Andrew Demetriou has given his campaign to build support for an AFL club in western Sydney a new name – Team GWS.
With plans to introduce a second team to NSW in 2012, the AFL chief addressed a dinner of 500 business people from western Sydney at ANZ Stadium ahead of Sydney’s round-20 clash with Geelong.
Demetriou said the unveiling of the Team GWS website and logo marked the next stage of the AFL’s expansion plans, designed to engage the community and businesses of greater western Sydney in the campaign for a new team.
“The launch of Team GWS is one of the first steps in the journey towards the development of the identity of the football team,” Demetriou said in a statement on Saturday.
“As this campaign takes shape, we are encouraging the 14 diverse communities of greater western Sydney to join Team GWS and be a part of history. Team GWS is a team we can all be proud of, and be part of, based on unity and inclusion.”
Wary of the hurdles he faces with a push into the rugby league heartland in tough economic times, Demetriou said community support was essential.
He wants fans to be involved in designing the team’s name, logo, colours, theme song and team mascot.
“We want people in the area to take ownership of this club,” he said.
The Team GWS campaign identity incorporates the iconic red AFL Sherrin Football, along with the four goal posts meant to signify a bright future on the horizon.
Demetriou says the Team GWS website, www.teamgws.com.au, encourages community participation and registration.
The AFL chief’s 500 dinner guests have been invited to become financial supporters of the new team.
“The AFL has committed to increasing investment in the area of greater western Sydney over the next eight years,” Demetriou said.
He claimed Team GWS would generate permanent economic and social benefits for the region.
“It all starts here. It all starts with young people who get introduced to the game,” Demetriou told reporters after the dinner.
“We’ve found that with our Auskick programs over many, many years. If you can capture them early, they can start to dream about what can be.
“We’re actually delighted that tonight we’ve got some young lads from the Parramatta Goannas and hopefully this will be the future of what we see here in greater western Sydney.
“We’ve got a long journey and it’s a great challenge for us.
“To see 500 people here tonight from local businesses and communities is a really pleasing start.”
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August 17th 2009 @ 8:23am
Redb said | August 17th 2009 @ 8:23am | Report comment
Logo needs some major work. Good to see the AFL taking a communtity approach which is the only way to build a football club. This way they can judge levels of interest before blindly awarding a licence for club 18.
I dont mind Greater Western Sydney as a target market it is better than sitting somewhere between Blacktown and Canberra trying to create something that will be all things to all people and in the end mean nothing to no-one. The area is defined and no doubt the AFL will also look to make it the western NSW team in time.
The Swans will be the traditional club, coastal NSW, GWS get WS and country NSW.
Still very early days at this stage. But geez note to the marketing boys find a font created in the last 50 years will ya.
Redb
August 17th 2009 @ 1:53pm
The 1 and only Master said | August 17th 2009 @ 1:53pm | Report comment
MATT S
They have been dishing out free tickets from day dot for the A-league and with very limited success.
I got offered a pair of free ticket along with a group of others. No one excepted them.