AFL to launch 2nd team in Sydney

[Wardy]

Well done to the AFL. The Western Sydney area will welcome a team based in Blacktown.

As someone that lives in the Western Sydney area & has played for 2 Western Sydney clubs in the Sydney AFL for over 15 years I appreciate that there is an incredible amount of hard work (and luck) required in getting any such organisation to be a "real footy club" with its own ingrained footy culture from the president down through the coach, players & supporters. It will take more than 10 years as the Swans & Bears have shown. Cash & past experiences will assist with the transition.

The AFL should be applauded for having a go as rugby league & union have dropped the ball considerable in recent years in promoting to the younger generations in Sydney.

A team in Western Sydney WILL NOT detract from the Swans at all ... the number of moans I have heard about travelling "out west" to Homebush in recent years is actually quietly replicated by those from Blacktown & Penrith wanting to travel to the SCG to watch the Swans. They are two different fan bases.

The Swans (finally) have an established base with a strong brand & only bad management will make fickle fans leave the club ... nothing at all to do with a Western Sydney club being formed. In fact regular competition & media play may improve sponsor interest in climbing on board for both organisations & take away from other codes.

The push to Western Sydney may ultimately prove a flop ... but the AFL need to have a go & find out ... because there is a very real reality that it will be a success as well - just listening to some of the league legends & they are seriously worried about "aerial ping pong" taking over. Yes it is in the league heartland ...but when was the last NRL match played in Blacktown? It is a great strategic move by them not to compete with Penrith or Parramatta or Campbelltown.

As for those of this forum that question the intelligence levels of those from Western Sydney I STRONGLY OBJECT to such generalisations & would welcome a conversation with ye one day to prove yourselves wrong.

I wish the Western Sydney AFC all the best in its future endeavours.

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.

[Wardy]

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.

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.

[Wardy]

Dimetriou has said it will be 18 teams,and Wardy you are kidding your self if you think enough people in western sydney can support an AFL club.

Well if there is so much intrest in AFL in western sydney then why do the Swans have a lousy 25000 members in Sydney,and its the biggest city in the country.

If you think that only 3 people in sydney call it gayFL your kidding your self again.Its a thugby league town through and through,AFL will never equal NRL.

Heres a little question?

Q..How many people in your work place actully follow AFL/or are a member of a club?

A...Not even 3 i reckon

WRONG!!!!!!


Oh I forgot you know everything - ok so when are you going to get out of your concrete taxi and go on the board of the AFL? You dont think that the AFL have done studies on demographics, possibilities club registrations etc over say the last 5 years or so and can see trends? they would have data on every football code in the state from junior to senior level. They would have all crowd data on the major code games on those preceeding 5 years and as Old Roy Boy said - there are AFL posts popping up everywhere in Western Sydney where in years gone by there were none. For example, I went past Chevalier College in Bowral on the weekend very posh private school that has one of the strongest Rugby Union cultures going around - but even they can see that times have changed and what is now being constructed ?- an AFL field - the posts were going in last Saturday! so there must be something there for them to gage their decision and taht is only one example. They havent done it with the intention of "oh c'mon Mike & Andy lets do something that will piss that Swantastic bloke off because he thinks he's the font of all knowledge."! You really need to get out of Victoria more often.

You can guarantee that should a new club be established in Western Sydney that first year membership would be greatly discounted as an incentive and get bums on seats, its called marketing - ever heard of it?

As for my work place - well at the 2005 grand final there were 16 people I knew that went and are paid up members, we had another 10 or so who were in corporate boxes most of whom have since signed on as full members and that is only my 2 floors - I dont know the numbers from our other subsidiaries on the other 10 floors!! so sorry I cant be more accurate with numbers . Also in our Brisbane office I know of 8 Sydney expats who are paid up Swans country members and have also joined the Lions so as they get their fix of AFL. Is that enough for you?

[Rafters]

Well done to the AFL. The Western Sydney area will welcome a team based in Blacktown.

As someone that lives in the Western Sydney area & has played for 2 Western Sydney clubs in the Sydney AFL for over 15 years I appreciate that there is an incredible amount of hard work (and luck) required in getting any such organisation to be a "real footy club" with its own ingrained footy culture from the president down through the coach, players & supporters. It will take more than 10 years as the Swans & Bears have shown. Cash & past experiences will assist with the transition.

The AFL should be applauded for having a go as rugby league & union have dropped the ball considerable in recent years in promoting to the younger generations in Sydney.

A team in Western Sydney WILL NOT detract from the Swans at all ... the number of moans I have heard about travelling "out west" to Homebush in recent years is actually quietly replicated by those from Blacktown & Penrith wanting to travel to the SCG to watch the Swans. They are two different fan bases.

The Swans (finally) have an established base with a strong brand & only bad management will make fickle fans leave the club ... nothing at all to do with a Western Sydney club being formed. In fact regular competition & media play may improve sponsor interest in climbing on board for both organisations & take away from other codes.

The push to Western Sydney may ultimately prove a flop ... but the AFL need to have a go & find out ... because there is a very real reality that it will be a success as well - just listening to some of the league legends & they are seriously worried about "aerial ping pong" taking over. Yes it is in the league heartland ...but when was the last NRL match played in Blacktown? It is a great strategic move by them not to compete with Penrith or Parramatta or Campbelltown.

As for those of this forum that question the intelligence levels of those from Western Sydney I STRONGLY OBJECT to such generalisations & would welcome a conversation with ye one day to prove yourselves wrong.

I wish the Western Sydney AFC all the best in its future endeavours.

[Bas]

If they want to grow the game in NSW then the ideal market is the Central Coast/ Newcastle region. The central coast has been ignored by the NRL much tot he dismay of the fans up there, soccer is capitalising on it.

Its a growing region heavily populated and ideal spot for a new team in an area that has no winter sport team.

The central coast bears could be the name hey hey..

Other than that TASSIE should get a team, we are suppose to be a national competition aren't we...

But again for me WEST SYDNEY is a no go and CENTRAL COAST if it is in NSW then that should be the way to go, maybe some central coasters would liek to see a team based and play up there.

I would like to see a team up here but I don't think there is the mass support. We have the Black Diamond Comp up here which covers Central Coast/Newcastle. Reasonably healthy junior comp and the Central Coast has provided 4 of the 16 year scholarships.

Western Sydney would be a logical place. However, the AFL would have to pump lots of money into junior AFL development in that area.

Although the AFL is saying an 18 team comp, I bet it will really be a 16 team comp with 2 Melbourne teams to get relocated. Western Bulldogs has a ring to it.

Central Coast Mariners has really taken off up here. In the third year it was a brand new team, no history, no local boys standing out to attract at its inception. However, there is a large grass root following here for soccer. It also doesn't really clash with the NRL season.

Most likely the team won't start until 2015 but you never know.

If you want to go to both games, take up AFL membership now. I have and I get a part membership with the Swans where I have a reserved seat up in The Chardonnay Stand. I get my final ticket allocations from the AFL membership and not the Swans but all games I attend in Melbourne during the year are free.

[connolly]

There are plenty of misconceptions at the moment.

Blacktown also happens to be very close to the northwest of Sydney which is as close to an AFL heartland in Sydney as there is. The participation rates for junior football must be one of the highest in Sydney. The northwest is quite a wealthy area and definitely not league territory. For people living in the Hills etc, Homebush Bay will be a lot more accessible than the SCG.

True but this area is still the weakest base that the AFL has ever attempted to place a club. Not only is it not AFL dominant (as in Port Adelaide and Freo) but there is a an existing club that is competing for support in a very competative sports market. The only comparison I can think of is the Sydney Kings and Razorbacks establishment in the NBL and that doesn't inspire much confidence. Also the concept of suburban club loyalty and affiliation seems really dated now. The really ominous thing is that there is no evidence of a strong feeling from AFL followers in the Blacktown area that they really want their "own" club. Wheres the passion and committment going to come from. From an advertising campaign headed up by Sheeds?

[hammo]

Nope. A long over used stereotype. Anyway, say that again and I'll glass ya.

There are plenty of misconceptions at the moment.

Blacktown also happens to be very close to the northwest of Sydney which is as close to an AFL heartland in Sydney as there is. The participation rates for junior football must be one of the highest in Sydney. The northwest is quite a wealthy area and definitely not league territory. For people living in the Hills etc, Homebush Bay will be a lot more accessible than the SCG.

[TheGrimReaper]

Isn't Western Sydney meant to be feral central?

Sounds like the western suburbs of Melbourne.

[Big Al]

Isn't Western Sydney meant to be feral central?

Nope. A long over used stereotype. Anyway, say that again and I'll glass ya.

[Robbo]

Isn't Western Sydney meant to be feral central?

[goswannie14]

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.

[swantastic]

You follow AFL and you remind me quite a lot of the people in Western Sydney.

Take it easy Stell i'm not that bad.

[swantastic]

ROFLMAO.

The future Tassie side would be:

Smith Jones Smith
Jones Smith Jones
Smith Jones Smith
Jones Smith Jones

Jones Smith Campbell(Victorian)

Coach. Their Dad

Their wife=Their Mother

[Big Al]

I hope we don't have too many Tasmanians on this site, that are sensitive about Tassie jokes.

I'm from the Western Suburbs of Sydney and I have put up with all the jokes in this thread. It's called having a sense of humour and knowing when someones taking the piss.

[TheGrimReaper]

I hope we don't have too many Tasmanians on this site, that are sensitive about Tassie jokes.