SWANSBEST
14th March 2003, 07:08 AM
AFL to rely on Swans - http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,6123439-23209,00.html
Sydney is set to remain a one-AFL team town reports Tim Morrissey
14mar03
AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson has put plans for a second Sydney team on the back burner indefinitely.
His grand plan to convert Sydney into an Aussie rules town is now solely reliant on the Swans.
Although the Swans have already made significant inroads in establishing AFL in a rugby and league-dominated city Jackson cannot see how another AFL team in Sydney is going to speed up the process.
"Whilst the Swans have done really well it takes a long, long time to capture the hearts and minds and souls and get the corporate support and a strong membership base," Jackson said.
"The Swans have done well in those regards but there is no contemplation for a second team in Sydney for as far ahead as anybody can see.
"We are promoting the AFL out in Sydney's western suburbs through activities like our pre-season camps but there's no thoughts in the foreseeable future of a second team being located in Sydney's west."
Although Jackson firmly believes the AFL is the No.1 football code in Australia and deserves a bigger presence and following in Sydney he concedes that it will be a long time before his brand of footy knocks off league and union.
"We don't have an overt ambition to become the No.1 football code in Sydney but we do want to have a significantly bigger (market) share than we do at the present time.
"I think we are improving year by year and who knows where we'll be in 50 years? But in the next five or 10 years I can't imagine we would seriously challenge for the No.1 spot."
However, the Swans proved last season that AFL's appeal goes well beyond the chardonnay set in the eastern suburbs.
Sydney's three games at Telstra Stadium in Homebush enjoyed an average crowd of 42,000 while the 54,000 fans for the first game against Essendon established a record attendance for a non-Victorian AFL match. The Swans will play three more games at Telstra Stadium this year starting with the season opener against Carlton on March 29.
Despite the initial success Jackson doesn't feel the need for the Swans to take more games away from their traditional home at the SCG.
"In the order of three or four games at Telstra Stadium is about right at the time being," said Jackson. "There is room to move a little either way if the Swans chose to.
"We know we rank well behind rugby and rugby league, in particular rugby league in (Sydney's west).
"We are prepared to take a long-term view and just keep chipping away and doing the high-quality things and doing things that have got some durability."
At the end of the day, however, the AFL's ability to shake off the image of being an imported sport rests solely on the success of the Swans both on and off the field.
"In my view they are critically important not just for Sydney but for Australian football," said Jackson.
Last season's failure to make the top eight compounded by the club's million dollar operating loss is perceived as a step backwards for the Swans and the AFL.
But the AFL boss is confident things will turn around in Sydney this season.
"A lot of our clubs found 2002 a really difficult year but we've got the confidence of the Swans board to turn that around," said Jackson.
"I'm sure they'll be budgeting to break even or post a small profit this year."
Sydney is set to remain a one-AFL team town reports Tim Morrissey
14mar03
AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson has put plans for a second Sydney team on the back burner indefinitely.
His grand plan to convert Sydney into an Aussie rules town is now solely reliant on the Swans.
Although the Swans have already made significant inroads in establishing AFL in a rugby and league-dominated city Jackson cannot see how another AFL team in Sydney is going to speed up the process.
"Whilst the Swans have done really well it takes a long, long time to capture the hearts and minds and souls and get the corporate support and a strong membership base," Jackson said.
"The Swans have done well in those regards but there is no contemplation for a second team in Sydney for as far ahead as anybody can see.
"We are promoting the AFL out in Sydney's western suburbs through activities like our pre-season camps but there's no thoughts in the foreseeable future of a second team being located in Sydney's west."
Although Jackson firmly believes the AFL is the No.1 football code in Australia and deserves a bigger presence and following in Sydney he concedes that it will be a long time before his brand of footy knocks off league and union.
"We don't have an overt ambition to become the No.1 football code in Sydney but we do want to have a significantly bigger (market) share than we do at the present time.
"I think we are improving year by year and who knows where we'll be in 50 years? But in the next five or 10 years I can't imagine we would seriously challenge for the No.1 spot."
However, the Swans proved last season that AFL's appeal goes well beyond the chardonnay set in the eastern suburbs.
Sydney's three games at Telstra Stadium in Homebush enjoyed an average crowd of 42,000 while the 54,000 fans for the first game against Essendon established a record attendance for a non-Victorian AFL match. The Swans will play three more games at Telstra Stadium this year starting with the season opener against Carlton on March 29.
Despite the initial success Jackson doesn't feel the need for the Swans to take more games away from their traditional home at the SCG.
"In the order of three or four games at Telstra Stadium is about right at the time being," said Jackson. "There is room to move a little either way if the Swans chose to.
"We know we rank well behind rugby and rugby league, in particular rugby league in (Sydney's west).
"We are prepared to take a long-term view and just keep chipping away and doing the high-quality things and doing things that have got some durability."
At the end of the day, however, the AFL's ability to shake off the image of being an imported sport rests solely on the success of the Swans both on and off the field.
"In my view they are critically important not just for Sydney but for Australian football," said Jackson.
Last season's failure to make the top eight compounded by the club's million dollar operating loss is perceived as a step backwards for the Swans and the AFL.
But the AFL boss is confident things will turn around in Sydney this season.
"A lot of our clubs found 2002 a really difficult year but we've got the confidence of the Swans board to turn that around," said Jackson.
"I'm sure they'll be budgeting to break even or post a small profit this year."