AFL to launch 2nd team in Sydney

[Lucky Knickers]

It's really chicken and egg stuff. Do you need a strong local comp or do you need the strong representation on/in the national arena. Personally, my view is that a second Sydney team will influence the growth of the code far faster than pouring money into grass roots football.
I do recognise that both need to happen, I just think an investment at the top level and getting the interest in sponsors and money from TV rights will naturally create the funds the AFL has to invest at local levels.
With an 18 team comp I hope we see the resurrection of a dedicated AFL channel.

[connolly]

Can only assume you don't get out west too often. Take a drive from the centre of Penrith and head up the mountains. In quick succession you will see real footy goalposts in Nepean High School, Dukes oval at Emu Plains and Glenbrook Oval. They now play Aussie Rules at St Doms Kingswood, considered to be the strongest RL school in greater Penrith. The locals kids' attitude is changing too, perhaps that is because some of them are now playing the game.

Granted, the most fruitful areas for AFL conversion have thus far been the comfortable and predominately anglo saxon parts of Western Sydney - regions like the Hills and Lower Mountains. Getting a toehold in say Mt Druitt with its big islander population will be extremely difficult.

But there is ample evidence that Aussie Rules is gaining ground out here.

No arguement that the code is growing. The issue is whether the many millions to be poured into a national level club would not be better spent on the development of a strong Syney/NSW club structure. The investment in the Swans has not of itself generated a strong domestic Sydney competition.This issue is whether the second club is built from the ground up, out of a strengthened Sydney competition, with a time scale of 10 - 15 years or whether it is imposed top down. I do get out and about and have yet to speak to anyone or see any grass roots demands or even desire for a second (local) AFL club. This concoction is going to be dropped in from a great height after a decision from suits in Melbourne. Should work a treat out in the west of sydney.

[goswannie14]

But Rev ... there are people here who said they would support them , i.e. pay good money to go and see the games - money that would go to the coffers of the Blacktown Bogans.

It's wrong I tells ya.

I have been just as amazed at that attituide as to the former one that I mentioned.

[AnnieH]

Isn't Western Sydney meant to be feral central?

Only around where Big Al lives ... the rest is full of normal, working class people, bogans and dole bludgers.

[AnnieH]

What makes me laugh about this is the amount of people on here who are saying, "I won't support them." I have news for you, the AFL don't want you to support them.

That's the idea, to try to gain more new supporters for Aussie rules.

But Rev ... there are people here who said they would support them , i.e. pay good money to go and see the games - money that would go to the coffers of the Blacktown Bogans.

It's wrong I tells ya.

[Old Royboy]

As there is absolutely no evidence on the ground that the AFL has commenced work on the project in the west they have three years to get it going in the middle of what will probably be the worst recession since the early eighties in a state economy that is stagnating. Timing is impeccable.

Can only assume you don't get out west too often. Take a drive from the centre of Penrith and head up the mountains. In quick succession you will see real footy goalposts in Nepean High School, Dukes oval at Emu Plains and Glenbrook Oval. They now play Aussie Rules at St Doms Kingswood, considered to be the strongest RL school in greater Penrith. The locals kids' attitude is changing too, perhaps that is because some of them are now playing the game.

Granted, the most fruitful areas for AFL conversion have thus far been the comfortable and predominately anglo saxon parts of Western Sydney - regions like the Hills and Lower Mountains. Getting a toehold in say Mt Druitt with its big islander population will be extremely difficult.

But there is ample evidence that Aussie Rules is gaining ground out here.

[Wardy]

Apologies if I caused offence

apology accepted - I shouldnt have got so annoyed with you so I'm sorry too. I'm a person who see's the bigger picture differently to others thats all. (rightly or wongly )

[connolly]

Apologies if I caused offence

[Wardy]

Mate with that corporate mantra that has sent so many industries and companies to the bottom (car industry, One Tel etc etc)I take your answers to be:
1. No
2. Yes
3. No
4. No (I assume you are not on the Bevo bandwagon of one man and a very reluctant dog)
5. No
6. Yes
7. No

So you agree with me then - its a lemon.

Firstly No I dont agree with you - just like you dont agree with me - so leave it at that shall we.

secondly - please dont call me mate, I dont answer to mate from anyone.

Thirdly - if you have something against people in the corporate sector then so be it, none of us will lose sleep because you dont understand why business's choose to expand and progress.

If you dont want the team in Western Sydney fair enough - I dont have to agree with you, its this typical knee jerk reaction to change that amazes and saddens me.

lastly - dont assume as to what I'm thinking - its big mistake should you try.

[connolly]

Oh and you have access to all the data the AFL has and have been a part of the planning process? get your head out of the sand - its business, and its change - get with the times.

Mate with that corporate mantra that has sent so many industries and companies to the bottom (car industry, One Tel etc etc)I take your answers to be:
1. No
2. Yes
3. No
4. No (I assume you are not on the Bevo bandwagon of one man and a very reluctant dog)
5. No
6. Yes
7. No

So you agree with me then - its a lemon.

[Wardy]

1. Can you name one artifical corporate club creation that has worked recently? Freo and Port Adelaide don't count as they drew on existing club structures.
2. John O'Neill would be perfect to captian this Titanic. The A League is not just technically bankrupt it is bankrupt. And the RU attempt to create "super" intra city clubs has just sank like a stone.
3. If the Razorbacks (pig on a spit) example is inappropriate give us one that has worked.
4. Yes the AFL will pour millions (tens? hundred?? hundreds???) into this venture in a region that is yet to produce one AFL footballer of note ( I say Bevo qualifies but most here don't agree) but is it in the best interests of the code in NSW and Sydney? Thats the real issue not whether it will attract more people to the code. More people are being attracted to code by the good work done by the Bloods, the sheer incompetence of RL club administration (eg Bullies and Panthers) and the natural superiority of our code.
5. The real issue is will more people be attracted to the code than would otherwise be under the current strategy?
6. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary (strong local demands for a new club, petitions, letters to the editor, surveys FFS) the answer must be no.
7. O and don't forget this launch will take place in 4 years. As there is absolutely no evidence on the ground that the AFL has commenced work on the project in the west they have three years to get it going in the middle of what will probably be the worst recession since the early eighties in a state economy that is stagnating. Timing is impeccable.

Oh and you have access to all the data the AFL has and have been a part of the planning process? get your head out of the sand - its business, and its change - get with the times.

[connolly]

Well said Rafters, what people are forgetting is that more exposure to the game is a good thing. NRL & the ARU have become complacent this is AFL's chance to show them how it should be done - as for the generalisation of people in the western suburbs being a bunch of ninnies, well - I know how you feel - remember "shire" people cop it too for being a bunch of insular snobs when really we aren't. there are some of us that can see the bigger picture, and those who cant or just wont.

the Swans wont lose their fan base, but a team in Western Sydney will gain a brand new base.

As for comparing it to the West Sydney Razor Backs thats just silly - and the Basketball association has no where near the money that the AFL has so it will never have the type of backing that the AFL commands. What the Basketballers have as there total financial bank balance is what the AFL would use for lunch money. Just because the razor backs arent as popular as they once were (oddly enough because they aren't winning!) doesnt mean that the AFL is doomed to fail too.

1. Can you name one artifical corporate club creation that has worked recently? Freo and Port Adelaide don't count as they drew on existing club structures.
2. John O'Neill would be perfect to captian this Titanic. The A League is not just technically bankrupt it is bankrupt. And the RU attempt to create "super" intra city clubs has just sank like a stone.
3. If the Razorbacks (pig on a spit) example is inappropriate give us one that has worked.
4. Yes the AFL will pour millions (tens? hundred?? hundreds???) into this venture in a region that is yet to produce one AFL footballer of note ( I say Bevo qualifies but most here don't agree) but is it in the best interests of the code in NSW and Sydney? Thats the real issue not whether it will attract more people to the code. More people are being attracted to code by the good work done by the Bloods, the sheer incompetence of RL club administration (eg Bullies and Panthers) and the natural superiority of our code.
5. The real issue is will more people be attracted to the code than would otherwise be under the current strategy?
6. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary (strong local demands for a new club, petitions, letters to the editor, surveys FFS) the answer must be no.
7. O and don't forget this launch will take place in 4 years. As there is absolutely no evidence on the ground that the AFL has commenced work on the project in the west they have three years to get it going in the middle of what will probably be the worst recession since the early eighties in a state economy that is stagnating. Timing is impeccable.

[Wardy]

I agree with all you are writing Wardy on the new team issue but I have no real time for John O'Neil, who I believe has been the luckiest administrator in Australian Sporting history. His time now at Rugby will be his real test.

totally agree - it will be interesting if he puts the same amount of passion into rugby the second time around as he did back in 2003 - but he seems to have something (or some ripper innappropriate photo's of some powerful people ) that he gets done what he wants done and on a grand scale.

[Damien]

exactly GS14 - its not rocket science is it amazing the blinkered reaction to progress of the game. If they had John O'Neill at the helm, god only knows how far the game could go - maybe the AFL should get him on the payroll, he did wonders for Rugby, then Soccer. He couldn't get the gig for NRL as David Gallop has that job sewn up for the next few years (that law training to write his own contract did wonders! ) so AFL is the next step.

I agree with all you are writing Wardy on the new team issue but I have no real time for John O'Neil, who I believe has been the luckiest administrator in Australian Sporting history. His time now at Rugby will be his real test.

[blinddog]

As one media commentator mentioned this has a lot to do with the next lot of tv rights and the AFL going after $1billion. 18 team season (longer season) in two large growth areas, not to mention PayTV will be able to get more games.