The ANZ/SCG myth

[jono2707]

If we can only draw 45k against the biggest drawing club in the comp while we're on top of the ladder I couldn't imagine we'd draw 70k to a final.

A problem, if you can call it that, with finals is that you have to go out and buy another ticket. Now that's no problem for me, but of the dozen I sit with, only 3 or 4 of us could have been bothered enough to go to the last final at Homebush in 2010 against the Blues. I reckon a number of members, who aren't as 'into' to Swans as we here on RWO are, see home finals as an optional extra - their attendance could be determined by who we are playing, the venue, ticket prices and the weather. Of our last 2x finals at Homebush, 2010 vs Carlton was a cracker of a game on a nice day with an attendance of 41,596, whilst the 2008 final vs Kangaroos was during crappy weather and only 19,127 bothered to show up (although the atmosphere was still pretty good).

I would think that our finals crowds could vary wildly this year between say 25k and 50k depending on the weather, the opposition and who we draw in the finals. Hopefully I will be over the mental scarring of Saturday night in time to get out there again....

[Dirtyburt]

A problem, if you can call it that, with finals is that you have to go out and buy another ticket. Now that's no problem for me, but of the dozen I sit with, only 3 or 4 of us could have been bothered enough to go to the last final at Homebush in 2010 against the Blues. I reckon a number of members, who aren't as 'into' to Swans as we here on RWO are, see home finals as an optional extra - their attendance could be determined by who we are playing, the venue, ticket prices and the weather. Of our last 2x finals at Homebush, 2010 vs Carlton was a cracker of a game on a nice day with an attendance of 41,596, whilst the 2008 final vs Kangaroos was during crappy weather and only 19,127 bothered to show up (although the atmosphere was still pretty good).

I would think that our finals crowds could vary wildly this year between say 25k and 50k depending on the weather, the opposition and who we draw in the finals. Hopefully I will be over the mental scarring of Saturday night in time to get out there again....

Agree, a fair number of members won't go to homebush. This will always impact on crowds out there. It is why the sydneysiders membership option was offered by the club. A survey of members clearly stated they did not want homebush games in their membership packages.

We can always hope that homebush is not available for our final and it is relocated to the scg

[Cheer Squad]

Agree, a fair number of members won't go to homebush. This will always impact on crowds out there. It is why the sydneysiders membership option was offered by the club. A survey of members clearly stated they did not want homebush games in their membership packages.

We can always hope that homebush is not available for our final and it is relocated to the scg

I certainly hope not. That would be like Geelong playing home finals at Simonds Stadium.

As for those members who did not attend the Carlton or North Melbourne finals at Homebush, you missed out on a couple of great games. With Carlton, you missed out on one of the best atmosphere games we've ever had in Sydney.

[Wardy]

I certainly hope not. That would be like Geelong playing home finals at Simonds Stadium.

As for those members who did not attend the Carlton or North Melbourne finals at Homebush, you missed out on a couple of great games. With Carlton, you missed out on one of the best atmosphere games we've ever had in Sydney.

Err how soon some forget!! the best atmosphere during finals for us were both played at the SCG!!!! The prelim final in '96 and Plugger kicked the point on full time and then the best ever - Davo's last qtr 2005 semi final against Geelong- nothing at ANZ comes close to those 2.

[Margie]

Err how soon some forget!! the best atmosphere during finals for us were both played at the SCG!!!! The prelim final in '96 and Plugger kicked the point on full time and then the best ever - Davo's last qtr 2005 semi final against Geelong- nothing at ANZ comes close to those 2.

Awesome atmostpheres. The 1996 prelim drew the remark from one commentator that if there was a roof on the SCG it would have blown off. And round 22 that same year against West Coast produced goosebumps. There was rain, sleet and the birth of the Sydney chant. The three most memorable matches for me as far as crowd atmosphere goes.

[Dirtyburt]

Err how soon some forget!! the best atmosphere during finals for us were both played at the SCG!!!! The prelim final in '96 and Plugger kicked the point on full time and then the best ever - Davo's last qtr 2005 semi final against Geelong- nothing at ANZ comes close to those 2.

Fully agree, went to all four games being discussed. Absolutely no comparison.

[Dirtyburt]

I certainly hope not. That would be like Geelong playing home finals at Simonds Stadium.

or Adelaide playing at aami, or west coast playing at subiaco, or Brisbane playing at the gabba, or port playing at aami, or freemantle playing at subiaco.

Those you mean?

[Cheer Squad]

Err how soon some forget!! the best atmosphere during finals for us were both played at the SCG!!!! The prelim final in '96 and Plugger kicked the point on full time and then the best ever - Davo's last qtr 2005 semi final against Geelong- nothing at ANZ comes close to those 2.

I think the atmosphere was more than close to the SCG finals. I've been to all the finals we've played in Sydney.

[Dirtyburt]

Mate, the north game with 19k was like a funeral, be honest.

[Cheer Squad]

or Adelaide playing at aami, or west coast playing at subiaco, or Brisbane playing at the gabba, or port playing at aami, or freemantle playing at subiaco.

Those you mean?

Or Collingwood playing at Victoria Park, or Carlton playing at Optus Oval, or Essendon playing at Windy Hill, or North Melbourne playing at Arden Street, or the Western Bulldogs playing at Whitten Oval, or Richmond playing at Punt Road, or St. Kilda playing at Moorabbin, or Hawthorn playing at Waverley Park.

[Cheer Squad]

Mate, the north game with 19k was like a funeral, be honest.

No, it was not like a funeral. The atmosphere was very good, probably because all the real diehards were there.

[Dirtyburt]

Or Collingwood playing at Victoria Park, or Carlton playing at Optus Oval, or Essendon playing at Windy Hill, or North Melbourne playing at Arden Street, or the Western Bulldogs playing at Whitten Oval, or Richmond playing at Punt Road, or St. Kilda playing at Moorabbin, or Hawthorn playing at Waverley Park.

Sure, if they were their home grounds, but they are not.

[Dirtyburt]

No, it was not like a funeral. The atmosphere was very good, probably because all the real diehards were there.

I passed the 'harden up' test that day and was allowed in. I think you need a reality check if you think 19k at an 80k stadium scattered around was a very good atmosphere. It was an embarrassment for both the swans and afl.

It would not suprise me, in the remote chance we draw them again this year, if the game is not moved from homebush.

The afl won't be keen to repeat that debacle again

[jono2707]

I'll pray that the NRL takes first dibs on Homebush come finals time and that we are 'forced' (as ludicrous as it may be) to play a final at the SCG. I would much prefer a rocking atmosphere of 30-33k people at home over a half-full (or less) Olympic stadium. I'm sure the AFL won't like it, but the Swans no doubt will regardless of what is said publicly...

My opinion, and it probably won't happen, but footy is the stuff of dreams after all.

[Cheer Squad]

Mate, the north game with 19k was like a funeral, be honest.

Actually, when it comes to finals with a funeral-like atmosphere, that was a pretty good description of the semi-final against Geelong at the SCG until Nick Davis started his heroics in the last quarter.

We did get the chocolates with 3 seconds to go but I still went home with a shocking headache,