider is that I have to go to the footy by myself. I wont go to Homebush alone, but I
am quite happy to travel to the SCG alone. I have done that on several occasions, I feel safe and secure and
have no problems.

I don't feel the same at Homebush. I really dislike the feel of the place, the travel and the cost.

I'm not the only person who feels that way. I can't get any of my footy supporting friends to go to Homebush either

Anyway, it's just another point of view. I appreciate the comments...

Wow....So Daisi is it true you are the secret head of the "Sydney Lobby Illuminati"? Do you have a secret handshake or wear red carnations in your lapels? Where can I join up, is there an initiation ceremony?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Perhaps Cheer Squad & jono might consider the personal message option

[jono2707]

Perhaps Cheer Squad & jono might consider the personal message option

Why?

[Dosser]

Who really cares who is a 'true supporter' and who isn't??? We in Sydney live in a place where AFL occupies a very small niche of a host of other sport, entertainment and cultural options. For many people AFL simply 'isn't in the blood' and following the Swans is one of a number of things that people can elect to spend their time and money on. Generally speaking it seems that Sydney people are more difficult to get to live sporting events en masse than for people in Melbourne. Sydney is also quite a spread out place where the transport isn't always easy to cope with for those not on a main artery. Add to that the weather, which hasn't been great in the last few months, and you have a host of ready-made excuses for those people who won't be in attendance on Saturday night.

I consider myself a good fan of the Swans and an advocate of AFL, and a bit of a student of the game, but I also understand that plenty of people just aren't that into it.

I look forward to being there in a sea of Red and White and look forward to us giving GWS a proper footy lesson.....

One of the situations that you have up in Sydney that we dont have down here is the ability to pick and choose which games to attend. You know that half of our games are played in your 'backyard' (SCG or Homebush) anyway, so if you skip one there is probably another in a week or so. Unfortunately, down here we dont have that luxury as we get about 5 games a year in Melbourne. This means that the long trip to Geelong when we play there is almost mandatory for us as we understand that beggars cant be choosers.

This is not a criticism at all of Sydney-based supporters (I used to be one, too) it is just that in that way you can be a bit spoiled for choice.

[erica]

I'm thrilled that we get 12 Swans games in Sydney this year. An extra game at the SCG is a bonus to me! (even if the games are at some odd times) Happy days start next Saturday and I am so excited.

[Danzar]

He's here because when its the Swans home game, i suspect he'll be in a Swans cap whilst sitting in the Swans members area.

As it were I think a lot of Swans fans will be on board both sides. I'm not comfortable with that myself but we've all just got to respect it.

I've got a big respect for any Swans member that has taken out a GWS membership. It shows dedication that goes beyond the club. For GWS (and any club) success is heavily dependant on members and bums on seats - we all know this.

I missed getting a foundation membership last year, but there are $60 'supporters' membership on offer at GWS and I'll be taking out one of those and will continue to do so until they are well established in the Sydney market.

I don't see anything wrong with turning up to the occasional GWS home game wearing a GWS cap. For me, it would represent supporting the birth of a new AFL club in Sydney.

This is huge when put into perspective - how close did the Swans experiment come to complete failure? Exactly two decades ago it nearly folded. Now, we not only have a successful, respected club, we also have a vibrant AFL market in Sydney that's on the eve of producing, against all odds, its second team come Saturday 24 March 2012.

That club is worth at least a basic level of support for that simple reason.

[jono2707]

This is not a criticism at all of Sydney-based supporters (I used to be one, too) it is just that in that way you can be a bit spoiled for choice.

I agree that in Sydney we are spoilt for choice for Swans games which can affect attendance at times. On the other hand when I get to Melbourne I always try to take in another game - in 2010 I went down for the Carlton Swans game on the Sunday, and so decided to go to the Collingwood - St Kilda game at the MCG on the Saturday. The attendance was 80-odd thousand people and although the game ended up being a bit one-sided in favour of that awful Collingwood mob, the atmosphere was superb. You people in Melbourne should never forget how lucky you are to have the MCG - one of the greatest stadiums in the world.....

[Dosser]

I agree that in Sydney we are spoilt for choice for Swans games which can affect attendance at times. On the other hand when I get to Melbourne I always try to take in another game - in 2010 I went down for the Carlton Swans game on the Sunday, and so decided to go to the Collingwood - St Kilda game at the MCG on the Saturday. The attendance was 80-odd thousand people and although the game ended up being a bit one-sided in favour of that awful Collingwood mob, the atmosphere was superb. You people in Melbourne should never forget how lucky you are to have the MCG - one of the greatest stadiums in the world.....

Absolutely agree. It was one of the great things about moving down here. On the downside, all you get in the media is Collingwood, Essendon or Carlton. It turns you off reading the papers or watching the news.

[Doctor]

Hi Guys,

I'm a long term swans member, but won't go to Homebush. It's too far away, it takes too long to get there, the seats are bad and the food is too expensive. I live in the inner west.

I hate it.

Especially when I can see the game live on TV.

As for travelling from the Northside. Last time my elderly mother who lives in Manly went to Homebush- for the cricket, she got home around midnight.

She won't go there to see the swans either..

WTF??!! Homebush is pretty much IN the innerwest. Yes the food is expensive but it's expensive at the SCG too. The only legitimate complaint is the beer at Homebush (XXXX Gold), which is absolute rubbish.

I feel for your elderly mother but I would think it would be just as quick to get to Homebush via the direct bus service for major events if she is mobile enough to use public transport as it would be to the SCG.