By Adrian Musolino
November 9th 2009 @ 6:26am
Related coverage
Sheedy signing exactly what West Sydney needs
Kevin Sheedy addresses the media, 2008 - Slattery Images
Kevin Sheedy will coach West Sydney on a three-year appointment that will include the club’s first season in the AFL in 2012. That was the bombshell news delivered by the News Limited press late last night which will have the football world buzzing. The western Sydney AFL project suddenly has wings.
In fact, for many, this will suddenly legitimise the western Sydney adventure.
Sheedy has the charisma and media know how to generate the sort of press and attention needed to raise awareness in the region. As an ambassador and lover of the game, you sense he has the passion and desire to help spread the AFL gospel in rugby league’s heartland.
Like Ron Barassi’s move to Sydney in 1993 to help energize the faltering Swans, Sheedy’s move will help the team, and indeed the code, overcome the unique challenges of the Sydney market, especially in its western frontier.
Sheedy knows how to work the press. He will provide them with the sort of charisma, opinion and personality that the club needs to make an immediate impact. They suddenly have their figurehead, spokesperson, ambassador and coach, all in one package.
More importantly, he has a footballing brain like few in the game. 27 years coaching at Essendon, including four premierships, will mean the club will be able to create a footballing culture off the back of his experience; helping to build solid football foundations.
This is a huge signal of intent by the club and the AFL.
In many ways this move makes more sense than Gold Coast’s snaring of Karmichael Hunt. It certainly can’t be labeled as a publicity stunt, like Hunt’s signature was labelled in certain circles.
Hunt’s success on the Gold Coast depends on his ability to play. Should he fail to make the grade, he will be useless to the club in generating interest. It’s a gamble that could fail miserably.
There’s no question of Sheedy’s ability to perform, and certainly no gamble in this deal.
This doesn’t make western Sydney sudden contenders – it will still be an almighty challenge to create a club from scratch in a region without an AFL culture – but Sheedy will bring the necessary experience to help the club enormously through this process.
Results won’t matter right away; it’ll be how Sheedy is moulding the club from within while helping to build awareness for it in the marketplace.
There is an extra twist here. Sheedy undoubtedly feels as though he has unfinished business in the AFL having stumbled in his final years at Windy Hill.
His legend will only multiply should he help build a winning football culture in the region.
As for the code, they must be doing somersaults at AFL house.
According to News Limited, an AFL official said: “This is a match made in heaven. He is unbelievably excited about taking this on. Others would be daunted walking into rugby league heartland, but he is jumping out of his skin.”
Who can blame them for their excitement?
This is exactly what the code needed for its western Sydney adventure.
Congratulations to all involved.
It could be a defining moment in the AFL’s quest for the west.
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megatron said | November 9th 2009 @ 6:56am | Report comment
Massive news. Makes complete sense. Will pay huge dividends IMO.
Pete said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
I think the Rees government has finally nailed the last nail in the NSW Labor Government’s coffin. How can we upset our core voters (aka RL supporters)? I know lets show public support for the AFL expanding into the RL heartland!! WTF?
I’m a League and Union fan, but I know how much of a legend Sheedy is in AFL. I think its a brilliant move to get interest and discussion around the Western Sydney bid. AS an innocent bystander its appears the AFL rarely put a foot wrong in their expansion plans…
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:11am | Report comment
It’s a good fit.
Tom Hafey, who never liked too much “finessing”, would always remind Sheeds when he was coming up with too many grand ideas: Sheeds, don’t forget that you’re just a plumber!!
It’s worthwhile noting that both the NRL and AFL premiership coaches this year were once sparkies (but I guess, once a sparkie, always a sparkie)
BigAl said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:04am | Report comment
Actually it was ” finessin’ ” that Tommy didn’t like too much of ! – the letter ‘g’ just wasn’t in his alphabet.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Big Al
heh heh – you are absolutely right there!!
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
And I thought “Grooky” was in his blood….
~~~~~~~
KB
BigAl said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
KB . . . that’s pretty well on the mark, what with his instigating of the AFL Idigenous round etc.
In fact, you would be a perfect fit on Sheed’s staff in this new Western Sydney venture, being the the nations leading expert on Grooky !
. . . could be a nice little retirement earner for you.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:46am | Report comment
Imagine The World Game headlines
AFL’s phoney war on Football is over
Forget SEN, Forget CH7 the AFL have declared open warfare on Football by stealing KB. First the kids and now their grand dads departing has sent the FFA deep into crisis talks.
KB tried to play down his switch saying he played Mangroky a couple of times as a kid and had achieved all his goals as a football supporter
“I had seen the boys qualify for the world cup and the birth of the A league, I was ready for a new challenge… plus by moving back to Sydney I can see SFC play their ACL games”
Ben Buckley former AFL man now head of the FFA was unavailable for comment.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
Haffy, Sheedy, Koala Bear — three cranky old men — how could this SW Marn Grooky coup go wrong ?
Dispense with Buckley get Sepp Blatter on the phone this is an emergency — the whole FIFA organisation could crumble when this hits the world news…
Maybe he (KB) could be swayed to change his mind with an offer of a newly proposed Mirvac 25 storey Penthouse at Docklands and a place on the coaching staff to over see the new Hearts FC Franchise win the treble and to go on and defeat Man U in the FIFA world club cup championships — stay turne lads
~~~~~~~
KB
Michael B said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:13am | Report comment
I think the title is a bit misleading – It should read – “Sheedy signing exactly what the West Sydney AFL Franchise needs”
Not many locals in West Sydney would know who Kevin Sheedy is, but he’ll bring some personality and character with him, which should ensure that he gets decent air time in the media leading up to their inaugural first game.
What I find surprising is why other Melbourne clubs looked past him as the head coach position, if he’s such a legend?
Freud of Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
It doesn’t particularly matter if the West Sydney locals know who Kevin Sheedy is right now, they will once he’s had a bit of time, he isn’t one to sit around and twiddle his thumbs.
This is like that AFL Official said and a few have already concurred, “a match made in heaven”. Sheedy will be great because he will be drumming up support long before the first ball is bounced in West Sydney, he’ll be able to build the anticipation unlike any other coach or media team available and before there is even a team there will be a club with Sheedy.
I also wouldn’t anticipate that he will be in the role for more than a couple of years and that they won’t win a flag under him. I can see him bringing a former player on board (perhaps the Canberra lad James Hird) as an assistant and while he breeds the culture, setting up his assistant to take the club to the glory a few years afterwards.
I’m often quick to criticise administrator’s but this is one of the finest moves I’ve seen in a long time.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Hird would be a good move. Potentially groom him as senior coach once sheedy moves on. Or utilise his brains as a board member. Need to fill off field positions as well as on field with as much NSW/ACT talent as possible. Ex Manly CEO was also a masterstroke.
megatron said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
I don’t think Hird has the personality or charisma like a Sheedy
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:46am | Report comment
No he doesn’t, hence why he has not been recruited…yet…. I am not saying he should be there in place of Sheeds…of course not. But he is a legend of the game. A smart man, a likeable man…and a Canberra product. Makes sense…
Freud of Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
Hird doesn’t need the charisma, that is what Sheedy is for, to groom the club, Hird for mine to bring them success on the field, capitilsing on Sheedy’s role as mentor.
Michael B said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Oh here we go… Once Messiah Sheedy speaks all the non believers will convert.. they will all see the light… please..
amused said | November 9th 2009 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
exactly. i vaguely know who this guy is. and i am somewhat familiar with AFL.
try saying the above article to someone from the western suburbs who could care less about it.
the equivalent would be to claim, “wally lewis coaches melbourne storm, watch melbourne go nuts over league”. nope, never happen.
enujoy your time in sydney Kevin.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:33am | Report comment
MB
it’s a fair question- I gues clubs rarely look to blokes over 60 as an answer to their problems (a view that unfortunately is replicated right across society in a variety of contexts).
It’s worth remembering that Barass had been out of the game for about 4 seasons, and was over 60 when the Swans came knocking on his door – and that ultimately led to the Swans finding their way out of what were quite dark times – and not necessarily because of what Barass did for them on the training track.
Just to echo your views, you’ll note that I refer to Hafey above, and as it happens, soon after writing that I heard an interview with Hafey on ABC radio.
He supports the idea of Sheeds as coach, but generally speaking is not enthusiastic about a 2nd team in Sydney.
Of course Hafey too had a successful stint in Sydney, but most importantly became a big League fan as a result of that – it’s understandable that he’d have reservations about trying to take on too much in Sydney.
Michael B said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
Pip – so what ur saying is that he’s not actually there for his coaching, but rather to drum up support for the club. He’s obviously too old to be a good coach.. sounds like another PR excercise
Gatto Nero said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:55am | Report comment
Why does everyone assume that once you’re over 60 you’d be a poor coach? There are a heap of older blokes managing successful sporting clubs overseas. Australia = ageist much?
AndyRoo said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
That also puzzles me.
In The AFL they have a lot of teams like Fremantle, Demons and Richmond that are struggling and you think they would all be falling over themselves to get an experienced coach but they all want the next young thing…I guess that has been successful for Geelong and Brisbane though.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
Michael B
Almost.
I think he will put structures in place – and that will have important long term benefits.
But it’s a three year contract, and if I understand things correctly, only the 3rd year will coincide with one full year of AFL footy, basically the debut season in 2012.
So would summarise it as a mixture of what you just said, and a mixture of laying the foundations for someone to take over in the future.
A parallel might be Cahill coaching Port for the first two years in the AFL – which was about as good an opening two years as anyone could have expected.
Jason Cave said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:13am | Report comment
Imagine what would happen if Kevin Sheedy takes Western Sydney to its first-ever AFL premiership. It would be one of Sheedy’s finest moments-and a huge dagger struck at the heart of the NRL.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:33am | Report comment
Jase
it’s an unlikely scenario.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Melbourne storm are proof that is not exactly true. The area hosts 4 league teams, odds are good one of them will be doing well so it will take more than winning to be succesful.
Also if you really want to hurt the NRL make sure they don’t get the $10 and post at
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/04/the-last-word-on-the-code-wars/
instead. If the NRL get their hands on that $10 who knows what damage they could do to the AFL.
On a serious note it will be interesting how Sheedy is treated by the Sydney media. He is very Melbourne but I think he is canny enough to change a little. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few hacks try and set him up to have a go at rugby league.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Damn – I forgot to exclude organisations!
Robbos said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
About the same affect as Melbourne Storm winning the NRL premiership had on the heartland of AFL.
I agree On Sheedy’s appointment, most in Sydney don’t know who he is, but to the Sydney media, he would definitely have the highest profile AFL Coach in Sydney & very similar to the affect of the appointment of Barassi for the Swans all those years ago. It will give West Sydney a voice, an ambassador, a high profile AFL person in the media.
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
If the Swans premiership wasn’t a dagger in the heart of the NRL, why would this team’s be?
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
swans are based in an afl area, WS isnt
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:48am | Report comment
that makes it even less likely
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:19am | Report comment
interesting you say “swans are based in an afl area”
I guess either it’s a recognition that there always has been small pockets of Aust Footy surviving (if not thriving!!) in Sydney,
and that the Swans have a loyal South Melbourne ‘bloods’ contingent in AFL ‘heartland’ in Melbourne to ‘boost’ the numbers,
both of which GWS will be without.
Which is why, I guess – one would have to suggest that a merge of a traditional Melb team into GWS at some point within the first 10-15 years must be inevitable…….it provides a ‘cushion’ re memberships etc, as well as an ‘away’ following when playing in Melbourne.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
M1tch may have been referring to the fact that the Swans draw plenty of support from places like Paddington, Darlinghurst and Surrey Hills.
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
yeh, afl is popular in the rich areas ie: eastern and north
and more socially acceptable, flavour on the month
why roosters struggle for a base
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
I don’t know if that is a good idea. Worked well for the Swans and Lions to have some support here in melbourne, but for the new teams, I would think people would want them to be 100% QLD and NSW respectively…not “another failed Melbourne team”. They need to identify with this team, hence they should be filled with as many local products both on and off the field.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Good point – the truth is that whether we’re talking about the Storm, or Swans, or whoever – it’s a mighty big heart and a very small dagger – the loss of a couple of drops of blood never hurt anyone.
megatron said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Don’t start talking premierships folk as that is near impossible. Sheedy’s true value will be with the media in building awareness and in an ambassadorial role in the region building the popularity of the game. This is a masterstroke signing
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Well the dream is over, we (Rugby League) is screwed. How will we recover from this? How will we recover from the WS18 franchise signing a former coach?
Lets follow news lts and jump ship to something else.
megatron said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Huh? No one has suggested this is the death of the NRL.
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
check news ltd papers
megatron said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Got ya
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Gawd – I love the NewsLtd stirring the pot reporting of this :
DT AFL coup will rock NRL
with language like:
THE phony war is over as the AFL today strikes a deadly blow to NRL heartland
and I’m left wondering whether the phony war was indeed over back when GWS18 was announced,..or, Blacktown oval completed, or K.Hunt signed, or G.Mayer signed or……..
sadly, the Melb HS has gone a little over the top too – - for some reason labelling this a bombshell (really???), and In a blow to rugby league’s heartland and I’m wondering what they won’t describe as a ‘blow’ to Rugby’s ‘heartland’ (which I thought now was somewhere around Suncrop stadium anyway??? (cue Okiee).
In reality – most everyone saw this coming, and we can see a ‘mentor’/apprentice style coaching structure – - – and Sheedy will do fine as a bit of a public face capable of mixing it in the media……..and perhaps buy a nice largish block out at Kellyville??
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Shame on the Daily Telegraph, if your going to claim it’s a war at least use the headline “AFL sends in the Bombers”
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Gawd – how often will we have to read that same headling and opening para?? for the next 20 years??!!
Please God deliver us….
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Maybe Tadgh will be Sheed’s apprentice – and they’ll go with Sydney Celtic afterall???
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Seen what coming M.C, look mate, your boss is turning the AFL into the most hated code in the country, in 5 years time when all of Sydney have shown their disgust at AFL, you will just wander back to VFL and that will be the end of it, What War,
As i said the other day, you are wheeling players back from retirement, now you are wheeling a AFL guy, who to be honest, nobody has a clue who he is in Sydney, thats how popular the sport is, and all the reired Expats living in Sydney dont live in the west. Why is anybody worried, its news media trying to beef up a story for AFL. Big news, the guy is in nappies,.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
Why is it that the Sydney press (particularly News Ltd), make this far bigger than what it was in Melbourne. The AFL would be LOVING the images of Sheeds splashed accross the front page of the dailytelegraph.com.au site this morning and early this afternoon, hundreds of comments etc. Kevin who? the NRL masses ask….well they know now…
Gibbo said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
everyone seems pretty supportive of this, however i’d be pretty keen on him having a reasonably big personality working under him in a hands on assistant role… not sure how ol’ sheeds will go at connecting with the 17/18 year old kids the team will be recruiting.
brilliant marketing move though. the man can work the cameras, and would be apt at diffusing any pressure during their first couple seasons…
mossy said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
The only word to describe this is MASSIVE. I go to bed thinking Western Sydney Australkian Football venture is doomed for disaster, I awake with this news and I am now starting to warm to the idea.
Kevin Sheedy will bond with Greater Western Sydney, he is the AFL equivalent of Tommy Raudonikis (plus brains), which means that Team GWS no becomes relevant to the potential fan base. A tough uncompromising player, and as a coach, one who is saturated in charisma. That’s where the similarity ends (except the fact that they do share some similar facial features if you have a good imagination and an empty cask of ‘goon). For Sheedy is coaching brilliance personified and is the perfect match for the bid. He will bring credibility to what would seem on the surface as un-credible hope where it would seem hopeless, and a bond in the un-bondable – it is, as many of Sheedy’s past feats – a masterstroke.
Will it bring initial success on the field? Doubt it. Will it bring fans to the game? Perhaps. Will it mean the difference between immediate flop and longevity? Without a shadow of a doubt.
This decision rubber stamps the future of Team GWS. And as a Swans fan, i am starting to like the sound of the – Battle of Sydney – Bring it on!
AGO74 said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:18am | Report comment
It’s true that it’s a good appointment in terms of profile as Kevin Sheedy has some (but a still very small) name recognition here in Sydney. As for Sheedy the coach, I am no AFL expert so please feel free to correct me – but didn’t his team struggle over the last 5 or so years at Essendon? If so, could a case be made that perhaps his coaching days have past and that the case could instead be more sensible to put him in there as a Director of football/Technical Director or even just as a glorified Marketing Manager to get out there amongst the people of West Sydney with perhaps a younger coach with either more recent success and/or talent in there??
Having said all that, I still can’t to see how West Sydney thing is going to materialise into something sustainable for the AFL. Swans have been around for 25 years or so and despite their 05/06 success are still relatively second-class citizens in this city.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
People don’t want to interview the director of footballl though…they want the Coach.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
AGO
2nd class is good enough!!
Sheeds coached the Bombers for something like 27 season (not sure of the exact number), for 4 premierships, 3 runners-up and a few other semi final appearances, and even with a relatively average final 5 years, still ended up with a 60+ win percentage.
It’s not a bad coaching record all round.
Now to be honest, personally, I wouldn’t describe him as charasmatic, but he grabs head lines, he’s good for a quote and he does have a history of being innovative.
Indeed, the modern trend where something like 16 players are capable of rotating through the midfield probably started with him back in the mid 80s when he really pushed hard for complete adaptability and flexibility in his players.
And in fact I can recall die-hard bomber fans whinging loudly that Sheeds would never play someone in the one position.
Gibbo said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
i wouldn’t want him coaching my club though.
purely marketing, surely?
AGO74 said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
I’m not doubting his success over his whole career, but as that great sporting cliche goes “you are only as good as your last game”, his record over the last 5 years at Essendon was pretty ordinary. i can think of many coaches across many forms of sport who were very successful but eventually faded out.
As for the 2nd class, I don’t think that will work from the AFL’s perspective as it seems that aside from trying to grow the game etc, a lot of the higher level strategy behind this is that by having these extra teams that the TV $$$ will go up but not many people in those existing markets with established teams are already watching. TV ratings for Swans matches usually runs last in its limeslot against the otehr commercial channels. it’s not unknown for “The Iron Chef” to beat it!
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
The Iron Chef is quite a good show.
I think that applies when Sydney isn’t playing.
I think the idea is that you have at least one live game in Sydney every round, plus 2 of 9 games involving a Sydney team on tele, and ultimately, that might help with ratings.
That’s the long term strategy.
The current large TV right deal (in fact all the deals going back a decade) have, in part, been underpinned by having a team in Sydney and Brisbane.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Not sure what the Oron Chef gets but Sydney TV figures are
This season the average audience for Swans games in Sydney is 109,000, down from 122,500 viewers last season. This is a 21 per cent drop on the 2006 average of 154,500.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
1 AFL team swans in NSW…say 109k average?
9 NRL teams in Sydney (not including Newcastle and Canberra), should average about a 1 million viewers? hardly. Not even 500k average (when you compare FTA and Foxtel). Swans are punching above their weight and doing just fine. New team will increase aggregate, if not the average.
There are countless NRL games on Fox on Saturday nights that also get beaten beaten by Iron Chef.
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
i had 86k for swans games
AGO74 said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:34am | Report comment
When AFL is up against Iron Chef it is when Swans are playing as non-Sydney matches on Channel 10 don’t come on until silly hours. Coming last in ratings in Sydney (not sure about Brisbane figures?) is not the reason for large TV deal. The current large TV deal is down to its popularity in Vic, SA, WA and TAS. It is also as much to do with a death bed battle of ego that Kerry Packer had with Channel 7 to make them pay through the nose and the AFL was the lucky recipient.
Interesting to note of talk behind the scenes here in Sydney about Channel 7 making a big play for NRL when it is next up. If true, I wonder what impact that would have on the AFL rights? It would be massive for NRL as last time out Channel 9 was the only commercial bidder.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:43am | Report comment
NRL rights are up a year after the AFL ones I believe…and there has been plenty of murmur in the media about AFL makign moves….getting in before NRL…we await with interest…
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
7 is more wanting Origin as it rates the best, they prefer afl though so I doubt they go for regular rounds
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
He is a good coach, a knowledgable man and very media savvy.
But he’s an evangelist.
He’ll need to keep his rhetoric down if he’s not to piss off the RL/futbol/RU fans. Sydney fans are prone to groupthink. If the ‘vibe’ is that this is an upstart club with ideas above its station and that AFL is out to steal children then there won’t be popular support.
A big part of the Swans’ success has come from not spooking the animals, keeping it low key. That’s the strategy that Team GWS needs to implement.
Sheedy needs to bear that in mind.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
That’s a good point – very true.
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
ah,……stealing children…….I was watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with my kids on 7two yesterday……and so Sheedy is cast in the role of king of Vulgaria perhaps????
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
I”ve just caught the video on the DT of Sheeds’ interview – and he appears to have got off on the right foot, e.g. a humbling experience, a challenge to start a club from scratch – to break the idea once and for all that Australian football is all about Melbourne.
One interesting point – he’ll be scouring for players all around NSW – and from the Pacific rim – interesting that he would mention that specifcally.
Australian football is for all Australians – including all those who live in Western Sydney – including all those recent arrivals to Australia – all should feel that they are part of it.
Firestarter Bob said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Sheedy is an AFL evangalist. He is exactly what won’t work in selling AFL to Sydney’s west.
The only people who think this is a good strategy are those who are already AFL fans, especially in Melbourne. It’s a great move to sell the GWS to existing AFL fans, but he brings nothing in terms of attracting non-AFL people.
If anything, his shoving AFL down people’s throats in Sydney’s west will just p*ss every one off.
Redb said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
What about you wait and see.
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
I love the comment where someone said, Sheedy has grown the code wherever he has coached, ??? What in Melbourne Heartland, and the Expat Victorians in Sydney, thats like saying i sold coffee to Nescafe. Laughable. He is nothing more than a tiny little fish, in a huge pond. And that pond is NRL, we will eat you suckers alive.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
And the tiny little fish has already got the paranoid NRL followers like you Oikee on to the comments boards across all online sources. 82 news articles on this according to Google news. Will be over a hundred tomorrow…Face splashed allover the Daily Tele…love it!
albatross said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Frankly I don’t think that western Sydney needs an evangelist who thinks the centre of the universe is Melbourne and that AFL is anything more than trivial in a global context.
Typical Sheedy quote :
“Would have liked to the see the Bullies in the finals, West Coast. St Kilda is really exciting. I’d love to see St Kilda play Sydney Swans in the Grand Final.”
He’s an old bloke who will say anything that comes into his head. A sort of avuncular Wilson Tuckey. As with Greenspan – Mexicans haven’t got a clue what he means most of the time, but they are afraid to call him on it. He won’t have that luxury in Sydney.
I’ve asked this before – I don’t understand how a fully professional team playing at a 10k capacity suburban oval with poor public transport can be expected to be viable.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
I would have thought 10k in Sydney is the norm?
Firestarter Bob said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Because it won’t be playing in Blacktown! It will play out of ANZ at Homebush. Last time I looked, Homebush was not part of the Blacktown Council area.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Where does it say that they have to play out of blacktown. If they pack the blacktown oval game after game, then they can move accross to ANZ. Which the the AFL now effectively owns thanks to Mike Fitzpatricks group
John Ryan said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:04pm | Report comment
What excuse are you going to use when they dont
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:10am | Report comment
I thought they were going to play at Homebush.
megatron said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
That’s the V8 Supercars
albatross said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
In Wikipedia and all the local rags they say it will be BOP as the home ground. And the BCC and its imbecilic mayor think the home ground is BOP.
If they play out of Homebush it will not be a western Sydney team. It will be for the chinless wonders of the NawShaw and limp-wristed milquetoasts of the nearby “innerwest”.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:56am | Report comment
On the GWS website it says
Over the next two years, AFL home and away matches will continue to be played at ANZ Stadium along with exciting preseason matches and special fixtures at Blacktown and Rouse Hill.
Note that pre seasons matches will be exciting….already filling their site with bs
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
I ain’t ever seen too many exciting pre-season games!!
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
It would certianly be a point of difference for West Sydney team in the AFL though if their pre season games were full on.
The only team in the world in any code to take pre season more seriously than the real stuff…. that would have to be worth some press
Sheedy ” I will be resting our stars from round 21 and 22, I know some traditionalists will be upset because we only need one win to make the finals but I can’t afford for them to pick up an injury before pre season starts”
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Not even sure that there will be a pre-season with the extra teams and 24 rounds….not in its current NAB Cup format anyway.
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Nobody even knew AFL had a pre-season.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
Oikee
no one knows – you’re right – but these damn sponsors keep wanting to throw millions of dollars at the AFL to perservere with it – it’s crazy!!
We keep saying to these firms – keep you’re money – we don’t want it – but they won’t listen!!
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment
I know you’re being flippant, Pip… but they won’t be playing out of Blacktown. That venue is far too small to support an AFL club. It has almost minimal revenue-generating capacity.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:23am | Report comment
I don’t really know – except that the capacity at Blacktown will probably be closer to the mark than the capacity at Homebush!!
To be honest, if they could increase the capacity at Blacktown to about 18,000 – that would probably do them for many, many years.
albatross said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
BCC have spent a huge amount of money with great amounts of fanfare – just to provide a training facility and admin centre it seems.
I am at a loss to understand why ratepayers funds should have been used for this. I can’t see much revenues coming into the city because of this. The players and staff will no doubt commute from more salubrious areas and spend their money nearer home.
A 10k seat (round) stadium is worse than useless. Too big for school sports and too small for anything worthwhile. What were they thinking?
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Wasn’t the NSW Cricket Assoc also involved? And didn’t the AFL contribute funds as well?
More importantly, an AFL club brings in revenue of $30 mill+ per annum – so it’s a significant empployer and business in its own right.
albatross said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
It’s stuck out in the middle of nowhere really:
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=blacktown+olympic+park&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=39.500978,79.189453&ie=UTF8&cd=1&hq=blacktown+olympic+park&hnear=&ll=-33.771308,150.854656&spn=0.004504,0.009667&t=h&z=17
I wouldn’t expect much revenue for Blacktown City.
This is from the BCC site: http://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/blacktown-olympic-park-upgrade.cfm
What a motley crew in the photo: Andrew Demetriou, Councillor Leo Kelly, OAM, NSW Premier, Morris Iemma,, Minister for Western Sydney, Diane Beamer and Cricket NSW Chairman – Bob Horsell.
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
You’re sounding a little try hard in your negativity.
however, moving past that, would you say that…..
if spending money at the Blacktown Olympic Park precinct is a really bad idea…..then, it’s a continuation of such given it’s development for the 2000 Olympics.
Did you have the same objections 10 years ago?
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
The people of BCC certainly have the right to voice their opinion one way or the other.
It’s interesting to note what the Mayor originally said about the concept and his transformational goals he held for the project – it terms of the long term good it would bring the area.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Blacktown don’t have their own NRL Team, 20/20 team, Super Rugby team or A league team. Good on em for grabbing a top level sporting team …even if it isn’t that popular in the area. At least it’s something.
Before Sheedy’s TV bit on Fox Sports at lunch today I had never seen anyone wearing a “I love Blactown” t shirt.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
AndyRoo
this is precisely what I mean about the transformational objectives of the original council that took the decision.
Dogs Of War said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:41pm | Report comment
It certainly helped his career in local govt. He got booted next election.
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
AFL and Cricket NSW both contributed funds plus NSW state govt and it’s a BCC facility!!
The venue has already hosted national junior championship matches and will next year host a NAB Cup game – - let alone that Cricket NSW have plans for usage.
It was obviously seen as a black hole facility wise that has been filled…..and it’s a BCC facility.
Remember, the 10,000 capacity IS NOT seating…..there’s about 1500 seats in a single ’stand’, and the rest is embankmant ’space’….but, there are plans available for a phase 2 which would get to being around a 20,000 seater boutique venue……whether transport etc would allow that to function sufficiently is another question. Thus, at present – - it is perfect for school sports.
btw – players tend to prefer not to have to commute too greatly and will most often live at least in the region they train at. No different to most people though…….
…..however, does the West Sydney region reject a doctor or lawyer who lives up in the hills and commutes to their practice? Does West Sydney region reject school teachers or super market managers who commute in from more salubrious areas????
Michael B said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Capacity is not the only factor at play here. You need a stadium that caters for corporates. Not sure whether Blacktown has these facilities.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
That’s true – it probably doesn’t right now.
Rob said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:20pm | Report comment
At the moment it has a shared corporate area like the long room at the SCG, but no private boxes…I know cos I helped design It.
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:22am | Report comment
Rob
then you should be able to tell what prospects it has to be ugraded in capacity?
albatross said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:04am | Report comment
So are you one of those responsible or the razing of some of the remnant Cumberland Plains flora on the site?
Rob said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Michael C has the numbers correct re expansion. 20 000 seats max.
It cant realistically go any larger than that because as Albatross points out it is adjacent to a remnant Cumberland Woodland. Yes a small amount of trees were cleared but they are being replaced at a 3 to 1 ratio in the area previously degraded by Integral energy.(down by the creek) And you will be pleased to know no Cumberland Frogs were harmed.
Transport is crap at the moment but the train line and expressway are right next door so its a good site strategically
The only hurdle really is AFL’s will….they seem to be going soft on it already. I think ultimately it will end up as a training venue. There is space allowed for a clubhouse etc.
James W said | November 9th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
It’s been officially confirmed now. Good luck, Kevin.
Mark Young from Liverpool said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:01am | Report comment
This venture to Western Sydney is destined to fail because it is being started for the wrong reason.
The AFL wants to be the dominant code in Australia and so has decided to put a team in Western Sydney. There is no groundswell of support in Western Sydney demanding an AFL team (like there is in Tasmania), rather the team is being placed because AFL reckons they need it to have the biggest and best code in Australia.
Sorry to inject some reality in here you clowns BUT YOU ARE the biggest code in Australia!!! And you didn’t need Western Sydney to get there!!! The best code is an arguement that could go on for decades but the biggest is undisputably you lot.
You are sticking a team in an area that doesn’t want them, that will support them half assed, will ultimately flush your money down the toilet and worst of all take your best players away from the people that actually want to see them.
Furthermore, how on earth is this team going to improve your enjoyment of the game?
Do any Geelong fans stay up at night freaking out that they didn’t really win a premiership since they didn’t beat Gold Coast or Western Sydney? Of course not. Just as when the mighty Wests Tigers won their Premiership is 2005 I didn’t get cold sweats about how the code didn’t have adequate representation in the Southern States. The huge numbers of people turning up at the MCG aren’t stinging to see Western Sydney, they want to see their teams playing the old rivals, not cycnically created franchises.
When you put a team in an area just becuase you think you need a team there ‘for the good of the game’ not because of a ground sweel of fan support, you end up looking stupid. The Melbourne Storm have been the best team in League for a decade, have the biggest stars in the game and a brilliant, laconic, coach. They can barely get 10′000 to each game. Get ready to see human nature repeat this exercise on a more expensive scale.
Finally, is anyone commenting on this page who reckons that the venture is going to work actually FROM Western Sydney?
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
The AFL are pumping millions into West Sydney becuase they can see from an economic perspective, that it will make sense in the long term. Sysney swans took a decade and a half to get going. The swans get better crowds then any NSW based NRL team you care to name, and their TV audiences, per capita (1 NSW team vs 11 NRL teams) is also superior.
This team could take 25 years (i.e. a generation). The AFL aren’t stupid, (well perhaps less stupid that the NRL, ARU and FFA). They got the cash and they want to grow the game, Is it a risk? Hell yes…but the rewards in the decades to come will be worth it…much to your dissapointment obviously.
AGO74 said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment
The difference between the Swans and West Sydney is that a lot of supporters in Sydney of NRL, rugby or football even if they don’t like the AFL can at least have some respect for the Swans because of what they’ve achieved over the years. In short, they’ve tried to fit into the marketplace and not take over it and for that most people were happy to celebrate their successes. Whether or not the AFL is trying to ‘fit in’ or ‘takeover’ West Sydney the overwhelming feeling out there is that West Sydney as arrogant and hostile – basically that Sydney people are being told they don’t know what’s best for them. People don’t like that and therefore are hostile to it (could you imagine if NRL tried something like that in Melbourne?!?!) and whilst I think Kevin Sheedy is potentially very good from a charisma perspective (though I doublt his recent coaching on recent years) I echo the sentiments of others on this blog that he has to be very careful not to be evangelical in his style otherwise, it will if ianything increase the antagonism towards them.
And what of the Sydney Swans in all this – what is happening to them?!?! where do they fit in all of this? They are still not first class citizens even after good success and a long time here in Sydney.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Lets wait and see. As has been mentioned elsewhere on this thread..if its doen correctly (and I don’t think the AFL want to be number 1 in NSW….just have more of a presence), then I think its absolutely the correct decision to do this. The ARU were gutless when the awarded the Super 14 licence to perth over Melbourne. The AFL have guts….give them credit for that.
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Sir Humphrey Appleby: I think this is a courageous decision, Mr Demtrieou.
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
the AFL has money, simple as that
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
where’s the arrogance and hostility coming from??? (hint : the desks of the Daily Telegraph)
who’s telling people they don’t know what’s best for them??
btw -
AFL having a ‘win’ with GWS need not necessarily mean that there are any losers…….least of all the NRL.
I think some people confuse ‘win’ with ‘monopoly’ and ‘absolute dominance’. 2 teams in all of NSW is never going to be the market winner.
The Swans are a ‘win’ – - – have they caused widespread mahem in NRL circles?? Are they dominant in the market place??
Firestarter Bob said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Who’s telling people they don’t know what’s best for them?? Every Victorian.
Mark Young from Liverpool said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
Hi James
It isn’t going to be my disappointment becuase like most other people in Western Sydney I won’t care if the new team succeeds or fails. It just won’t come up on my radar. I care about League and only watch AFL when my Swan supporting friend comes over. Heck I got married on Grand Final day last year and he was the only one at the entire wedding who seemed to notice!
And if they succeed I will be very happy for them. Although it will be an almighty slap in the face to all the real AFL fans who have been supporting their team since they went to windy wet Waverly oval (Yes I did read your peice Pip) that a made up artificial creation given all the money and assistance they need is beating the real teams.
People aren’t stupid, they know when they are having something imposed around them because in your words ‘they can see from an economic perspective’. What an embarassment that AFL has fans in Tasmania pleading for a team and instead you are going to spend your cash and waste your best players up here because of an economic perspective??
Put it another way. They aren’t likely to enjoy as much on field success as the Melbourne Storm are they? And Melbourne folk are much better fans then Sydney people aren’t they? So are the Storm starting to win over Melbourne? I didn’t think so.
So if you think that even in 25 years time that the Western Sydney team will be a roaring success the like of the Big Melbourne teams let me know since I have a bridge I want to sell you.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
Paragraph 1. Mark, I think you do care, otherwise you would not be on here having a rant.
Paragraph 2. I support one of those crap teams…Melbourne Demons…thankfully, the AFL have fixed the stadium issue with MCG and Etihad, so the biggest financial headache has been fixed. The AFL is nothing if not a socialist system, so they will do their best to protect all existing 16 clubs. But the facts are that some clubs will always have more support then others.
Paragraph 3. The Northern Territory is perhaps even more deserving of a team in the AFL. More Northern Territorians play Aussie Rules (per capita) then any other state or territory. And there are more Northern Territorians in the AFL per capita then any other state or territory. But their population is just too small to support an AFL team. Tassie is officially next cab of the rank, and who knows in 20 or 30 years time Darwin could have a team too.
Paragraph 4. Yes, Melbournians are great sporting fans. But let me tell you something about the storm…they bleed money….reported to be at least 5 million a year. They pay pocket change to use Olympic Park. The new stadium better bring in some more support, otherwise, when News ltd pulls out, they could be doomed. They could be doomed either way if melbourne get a Super 15 team. But in any case, the the AFL will continue to pump money into Western Sydney. So while I agree with you that it will loose money in the short term, i think we shouls adopt a lets wait and see approach before we rush to quick decisions. Personally, i think it will ultimately prove successfull…and it it all comes crashing down, then I will say I was wrong.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
James
The Storm lose money but operational wise would be close to making a profit. It’s only because they spend so much money promoting the code that they lose money, money that News limited is prepared to give them.
It would be the same as saying that the 200m sent in West Sydney is attributed to the GWS team. That would be a loss of 20 plus million each year for their first 10 years!
The AFL don’t do that though and spend the money directly, something very hard for the NRL to do under it’s current structure. Latest news is the QRL don’t want to give up their origin cash cow and are standing in the way of reform.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Once the independent NRL commission comes in, the QRL’s and ARL’s and all the other xRL’s will have their powers limited. When the John Howard news was announced, there was a lot of hoopla, that he would lead, and the commission would be in place next year. Well Johhny is not going to lead, and not sure if the commission will be in place next year…but by the sounds of things they certainly need one…
Mark Young from Liverpool said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
“Paragraph 1. Mark, I think you do care, otherwise you would not be on here having a rant.”
Got me there!!!!!!!!
Correct me if I read it wrong, but from the rest of what you wrote we are in agreement?
The real teams are the soul of the sport?
There are many other areas of Australia who deserve a team more then Western Sydney?
The Storm are failures?
Also, (And I don’t want this to sound sarcastic because it really isn’t) how are we going to define success?
If the team is still there in 50 years, does that alone make it a success? Are we going to measure success by the number of flags they win? Number of times in the finals? Number of bums on seats?
What do you think?
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
While there is no definitive measure you can use to define success, I would think it would be growing your supporter base and a few premierships. To that extent, I would define both the Lions and Swans (3 and 1 flag between them, and 30k average crowds) a success.
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
2 schools of thought for WS18.
1. Support for the game is minimal. Support for AFL in general is falling, juniors arent being drafted on a national scale. So it shows how can it be justified is they have to spend 200 million to ‘make’ it work.
2. Growing the game and the pie.
Most people tend to go with the point number 1.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Of course most people go for option 1. This is the safety option….many people in AFL circles will go for that and all NRL supporters will be hoping for option 1.
Option 2 takes a lot of money, risk and guts.
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
as i say, afl has money
John Ryan said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:11pm | Report comment
And of course james you live in Western Sydney and you would know
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Mark
I’m not sure if anyone on this thread has said straight out: it’s going to work.
Most of us would agree with you – that it will drain the AFL coffers for at least the next 20 years.
I put up a quote from Tom Hafey very early in the piece that pretty much agreed with everything you have said.
The fact is that these sorts of stories get our attention, rightly or wrongly – at the time, the Karmichael Hunt story surpassed absolutely everything in terms of sporting interest, not by a little bit, but by a massive margin (in Australia).
Of course, just because we might be interested in these stories is no guarantee of how the two new clubs will go when the time comes.
James said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Karmichael Hunt was THE biggest story in Australian sporting history. Why? Becuase of the massive impact on BOTH codes. All the AFL want to do is get a bit more of the NSW/QLD pie…to maintain and strengthen the grip on the lions share of crowds, TV audience, and ultimately, revenue.
Mark Young says they are the biggest code: Spot on Mark…and they want to keep it that way, hence these investments.
AGO74 said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:53am | Report comment
Pip,
I think they keywords in your statement are “at the time”. On that day and for a day or two afterwards it was a big story, but like anything in this modern age of instant news 24/7 (sport and non-sport), it had been discussed and dissected ad nauseum and the usual hubbub of another fatal blow for NRL etc etc (by the media if not necessarily by the general public) came out. Then the weekend came and everyone’s attention turned back to the NRL matches being played.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Yes – that’s right – I’m essentially agreeing.
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:38pm | Report comment
Good post, everyone knows they are a failure except the AFL.
What do you expect, i am sure a extra 10 thousand will turn up at the G to make them look like a massive sport. Look to be honest, if they did not have the G to fill every 2nd week, the game would be a basketcase. Anyhow, while their propping up 2 dud franchises, the NRL is pumping its way into Millions of homes in the good ole US of A. Cheers suckers.
Redb said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Sheeds is a good fit on many levels.
Many Essendon fans are still disappointed he was removed two years ago. Much of the young list the bombers have today was built by him.
Very good at community engagement. Perfect to bring Pacific Inslanders into the game as he was the first to really push indigenous players in the AFL.
A lateral thinker who is best described as canny.
Redb
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
Hahaha, so when he tells the islanders they have to move away to Perth or NT to play the silly game, ? Matey, you really are clueless redb. The NRL has already covered this issue. And the kids get to play for their country.
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
Blacktown don’t have their own NRL Team, 20/20 team, Super Rugby team or A league team. Good on em for grabbing a top level sporting team …even if it isn’t that popular in the area. At least it’s something.
Before Sheedy’s TV bit on Fox Sports at lunch today I had never seen anyone wearing a “I love Blactown” t shirt.”
theres a pretty good reason why lol
But if they wanted a West Sydney they had no-where else to base it.
If they made it a North west team theyd be number 1 easily
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
I laughed when I saw it. I missed what they were saying so couldn’t tell if they were taking the mickey…. But it did kind of win me over a bit.
Why can’t they have something nice, lets face it no one else is building anything their.
Firestarter Bob said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Nor will Blacktown have an AFL team, except vicariously via the team that plays at Homebush.
It will be like having Geelong play all their home games at the MCG.
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
They cant afford to have Geelong play at the G, nobody would turn up, and the NRL are making a shirt up as we speak, I love Redfern.
yeah rightyoh.
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
actually Geelong play their ‘big’ home games at the G, as, such as hosting Collingwood – - and they tend to get 60K+ (obviously all those mad pies fans willing to pay ‘away’ entrance costs….or who did buy the full 22 game memberships)
In 2010 Geel host 3 matches at the ‘G vs Ess (1), Haw (15) and Coll (19).
prowling panther said | November 9th 2009 @ 5:54pm | Report comment
surely their not playing at 80000 seat ANZ?
What happened to that Blacktown facility?
or is the government building another stadium for them?
albatross said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
The council distributed “I love Blacktown” bumper stickers with this year’s rate notices. I have yet to see one on a car (or even a wheelie bin for that matter).
Even though I have lived here for years, it’s not a place you love. It is hot, dry and dusty and there are no places of real interest. The only redeeming features are the train service and the fact that the area is the hub for the M2, M4 and M7.
Moves to change the LGA’s name to something more generic and representative of the huge area covered by the LGA to something like like “Prospect” and Nurragingy” are resisted by the ALP trogs on council.
The ALP run the area like a pocket borough. It was only when they managed to nominate a candidate at Federal level with a Muslim background that the electorate took umbrage and voted in a Liberal. I mean we even had the colorful Paul Gibson imposed on us and still returned him to state parliament with an increased majority each time.
So when the Einsteins at Blacktown City and the state government come up with another circus to “entertain” us out here we groan and start to feel for our wallets. Over the years we have had Eastern Creek Raceway held up as an economic boost (Ha!), ditto an indoor skiing arena (like they have in Dubai) which never materialised, and even BOC which was a white elephant during the Olympics even (they had to bus local school kiddies in on freebies for some of the softball and baseball games to make up the numbers) has proven to be of no real benefit since – the usage is very low.
BCC pours millions into these “sporting” facilities whilst other services are left to moulder.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
I cant remember how much the oval is costing BCC but when I first saw that I thought it was a huge amount for a training venue, especially one for a team that will be less popular than the Eels u20’s team.
But when you think about it people in Melbourne now consider this a Blacktown team even though they are playing at Homebush. That’s their culture, they got rid of a lot of their suburban grounds and are used to commuting (I guess Melbournes public transport is the best in Australia though). It has put Blacktown on the map
Then there is the fact that where you play is really only relevant on match day. I remember South Sydney were the first in The NRL to realize your players do a lot of press work after training and they were the first to sell advertising for their training shirt.
It’s nothing huge but it’s something.
Not that I really believe it will improve the image of Blacktown, you can dress it up, change the name and market it as much as you want it’s still Blacktown full of people that are from Blacktown…. A poor man’s Greystanes
I now live in brisbane and Logan City wants to change the name because Logan City has a negative image…..it’s not because of the name that it has a negative image and you could call it Super Fantastic Town and it wouldn’t change a thing.
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
If you refer back in time theRoar – What has happened to the Blacktown millions? from March – >
council ($6.75 million), state govt ($15 million) and AFL and Cricket NSW ($2.875 million each).
The State govt provided a grant of $20 mill with 2 parts to it :
$15m to this project,
and
$5m to develop soccer fields between Rooty Hill Road South, and the Western Sydney Orbital.
- – - – and it astounds me that people focus on the AFL so much on a project with equal billing with Cricket NSW……supposedly. I’m curious what use Cricket NSW are getting out of the venue thus far?? (no!, I actually am.)
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
“and it astounds me that people focus on the AFLso much on a project with equal billing with Cricket NSW”
Probably because AFL fans go on and on about it and the AFL itself uses it as a backdrop every month.
It’s nothing but a glorified district cricket oval.
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
here’s a nice picture of the ground. It looks pretty.
http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/photos/blacktown_oval.jpg
Ziggy the God said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
I don’t blame Sheedy for taking a few million to do basically nothing for a few years except try and get a few quotes in the paper. Who wouldn’t do it?
The Sydney media will eat this guy for breakfast, just like they did to McGuire, because unlike the Melbourne press, your career is not over if you say something negative about the AFL in Sydney.
Also, if he was that good a Coach, why hasn’t he been picked up elsewhere?
Bottom line is that it is another publicity stunt by the AFL, behing the KHunt circus act.
So what is going to be the third act, Sheedy saying that women should be allowed to play for GWS…….oh wait……..
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
He’s got a pretty thick hide.
Also – it’s an absolute myth that AFL writers in Melbourne don’t give coaches a hard time – I’m not sure how on Earth anyone could have such a ridiculous idea.
Put it this way, when the Lowy and Buckley announce something at a press conference – the soccer writers clap – that doesn’t happen at an AFL press conference – I can assure you of that.
Ziggy the God said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Myth? How about you tell that to the Female reporter from Brownlow night.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
That’s a completely different situation to a coach facing the media – which is what we are talking about right here.
On that other subject – Caroline Wilson (and others) have given the AFL a serve for hypocrisy.
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
I wouldn’t call it a publicity stunt. Sure, PR and spreading the good word are a big part of his job description but who else could have done a good job as a foundation coach? It’s not like they could hire well-credentialled coaches from overseas or anything. Sheeds is a big name and has credibility within the sport.
Maybe he would have been better suited for a Director of Football role, but he’s still important for this franchise.
Firestarter Bob said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
All this exercise has done is confirm that the AFL, the Melbourne media (Herald-Sun) & the AFL fans on The Roar have completely no idea about how Australian rules is viewed in Sydney’s west.
it also confirms that the Daily Telegraph will twist and turn anyrthing to get a NRL related headline to sell papers & clicks.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
How Australian Football is viewed in Sydney’s West:
1. Suspiciously
2. Deprecatingly
3. Homophobically
4. Disinterestedly
5. Remonstratively
6. All of the above
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
i would say nervous as well..
Because the NRL administration is run like a shambles, and AFL has money and plenty of it.
Republican said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
Sheeds is an old campaigner with some nous.
He will realise after a couple of seasons that Canberra will have to be honoured with a team and push to re locate the GWS franchise to the nations capital, the symbolic heartland of our indigenous code
Cheers
cuzybros cuz said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
so the AFL has put a coach into rugby league heartland who hates if not detests rugby league. Not real smart. people will and can see through him.
albatross said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
What are his views on the posh version of Rugby?
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
The AFL are bedwetters for Rugby Union, they are getting into the Private schools because they have run out of Giraffes to play the game, i seen one the other day in a wheel-chair telling all and sundry he is making a comeback because their is no talent left for 18 clubs. All we are going to see is a AFL with juniors running around, be like amatuer chess.
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
Thats the thing, the Australian public see right through anything AFL, the only people who beleive their own press is Melbourne. Until they change their attatudes, they will never move outta Melbourne, which is the way everyone North of Melbounre see’s their game. VFL is alive and strong, not for much longer, Soccer Rugby and league are starting to gobble them up, its alarming at what speed now.
Kurt said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:13pm | Report comment
Oikee’s right, it’s pretty much all over for the AFL – tiny crowds, dwindling TV ratings and now this doomed venture into WS. Pretty soon things will get so bad Oikee will find a second grandmother who likes Billy Slater, having quoted the first one in every single AFL or league centred debate on The Roar in the past month!
Simmo said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
Oikee throws petrol on the fire
BigAl said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
He also should go back to school.
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
Back to school?? i am at school everyday, i visit the roar site. Its like Bikies trying to teach kindergarden on here. My poles bigger than yours, my sport is better so here is a team, follow it like religion. Mate, every man and his dog, even Demetriuo knows he made a massive blue moving into west Sydney, problem is, if he pulled the plug now, he would be laughed outta town.
Rugby, Soccer and league are walking into the south, we are gobbling up support left right and centre, because every code has internationals, and they dont brainwash the public.
Like a Melbourne Grandmother said the other day, ” I love Billy Slater, he is the best athlete i have ever seen, and damm the AFL for trying to keep rugby league hidden from the public.” Obviously a collingwood supporter.
BigAl said | November 9th 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Hmmmmh! . . . ok! . . . well maybe you should try another school !
Brian said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
You Sydneysiders should be happy. For 25 years us Mexicans will be overpaying at the ticket box, AFL players will be underpaid, Tasmanians will be without a team and ads will be longer than necessary on TV all to pay for a team no one cares about. I think the AFL (and FFA) are underestimating the difficulty of a second team in the same town where people already have access to the product. Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Gold Coast United, they’ve all been average at best. The NRL are still never to put a second team in Brisbane nor the ARU in Sydney.
Mark Young said | November 9th 2009 @ 5:52pm | Report comment
Spot on Brian
agga78 said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
Success depends on how many expat Victorians, South and West Aussies live in West Sydney, Unlike the Gold Coast who we all know have thousands of older expat Victorians to make the club viable do Western Sydney. If you look at the Fitzroy Brisbane lions and South Melbourne Swans they both get fantastic crowds, but can barely beat SBS in the ratings, how is this possible, it must come down to the expats going to games while the rest of the state could not give a flying you know what about the club or the game, but somehow some muppet paid $700 million for the tv rights, the biggest con job in history.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
It was actually $780 mill for 5 years.
James W said | November 9th 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Just watched highlights of Sheedy’s press conference on Fox and I was very impressed. The way he spoke, what he said, the conviction that he said it with – very impressive. This is such a great move.
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
What happened to all the bloggers, run outta puff already on the Sheedy story. I will tell you one thing, the teams in GC and WSyd are still years away from starting up, by the time they get here, it will be a non event, pretty much like this story.
prowling panther said | November 9th 2009 @ 6:20pm | Report comment
What the hell is wrong with News limited. Reading their articles one would think all of Syndey’s NRL teams were about to die and the Panthers, Eels and Tigers were about to convert to the AFL. The poll question is Is Kevin Sheedy the man to win over the NRL heartland of western Sydney? So either the west sydney team will fail or thrash RL to death.
The quality of articles on this site is adequate for a 9 year old. the DT is worse than a current affair/today tonight on tv. I can’t understand why people buy these papers. Fairfax media is yonks ahead for quality of journalism…
So yea, a sidetrack but I encourage all to never pick up a NEWS publication for the rest pf your life. Hopefully they will die and therfore improve our quality of life.
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 6:53pm | Report comment
Yer its nonsence …. the NRL will continue as before, no-ones going to die and both codes will grow.
Sells papers though … sort of like Britney Spears.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:17pm | Report comment
Panther,
I wouldn’t worry too much — the crowds they will attract will all fit in your Titan Garage
~~~~~~~
KB
prowling panther said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:02pm | Report comment
not worried KB. The AFL can do as they please. Just needed to relieve myself of pent up hatred. Hopefuly someone will bomb News limited HQ -the heart of all evil
Redb said | November 10th 2009 @ 4:30am | Report comment
Good on ya Prowling, well spotted.
Real Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
“That was the bombshell news delivered by the News Limited press late last night which will have the football world buzzing.” –Adrian Musolino
“Football world”. I’m sorry, I can’t help but snigger. What a huge “football world” this must be, what with Victoria, South Australia and a few other minor Australian states. MASSIVE.
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
Thankyou for your cultural cringe/whinge.
Many more Australians are interested in this than the pathetic drama at the GC soccer club.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:07pm | Report comment
Many more people around the world know more about the Gold Coast United FC than Marn Grooky on the Gold coast…
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KB
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:16pm | Report comment
The Gc soccer club is a joke .. although got a record crowd i believe on the weekend, managed to crack 5k by a couple of hundred.
Wonder how the stadium that the Bligh government is building for for the grookers is coming along, good initiative by the Bligh people, i imagine we wont lock anyone seeing its a community based club.
Be good to see the Commonwealth games there in the future.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:18pm | Report comment
So bitter Bever…did a Soccerball run over your cat?
Everyone else was having a laugh at how the DT is going overboard but you actuall got upset. cool of with a cold one mate
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:23pm | Report comment
Private ownership ….. dont understand it , but i will take your advice.
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:28pm | Report comment
Really? taking my advice…. I dont think that has ever worked for anyone
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:34pm | Report comment
NO .. that is always good advice and i am happy to oblige … sorry if i went off a bit.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:22pm | Report comment
What a waste of money and time…. Marn Grooky will not even get a crowd — three Grooky clubs have come and gone … Yawn
~~~~~~~
KB
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:27pm | Report comment
3 … dementia set in KB….more like wishfull thinking.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:39pm | Report comment
Yep 3 — GC Marn Grooky will be the third …
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:58pm | Report comment
KB -on the basis of HAL crowd standards and GCU in particular……do you want to define ‘crowd’??
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:10pm | Report comment
Did they have 3 clubs K.B, i never noticed.
K B said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:21am | Report comment
MC,
have GC Grooky had a crowd yet…? Maybe they should replace the Nth Melb Bengal Lancers for the Nab cup game in India…
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KB
K B said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
oikee,
don’t worry … no one else had either…
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
hmmm….
there’s ‘knowing’ about,
there’s having heard of once because of the funny story about the big fat rich man who locked people out……only, there were no people,
and, then there’s ‘caring’ about.
Being happy about more people OUTSIDE of your sphere of influence having had a very brief and passing reference to your ‘product’ (that is super minor by global standards….i.e. GCU within the massive world game construct)…….that’s all pretty sad really KB if the best they can do is drag a couple of thousand paying customers through the gate.
Real Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:11pm | Report comment
bever,
Yes indeed, more Australians are interested in this AFL story than what has happened at GC United.
However, in terms of the WORLD, last week’s events at Gold Coast United made news around the globe, in a number of continents. When is the last time anything done by an AFL club made international news like this? It’s ok, I seriously don’t expect you to answer the question.
The AFL “football world” – more like a “football bubble”!
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:17pm | Report comment
Real Football…I remember the Wayne Carey story went international
Real Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:44pm | Report comment
AndyRoo,
Yes, no doubt Wayne Carey is a household name worldwide, from Madrid to Manila. He is known far better all across the globe than any sokkah player Australia has ever produced – Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill – they can only ever hope to live in the shadow of Wayne Carey, and no doubt Wayne is on much bigger money than these sokkah jokers.
This AFL football world is so big and cool, the rest of the world is just jealous and can only dream of having a sport to follow that is as grand as ours!
Freud of Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:47pm | Report comment
The “Wayne Carey” story didn’t go international, there is no player in AFL/VFL history who would be spoken about outside of Australia for any feat they have done.
Gary Ablett Snr. was a ridiculously talented sportsman and you can show highlight clips of his career to anyone in the world and they would admire him not even understanding the sport but he is most certainly not a household name outside of Australia.
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:55pm | Report comment
like Sheldon from “Big bang theory”, let me just confirm……that was sarcasm, right??
AndyRoo said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
like Sheldon from “Big bang theory”, let me just confirm……that was sarcasm, right??
Happened to see that show last night. Good impersonation
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:04pm | Report comment
Wayne Carey story went international…. ? Do you mean the drug story …? gawd that would be great for the nation’s profile…
AndyRoo said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:11pm | Report comment
When he slept with his team mates wife I do remember just as the story was dying of they mentioned it made some papers overseas.
His later attempts didn’t reach those heights.
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
Well i suppose GC made the news because they are hopeless joke owned by a greedy ass of a man condoned by the greedy FFA with an even greedier Lowy.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:27pm | Report comment
Don’t worry BB you can watch the 2018 world cup in Australia when Grooky takes a nap for 8 weeks
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KB
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:29pm | Report comment
Maybe we will get it …. look forward to the rest.
Michael C said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:51pm | Report comment
Train wrecks make news around the globe…..it doesn’t help the state of the HAL or GCU.
btw – Ben Cousins for one became quite well known around parts of the world….he got a good number of references on online gossip blogs etc in the USofA,…..
….which, prooves my point,
Train wrecks make news around the globe.
K B said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment
“Such as life”… hmmm … extraordinary
tifosi said | November 9th 2009 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
paul osborne throwing his two cents in
http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Sport/2009/11/09/Osborne_laughs_off_Sydney_AFL_threat_392086.html
M1tch said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:03pm | Report comment
finally some normal comments from someone in Rugby League
oikee said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:23pm | Report comment
Holey crap, yes holey, That Paul Osbourne is a mover and a shaker, not only that he talks straight and to the point,,, Sheedy wont be game to open his mouth in Sydney, ozzie osbourne will tell him some home truths. Looks like the war has started. Mate, he just straight out called a lemon a lemon. Its on baby, lets rock this planet. Whos going to be the big talker from the VFL, whos going to take up the challenge from Ozzie. Go ozzie.
tifosi said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:07pm | Report comment
Re : News ltd
They are only interested in making money.
They usually do it by stirring the pot to generate a story from nothing.
I mean wow a football club got a coach, ooohhh big deal.
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:21pm | Report comment
Just like your man Lowy … what is his only real interest.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:34pm | Report comment
Money — the same thing that the Prime Minister is interested in — its all about the money — for the Australian Economy — $ 8 Billion
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KB
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
Nope the PM is interested in power … different IMO.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:43pm | Report comment
wrong — it’s the money and trade networking for nation building IMO
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:48pm | Report comment
If the PM was after money he chose the wrong field .. politicians in this country make good money but not THE money.
Our PM is interested in networking for self power and self gratification… money is a by-product of that.
Money IMO does not drive him.
Freud of Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:52pm | Report comment
The PM is already looking to build his network so that he can get some Blair-esque job once he is removed from power.
It is time for Aus to get a real PM, enough of those Howard and Rudd types, men with no-idea who run the country into the ground.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
It’s not for him — its for the nation — don’t you get it… ? $8 billion is for the nation
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:00pm | Report comment
Yep, unfortunatly i dont think you get it. .. anyways.
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
That’s right BB the world cup bid is for Kev to create personal wealth and power for himself; not for the nation’s economy or world recognition in the world’s biggest sporting event when all of the captains of industry and dignitaries will be attending to see and network for their own nation…
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:30pm | Report comment
Spiro Zavos put that viewpoint forward a few weeks back – it’s a possibility – Rudd is a politician – everything he does is about himself at the end of the day.
Kurt said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:39am | Report comment
Wow, you were quoting only $5 billion last week and it’s already up to $8 billion? This world cup truly is an amazing thing.
K B said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:05am | Report comment
My apologies Kurt, I forgot to table in the petty cash tin….
tifosi said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:39pm | Report comment
Lowy’s interest is to make money also, thats why these guys are billionaires !!
The daily tele is making a non story ( the hiring of a coach) into the end of the world for the NRL. Its not that big a deal. All clubs need a coach. This should have been a back page story at best.
Pippinu said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:48pm | Report comment
It is an unbelievable situation that they would give this story such prominence – clearly with the intention of stirring up people.
Would the AFL care about this, including the negative responses from people like Osborne? I doubt it.
tifosi said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:55pm | Report comment
Stirring up people indeed. Just read the comments.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/kevin-sheedy-officially-appointed-coach-of-western-sydney-afl-team/comments-e6frexnr-1225795726173
bever fever said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:04pm | Report comment
Thats the way Kevin likes it, me and you against the world.
Robbos said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:16pm | Report comment
Who Kevin Rudd?
K B said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
Geez Robbos, which Kev are we talking about now … the one promised a penthouse in the new 25 storey Mirvac redevelopment at Docklands from Grooky head office, or the one looking to profit personally from the FIFA WC bid…???
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KB