Sheedy's Open Letter to Swans Fans

[CJK]

Sheedy? Can't be bothered to read.

[liz]

I thought it was pretty lame really. I was expecting more Giant chest pumping and put downs of the Swans.

I am a little bemused by "Sheedy" thinking anything west of the Anzac bridge to be "west" but the Hills District not being part of "the west".

[stellation]

I thought it was pretty lame really. I was expecting more Giant chest pumping and put downs of the Swans.

I am a little bemused by "Sheedy" thinking anything west of the Anzac bridge to be "west" but the Hills District not being part of "the west".

The Hills has always been fairly distinctly North West as opposed to Western Sydney?

[ugg]

We're north west, never really been considered westies.

[liz]

The Giants are meant to be "greater" western sydney, not just western Sydney. Do you think the residents of Glebe, Balmain, Liechart etc consider themselves to be westies?

[ShockOfHair]

AFL's imperial ambitions are no match for Sydney suburban identity politics.

[Xie Shan]

I've always loved Sheeds, I just never felt comfortable admitting it while he was coach of Essendon. Now he's based in Sydney and doing something genuinely pioneering in his role with the Giants I feel I can finally come clean. Remember what the Swans started with when they first moved to Sydney, we had even less than the Giants and faced arguably a much tougher road.

That said, that letter wasn't nearly as good as the earlier responses to Tim Lane and Andrew "Newbloke"...

[ugg]

I was bored, Wednesday is definitely the slowest day of the footy week.


An open reply to Kevin Sheedy.

Dear Sheeds,

Thank you for the kind thoughts in your letter, it's a such comforting thought to know that the Swans have such caring neighbours looking out for them.

Am I'm excited for Saturday? You betcha Kevin. When the premiers run out on the ANZ turf to open our 2013 campaign, it will be an amazing feeling. I'll be out of my seat, waving my scarf and screaming at the top of my lungs. If you think long and hard enough Sheeds, you might discover some vestigial memories of what it must have felt like 13 years ago. It must be hard, however, to override the recent accomplishments of yesteryear.

As you mention, the potential matchups look tantalising on paper - Ward v Jack, Greene v Kennedy, Davis v Reid immediately come to mind (although you might like to hand the reins over to Leon Cameron sooner rather than later if you're advocating that poor Jon Patton plays on Goodesy). I find it sad that some of your tougher players such as Junior McDonald have retired from our great game and won't be available to repeat his 'statement of intent' from the corresponding fixture last year.

On the other hand, I'm excited by your indication that the 2 of your top 3 picks in the lastdraft: the 2 Lachies - Whitman and Plowman - are in line for a game, making it two steps closer to realising the GWS dream for having the greatest number of top 10 draft picks in the one team. A few more years of bottoming out might finally get you guys there.

And don't you fret about our relationship with ANZ Stadium (A venue I hasten to add, that the Giants still have not won a game at). After all, we have very fond memories of the outcome of our last start there. Given your open proclamations of support for us during last year's finals, I'm sure you must have been there watching the Swans triumph, whilst wearing your red and white jumper.

I personally will be making the journey from the Hills district (via bus mind you Sheeds, we need to be vigilant in these green-conscious times! Sorry VW and Skoda) to join my usual crew of footy watchers. I (the westie) will be joined by supporters from the North Shore (the private school educated snob), the Northern Beaches (the surfie chick) and yes, your beloved Eastern Suburbs (the socialite. Ironically out of the four of us she's the one with the softest spot for the Giants but let's not go there shall we?). We'll even have a special fan flying all the way from Melbourne (bloody nut - pun intended) that will be sitting with us. For you see Sheeds, we don't like to classify or stereotype our supporters - we originate from different places, backgrounds and from all walks of life but the one thing we have in common and that binds us together is our fervent support for the red and the white.

This eclectic mix of people that constitute the Swans supporter base is also reflected within our playing group. Ranging from our games record holder in two-time Brownlow winner Adam Goodes - born in South Australia but played his junior footy in Horsham and is a proud Victorian; to rookie and likely debutant in 'local' Clovelly boy Dane Rampe. It's a very inclusive club that never seeks to discriminate against any player or fan regardless of their background.

Anyway I digress. Let's get back to discussing the game. It's bold of you to talk up the Giants' chances, I guess you never want to go into a match without thinking you're a chance of winning, no matter how small the possibility of success. But just between you and me Sheeds, we both know the greatest competition taking place at the Olympic Park precinct on Saturday will not be at ANZ, but rather down the road at the lovely Skoda Stadium, for that's where the sheepdog trials for the Royal Easter Show will be taking place.

So when the final siren sounds on Saturday, and as the setting sun slowly fades below the horizon, I'd like to extend a token of friendship to you Kevin by offering you a drink or two. You might prefer something a little stronger than a latte after the footballing lesson the premiers will hand out to your precocious bunch of talented teenagers. How about a nice, cold glass of chardonnay? There should be plenty going around the stadium given the large number of Swans fans expected as a response to your 'cri de coeur'.

Cheer cheer,
ugg

[DLBIA14]

AFL's imperial ambitions are no match for Sydney suburban identity politics.

The funny thing is this is completely true! The AFL and even Sheedy still have a very limited concept of Sydney and the best way to market the AFL here.

On the weekend, listening to some NRL related radio show they made a comment about how well the Wanderers were doing as a start up club and how well Western Sydney was responding to their success. They said they didn't come in and plant their flag down like the Giants did and say 'this is our territory' (imperial ambitions indeed!) , they instead engaged with the sporting teams around them like the Eels and started to carve out their own niche. No stepping on toes, just delivering with good product.

I've long held the view that the Giants have very much ruined their ability to be well loved across the city because of their grandiose, 'we're coming to go to war with the NRL', big-noting. I think the AFL and the Giants got the Swans off-side in the same way by all of a sudden declaring that we've only got claim to the coast and northern part of the state. Despite being here for 30 years apparently we've relinquished two-thirds of the state and anything West of the ANZAC bridge!

IMO the Swans will always either be ignored or loved in this city. GWS though, I can't see very much more than hate.

[Xie Shan]

Brilliant ugg

[GongSwan]

The Giants are meant to be "greater" western sydney, not just western Sydney. Do you think the residents of Glebe, Balmain, Liechart etc consider themselves to be westies?

I thought Greater West started at Penrith these days. I grew up in Canterbury Bankstown area, that was the far west then, and Parramatta was the end of the earth. My how things change

[jono2707]

The funny thing is this is completely true! The AFL and even Sheedy still have a very limited concept of Sydney and the best way to market the AFL here.

On the weekend, listening to some NRL related radio show they made a comment about how well the Wanderers were doing as a start up club and how well Western Sydney was responding to their success. They said they didn't come in and plant their flag down like the Giants did and say 'this is our territory' (imperial ambitions indeed!) , they instead engaged with the sporting teams around them like the Eels and started to carve out their own niche. No stepping on toes, just delivering with good product.

I've long held the view that the Giants have very much ruined their ability to be well loved across the city because of their grandiose, 'we're coming to go to war with the NRL', big-noting. I think the AFL and the Giants got the Swans off-side in the same way by all of a sudden declaring that we've only got claim to the coast and northern part of the state. Despite being here for 30 years apparently we've relinquished two-thirds of the state and anything West of the ANZAC bridge!

IMO the Swans will always either be ignored or loved in this city. GWS though, I can't see very much more than hate.

I wholeheartedly agree with you - the AFL have really come across as cashed up and imperialistic without having much of a clue about the market they're entering. I'm never particularly impressed by the types that bang a big wad of cash down on the table and say 'look at me' and I'm afraid this is what the AFL are doing here.

The Wanderers, on the other hand, really seem to have won the hearts of many in the west (and elsewhere) with their no frills, humble approach of hard work and engagement with their community. What a great story they are!

[liz]

Brilliant ugg

+1. Fantastic.

I wish you'd also mentioned that the Swans will most likely have four players in the team - including two captains - who grew up playing their junior football in greater Sydney. How many local boys will be running out for the Gaints on Saturday?

[ScottH]

I thought Greater West started at Penrith these days. I grew up in Canterbury Bankstown area, that was the far west then, and Parramatta was the end of the earth. My how things change

So did I.
I always classified that are as South West.
Technically, it is from the CBD.


Nice one Ugg.
Are you sending it to him??

[stellation]

Just one minor thing- whilst I imagine someone read over it, I don't doubt for a second that Sheeds either dictated or ran up the first draft himself. Each one of these that has sprouted out sounds exactly like one of his ranting press conferences from days of yore.