It's going well for GWS and AFL

[Nico]

Aren't they starting up an A League soccer team in the GWS next year? I wonder what the fossil thinks of that.

Will he have a big fat cheque thrust into his hand in the near future?

The paranoia about AFL in Sydney in that media is staggering. In Melbourne both NRL and soccer get a fair run in the HS and on SEN. Most people in Melbourne couldn't give a rats toss bag about how many rugby and soccer clubs there are in town.

[jono2707]

It's a footy team - its not a military invasion or the building of a second airport in the western suburbs precinct - the over reaction is just not warranted.

At least there's the demand for a second airport and people would show up from day 1 without Kevin Sheedy having to stand outside with a megaphone

[Wardy]

It's a footy team - its not a military invasion or the building of a second airport in the western suburbs precinct - the over reaction is just not warranted.

[bandwagon]

You'd think an old hack on a Fairfax newspaper would be wary of making cheap jokes about extinction.

Priceless :-)

[jono2707]

Whilst I'd say that this article was not one of Roy's better pieces, I wouldnt underestimate his intelligence and his ability to get a reaction from his audience. He's pretty much reflective of a lot of league die-hards here in Sydney who are not taking too kindly to the AFL's 'invasion' of Sydney's west. Whilst the AFL seems to think that all of the unwashed masses in the west will convert and commence bowing to the almighty Sherrin, there are plenty of people who love league and will fight the real or perceived threat of AFL.

The reason some people are worried is the concern that the AFL has started a team for which there is not a great level of demand. They have stated they will throw loads of money at the concept and are in it for the long-term, but there are already some concerns as to the long-term viability of the idea. The AFL themselves are also throwing out some mixed messages about the concept - having a foot in Canberra and moving out of Blacktown being two examples. The issue is that if the GWS experiment doesn't work out as planned, don't think that the Swans won't suffer collateral damage. That's my concern. The damage the AFL could do to their brand here could hurt the Swans. I have a right to be concerned about this as I still think the AFL has made a mistake in putting GWS into the competition to start with - I'm not death-riding them, I just don't see anything yet that will change my view that this is a concept that is not going to take off in Sydney.

[Wardy]

1) time for Roy to retire he's just making himself sound old bitter and stupid. (which he is so we really don't need to read about it)
2) GWS are not the devil, they are just another footy club getting started - why put so much time into worrying about something you can't control and really doesn't effect the way you live. It's just footy !!!

[Cheer Squad]

Jesus H. Christ. Roy has written exactly the same column again.

Lonesome George meets his end - will GWS go the same way?

You'd think an old hack on a Fairfax newspaper would be wary of making cheap jokes about extinction.

More rubbish from Roy.

I like his line about GWS receiving privileged treatment from the media. Roy, and most of the media establishment in Sydney, have been death-riding GWS since their inception.

[stellation]

God, it's all the same old drivel isn't it.

[ShockOfHair]

Jesus H. Christ. Roy has written exactly the same column again.
Lonesome George meets his end - will GWS go the same way?

You'd think an old hack on a Fairfax newspaper would be wary of making cheap jokes about extinction.

[Doctor]

Roy's a dill. In a slightly different direction, I'd rather be in the Giants' camp than the Suns' right now.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/coach-guy-mckenna-launches-scathing-attack-on-gold-coast-suns-for-giving-up-in-loss-to-st-kilda/story-e6frf3e3-1226390292930

[GoSouth33]

On Offsiders this morning Roy actually complimented the AFL on having a very good competition amongst the top teams (which is plainly obvious when you see some of the game we've been fortunate to witness). The bottom teams are a problem though. Creates a lot of one sided games.
Still, you can't script games like the Dees knocking off the Bombers: delightful...hehe....

[Wardy]

Roy's just making up for lost time because at one stage his wife was an AFL big wig- it wouldn't do having the insignificant other( ie Roy) in the relationship making waves about the biggest code in the country. Roy is living in the past - he's never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[dimelb]

Roy Masters has been embarrassing for quite some time, but for this one, some of the cheeky young rascals in the Fairfax office have slipped something into his Horlicks.

[goswannie14]

On the radio that other day he claimed that Rugby League was the highest rating TV sport in Australia! Stupid Jon Faine wasn't bright enough to pull him up on it.

[SimonH]

Roy Masters has been embarrassing for quite some time, but for this one, some of the cheeky young rascals in the Fairfax office have slipped something into his Horlicks.