Jarrad's plea to ALL Swans Fan.

[Doctor]

This is wear it gets silly.

The people from the West can travel over an hour each fortnight to the SCG with no complaints. Peeps from as far as Wollongong, Blue Mountains and Bundeena. Without a word of complaint.

But then there are some of those, I can't really say minority when somebody above has said his group of 20, flat out refuse to go to Homebush a measly 3 times a year.

They complain about lack of atmosphere but that will only come with attendance.

Facilities are pretty much the same

Complaints about transport, when it's free transport anyway.

Our captain wants us all there, so they should give up their grievances for the sake of the team and do it for them.

We need to break this hoodoo and give us 10 straight wins and beat those bloody pies

Just be aware that if we loose these peeps that refuse to go to ANZ but still call themselves "supporters" should be regretting their decision to choose NOT to support their boys.

As what it all comes down to is they can not hear you cheering them on or screaming at them from behind a TV set in a Pub In Sydney.

So do it for the boys, just this once, they may even surprised and enjoy themselves at a 70,000 plus crowded game

Hear hear!!

[Mrs Shaw]

Hear hear!!

Thanks Doc.

[Dirtyburt]

This is wear it gets silly.

The people from the West can travel over an hour each fortnight to the SCG with no complaints. Peeps from as far as Wollongong, Blue Mountains and Bundeena. Without a word of complaint.

But then there are some of those, I can't really say minority when somebody above has said his group of 20, flat out refuse to go to Homebush a measly 3 times a year.

They complain about lack of atmosphere but that will only come with attendance.

Facilities are pretty much the same

Complaints about transport, when it's free transport anyway.

Our captain wants us all there, so they should give up their grievances for the sake of the team and do it for them.

We need to break this hoodoo and give us 10 straight wins and beat those bloody pies

Just be aware that if we loose these peeps that refuse to go to ANZ but still call themselves "supporters" should be regretting their decision to choose NOT to support their boys.

As what it all comes down to is they can not hear you cheering them on or screaming at them from behind a TV set in a Pub In Sydney.

So do it for the boys, just this once, they may even surprised and enjoy themselves at a 70,000 plus crowded game

Never a problem to travel, in fact, as I said, i/we regularly travel interstate. I go to the football to enjoy myself. The facilities at homebush before and after are nonexistent. That along with homebush being a terrible stadium to watch afl are the reasons my group don't go, nothing to do with travel/distance.

[Big Al]

Never a problem to travel, in fact, as I said, i/we regularly travel interstate. I go to the football to enjoy myself. The facilities at homebush before and after are nonexistent. That along with homebush being a terrible stadium to watch afl are the reasons my group don't go, nothing to do with travel/distance.

Spot on. In fact the travel for me is slightly easier and the Parking better at ANZ. Once you leave the parking station though the place goes down hill. If only they had built an MCG style ground instead of the abomination they actually built my opinion of the place would be markedly different.

[Cheer Squad]

This is wear it gets silly.

The people from the West can travel over an hour each fortnight to the SCG with no complaints. Peeps from as far as Wollongong, Blue Mountains and Bundeena. Without a word of complaint.

But then there are some of those, I can't really say minority when somebody above has said his group of 20, flat out refuse to go to Homebush a measly 3 times a year.

They complain about lack of atmosphere but that will only come with attendance.

Facilities are pretty much the same

Complaints about transport, when it's free transport anyway.

Our captain wants us all there, so they should give up their grievances for the sake of the team and do it for them.

We need to break this hoodoo and give us 10 straight wins and beat those bloody pies

Just be aware that if we loose these peeps that refuse to go to ANZ but still call themselves "supporters" should be regretting their decision to choose NOT to support their boys.

As what it all comes down to is they can not hear you cheering them on or screaming at them from behind a TV set in a Pub In Sydney.

So do it for the boys, just this once, they may even surprised and enjoy themselves at a 70,000 plus crowded game

+ 1

Those who choose to put dislike of a stadium's design, or other petty grievances above attending and supporting the team, are being petulant, to say the least.

[Danzar]

The facilities at homebush before and after are nonexistent. That along with homebush being a terrible stadium to watch afl are the reasons my group don't go, nothing to do with travel/distance.

Homebush has two sets of goal posts and a large enough patch of grass to field two first grade footy teams. You have a seat to sit in, a train, bus or car to get you to that seat and back.

Don't like the food - eat beforehand. Don't like the atmosphere - show up, make one and remember to shout and shout loud. Don't like the beer prices - drink one beer less than you would normally. That's a dollar off five beers right there.

Don't like Collingwood supporters? Consider one thing - a Pies fan would happily sit on a milk crate in the middle of a medium strip on a highway and watch their team play if it came to that.

And remember the OP - it says put aside your normal aversion to Homebush and turn up to this important game. It didn't ask for your opinion on the ground, we've all heard it before and will no doubt hear it all again next year.

Anyways, get on it! I'll be there in spirit - carn Swans!

[royboy42]

Cheerie, I always respect your ferocious devotion to the swans, and I have no doubt you would walk thru a fire for them.

But there are supporters, just as interested, but who do not have the team as their be all and end all. They are no less loyal, maybe have other life priorities.

So to call them petulant and call their life choices petty is a tiny bit OTT.
Go Swans!

[Mrs Shaw]

+ 1

Those who choose to put dislike of a stadium's design, or other petty grievances above attending and supporting the team, are being petulant, to say the least.

Exactly.

[Mrs Shaw]

Homebush has two sets of goal posts and a large enough patch of grass to field two first grade footy teams. You have a seat to sit in, a train, bus or car to get you to that seat and back.

Don't like the food - eat beforehand. Don't like the atmosphere - show up, make one and remember to shout and shout loud. Don't like the beer prices - drink one beer less than you would normally. That's a dollar off five beers right there.

Don't like Collingwood supporters? Consider one thing - a Pies fan would happily sit on a milk crate in the middle of a medium strip on a highway and watch their team play if it came to that.

And remember the OP - it says put aside your normal aversion to Homebush and turn up to this important game. It didn't ask for your opinion on the ground, we've all heard it before and will no doubt hear it all again next year.

Anyways, get on it! I'll be there in spirit - carn Swans!

So right Danoz, they just need to put it all aside for the sake of SUPPORTING their team.

I don't hear the Sans saying, oh I'm not gonna turn up and play today because there's a big hole in the SCG and lots of wind down that end. Or there's just not enough fans out there today.

Nope they keep battling on and have been battlers for many many years now.

[Mrs Shaw]

Cheerie, I always respect your ferocious devotion to the swans, and I have no doubt you would walk thru a fire for them.

But there are supporters, just as interested, but who do not have the team as their be all and end all. They are no less loyal, maybe have other life priorities.

So to call them petulant and call their life choices petty is a tiny bit OTT.
Go Swans!

Other life priorities - fair enough.
But if it simply case of lack of atmosphere or local facilities, travel, parking etc. They should bet these minor details aside for such an important game.

[Lucky Knickers]

I don't understand rating a venue over the team and deciding not to go to a game if it is in my city.
The moment I get off the bus and walk up to the ground I see the Swans match day stuff the club has going and my fellow red and white-rs and my heart beats a little faster, the smile widens across my face and I get that excited nervous, butterfly feeling. Game day! WOO HOO!
Out come the team for their warm up, up goes the banner, there's Cyggy and here is the club song! I'm watching the team I love play the best game in the world IMHO.
Those little annoyances at ANZ; watery beer, poor surface, poor attendance, poor stadium surrounds, just don't factor and fade completely into the background.
Been there at ANZ when there's 19k for a final and it's pouring rain, cold and windy and when there's 72k and we are battling the Pies. Each and every time I'm as energised, enamoured, engaged and delighted to be there at ANZ as I have been at the Gabba, Blundstone, Manuka, Subi, AAMI, Metricon, MCG, Etihad, Optus, BOP and the SCG. All stadiums have positives and negatives.
For me, the joy of being there to support the Swans onwards to victory, far outweighs any of the imperfections of the venue.

[Swansongster]

Never a problem to travel, in fact, as I said, i/we regularly travel interstate. I go to the football to enjoy myself. The facilities at homebush before and after are nonexistent. That along with homebush being a terrible stadium to watch afl are the reasons my group don't go, nothing to do with travel/distance.

I likeyour posts DB but can't agree with you on this one. IMHO Olympic Park has great aesthetics in the precinct, a host of entertainment options before and after the game (right next to the stadium), a fantastic variety of food on offer (outside the stadium), excellent public transport access and an awesome atmosphere when there is a big crowd in. The SCG only has the last of these features.

[Cheer Squad]

So right Danoz, they just need to put it all aside for the sake of SUPPORTING their team.

I don't hear the Sans saying, oh I'm not gonna turn up and play today because there's a big hole in the SCG and lots of wind down that end. Or there's just not enough fans out there today.

Nope they keep battling on and have been battlers for many many years now.

We went through all this rubbish about Homebush just before the EF against Carlton in 2010. Remember? And that game ended up having the most brilliant atmosphere you could imagine with about 40,000 in attendance.

Can you imagine what it would be like to win on Saturday night with 60,000 in attendance? How could you call yourself a Swans fan and not want to be part of that?

[Dirtyburt]

For me, the joy of being there to support the Swans onwards to victory, far outweighs any of the imperfections of the venue

That is great, I can see how some people think that way. I just don't, I go to the footy to enjoy myself, homebush is a venue I don't enjoy, so I generally don't go, nor do a number of other swans fans.

That is all, nothing more, no sinister plan to demoralize.

[Swansongster]

I respect anybody's decision to stay at home and don't necessarily believe that those who do so are any less passionate than those who don't but, seriously, complaining about Homebush is just wrong.

Yes, the SCG is our home but some of you Homebush haters would never have seen a game in the not-so-olden days. When I was teenager, we used to have to catch the train to places like Kardinia Park, Victoria Park, Western Oval, Arden Street etc. to see the boys in red and white Some of those grounds were cold, wet, dilapidated and full of seriously hostile home fans but it was still great to go and see the Bloods play. The pies were cold and the drinks were hot. Standing room only. Occasionally we won to boot.

Going to see a winning team at a large modern venue is a no-brainer. Harden up.