Manly Wolves Now in Giants Clothing

[Tim Freedman]

Um, the Giants don't have "a lot" of fans. After a few years in the comp and a few years after their formation they are still hanging around the 10K mark. The "West" of Sydney don't seem to be overly interested in supporting them IMO and I would think that them focusing just on the West would be detrimental to their future growth aspirations. I actually don't believe there is a massive market for them just in that area alone as many living out in those areas don't follow the code and many don't follow sport in general. Yes I know they might start growing their member base when they start winning but it has a ceiling.

The clubs in the West can piss and moan as much as they like however to put it simply, GWS hasn't received the level of support required to sustain themselves long term. Sooner or later they had to start approaching the rest of the Sydney market to increase their brand and image. Some on this forum and the AFL Sydney Facebook page are carrying on like two bob watches thinking they have a sense of entitlement.

You only need to look down South to see that things change. Hawthorn are now based out at Waverley, St.Kilda are down at Casey Fields in Cranbourne. GWS are just ahead of the curve and good luck to them I say! Personally I don't care where they base themselves, or who they are involved with. I'll still go and watch a few games and support them as my 2nd side. Us Mexicans never change sides.

[cartman48]

Some really passionate Giants fans will walk away based on this decision - and a lot of them - I'm really disappointed that the Giants have done this, they will pay for it in the short term....

[mountainsofpain]

But any team can wear orange and call themselves Giants, they don't need GWS's permission to do it.

With respect, this is considerably more than that, more than likely with money involved.

[justabaraker]

This is an interesting one - Manly are changing their identity, and becoming the Giants.

Looking at the GWS Facebook page, it's caused a bit of angst among GWS fans. But any team can wear orange and call themselves Giants, they don't need GWS's permission to do it.
It's a nice photo op for the Manly club.

Wow Norris, I see what you mean about it causing angst ! I hadn't realised it would be an issue like this.
I'll give you 20 cents to wear your Giants shirt when you go out to Weldon this season. Go on, you know you want to do it.

[tara]

The afl deliberately marketed gws as a western suburbs team in what the afl accept will he the hardest market to crack. Now I might be a Mexican but I understand the fibro silver tail concept. Could they @@@@ that up any harder. I hope if rumors are true Whalen reserve is vastly improved.

[ShortHalfHead]

Come tomorrow at the GWS Marketing Dept, they will be high fiving each other and telling the bosses what a great job they've done. The old cliche "Any publicity is good publicity" will be bandied around. Meanwhile, the Community Club staff will be herded into the next conference room and asked if they have ever been in contact with the senior clubs in the West. "Yeah, I'm sure that G-Man has gone to them all" G-Man is called in to face the music "Hey, my minder spun me around a few times and sent me to my next gig. Doesn't the sun set in the north anymore?"

[mountainsofpain]

Mount Molehill indeed Norris....I tend to agree with you.
I haven't picked up that the Manly colours are to change (as Mr Taxman suggested) - just a new creature, the Giant, instead of the Wolf.

GWS won't get any young recruits from Manly but they might pick up some supporters - they could have put up a billboard along Pittwater Road with a picture of Callan Ward and Rhys Shaw, but instead, they chose to align with a local team. It's all publicity and profile and winning support.
Personally, though I live in the Swans catchment area, I'm mighty disenchanted after the Buddy/Tippett thing and mighty excited about the GWS win already, so I'm ripe for the picking to jump on the Giants bandwagon.

How about they concentrate on "winning support" and generating "publicity and profile" in the area they supposedly represent first?

A crazy idea I know......

[Mug Punter]

Oh bugger...and for a brief second you had me hoping for improvement

Whatever, twit......

[justabaraker]

agree - I think i got it wrong about the change of colours, and about Heath Shaw

Mount Molehill indeed Norris....I tend to agree with you.

GWS won't get any young recruits from Manly but they might pick up some supporters - they could have put up a billboard along Pittwater Road with a picture of Callan Ward and Heath Shaw, but instead, they chose to align with a local team. It's all publicity and profile and winning support.
Personally, though I live in the Swans catchment area, I'm mighty disenchanted after the Buddy/Tippett thing and mighty excited about the GWS win already, so I'm ripe for the picking to jump on the Giants bandwagon.

[justabaraker]

This is beyond stupid though and for once I don't think I'll get slated for being too negative...

Oh bugger...and for a brief second you had me hoping for improvement

[Mug Punter]

Mount Molehill indeed Norris....I tend to agree with you.
I haven't picked up that the Manly colours are to change (as Mr Taxman suggested) - just a new creature, the Giant, instead of the Wolf.

GWS won't get any young recruits from Manly but they might pick up some supporters - they could have put up a billboard along Pittwater Road with a picture of Callan Ward and Rhys Shaw, but instead, they chose to align with a local team. It's all publicity and profile and winning support.
Personally, though I live in the Swans catchment area, I'm mighty disenchanted after the Buddy/Tippett thing and mighty excited about the GWS win already, so I'm ripe for the picking to jump on the Giants bandwagon.

Dude, what is in your water??

Per the article The Manly Wolves are the latest community club to adopt the GIANTS name and colours so they clearly are changing to that horrible orange mix....

If you believe that people from Manly will travel out to Homebush then you really are living in Cuckoo-Land

You say you live in the Swans catchment area rather than being a swans fan so I assume you are an inter-stater changing your second team allegiance. That's fair enough but I'd be extremely surprised if any real Swans fans shifted allegiances to the Bogans.....

[justabaraker]

Mount Molehill indeed Norris....I tend to agree with you.
I haven't picked up that the Manly colours are to change (as Mr Taxman suggested) - just a new creature, the Giant, instead of the Wolf.

GWS won't get any young recruits from Manly but they might pick up some supporters - they could have put up a billboard along Pittwater Road with a picture of Callan Ward and Rhys Shaw, but instead, they chose to align with a local team. It's all publicity and profile and winning support.
Personally, though I live in the Swans catchment area, I'm mighty disenchanted after the Buddy/Tippett thing and mighty excited about the GWS win already, so I'm ripe for the picking to jump on the Giants bandwagon.

[Mug Punter]

This is beyond stupid though and for once I don't think I'll get slated for being too negative...

Manly have been known as the Wolves for nigh on 40 years now, they have generations of players that identify with that name. What possible benefits are there to take on a moniker of a club that has no relevance to Manly whatsoever. I can see no benefit for this change whatsoever, it just defies belief

If I was a current player or past player of the club I'd be furious at whichever muppets decided this.

Of all the name changes in Sydney football, most are pathetic and provide very little benefit. The only one that has really worked was the East Coast Eagles which I think worked largely due to young age of the club at the time and the small link between the two nicknames (Falcons ---> Eagles). I think it was also properly thought through.

North Shore going from Bears to Bombers was here nor there but I don't believe it's generated any great benefits. Dragons to the Crows and Tigers to the Dockers were beyond stupid and Campbelltown becoming the Kanga also failed. Mac Uni going from the Kookaburras to the Warriors also dumb.

Added to the nickname changes are the fact that it usually also involves a jumper change.

Rightly or wrongly the change of a clubs jumper and nickname can seriously alienate a club from its former players which is a very very dangerous move.

[chatovadafloor]

Great move by gws.... Out in west syd and get a team on the northern beaches.... Who ever made that call what a muppet. Ctown giants yeah hills giants wouldnt of suprised me ( considering a ex board member)... But manly jes whoever in giants land is trying to win western sydney made a huge call.

[tara]

Unfortunately I think that GWS are about to find out what its like to upset the market that they are supposed to represent. More unfortunate is the long term potential to harm the development of the game in western sydney - If what I am hearing is close to the mark there will be major repercussions that will adversely affect the games development in western sydney.

To be honest it smacks of marketing gurus with no knowledge of working at the coalface of their target audience again. Sound Familiar?