Daniel Bradshaw celebrates his sixth goal during the AFL Round 06 match between the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions at the SCG, Sydney. Slattery Images.
As I was trawling through the Daily Telegraph’s sports section on its website, I was surprised to read some comments made by Sydney Swans Chairman, Richard Colless, in relation to the use of the SCG.
Responding to calls from fans and Swans forward Ryan O’Keefe to abandon ANZ Stadium for finals and use the SCG, Colless, in his wisdom, called the SCG “old tired and antiquated,” and also claimed the deal to play matches at ANZ Stadium was the most important in the clubs’ history.
Well, from someone on the outside looking in, I feel that Colless may have just alienated nearly all of the Swans fans.
The SCG is the Sydney Swans home ground, period. All of the Swans great moments since moving up to Sydney in 1982 have occurred at the great ground (Lockett’s point and 1300th goal, Davis’ last gasp winner).
The ground has an ability to get the Swans moving, as many players have noted over time, due to the wonderful atmosphere such as petite ground provides.
Despite the ground’s long history and its old stands, Colless forgot to mention the new grandstand built in 2008 that is the home of many of the most dedicated Swans supporters.
ANZ Stadium, on the other hand, is a concrete soulless jungle situated in an area where no-one cares about the Swans. While I agree it has provided huge crowds, it lacks the atmosphere that the SCG provides.
Essentially, the Swans give up home ground advantage when they play at the Olympic Stadium.
Colless also forgot to mentions that the crowds are falling at ANZ Stadium because the novelty of playing at ANZ Stadium has worn off. As well as that, the ground is a terrible place to get to by public transport, whereas the SCG is near ferries, buses, and trains.
When GWS enters the AFL, the Swans should play their matches at their home ground, the SCG, bar their match against GWS and Collingwood. It serves no purpose to play in enemy territory.
The SCG not only is top class, but in the heart of Swans territory, and the place the players want to play.
Maybe Colless could stop talking, get his head out of the Prawn Sandwich bar at ANZ Stadium, and listen to all his clubs’ stakeholders. The SCG is the place for the Swans.
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