2014 First Round Match Swans v GWS

[Nico]

Frankly, the only interest the media will have in our first round clash with GWS is whether Buddy will break the all time goalkicking record in a match.

[Jewels]

Sorry Jewels have to disagree.

The Central Coast is league first and then soccer. This is reflected by the number of kids playing in juniors.

There is nowhere on the CC where a team could have a home ground unless one was built and that wasn't going to happen.

The game is growing in Western Sydney especially in the Hills District so the supporters will eventually come. If they got Franklin it would have made a huge difference. Oh no!!! what is that annoying noise in the background??? Oh that's Mathews still whinging about irresponsible deals. As if 5 years for Shaw is any better. DOH!

If anyone else is wondering, Jewels is a big Barry Manilow fan as you can tell from her choice of residence on the Central Coast. The hottest spot north of Lion Island.

I bow to your wisdom Billy, you would have a better idea then me with your involvement in junior development. My thoughts were based more on how angry locals were at the time with the NRL rather then anything logistical or even logical for that matter!
And beautiful downtown Copa is pretty damn fine

[Bloodthirsty]

It would also have eliminated what I think is GWS's biggest problem - AFL is a very Aussie game (and please don't anyone put a racist slant on that statement), western Sydneys ethnicity is far more suited to soccer then AFL.

That's the truth of it. All they have to do to grow soccer is hand out more visas.

[Swansongster]

Yep completly agree.
I moved to the Central Coast not long after the NRL had knocked the Central Coast Bears franchise bid on the head and there were a lot of people up here very disgruntled with league as a result, would have been the perfect time and place to start a new AFL team.@
There would then be clear geographical differences between Swans and Giants and a very good chance for a genuine city V coasty rivalry to build. It would also have eliminated what I think is GWS's biggest problem - AFL is a very Aussie game (and please don't anyone put a racist slant on that statement), western Sydneys ethnicity is far more suited to soccer then AFL.

Sorry (and respectfully) I too don't agree with the assertion that only Anglos are interested in AFL and that soccer fans are not potential future AFL fans. Every 1st generation Australian I have met, worked with, played sport with, partied with or had otherwise contact with loves AFL when they see it. They don't always get the subtleties but they admire the courage, athleticism and spectacle of our indigenous sport. Exposure will win them over in time.

Football of all codes is a tribal pursuit. We follow teams because we have some sort of connection, somewhere, somehow through community or breeding with one team or another. I have no doubt that GWS will attract the support of - well - greater western Sydney if the can muster some success (which of course will facilitate exposure). They need a few personalities and a few wins. Curiosity will kill (entice) the cat. Locals will start watching games. They will then try going to a game and they will fall in love with the world's greatest ball game.

I am just not sure that AFL will have the patience to sit out this long, drawn out process. It was touted as a 20-year investment by the AFL. If they last the distance, they may well win the battle.

[DamY]

Do you honestly believe that there is a rivalry forming with GWS? I dont think so..if anyone no one gives a flying fig about GWS! All my family and friends in Sydney who live out that way laugh at GWS or just dont care at all about the code nor the club.

Heck i have 8 young cousins, all in the age group that the AFL are trying to attract..and none of them wants a bar of AFL nor GWS..all they talk about is western Sydney wanderers. My relos who have never been into attending sport every week let alone getting memberships for teams..all of them are now WSW fanatics and members.

You are very opinionated

[Bloodthirsty]

You are very opinionated

And there we are, like clockwork. DamY, why do you always jump into these threads and make personal comments when people are just talking about footy? Is it so the thread degenerates so that you can pontificate about forum rules again? It's like watching a minature false-flag operation.

Spiffy-dude - I appreciate your personal experience and agree with what you're saying. It's a relevant point and a big challenge for the AFL. I know the market-size is tempting, but the challenge is huge and I guess they've rolled the dice (Bruce) on it. But there won't be any results for a long time. Gotta get the kids at grassroots level. Perhaps the kids that don't wanna be smashed by other kids twice their size in league.....or perhaps the solution for them is soccer.

[Jewels]

You are very opinionated

And isn't that what a forum is for, the sharing of opinions?

[DamY]

And isn't that what a forum is for, the sharing of opinions?

It's the manner that opinion is shared. He's not alone. A lot of the language goes something like "Do you really believe" or "you've got to be stupid if you think" xxx or the beautiful "you've got rocks in your head" or "if you can't get it through your head" is not a very respectful manner of sharing one's opinion.

I understand that the internet is a true democracy where one can "say what they want" but *what* and also importantly *how* they say that forms part of their personal digital brand. I'm not going to tell people how to speak, but I wish people knew how what they say is received and interpreted determines how the receiver will respond.

[DamY]

It makes it difficult or less likely for me to respond to a post when the tone of the post sounds like they don't respect my opinion in the fort place. If you're talking to someone and they're already being condescending by saying things like "anyone can see that's not true" or "nobody really thinks that" or "you'd have to rocks in your head to believe that" then what's the point?

[Jewels]

It makes it difficult or less likely for me to respond to a post when the tone of the post sounds like they don't respect my opinion in the fort place. If you're talking to someone and they're already being condescending by saying things like "anyone can see that's not true" or "nobody really thinks that" or "you'd have to rocks in your head to believe that" then what's the point?

Sorry DamY I don't wish to get into an argument with you but if there is any post in this thread that comes close to rude then it was yours.
There was absolutely nothing rude or condescending that I could see in Spiffy dudes post, simply his opinion on GWS, yet you have come out and attacked him over his opinion.

[Bloodthirsty]

It's the manner that opinion is shared. He's not alone. A lot of the language goes something like "Do you really believe" or "you've got to be stupid if you think" xxx or the beautiful "you've got rocks in your head" or "if you can't get it through your head" is not a very respectful manner of sharing one's opinion.

I understand that the internet is a true democracy where one can "say what they want" but *what* and also importantly *how* they say that forms part of their personal digital brand. I'm not going to tell people how to speak, but I wish people knew how what they say is received and interpreted determines how the receiver will respond.

....cue pontification....

[DamY]

....cue pontification....

Great contribution bro

[Bloodthirsty]

Great contribution bro

Just commentating your little mission to always ruin a thread. I think you're more suited to a general pontification forum than a footy one.....bro.

[liz]

Can we maybe please get back on topic, and put an end to the scrapping??

[jono2707]

Back on topic.....

It will be interesting to see GWS's crowd numbers next year. Without Buddy I don't see them pulling too many more in at this stage....