Giants fans will outnumber Swans fans

[Big Al]

I'd like to see the ratio of supporters that can name a player besides Israel Folau

If you're a member you would have put a code into the system to get the members discount. Not sure how they distinguish who non members will be supporting though.

[Big Al]

So according to your blessing, it's OK to follow other codes BUT you can't support a 2nd AFL team in Sydney?

Your comments on Sheedy and the west are without proof and the Swans have had how many years to build a supporter base?

It seems that a lot of people just don't get where the real enemy is hiding. A well run NRL is more dangerous to the the health of AFL in this city than GWS is.

[Big Al]

x2!

Anyone who believes a successful second team in Sydney is a bad thing is a big arsehat.

Anyone who thinks that boycotting their games is a good idea is Kyle Sandilands, who is both an arsehat and Kyle Sandilands.

Whilst I don't dislike those sorts of people, I like everyone else much more.

See you Saturday. Go Swans!

"arsehat" - never heard that expression before but I like it.

[Yuri H]

The 2 articles linked to in this post are from the Daily Telegraph and the Blacktown Advocate. Not surprisingly, both of these are owned by News Corp and to me they read like unashamed advertising to generate interest in the game, rather than anything resembling journalism. We know that News Corp's influence in rugby league becomes much less now that they've handed control over to an independent commision. I'd strongly suspect they anticipate this will lead to lower NRL-related revenues in the future because they can no longer influence the official NRL media messaging, scheduling, etc. So they are ramping up their support for AFL in Sydney to counter this. Hence, they REALLY need GWS and AFL in western Sydney to succeed (as does the AFL as they are reportedly investing $150M into it). With such a vested interest, I can't take much of what the articles say too seriously.

So Murdoch's dark minions support GWS? I may be one of those traitorous not-a-real-fans who actually welcomes GWS to the scene and likes the idea of multiple teams in Sydney, but ... Murdoch's shroud of evil embracing the Giants? THE RIVALRY'S ON.

[Adelaide Swan]

It seems that a lot of people just don't get where the real enemy is hiding. A well run NRL is more dangerous to the the health of AFL in this city than GWS is.

The real enemy is GWS.

Fair dinkum, I've followed this club and the game for nearly 20 years and never have I seen a set of supporters be so welcoming to a club who should be the arch enemy.

I highly doubt West Coast Eagles supporters welcomed Fremantle in 1995 or the Adelaide Crows fans welcoming Port in 1997.

[Adelaide Swan]

Anyway, I am not here to argue with you.

I am here to talk about the game on Saturday.

I urge all of us to get out there and support the boys this weekend.

Cheer Cheer the Red and the White!

[jono2707]

If the NRL entered another team into Melbourne now, I think Melbourne Storm supporters would be roughly divided into three different camps:

i) Those who are happy to have another team as they feel it will help grow NRL in Melbourne
ii) Those opposed to the new team as they feel it will diminish the fan base and resources available to the Storm
iii) Those who think the market for NRL in Melbourne is not sufficiently developed to support a 2nd team, and whilst interested in the new team, feel that that team will ultimately fail due to lack of traction in the market.

If I was a Melbourne Storm supporter in Melbourne I would fit into category 3.

Like putting a 2nd NRL team in Melbourne wouldn't be a good idea as the market is not yet ready, I feel the same here in Sydney with the AFL. I know the AFL talk a lot about money and timeframes but this is a business and they are here to make money - I wonder how long they will really give GWS if it doesn't work.

I am not wishing ill on the new team or on AFL in Sydney, and I wish it was much bigger and more popular, and I hope it will be one day. I would like to see GWS succeed without any negative impact on the Swans - I am just pessimistic about this actually happening.

But I will be there on Saturday to show the AFL who the real supporters are and who the real team in this town is - Go Swans!

[Adelaide Swan]

If the NRL entered another team into Melbourne now, I think Melbourne Storm supporters would be roughly divided into three different camps:

i) Those who are happy to have another team as they feel it will help grow NRL in Melbourne
ii) Those opposed to the new team as they feel it will diminish the fan base and resources available to the Storm
iii) Those who think the market for NRL in Melbourne is not sufficiently developed to support a 2nd team, and whilst interested in the new team, feel that that team will ultimately fail due to lack of traction in the market.

If I was a Melbourne Storm supporter in Melbourne I would fit into category 3.

Like putting a 2nd NRL team in Melbourne wouldn't be a good idea as the market is not yet ready, I feel the same here in Sydney with the AFL. I know the AFL talk a lot about money and timeframes but this is a business and they are here to make money - I wonder how long they will really give GWS if it doesn't work.

I am not wishing ill on the new team or on AFL in Sydney, and I wish it was much bigger and more popular, and I hope it will be one day. I would like to see GWS succeed without any negative impact on the Swans - I am just pessimistic about this actually happening.

But I will be there on Saturday to show the AFL who the real supporters are and who the real team in this town is - Go Swans!

Very well said Jono.

Cheer Cheer the Red and the White.

[DamY]

It seems that a lot of people just don't get where the real enemy is hiding. A well run NRL is more dangerous to the the health of AFL in this city than GWS is.

+1

[Cheer Squad]

I I would like to see GWS succeed without any negative impact on the Swans - I am just pessimistic about this actually happening.

It would not surprise me if GWS ends up having more members based in Sydney than the Swans.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I wonder if the Sydney market proves too hot for the Giants, whether they might see Canberra as a PlanB? Or would the AFL not think that negatively?

[jono2707]

I wonder if the Sydney market proves too hot for the Giants, whether they might see Canberra as a PlanB? Or would the AFL not think that negatively?

To me they are already looking at Canberra as a Plan B - that's why they're playing some games down there.

And CS - well and good if GWS' members outnumber ours in a few years - as long as our membership is up on current numbers as well. It will be interesting to see what happens there...

[dimelb]

The real enemy is GWS.

Fair dinkum, I've followed this club and the game for nearly 20 years and never have I seen a set of supporters be so welcoming to a club who should be the arch enemy.

I highly doubt West Coast Eagles supporters welcomed Fremantle in 1995 or the Adelaide Crows fans welcoming Port in 1997.

Sure GWS is the enemy, but I hope we go about it in the right spirit. I wouldn't want to see the new setup here in the way some Eagles supporters see theirs (the Freo lot seem a bit more civilised), and I certainly don't want to see the poisonous stuff that goes on between Port and the Crows.
Incidentally, our cheer squad is giving GWS a hand with their first banner - that's the sort of spirit I mean.

[Big Al]

If the NRL entered another team into Melbourne now, I think Melbourne Storm supporters would be roughly divided into three different camps:

i) Those who are happy to have another team as they feel it will help grow NRL in Melbourne
ii) Those opposed to the new team as they feel it will diminish the fan base and resources available to the Storm
iii) Those who think the market for NRL in Melbourne is not sufficiently developed to support a 2nd team, and whilst interested in the new team, feel that that team will ultimately fail due to lack of traction in the market.

If I was a Melbourne Storm supporter in Melbourne I would fit into category 3.

Like putting a 2nd NRL team in Melbourne wouldn't be a good idea as the market is not yet ready, I feel the same here in Sydney with the AFL. I know the AFL talk a lot about money and timeframes but this is a business and they are here to make money - I wonder how long they will really give GWS if it doesn't work.

I am not wishing ill on the new team or on AFL in Sydney, and I wish it was much bigger and more popular, and I hope it will be one day. I would like to see GWS succeed without any negative impact on the Swans - I am just pessimistic about this actually happening.

But I will be there on Saturday to show the AFL who the real supporters are and who the real team in this town is - Go Swans!

While I disagree with you this is well thought out post and I understand where you're coming from.

[Big Al]

Sure GWS is the enemy, but I hope we go about it in the right spirit. I wouldn't want to see the new setup here in the way some Eagles supporters see theirs (the Freo lot seem a bit more civilised), and I certainly don't want to see the poisonous stuff that goes on between Port and the Crows.
Incidentally, our cheer squad is giving GWS a hand with their first banner - that's the sort of spirit I mean.

We need a lot more of this kind of spirit. We want our great game to prosper in Sydney and if it does that, both clubs will be the beneficiary. It boggles the mind that people who want GWS to fail just don't get that the failure will hurt the game in NSW and guess who that will hurt as a result.

Quote: "Be careful what you wish for, it might come true"

I'm a Swans fan and an AFL fan. It's my fervent belief that GWS will be an important ally against the real enemy of the AFL in Sydney and that is a well run NRL competition. The independent commission has already made some great decisions so the AFL, GWS and the Swans need to get it right otherwise they'll be steam rolled by the NRL.