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GWS Giants coach Kevin Sheedy (Slattery Images)
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Greater Western Sydney are primed to produce a big performance for coach Kevin Sheedy’s first game against his former club Essendon, as they prepare to christen their new home after an early season AFL odyssey.
The Giants play their first match at Skoda Stadium on Saturday after visiting every other regular AFL outpost bar Perth.
Tasmania, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane have all hosted the Giants, with Sheedy poised to extend his AFL record for most premiership venues coached at to 25.
The third from bottom Giants (1-7) host the third from top Bombers (7-1), looking to rebound from a 92-point flogging from Brisbane at the Gabba.
“We went out and performed in an unacceptable manner against Brisbane,” Giants’ co-captain Phil Davis told reporters on Monday.
“We pride ourselves on contested ball and clearances and we were well below what we expect to be, so we’ll bounce back this week.
“It’s good to play against Sheeds’s old team as well. So that adds a bit more spice to it.”
Davis doubted Sheedy would approach things any differently against a club he won four premierships with in a 27-year tenure as coach.
“But I’m sure for him it has a little bit of extra meaning against his old club and a club that has such a rich history, so hopefully we put in a really good performance for him and also for our football club and our supporters,” Davis said.
He wasn’t perturbed by the amount of early season travelling done by the Giants.
“I think it is a great opportunity to learn and play against some great teams at their home grounds,” Davis said.
© AAP 2013- Explore:
- AFL, Greater Western Sydney, GWS Giants
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:12am
Cameron said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:12am | Report comment
Says on their website they are hoping to get 20000. Don’t know about that but I am betting there will be more Essendon than giants supporters there on Saturday.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:38am
Redb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Even if that is the case it just goes to prove why State Governments help build AFL stadiums.
Give GWS time they are new, have won one game. They are not the first new team/franchise in a non heartland area for any code to struggle with support.
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:19pm
Bob said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Looking at attendances at locally, intrenched sports in the Western Sydney region. It looks to an outsider as ‘terra nullis’.
It is up for grabs in other words, RL has been there 100 years and get small crowds. I think Australia’s game can do better and the AFL, with their cash things so to.
25 years from now, we will see how they are going.
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:33pm
NF said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Let me guess Bob GWS Giants is going to out attend all WS NRL & A-league association football teams in 25 years. Is that your prediction.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:39pm
Lazy Ted Failyou said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:39pm | Report comment
We can all see that the Swans have managed to do that and with the thought and efforts of getting AFL into schools, ultra cheap junior football programs and new media ways of reaching the new generation I cannot see why not.
Apparently archery was big in the 19th century, Shield cricket used to get 20 odd thousand minimum a day, horse racing big attendances any day of the week you can on and on.
RL, was a big sport but now there is potentially a more attractive product for kids to play. They will walk, mark my words. Why else do all the NRL heads become so alarmed. Does anyone in Victoria give a stuff how many NRL matches are played south of the border. Put 10 clubs down here if you like, your welcome.
May 22nd 2012 @ 2:38pm
Tiger said | May 22nd 2012 @ 2:38pm | Report comment
Haha ok bob, I take it you have never been to western Sydney! The giants will be lucky to be around in 25 years time!
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:33pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:33pm | Report comment
yes, and Bob also I think by “cash” you meant “arrogance”. And by “Australia’s game” you meant “the minor states game”. Otherwise, carry on.
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:38pm
Redb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
The AFL is much bigger than the nrl. Sorry what does that make it lol
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:48pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
true, though league is bigger the Aussie rules.
Really the popularity of aussie rules is on the back of obsession in Victoria and lack of choice in the minor states SA and WA. Nothing else.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:14pm
Redb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:14pm | Report comment
Gleeso trying to rationalize – amusing lol
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:59pm
SportsFanMelb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Gleeso I would hardly say that only Victoria is obsessed with AFL. WA, SA, Tas and NT are strong supporters of AFL and to suggest that this is only so because of a lack of options is just pure trolling at its best.
If you honestly believe that comment is true then the NRL would already have teams in WA, SA and be looking to put a second team in Melbourne – but hold on a minute, the last time I checked they are no where close to do any of this.
One could argue that league’s current popularity is coming on the back of an obesseion from QLD see as though people in Sydney can’t find the time/energy to support their teams.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:29pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
WA hangs out for alternatives to AFL they even turn up to Danny Green fights.
League will make strong moves into Perth over the next three year. SA is off the map and basically AFL can have it. League is more interested in further expansion into NZ. It is all good.
May 23rd 2012 @ 3:29pm
GrantS said | May 23rd 2012 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
How many NRL teams have “folded” Tiger ?
May 23rd 2012 @ 10:07pm
GrantS said | May 23rd 2012 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
Any of these Ring a bell Tiger ?
Adelaide, Annandale, Cumberland, Glebe, Gold Coast, Hunter, Newcastle, Newtown, Northern Eagles, North, Perth, South Queensland and University.
And that’s not counting the ones who amalgamated!
May 22nd 2012 @ 7:41am
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 7:41am | Report comment
GWS do not get it at all. They have played their first game card. Thrice. You do not get to play your first home game four times. People are just left thinking where in actual fact is your home? (the answer of course is somewhere in some ‘place’ called Greater Western Sydney – which might be somewhere in or near Canberra or Wagga I think).
This blockbuster game will likely attract about 10,000 fans.
GWS is an AFL toy that proves two things.
1. AFL has too much money; and
2. AFL does make mistakes.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:32am
Kasey said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:32am | Report comment
Have you noticed the propensity of broadcasters and AFL sympathetic media types to refer to each and every AFL match up as a “Blockbuster.”? Gets tired very quickly once you notice it.
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:02am
SUPREMO said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:02am | Report comment
+1, i for one am sick of it as well
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:17am
BigAl said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Well I must be missing out on something ! – can you guys provide a link or something, as to where this game is referred to as a ‘blockbuster’ ?
You may have been a bit confused by the continued labelling of of 2 games at the G last Fri /Sat as blockbusters
. . . and they were !!!
May 22nd 2012 @ 2:34pm
Kasey said | May 22nd 2012 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
Not neccesarily on here, although Gleeso did so about three posts above this one, its just the never ending hyperbole of the AFL-friendly media in the Southern states. It seems that every damned game is referred to as a blockbuster, often just in passing by the sports reporter on the evening news. It gets old real quick. there just can’t be that many blockbuster games honestly can there?
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:06pm
BigAl said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
Well I did ask for examples of your claim – and all you came up with was Gleeso’s comment !
That’s a bit of a laugh.
May 23rd 2012 @ 12:42pm
Jaceman said | May 23rd 2012 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
KC,
For your education blockbuster means any game with a crowd over 60K. BTW I saw the NRL press call the NRL Anzac Day game a blockbuster..
May 23rd 2012 @ 3:31pm
GrantS said | May 23rd 2012 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Have to agree with you Kasey. Also commentators trying to talk up games that are run of the mill.
Still, I suppose they have to do something to warrant their paychecks:)
May 23rd 2012 @ 4:59pm
Kasey said | May 23rd 2012 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Its just over the top hyperbole most of the time. I guess that’s why I enjoy my footy fix in the SANFL. More down to earth and grounded in reality as far as I’m concerned. No commentators trying to big up everything as “the greatest ever” each and every time a player does something half remarkable.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:42am
Australian Rules said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:42am | Report comment
It’s really not that hard to figure out.
The Giants have been waiting for Skoda Stadium to be completed…aka their “new home”. This is the place in which they’ll play their Sydney home games for the next 30 years, starting this week.
Just as the Victory were excited about playing their first home game at their new stadium, AAMI Park, so too are the Giants.
Any questions?
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:40pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
yeah, why would a ‘club’ have four homes?…Is it because they have an identity crisis or is it because they have no roots?
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:43pm
Australian Rules said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
Identity crisis?
Are you having a laugh?
Hawthorn play home games at the MCG and in Tassie…no identity complex, just smart management by broadening your fan base.
“Identity crisis” would probably apply to the frankenstein NRL Clubs:
- like Wests Tigers who play out of 3 “homes”: Leichardt Oval, Campbelltown and SFS?
- or the Dragons, who play out of WIN Jubilee and SFS?
- or the on-again off-again merger between the Eagles and the Bears. They’re still the Sea Eagles at Brookvale aren’t they?
May 23rd 2012 @ 3:44pm
Dan said | May 23rd 2012 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
this year was a special situation they played 1 game at Blacktown their temporarily home base while skoda stadium got built they decided they sold one match to ANZ stadium, to ensure the season opened with the Sydney Derby and Canberra hosts 4 games as part of an extended catchment area thing for the start of the season
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:47am
Redb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:47am | Report comment
Gleeso,
Firstly, ‘blockbuster’ is your word.
The crowd will be probably 15-18k..
The AFL is in for the long haul and needs to grow the game in bigger demographics like Western Sydney. Too much money you say? sounds like jealousy to me.
Re the term Greater Western Sydney – on radio during the week the new CEO of the A League referred to the area as guess what? lol
I agree the grip on a geographic locale is tenuous for now. I think they should run with Giants rather than GWS but still be the team that builds support in Western Sydney, Canberra and the NSW Riverina. AFL fans in Canberra got a great taste of what its like to have some ownership of a team – did you hear the crowd when they won against GC?
Should Sheedy complain about so much travel? No. Its part of building the club and finding niches of support, like Canberra.
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:47am
Simmo said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:47am | Report comment
12k. More Bobmbers fans than Giants
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:57am
Redb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Simmo, to support your belief please conduct a count on the day if it means that much,.
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:04pm
Simmo said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
it’ll be fairly easy to see who’s wearing orange or red and black on the day. Or to judge by the sound of the crowd when goals are scored.
May 26th 2012 @ 10:06pm
Simmo said | May 26th 2012 @ 10:06pm | Report comment
Picked it like a dirty nose. 11,887.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:20pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:20pm | Report comment
yeah, I think the term Greater Western Sydney (GWS) gets used by politicians, councils and Victorians. Seriously, even the wests tigers are just the tigers in Sydney. People out here identify with being from suburbs, not the the west. Certainly not from Canberra.
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:55am
nomis said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:55am | Report comment
All the best to GWS. I’m sure they will slowly establish themselves by carving out their own niche. We don’t need to death-ride them. All football codes are breaking into each others heartlands. Most football codes are growing too!
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:53pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
Nah, AFL have a nastyness about them. I am happy to death ride.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:04pm
SportsFanMelb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:04pm | Report comment
Gleeso if you don’t like it then do watch it – its pretty simple and many people do it on a regular basis.
The funny thing about SOME league supporters is the absolute hypocrisy in their arguments – happy for the NRL to have a team in Melbourne and looking to expand to Perth and maybe Adelaide and also calling for more advertising in the southern states, however because the AFL is actually in a position to do anything like expanding into new markets and advertise the game they are the evil empire?Give me a break!
Small minded one-eyed arguments will always show the lack of intellect of some people…
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:49pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:49pm | Report comment
Relax I dont watch and I dont have an issue with GWS on the basis of being a league fan. It is not a threat to league. It is on the basis of being a sports fan. In particular cricket and football. AFL has proven itself to cannibalise any sport. But most noticably cricket. ‘Western Sydney’ provides more cricketers than Victoria, SA and WA combined. Especially fast bowlers. These guys will be targeted by GWS in high school with money they would find hard to refuse. I would rather this not be the case. I am really keen to see GWS fail. It is unlikely given the funding but it is not impossible.
May 22nd 2012 @ 6:04pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 6:04pm | Report comment
Gleeso,
Then cricket fans need to – get this – pay to turn up to games, and then Cricket NSW can actually hire the good kids, rather than lose them to codes where club games get a paying crowd.
You do know an AFL on a rookie contract gets paid about the same as a Sheffield Shield player, right ?
May 22nd 2012 @ 6:08pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
We’re getting to the heart of the matter.
When a sport has 650,000 members, and growing, it buys you certian privileges.
May 22nd 2012 @ 6:59pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 6:59pm | Report comment
we are getting to the “heart of the matter”. The “matter” with regards to this subthread is “why do we need to death ride GWS?”. What Ian has suggested is the answer to sports (such as cricket) surviving the grubbyness of AFL probably is not going to happen and does not appeal to the classier sports. Thusly, if you enjoy the sporting diversity of Western Sydney get on the “death riding”bandwagon.
May 22nd 2012 @ 7:06pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 7:06pm | Report comment
Gleeso
Have you been swapping notes with JVGO?
Whichever professional sport you follow, the key to its prosperity are a combination of fans willing to pay for the right to watch the sport and fans watching on TV in large numbers.
Your prosperity as a sport will wax and wane on the basis of those two factors.
My favourite sport, Lacrosse, will forever remain an amateur sport in this country because insufficient people are interested in watching the game as spectators, but as an amateur sport in this country, it has its own little niche.
I accept that it’s a niche, and I move on.
May 25th 2012 @ 12:16am
amazonfan said | May 25th 2012 @ 12:16am | Report comment
“These guys will be targeted by GWS in high school with money they would find hard to refuse.”
God forbid. You mean that they will have a choice? You’re just like JVGO; you want to deny them choice simply to fulfill your agenda. These guys may want to play football, they may want to play cricket, they may even decide to become ballet dancers. But whatever they decide is up to them, and saying that you hope that GWS fails so their options get reduced is the epitome of pathetic.
“the answer to sports (such as cricket) surviving the grubbyness of AFL probably is not going to happen and does not appeal to the classier sports.”
Are you serious? The AFL is no more grubby than any other sport, and it is no less classy than any other sport. Do you really think that cricket doesn’t employ similar tactics because it’s classy? How absurd. No, I think you’ll find that the only reason cricket doesn’t employ similar tactics is because it doesn’t have the financial resources!
“Thusly, if you enjoy the sporting diversity of Western Sydney get on the “death riding”bandwagon.”
So in order to ensure sporting diversity, you want to reduce sporting diversity? Right. You would make a great dictator. “I’m reducing democracy in order to save it.”
At the end of the day, if your preferred sport doesn’t have enough paying fans and TV viewers, it won’t be able to compete against the bigger sports. That’s just the way it is, and wanting to take away choice and reducing sporting diversity (in order to ensure sporting diversity no less) won’t change that reality. It also won’t paint you as particularly classy.
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:18pm
Lazy Ted Failyou said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:18pm | Report comment
Love this fighting talk, we shall see in 30 years from now.
Will RL be able to hold out the three pronged assault of 1, soccer, 2, rugby union internationally 3, AFL ?
They say you should never fight 2 enemy at a time, RL has 3.
RL lives in interesting times.
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:32pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:32pm | Report comment
Only three enemies ? Did they throw Manly and Brisbane out of the comp ?
Seriously, rugby league will be fine. Some of the clubs, like Canterbury, are already doing what the code needs to prosper in the long term.
May 23rd 2012 @ 4:43am
JVGO said | May 23rd 2012 @ 4:43am | Report comment
RU is the most vulnerable of the Sydney codes, Cricket, then football.
May 23rd 2012 @ 4:42pm
The Cattery said | May 23rd 2012 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
Football is doing very well in Victoria.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:19am
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:19am | Report comment
All the best to GWS on this historic day.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:41am
Rough Conduct said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:41am | Report comment
The most contrived organisation Australian sport has ever seen.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:44am
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:44am | Report comment
All sport is a contrivance, when you think about it.
At least the Australian game has 154 years of history behind it.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:53am
Rough Conduct said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:53am | Report comment
154 years and still a team could not arise organically north of the Murray, two Melbourne clubs relocated and two manufactured teams flown in. Australia’s game indeed.
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:20am
Michael/Brisbane said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:20am | Report comment
I can smell the fear from here RC.
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:56am
BigAl said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
. . . and I thought the old “smell the fear” phrase had been well and truly put to rest
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:38am
Michael/Brisbane said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Mmm I thought so to, but when Trolls come on here and try to tell us how the Giants are destined to fail despite not even having one season under their belt, it’s quite easy to see said troll’s agenda.
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:53pm
Rough Conduct said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Fear? Not fear, just lament. Like seeing a manufactured vocal group succeed, you know they will be commercially successful because of the extensive research, publicity etc, but it just makes you realise what mainstream music has become. In this case it makes us realise what professional sporting teams have become, business units born out of corporate strategy, market research and government lobbying. Not to say this is an AFL phenomenon, many other teams in many other sports were ‘created’ this way, it is just that GWS are the latest, shiniest and most extreme incarnation of such a process.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:23pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
It’s interesting to read the behind the scenes stories going back 50 years of how folk acts like Peter, Paul and Mary; and even Bob Dylan, were promoted by marketing executives.
Humans, by nature, are very good at contrivances, to such an extent that you could drive yourself to despair unravelling the real from the invented.
Where does the genius for Dylan’s lyricism and observation end, and the faux marketed personality step in?
Who is in a position to make such declarations? You?
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:33pm
JVGO said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
You are comparing GWS to Bob Dylan? Really?
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:40pm
BigAl said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
@Rough Conduct – you just sound like you’re getting old.
Can you name something good that’s happened in the world in the last 20 years ?
The world is changing in all sorts of ways mate and there’s just not much we can do about it.
p.s. I bet you have no time for all this new. . . social media guff – but good to see you engaging in Internet blogging
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:56pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:56pm | Report comment
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:33am
stabpass said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Hundreds of Australian football clubs have arose organically north of the murray, dont know where you are getting your info from.
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:54pm
Rough Conduct said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
Sorry, current AFL teams, I thought that was implied.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:48pm
BigAl said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
There has only been one “organically grown” new AFL since it came into existence – that being Port Adelaide !
The point being that this sort of exercise in any professional sport is very expensive and very difficult.
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:51am
Australian Rules said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Is it any more contrived than the Storm?
They were plonked into Melbourne by the NRL and News Ltd.
…and yet no-one felt outraged or threatened. Hmmmm
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:37pm
Redb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
Exactly.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:37pm
Gleeso said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:37pm | Report comment
yeah, GWS is way more contrived. To the point where they recreated history. Apparantly Western Sydney finally got its own AFL team this year – leaving the Swans scratching their heads. The Storm where in fact, not fiction, a first for Melbourne.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:50pm
Australian Rules said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:50pm | Report comment
Gleeso you’re clearly having trouble making any sense, so I’ll try to simplify your argument:
It’s ok for the NRL to expand into Melb, Gold Coast, maybe Perth, again into Bris etc…
…but it’s NOT ok for the AFL to do the same…because it’s the AFL. Sound good?
May 22nd 2012 @ 6:12pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
If we’re talking about organic and original, then no football club anywhere in the world carries the flag with greater honour than the Melbourne Football Club, established 1859.
But let’s be honest – it would be unfair to label every football club (or code) established since that date as being contrived.
May 22nd 2012 @ 6:22pm
Redb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
Yeah nah Storm are a manufactured joke.
May 23rd 2012 @ 4:46am
JVGO said | May 23rd 2012 @ 4:46am | Report comment
Most RL fans would actually agree with that statement Redb. Melbourne doesn’t need or deserve an NRL team, they are simply not interested. the best that can be said of the Storm is that they are a necessary media contrivance, the same as GWS.
May 23rd 2012 @ 10:17pm
GrantS said | May 23rd 2012 @ 10:17pm | Report comment
I have no problem with the NRL attempting to expand by putting the Storm in to Victoria.
The difference between the AFL and NRL is that the AFL backs it’s teams interstate and doesn’t pull the pin when they don’t become overnight successes.
The NRL have tried several teams that went bust and were dropped. Adelaide, Gold Coast, Hunter, Newcastle, Northern Eagles, Perth and South Queensland.
Look in your own back yard if you wish to find failures!
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:07am
Lenny said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:07am | Report comment
RC Aren’t all teams manufactured by the definition of starting up a club? Choosing a name, colours, song, stadium to play out of are things that all sporting teams have to do and have done regardless of when they started.
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:26am
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:26am | Report comment
You probably dont care, but the least successful of the AFL expansion teams has been the one with the most history – Port Adelaide.
See, if you support any of the other Australian Rules clubs in Adelaide, you simply arent going to support Port – theres too much history.
And thats why the next Perth club will be made up of whole cloth too, rather than promoting East Perth or someone.
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:36am
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:36am | Report comment
HOw do you define success there Ian? Freo still hasn’t come anywhere near Port’s on filed record.
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:28pm
JamesP said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
Macca, its clear we are talking off field here.
Last weekend, Port drew just 14,508 to Football Park. That is approaching Gold Coast/GWS territory. Freo regularly draws 30k – 35k+.
May 23rd 2012 @ 9:11am
Macca said | May 23rd 2012 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Give me a premiership over better crowd numbers any day.
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:38am
Strummer Jones said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Next Perth club? Are they thinking of putting another one in the comp already?
Good point about Port. In hindsight, they could have made it a combo club like Norwood-Port. Alternatively, and this is an extreme left-field idea, they could sub Port out and give Norwood or Glenelg (or a combination) a shot in 10 years time. Similar to a relegation.
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:07pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
At some stage in the next 15 years, Perth definitely needs a third club – all the metrics point in that direction.
May 22nd 2012 @ 2:00pm
Kasey said | May 22nd 2012 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
Norwood and Port are like Oil and water, they would never have jumped into a Wests Tigers type alliance together. Norwood & Sturt maybe, but certainly not Norwood and Port.
May 22nd 2012 @ 2:10pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Kasey,
Ditto Norwood, Glenelg and Sturt fans ever barracking for Port in the AFL, or I’d argue for any of the other SANFL clubs.
New, artificial clubs with no history like the Adelaide Crows and West Coast Eagles was definitely the way to go.
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:09pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
RC
The one game to arise organically within this country is Australian Football (although Trugo might have claim there as well).
What’s more, one of the more influential figures going all the way back to 1858-59 was actually born in the Greater Western Sydney area.
Look at it as a case of bringing it all back home.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:03pm
Rough Conduct said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
Polocrosse? Invented in NSW 80 years after Australian Football, now played in regional areas all over the country and internationally. They even have a legitimate World Cup.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:28pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
A wonderful sport accessible to many Australians, and I wish them and their legitimate World Cup the very best of luck now and into the future.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:07pm
SportsFanMelb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
RC – is this any different to the Force and Rebels in the Super 15.
Correct me if I am wrong but they are both manufactured teams in non-rugby territories full of QLD, NSW and overseas players to actually make their rosters?
And this is different to GWS how exactly?
Lucky for me I watch all codes so when the Rebels came to town I now have the luxury of Super Rugby in town.
May 24th 2012 @ 8:30am
Gleeso said | May 24th 2012 @ 8:30am | Report comment
I would say the recreation of history, the crazy concessions, the recruitment of a sports star who has never even seen the game before for exposure purposes and the extreme evangelical like targeting of children sets GWS apart from the above mentioned.
May 24th 2012 @ 7:47pm
amazonfan said | May 24th 2012 @ 7:47pm | Report comment
RC One Melbourne club was relocated, not two.
May 25th 2012 @ 3:25pm
Jaceman said | May 25th 2012 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
No Manly- Norths merger moving to Gosford was the most contrived and guess what …
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:49am
Christo the Daddyo said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:49am | Report comment
I think they’ll get flogged, but I’d like to see the team do well over the next few years.
And the players have certainly got more ticker than the Demons players – got to give them that.
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:50am
Fussballs AFL tracking spreadsheet said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:50am | Report comment
A fair amount of fear and hatred here this morning, looks like the Giants are having an impact after all.
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:03am
brendan said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:03am | Report comment
Why are there so many negative comments about the Giants.This move by the AFL into Western Sydney is fantastic for everyone.Rugby League is a great game but it seems to me that with a few exceptions you have to be vey muscular and stocky to suceed at the game rather than athletic and rangy like most Afl players.If you lived in that region of Sydney there is another top line sport you can support and watch or aspire to play at the highest level .The A-league is a great competition and its success isnt detracting from the Afl so its fair to say the Giants can carve there niche without all league fans seeing them as the enemy.Good luck for them this week .
May 22nd 2012 @ 9:35am
Mals said | May 22nd 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Agreed Brendan. I am a rugby union & league follower so I am not an AFL cheer leader but have to say congrats to GWS for winning a game already in their 1st season. The upgrades to the Showground look great, I don’t know why they bothered building the ground at Blacktown (yes i know it is primarily a training centre).
May 25th 2012 @ 3:29pm
Jaceman said | May 25th 2012 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
The Blacktown ground was laready there from the Olympics
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:20am
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:20am | Report comment
I thnk the negative commetns are due to everyone being over it, constant praise, mulitple “first home game”, wren’t they good they won a quarter, what a fantastic performance they beat the Suns (who have won 3 from 30 by the way), more articles written about them than anyone else in the competiton. It all wears thin after a while.
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:12am
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Macca,
If you dont like it, write us an article about how Carlton arent soft.
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:19am
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:19am | Report comment
You really do like having the same conversation day in day out Ian, I am not sure if you remember but you asked that last week and I answered it.
If you watched the game on Sunday and came away thinkning how bad Carlton were rather than how impresive Adelaide were I feel sorry for you.
But if I were allowed to follow you GWS logic then it was a resounding success on Saturday for the blues, they won a quarter and only lost by 11 goals to a top 4 side. Hooray!!
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:27am
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Macca,
GWS didnt think they were a shot for the flag this year.
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:34am
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:34am | Report comment
I have said repeatedly on this site that I didn’t think the blues wer a shot this year, top 4 maybe but they won’t really hit the premiership window until next year.
Plus Ian GWS weren’t missing 2 of their best 3 midfielders, their CHF and 3rd tall defender by 1/2 way through the second quarter either.
Oh and they won the tackle count so Yipee!!
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:52pm
BigAl said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Ian and Macca – you guys are great – keep it up !
May 22nd 2012 @ 11:45am
Jace said | May 22nd 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Yes, but we are are tired of your “I am tired of GWS” comments. I think all the articles written about them are positive for the game development in Sydney. The other thing you have to remember is that the AFL pays for a lot of advertising in newspapers, so the papers (with a wink) publish articles about GWS on a weekly basis. I have no qualms about it. And by the way, headlines on the AFL news this week were “Giants thrashed, brought back to earth” etc The praise you talk about is praise for 18 year old kids playing their first games against experienced players. What is wrong with that?
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:06pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
Well when they get beaten so badly by Brisbane it’s harldy surprising to see those headlines on a Monday but here we are on Tuesday and it more sunshine and lollipops about GWS.
We are now in Round 8 and the challenger for the 8 are starting to take shape but there are still more than 8 contenders, this round sees Adelaide take on Collingwood and Richmond & Hawthorn fight to keep there seasons on track and Geelong in a dnager game against the improving bulldogs. This is on top of the whole Carlton situation and yet today’s story is GWS play their 4th first home game?!
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:15pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
Macca,
Then quit whining and write some articles.
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:01pm
Jace said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
Or rather, quit reading The Roar. Why doesn’t he just read some Melb newspaper? I don’t get it.
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:11pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
Jace, I do read the Melbourne papers, I enjoy reading about the AFL and try to get as much as I can and I enjoy reading The Roar when it is discussing issues of substance, it just frustrates me that we are subjected to a stream of articles about nothing when there are good stories out there. And as this is supposedly a forum for opinions I voice mine.
May 22nd 2012 @ 2:17pm
Australian Rules said | May 22nd 2012 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
Macca
You act as though the only story in today’s press in the Giants’ first game at Skoda.
There’s also plenty about Marc Murphy’s broken shoulder, Ratten dropping the ‘softer’ Carlton players, and Judd declaring that losing a few easy games isn’t “the end of the world”.
Something for everyone.
May 22nd 2012 @ 2:21pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
My point exactly plenty of stories about but where are they on this site?
May 22nd 2012 @ 8:15pm
Redb said | May 22nd 2012 @ 8:15pm | Report comment
The difference is Macca you dont have a bunch of rl flogs having a panic attack feeling the need to troll.
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:59am
nomis said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:59am | Report comment
I agree brendan. Well said. And the same could be said for league and union in Melbourne. So no one needs to fear their code being lost.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:21pm
chrisc101 said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
Aussie rules is just as restrictive with body types as Rugby League. What chances do you have being drafted if you are not atleast 6foot 2? If anything Union is the game for all body types.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:26pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Some will certainly be drafted being in the range of 175cm to 184cm, even more in the range 185cm to 194cm, and then it’s at 195+cm where the real fun and games begin, and clubs will look literally anywhere and everywhere to unearth such players.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:35pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
ChrisC101,
I see your inane and trollish comment, and raise you a Steven Coniglio, a Toby Greene and a Dylan Shiel all of whom are shorter than your six foot two.
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/toby-greene/
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/stephen-coniglio/
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/dylanshiel/
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:08pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
It’s amazing that Shiel is only 1 cm shorter than Coniglio, he looks a lot shorter in isolation.
Is Toby Greene the one that looks like he’s 12 years old?
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:16pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
Yes, thats Toby Greene.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:15pm
chrisc101 said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
Not a troll at all, just wanted to point the fact out that all footy codes have their body type preference. Doesn’t mean everyone is like that. But to claim Aussie Rules is for everyone and the Rugby codes aren’t is a line I think the AFL should drop.
May 22nd 2012 @ 5:28pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 5:28pm | Report comment
ChrisC, your facts simply arent facts. None of us have said anything about rugby union either – it was you who raised the topic.
But for the record, Devon Smith is shorter than any of the NSW Waratahs.
http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad.aspx
May 22nd 2012 @ 7:31pm
AGO74 said | May 22nd 2012 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
I think Chris c is referring to the fact that short fat blokes can play professional rugby where ther is basically no other professional team sporting comp that they can play in within Australia (long time since we gave seen a Boony or fat cat Greg Ritchie play cricket). George rose in NRL is the closest you have to a rugby prop but even then he is very mobile and athletic in comparison to most props in union who stand around with hands on hips or heads.
May 25th 2012 @ 3:33pm
Jaceman said | May 25th 2012 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
AGO74
A good Rugby prop would crush you, they have to ruck, maul, tackle, scrummage, lift in lineouts, run , tackle etc. Hands on hips – give it a break…
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:31pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
Chrisc101 – Completely agree 15 do years ago there was room for a lot more different shapes and sizes but these days height and speed are key. Look at Andrew Hooper for the Bulldogs, captained Vic country and got rookie listed because of his height.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:39pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:39pm | Report comment
Devon Smith. Picked at #14, and five foot eight and a half in the old money
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/devon-smith/
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:43pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:43pm | Report comment
What’s his time over 100m or 20m? Pretty quick I would suggest.
If you aren’t 185cm plus you have to be quick. Of course there are going to be exceptions to that “rule” to but I do wonder if Greg Williams would of been picked up today.
And on Smith let’s see how his career goes before offering he is proof.
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:59pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
Showing a five foot eight and a half player being drafted at pick 14 still isnt enough proof for Macca that you have a chance of being drafted if you’re shorter than six foot two.
While Im here, have some other recently selected GWS sub-six two footballers
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/toby-greene/
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/stephen-coniglio/
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/dylanshiel/
May 22nd 2012 @ 2:20pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
Read what I said Ian, if you aren’t tall you have to be fast, Greg Williams was neither.
I also said there are going to be exceptions to the “rule”.
And no being drafted No. 14 isn’t enough proof, you could go through any number of high draft picks that haven’t made it at AFL level. Richmond alone could provide close enough to prove my point.
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:22pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
Toby Greene was assessed as “not a speedster” in AFL combine, but had endurance and clean hands.
Got 28 touches, 9 marks and 5 tackles against Carlton.
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=125531
In short, when you actually look, theres plenty of room for small blokes in the AFL, if you have two of elite skills, elite speed or elite endurance.
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:31pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Good on him Ian, as I said there will be exceptions to the rule and just as one swallow does not make a summer, one game does not make a career.
And Ian while I agree with you that you need at least 2 of those elite qualities I don’t think that leaves “plenty of room”, being elite in itself limits the number of people who have that skill. And as the game progresses you will soon have to have all three if if you small.
10-15 years ago you only had to have one of them.
May 22nd 2012 @ 3:49pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
Ian The blues currently have 8 players less than 6 foot, only 3 less than 5’11”. That is less than 20% of the list under 6 foot 7% under 5’11”.
Those who get regular senior games are Armfield 181, Yarran, Murphy & Garlett 180 & Betts 173.
Judd is 189, Carrazzo 187, Robinson 185, Gibss 188 Curnow, Simpson & Scotland all 182, So only Murphy gets into the regular on ball rotation at less than 6ft.
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:03pm
Ian Whitchurch said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
Macca,
The game has got harder, faster and better.
And with the emphasis on protecting the head, short is an advantage – Greene can do naturally what Selwood has to shrug into.
I’m also arguing very strongly that Karmnichael Hunt is showing that a player whose primary ability is not skills or speed or endurance but strength can be an essential part of the “inside” game, especially at stoppages.
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:12pm
Macca said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
Ian – Being short gets you more head high tackles? Come on. Selwood gets taken hgih because he forces tackles to go up a deceives the tackler about where his head is.
I know your theory on Hunt “revolutioniising the game” with the bump (I see he got his wobbly boots on after being hit on the weekend) but he needs to get more possessions and “spread” more. Look at all the good “inside” players and they all spread more and have elite endurance or speed as well.
I also note that when Ablett and Rischitelli have come back in Hunts possessions have gone back to around the 16 mark.
May 22nd 2012 @ 4:35pm
JamesP said | May 22nd 2012 @ 4:35pm | Report comment
@chrisc101
Tony Liberatore
Brownlow medalist
Height: 163cm or 5 foot 3 inches
What else you got?
May 22nd 2012 @ 6:15pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 6:15pm | Report comment
And prior to LIbba, Paul Callery had had the record, I believe, for shortest height at 165cm.
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:12pm
stabpass said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
Prior to that Lou Richards was about 95 cm tall ; – }
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:24pm
Milz said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:24pm | Report comment
He played 20 years ago. Short blokes are very very much exceptions to the rule as opposed to rugby where any shape and size has a chance. Aussie rules is a little below basketball in being an exclusive tall man’s game.
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:43pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:43pm | Report comment
Libba only retired 10 years ago, but I accept that players under the height of 175cm are relatively rare.
In fact Libba had to play years in the reserves before he became a regular. He won two Gardiner medals (best and fairest in Reserves), and I believe he is the only footballer to have won the Morrish (U19), Gardiner and Brownlow medals.
In those days, winning a Gardiner medal was pretty much a signal that you were unlikely to make the grade, but to win two…
The other interesting thing about LIbba is that his brother was a wrestler who tried out for the Olympics, etc, they often did wrestling sessions together and so Libba became quite a good tackler in the AFL for such a little bloke, and regularly brought down blokes who were 20 cm taller and/or 20 kg heavier.
I’m reminded that for years Diesel was told: “too short, too slow, can’t kick”, but ended up becoming one of the League’s very best extractors with quick accurate hands, and he was deadly accurate within 45m of goal.
May 22nd 2012 @ 10:42am
Jack Russell said | May 22nd 2012 @ 10:42am | Report comment
There’s some fear on the roar this morning eh?
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:12pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
It’s strange that anyone would fear a bunch of teenagers getting mercilessly flogged.
But there you have it.
May 22nd 2012 @ 12:20pm
The Cattery said | May 22nd 2012 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
Even the Bombers are being disrespectful to the Giants, referring to them as the BYE on their website, advertising the game this weekend:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/hey-giants-youre-nothing-but-a-bye/story-e6frexwr-1226362845126
May 22nd 2012 @ 1:09pm
NF said | May 22nd 2012 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
GWS will carve there niche in Western Sydney but the likes of Bob who think in 25 years think AFL will be the number one thing in WS is dead wrong you can’t change culture but you can enhance it like up at the Gold Coast. Variety is the spice in life.