- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Roar Guru
Joined November 2010
0
Views
0
Published
332
Comments
Published
Comments
“Speaking of gimmicks, its hard to go past the NRL Western Reds signing retired AFL WCE player Adrian Barich who had never played NRL nor auditioned for the role.”
So Jaceman, are you somehow equating the signing of a guy who played a hand full of games for WCE and had a crack at RL without making A Grade, with the hulking media juggernaut that is the KH/Izzy sideshow? Really? Or the other guys you mentioned(jeff fenech-spare me) as being in the same shameless marketing tool universe? Are you honestly saying that?
More rugby league players to defect to the AFL?
Why didn’t the AFL go after Paul Sironen back in the day? He seems to fit the (seemingly discriminatory) body type agenda. Or Dane Tilse these days? I would suggest that the guys I have mentioned didn’t fit the carefully constructed agenda(read ethnic background) the AFL were after to promote their new franchises.
More rugby league players to defect to the AFL?
You see TC this is what winds up us RL supporters, or me at least more than anything. Trying to characterize the KH/Izzy thing as anything other than a shameless publicity stunt is doing you guys no favours.
More rugby league players to defect to the AFL?
Interesting Australian Rules. I remember reading at the time that Izzy was “auditioned” by the GWS staff for 1 hour before they decided he could cut the mustard at the elite level of AR. 1 hour! Apparently he’d never touched a Sherrin in his life, but they could summarize in an hour that he had a future.
I would suggest there could be more than 98% that could cross over if a potential player can be defined instantly, seemingly.
Or have I got it wrong and Izzy was some kind of diamond in the rough, waiting to be fashioned into a player by AFL hands? It was handy for the AFL that he just happened to be of Poly origin and trailing for GWS.
More rugby league players to defect to the AFL?
Call me old fashioned, but shouldn’t Lockyer cut his teeth in the Toyota Cup or the Burpengary Jets under 8s or something before he thinks about coaching the Maroons? Too soon.
Thurston backs Lockyer for Origin job
Yeah Al whenever I think about Sydney crowds/supporters I always think of Manly supporters, who seem to all come out of the woodwork when they are doing well, but disappear into the depths of the insular penisular when things go bad. They rarely travel, largely due to the logistics of getting in and out of the place at any given time.
But, every second person you speak to on that side of town seems to be a lifelong supporter and has a genuine interest in the club. They are a weird mob. Hope your not one of them Al.
A Visit To Western Sydney
It’s a shame the AFL admin can’t just do the hands off approach and let this kind of thing happen organically. Again, it won’t do them any favours. Who green lights this kind of transparent marketing ruse? And honestly, who do they think they’re kidding?
Interesting that you mentioned the Fibros v Silvertails. A genuine cross town rivalry from a bygone era when ‘sport marketing’ wasn’t a career option.
He's an ideas man, Sheeds
Am I the only one who thinks you can’t manufacture this kind of rivalry?
He's an ideas man, Sheeds
Or alternatively : the clubs will have peaks while winning and then slip back into the unavoidable trough after losing, from which it is hard for them to muster the support from the fair weathered fans, much less gain new ones. Welcome to Sydney.
Using your template Lachlan the Swans should be the biggest club in NSW(yes they are a big club, but minus the Sth Melb old school members), if not Australia, but history has shown us the fickleness of the Sydney public will ensure they remain a niche in the harbour city.
What’s it been now, 30+ years? Most Sydneysiders would struggle to name one or two Swans players.
As for GWS see above x 100.
A Visit To Western Sydney
“Here we go again, people coming onto the Roar swearing black and blue that they ain’t ever seen a footy oval where they live……..”
No The Cattery. It’s more to do with some(not all) AFL fanboi’s who have a penchant for overstating the relevance AFL has on communities north of the Murray, often from afar or as occasional visitors to the area. RedB stated a figure before about Cairns being split 50/50 AFL/RL(!?) I would suggest these kind of selective observations come from briefly visiting an area and mixing with like minded(read : southern expat) people and rarely talking to locals.
It the kind of self fulfilling prophecy some AFLsters have turned into an art form. Again some, not all.
AFL happy to throw cash at reality TV
I think Cowan highlights the fact that it is often best to let players, particularly players up the order, to mature before being thrown into the test arena. He seems mentally tough and unfazed, and importantly, up for the task. Throwing players like Hughes to the lions early in their career doesn’t do anyone favours. Who knows if he’ll bounce back.
Intellect and ability: Ed Cowan's impressive debut
He does indeed, Ian. I can’t believe what a cool head he’s got. And on debut, 1st day at the boxing day test! Good argument for letting players mature before throwing them into the test arena.
Take note Phil Hughes. Or should I say, the selectors that pick Hughes.
Australia vs India Boxing Day Test Day One: Live scores, blog
Melbourne suffers from classic Second City Syndrome. Always has, always will. Melbourne needs to have a collective cup of tea and a lie down.
Defending Sydney's sporting crowd figures
Fake, I do a similar thing. I’m working in the UK at the moment(back in oz for xmas) If I had to give up my experiences(good and bad) I had with working and travelling around the world and swap them with the sheltered familiarly of working in Sydney and Brisbane for my professional career, I’d be, I dunno, really upset!
Sure Aussie Rules players might be comfortable with their lot, but others might have grander ambitions.You know, like working with people from other countries. Maybe learn another language. Ensconce yourself in amongst the local fans that don’t happen to be from your neighbourhood.
Actually a steam ship bound for Celyon sounds sounds rather exciting. Is it via Persia and Constantinople and onward to Mother England?
Huge player pay day to strengthen AFL
I agree to a point Kasey. Cricket will suffer largely because the body type, particularly fast bowlers, are similar to AFL. Thankfully some will never be suited to AFL.
Some will notice the limited scope AFL offers(approx 8 year at top level. Travel to exotic locations such as Geelong and Adelaide. Play in a GF at the G. Retire to run pub in rural Victoria) and ignore the coin.
Huge player pay day to strengthen AFL
Gould is a reactionary clown. Everyone knows one. He just happens to have the luxury of being given airtime, whereas most are confined to corners of pubs around closing time. I admire his passion, but he is best ignored.
NRL's fear of the GWS "Body Snatchers"
Yeah, I’m sure the AFL admin bods were heartbroken after Aust lost their WC bid. Shoulders slumped, furrowed brows. Wiping of a tear. Days of quiet introspection.
When my company wins a contract or hears of the failure of other companies to win contracts, we go completely Ape S**t! Of course they would have broken out the bubbly. Probably the real pricey stuff too. Probably lit cigars with $100 notes taken out of petty cash.
What I find mildly amusing/tragic is that the AFLsters would deny this. Real world situations, people. Real world.
NRL's fear of the GWS "Body Snatchers"
“We all know he couldn’t give a brass razzu about the two rugby codes…”
Exactly. And he has been found out. We’re not as stupid as he and the AFL, seemingly think. We (people from the northern states) can spot faux support a mile away. Or at least most of us can. The ones that can’t are the ones that will probably get suck into this ruse. Sheedy smuggly sits back thinking he’s playing us like a song. I know he’s not well liked with most Southerners either. I give him a year.
NRL's fear of the GWS "Body Snatchers"
“Difference is that the Swans get more crowds than any sydney NRL team, whilst the Storm get the lowest crowds than any Melbourne AFL team. Quite a difference don’t you think?”
Is that anything to be proud of? Not exactly a badge of honour. Where’s that diverse sporting landscape we always hear about in Melbourne.
Defending Sydney's sporting crowd figures
“Why have the swans got a higher average attendance than ANY Sydney NRL team? ”
We’ve been down this well worn path so many times Xman. The Swans crowd figure is heavily skewed by travelling fans and recently arrived xpats “baracking” for their former cities team. A true indication of the Swans popularity in Sydney is the TV ratings. I don’t want to begrudge the Swans of their niche, but you seem to be alluding to the false premise that they are more popular than NRL sides, which is untrue. You would probably understand this if you lived in Sydney. I’m guessing you don’t.
As for crowds in Sydney, again we’ve been here before. Sydney is unique in that it has several codes that are well supported (by international standards) so the crowds are more thinly spread. Simples.
Oh, and transports a bitch. And lets face it there are just more distractions in Sydney. (for distractions read “things to do other than attend sporting contests”)
Defending Sydney's sporting crowd figures
And a final and crucial point Ian, to create a wedge between the RL supporters, other code supporters(and cricket) and the AFL and ruin any goodwill between the codes. AD misjudged the sentiment in his grab for headlines.
More rugby league players to defect to the AFL?