Australian rules growing in western Sydney
Australian rules football participation in western Sydney rose by 27 per cent this year and administrators believe the full impact of the region’s new AFL club is yet to be felt.
While Greater Western Sydney enjoyed limited on-field success in their maiden season, AFL NSW/ACT won over almost 10,000 new players in the region the team represents.
“We’ve grown at the stage by 27 per cent from last year’s participation, which was 28,306,” said Dean Connors, AFL NSW/ACT’s manager for GWS.
“There’s been substantial growth from a very high base, so we’re up around that 36,000 – 37,000 mark in participation in Greater Western Sydney.”
The ethnically-diverse region covers 14 local government areas and is a hotspot of population growth – one of the charms that attracted the league.
The spike is likely to rile some rugby league figures, who will undoubtedly have two main questions for Connors – are the figures genuine and how much money is being poured in?
“What we classify as a participant is a no-less-than-six-weeks paying customer,” Connors said.
“So they’re through our Auskick programs, through our clubs and our community programs.”
As for funding, Connors said there’s been no war chest lumped on his desk to use in the so-called code war.
“As a business, we’ve had to become a lot more efficient and confident of our ability to grow participation without the funding thrown at us like in the past.
“Our funding will stay the same for the next five years.
“We’re engaging volunteers and engaging universities … trying to spend our money in better and more efficient ways.”
Connors senses the growth resulting from the AFL’s new baby is yet to materialise.
“Was the impact caused by the Giants? I’d probably say no at this stage,” he said.
“It certainly played a part in adding to our programs … but I think it (the fledgling AFL club) is in its first year.
“It’s very challenging to say whether they had a full-on impact on participation in the region.
“But what we have seen towards the end of the year, as opposed to the start of the year, is a significant interest in the Giants as a club.
“People have been asking a lot more questions.”
The 27-year-old has been looking after the region for six years – long before the announcement of the league’s 18th franchise – and recalls when the participation tally was just 2500.
He pointed to partnerships with the University of Western Sydney and a focus on schools as some of the main factors impacting growth.
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (65) | Page 1 of Comments
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September 15th 2012 @ 8:32am
Col Quinn said | September 15th 2012 @ 8:32am | Report comment
Now is this the same statistician that provide Leichhardt Council with over 1600 juniors in that municipality that under scrutiny was revised to 290 but when independently review was found to be less than 100? Is this the same statistician that provides Holroyd Council with similar vastly exaggerated figures? Does this massive increase include the kids in the schools Auskick program, who play Football and League but are all now registered junior AFL players. Have an independent review of these figures please.
September 15th 2012 @ 5:18pm
Tim said | September 15th 2012 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
Excellent post, funnily enough none of the afl brigade here have disputed the facts presented in this post.
September 16th 2012 @ 1:17pm
Trouble Ahead said | September 16th 2012 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
AFL particpation figures are like something created in a propaganda ministry.
September 15th 2012 @ 8:52am
Football United said | September 15th 2012 @ 8:52am | Report comment
geez can see this getting to 200 posts for all the wrong reasons. Can we just ban quoting TV numbers and attendances for this thread as it’s purely on participation?
September 15th 2012 @ 1:19pm
Ian Whitchurch said | September 15th 2012 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Football United,
Hell no, and code warriors will abuse you if you even try. Remember, “code warrior” is a legitimate entertainment choice all by itself.
September 15th 2012 @ 9:57am
NSW footy said | September 15th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Those that enjoy the uniquely Australian game will grow, but it is only fair that the game has at least a piece of the sporting pie in western Sydney. There is plenty of room for league, union, golf, swimming, cricket, tennis etc- why can’t people take an interest in playing Aust. footy as well?
It is just one option amongst many.
It was great to see last night’s game between Adelaide and Fremantle. Adelaide were captained by a Western Australian, but a NSWman won the match for them – Tex Walker. State boundaries are dissolving in the Australian game.
September 15th 2012 @ 11:54am
Punter said | September 15th 2012 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Don’t forget the sport that has the largest participation in Western Sydney, as a matter of fact Australia (football).
September 15th 2012 @ 1:38pm
Anthony said | September 15th 2012 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
Punter is talking about soccer. And all his comment proves is that when all those soccer-playing kids grow up they are not interested in watching or supporting soccer. Says a lot about how interesting it is to watch, as opposed to playing.
September 15th 2012 @ 5:03pm
Punter said | September 15th 2012 @ 5:03pm | Report comment
Yeah I’d rather play, you can watch all you want!!!!
September 15th 2012 @ 5:16pm
JAJI said | September 15th 2012 @ 5:16pm | Report comment
Yes Anthony….you worry about trying to expand your game into more than one country and leave us football fans to play and watch the game. With all the money in the world you cant even crack the most populated city in the one country your game is even played in….
September 15th 2012 @ 10:15am
micka said | September 15th 2012 @ 10:15am | Report comment
I can see this going south immediately….
September 15th 2012 @ 10:22am
Billo Boy said | September 15th 2012 @ 10:22am | Report comment
And as pointed out today in Telegraph’s interview with Andrew Demetriou the “numbers” are producing no return.
Whatever the AFL may be saying about its grass-roots expansion in Sydney, elite player development has gone backwards.
Of the 49 players brought together from around the country last year to form expansion club Greater Western Sydney only one was born in the NSW capital. In the ultimate irony, he is rugby league covert Israel Folau, who moved from Minto to Brisbane with his family while still at school. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/sydney-market-tough-to-crack-admits-afl-boss-andrew-demetriou/story-e6frexx0-1226474416768
September 15th 2012 @ 12:22pm
Jack Russell said | September 15th 2012 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Eh? There are nearly 20 players in the AFL from Sydney. About 50 from NSW.
Just because they’re not playing for GWS doesn’t mean that there isn’t a return. Although it was surprising the lack of locals in GWS initial squad.
September 15th 2012 @ 1:20pm
Ian Whitchurch said | September 15th 2012 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
I wasnt. Its a club side, not a rep side.
September 15th 2012 @ 10:57am
TC said | September 15th 2012 @ 10:57am | Report comment
If one additional Australian learns to kick a footy – what harm can there be?
TC
September 15th 2012 @ 11:51am
Punter said | September 15th 2012 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Absolutely nothing!!!! Every child that learns to kick a footy (whatever shape or size) will have an experience that way stay with them for life!!!.
September 15th 2012 @ 6:22pm
Strummer Jones said | September 15th 2012 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
Nice !
September 15th 2012 @ 11:17am
NSW footy said | September 15th 2012 @ 11:17am | Report comment
Billo Boy, that piece from the Terrorgraph was yet another example of skewing figures for the benefit of the writer. GWS is a new team…does the writer look at the number of NSW/Sydney players in the whole league or at established clubs such as the Swans? No he doesn’t – he focuses his attack on GWS. Of course most of their players are going to be from the TAC system.
Some questions for that writer of that article could be – Would Adelaide have won last night without the flying mullet- NSW boy – Tex Walker? Where is Lenny Hayes from again? oh, that’s right. Sydney. The writer ignores this as it doesn’t suit his argument of dumping on Sydney footy.
That writer also seems to speak in disparaging tones about “Riverina” football. The Riverina is in NSW as well… he might consider it otherwise, but the fact is it is in NSW.. Does he bother to look at Wollongong footy in that article? Naah, prefer to dismiss from afar.
September 15th 2012 @ 6:23pm
Strummer Jones said | September 15th 2012 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
“terrorgraph” comment…10 points
September 15th 2012 @ 12:40pm
Col Quinn said | September 15th 2012 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
All this doesn’t change the fact that the AFL has a proven history of doctoring their stats. That is why the claims made in this comment should be independently verified.
September 15th 2012 @ 12:54pm
Brewski said | September 15th 2012 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
They dont, plenty of AFL haters have a history of saying they do though.
September 15th 2012 @ 12:58pm
dodgy numbers said | September 15th 2012 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
In 2008 they were even caught out by the senate claiming they had over 20000+ participants when the figure was deemed to be less than 15% of that…
September 15th 2012 @ 4:15pm
Brewski said | September 15th 2012 @ 4:15pm | Report comment
You mean a Tasmanian senate, that produced a outcome to suit its purpose, so could then claim that the AFL was dudding Tasmania.
Voters might like that, it’s called shift the blame, you would understand that.
September 15th 2012 @ 4:40pm
Brewski said | September 15th 2012 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
Double post
September 15th 2012 @ 5:58pm
Col Quinn said | September 15th 2012 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
Brewski,
two Sydney Councils have caught the AFL lying about its junior participation, Leichardt and Holroyd. It was to late for Holroyd to do anything about this as contracts have been signed, however, Leichardt Council had AFL junior participation independently assessed and guess what just like Holroyd out by 150%. I understand similar claims have been made in the Hornsby Shire and independent assessment is questioning numbers in that Shire.
Also, I am supprised to see that you are claiming that a paerlimentary enquiry could be wrong
September 16th 2012 @ 10:08am
Brewski said | September 16th 2012 @ 10:08am | Report comment
I see you have been lapping up the Daily terrograph Col, go for it mate.
September 15th 2012 @ 11:51pm
db swannie said | September 15th 2012 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
read the senate report (not Tasmanian senate).
The AFL continually lie about junior numbers,yet AFL fans ignore the blatent lying
We looked at the absolute size of the Western Sydney market and the need for the AFL to have a presence in a market that has the second strongest growing LGA in Australia. Blacktown and Baulkham Hills have significant support from migrant groups … We are very aware of our challenges in growing that market, and ultimately we need an AFL franchise to continue the work we are doing at the base. The participation in the greater west of Sydney was of the order of 20,000 participants in 2008. We continue to invest in that region and are building a base to be a team at the top.[46]
2.53 The committee requested that the AFL provide statistics on participation levels in Western Sydney, the Gold Coast and Tasmania, including the proportion of participants made up of the Auskick program. Unfortunately, the AFL only provided the committee with figures for the entire NSW/ACT region, rather than Western Sydney alone. They are included in Appendix 3. These statistics are not helpful in assessing meaningful participation in the code in that area as they include far Western NSW, the Riverina, Canberra and the far South Coast of NSW, where Australian Rules football enjoys strong support and well established club competitions exist.
2.54 Information on the public record, attributed to the New South Wales Minister for Sport suggests that actual participation in Western Sydney is fewer than 3,000.[47] In contrast Tasmanian participation is about 24,000 or nearly five per cent of the Tasmanian population. In the absence of more authoritative figures the committee is inclined to accept that participation in Western Sydney is, as a proportion of its population, relatively insignificant.
September 16th 2012 @ 9:48am
Brewski said | September 16th 2012 @ 9:48am | Report comment
It was to make a couple of Tasmanian senators happy.
The AFL can put a team wherever they want, it is not up to a senate to decide.
Maybe they should do a enquiry into paranoid RL fans who continue to throw this rubbish up.
If you want to compare participation rates, why then are you comparing Tasmania to GWS, (24,000 to 3,000) should it not be Hobart (if that is where the team is) to GWS.
What is the participation rate for Hobart ?, that would be the fair comparison.
The statistics are included for far Western NSW, the Riverina, Canberra and the far South Coast of NSW because that is GWS’s zone, and they actually play games there…..Wagga/Canberra.
But keep going, and by all means use a senate report, that they even admitted was a waste of time and taxpayers money.
Quite sad , that this is what you hang your hat on.
September 16th 2012 @ 10:26am
db swannie said | September 16th 2012 @ 10:26am | Report comment
I put up proof of Lying as you replied to an earlier post about “Doctoring figures with “They dont, plenty of AFL haters have a history of saying they do though.
Forget who wanted an enquiry ,that has nothing to do with the fact that when questioned about numbers they straight out LIED. .
They keep lying & head in the sand fans like you shake your head & say NO they dont .
The simple question is
why does the AFL have to continually LIE about junior figures.?
September 16th 2012 @ 11:54am
GCS said | September 16th 2012 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Db Swannie – who cares? If you don’t want to believe the figures then don’t. You must have bigger things going on in your life to worry about.
September 16th 2012 @ 12:02pm
Brewski said | September 16th 2012 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
Read your own post ……. “Unfortunately, the AFL only provided the committee with figures for the entire NSW/ACT region, rather than Western Sydney alone.”
How is that lying, in fact that is the Senate surmising, going on what the NSW Government states.
The fact is the senate inquiry was a joke, they are not themselves sure if the figure quoted is for NSW/ACT, or just for WS, if you look at this article we are posting in , the particpation rate in WS is around 36,000, so 20,000 back in 2008 sounds quite credible.
The NSW Government suggests 3,000 in 2008, but does not include auskick, after school auskick, community programs that run all year round.
Take the figures either way, as i said, this is what you hang your hat on, your tin foil hat.
September 16th 2012 @ 1:48pm
db swannie said | September 16th 2012 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
What dont you get about the following.
SEnate:The committee requested that the AFL provide statistics on participation levels in Western Sydney,
AFL:The participation in the greater west of Sydney was of the order of 20,000 participants in 2008
Senate:
Information on the public record, attributed to the New South Wales Minister for Sport suggests that actual participation in Western Sydney is fewer than 3,000
If thats not a blatent lie i dont know what is.
They were asked for WS numbers.
You can waffle on about all of NSW but they were clearly asked for WS numbers ,& they lied.
September 15th 2012 @ 12:55pm
Anthony said | September 15th 2012 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Judging by the pathetic attendance at SFS last night, the time is ripe for AFL to move into the Manly-Warringah area
September 15th 2012 @ 2:17pm
yewonk said | September 15th 2012 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
anthony you can have manly, and the swans are building an academy on the beaches after league turned the council down to hel build one.
September 15th 2012 @ 5:32pm
Punter said | September 15th 2012 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
Yes I would love to see the Swans up against Manly for popularity in the pubs, clubs & hotels in the Manly Warringah area, even during the Olympics we were shouted down because we wanted the Olympics on as opposed to the RL.
September 15th 2012 @ 1:41pm
JVGO said | September 15th 2012 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
Oh joy, as AFL (purportedly) grows in WS, the Socceroos go down to Jordan, The Wallabies get smashed by the All Blacks..oh and Scotland, the Cricket team gets belted by Pakistan, and Vic, SA, WA and Tassie fail to deliver a single gold medal between them at the London Olympics. So much to celebrate!
September 15th 2012 @ 3:22pm
Ian Whitchurch said | September 15th 2012 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
Remember, you’re only allowed to play sports JVGO likes – athletes must be servants of his idea of national glory, drafted to the service of the magnificence of the State !
September 16th 2012 @ 4:23am
JVGO said | September 16th 2012 @ 4:23am | Report comment
I think you’re getting a little hysterical IW. But no doubt it would be better that we all serve the magnificence of Demetriou and the AFL instead, like you.
September 16th 2012 @ 9:57am
Brewski said | September 16th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
I think if we rewind and view all your posts, history would show us that your view of things is extremely narrow and verging on hysterical.
On the other hand, Ian has shown himself to be a real sports lover across a wide range of sports.
September 16th 2012 @ 12:10pm
clipper said | September 16th 2012 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
Yes, Ian is one of the more rational posters here.
JVGO is just upset because he kept saying during the year that the Swans were no long the most attended team in NSW, only to be proven wrong by the end of the season – and that’s with the SCG as a construction site.
September 16th 2012 @ 1:10pm
Brewski said | September 16th 2012 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
I think he is just upset …fullstop !!.
September 16th 2012 @ 1:47pm
JVGO said | September 16th 2012 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
So someone said something a little less than reverential regarding the AFL and IW has got himself all worked up again. IW argues with supporters of RU, RL, cricket and football on almost every thread because he clings to some sort of mystical idealised view of the AFL and its administration, I guess because it makes him feel more important and successful than he actually is. As far as i can see IW is as delusional desperate and narrow minded as most AFL followers.
But when GWS are the greatest AFL club in the world it will be a proud day for IW, and all the people of WS who once took on and conquered the world in sports, but will then be celebrating beating the likes of Geelong, Fremantle, Port Adelaide or Hawthorn. What a proud day it will be. That’s the day IW dreams of telling the world ‘I told you so.’