Why are the Swans not bidding for the AFLW?

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  • Bloody Hell
    Senior Player
    • Oct 2006
    • 3085

    Why are the Swans not bidding for the AFLW?

    Serious question.

    There are only two clubs not bidding for access to the expanded AFLW competition; Port Adelaide and the Sydney Swans. Why?

    As the father of two daughters I am at a loss. The clubs bidding say it is fundamentally about culture and equity.

    I have heard the club say previously they are focusing on the academy, but this is moving faster than that. Does anyone else have question marks regarding the leaderships interpretation of this issue?
    The eternal connundrum "what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object" was finally solved when David Hasselhoff punched himself in the face.
  • Meg
    Go Swannies!
    Site Admin
    • Aug 2011
    • 4828

    #2
    The main issues are the lack of a training facility and changing room space for a women's team at the SCG. There are already difficulties for the men with the SCG not being available until the cricket season is completed. The two links below provide relevant info.

    Sydney Swans NWL statement - sydneyswans.com.au

    Swans eye AFLW side - sydneyswans.com.au

    Comment

    • Hotpotato
      Senior Player
      • Jun 2014
      • 2264

      #3
      Why does it have to be in the Eastern Suburbs.
      What about North SYDNEY Oval . They have to find a way, the women are so keen , they would play anywhere .

      Comment

      • Mark26
        Senior Player
        • Jan 2017
        • 1535

        #4
        I'd also love to see a Sydney women's team. I'd second that the infrastructure would have to be an issue at the SCG. You wouldn't think wages would be a factor at the moment as current women's players are playing for peanuts.

        Comment

        • mattybloods
          Warming the Bench
          • Jul 2016
          • 482

          #5
          Originally posted by Hotpotato
          Why does it have to be in the Eastern Suburbs.
          What about North SYDNEY Oval . They have to find a way, the women are so keen , they would play anywhere .
          I agree, North Sydney oval is probably the ideal venue. Another good one to consider is Drummoyne, although seating capacity might be an issue.

          My thought was that there must be a big financial input in starting a Women's team and that we want to see how the competition plays out for a few years before making a bid. Although the first year was a success it will be interesting to see how well it builds over the next 5 or so years.

          Comment

          • rb4x
            Regular in the Side
            • Dec 2007
            • 968

            #6
            Cricket would have most of the possible venues locked up. Blacktown was mentioned as the only possible location.

            Comment

            • Meg
              Go Swannies!
              Site Admin
              • Aug 2011
              • 4828

              #7
              Just out and very relevant to this topic. And you must watch the video in the article - it's a delight!

              "?While our football club hasn?t been in a position to apply for an AFLW licence to-date, mostly due to challenges with our facilities, we have always said we are committed to broadening female participation at all levels of our game and creating opportunities for women in football. We see the Youth Girls Academy as an important first step towards establishing a Sydney Swans AFLW team."

              Swans launch Youth Girls Academy - sydneyswans.com.au

              Comment

              • barry
                Veterans List
                • Jan 2003
                • 8499

                #8
                Another free kick to the Giants.

                Comment

                • mattybloods
                  Warming the Bench
                  • Jul 2016
                  • 482

                  #9
                  I like the idea of an academy launching prior to us having a AFLW team. By the time we're in the league we could have mostly local players which would be great. Still It's not a good look being one of the last to join the comp

                  Comment

                  • dimelb
                    pr. dim-melb; m not f
                    • Jun 2003
                    • 6889

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Meg
                    Just out and very relevant to this topic. And you must watch the video in the article - it's a delight!

                    "?While our football club hasn?t been in a position to apply for an AFLW licence to-date, mostly due to challenges with our facilities, we have always said we are committed to broadening female participation at all levels of our game and creating opportunities for women in football. We see the Youth Girls Academy as an important first step towards establishing a Sydney Swans AFLW team."

                    Swans launch Youth Girls Academy - sydneyswans.com.au
                    Well, Meg, you were absolutely right about the video: classic feelgood. And watching the way the girls move and respond to questions it looks as if we'll have some talent on our hands. The Bloodsline seems to be running true.
                    He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)

                    Comment

                    • aardvark
                      Veterans List
                      • Mar 2010
                      • 5685

                      #11
                      Originally posted by dimelb
                      Well, Meg, you were absolutely right about the video: classic feelgood. And watching the way the girls move and respond to questions it looks as if we'll have some talent on our hands. The Bloodsline seems to be running true.
                      Hopefully by the time the girls are old enough we'll have a team.

                      Comment

                      • bloodspirit
                        Clubman
                        • Apr 2015
                        • 4448

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Hotpotato
                        Why does it have to be in the Eastern Suburbs.
                        What about North SYDNEY Oval . They have to find a way, the women are so keen , they would play anywhere .
                        The issue is not a venue to play at - it is training facilities. They want to co-locate the women with the men so they can all be integrated as part of the one club and currently there is no space. Here are some excerpts from the statement:

                        The Sydney Swans are at maximum utilisation of their facility at the SCG and there is no capacity or space for an additional team to be housed at the Club?s headquarters.
                        Planning is underway for a new training and administration facility in the Moore Park Precinct, which will include provisions for both a Female Academy and a future NWL team, as well as the existing QBE Sydney Swans Academy and Indigenous Academy. However, the new facility is still some years away.
                        Swans Chief Executive and Managing Director Andrew Ireland said the advent of a National Women?s League is terrific for football, and the Swans are committed to participating in the league, but will defer their application for a licence until the Club is in a position to deliver a program to an elite standard.@


                        What's great is that the development of the Girls Academy shows how committed the club are to having a team in the future. Taya O'Loughlin looks a good prospect!

                        Incidentally does NWL=AFLW??
                        All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others. -Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)

                        Comment

                        • AnnieH
                          RWOs Black Sheep
                          • Aug 2006
                          • 11332

                          #13
                          We don't have the room.
                          We don't have the money.
                          It should be a "touch" game and not a tackle game.
                          Wild speculation, unsubstantiated rumours, silly jokes and opposition delight in another's failures is what makes an internet forum fun.
                          Blessed are the cracked for they are the ones who let in the light.

                          Comment

                          • bloodspirit
                            Clubman
                            • Apr 2015
                            • 4448

                            #14
                            Originally posted by AnnieH
                            It should be a "touch" game and not a tackle game.
                            I think you're being ironic?
                            All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others. -Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)

                            Comment

                            • monopoly19
                              Senior Player
                              • Aug 2003
                              • 1098

                              #15
                              I think it's embarrassing and disappointing that the Swans are one of just two teams that aren't interested. I doubt the other 16 teams all have the best facilities but they have made it work or are at least willing to try. The Lions - one of the grand finalists from this years comp - are still looking for an appropriate ground for their team. Would the players and supporters rather they waited until they had one? I doubt it after the season they've just had. The AFLW generated a huge amount of interest and goodwill for the AFL and the Swans are choosing to be left behind, and are leaving their members who would love to support a women's team stranded.

                              Comment

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