AFL and GWS commit to playing in Canberra

only an increase of 2 u/18 sides and that is nominations only and it includes wollongong in comparision the penrith jrl has more than 17 teams.

What do you think of the colours/name?? I guess it's avoided confusion in the domestic Australian (cross code) football market.

beaver Thanks for the tag mate!

The AFL then VFL made a big mistake, when moving the swans to Sydney, if anyone was deserving of a team back then, it was Canberra, which was at worst, on par with the rugby codes and at best, the leading football code. It would have had the jump on the Raiders and arguably they may never have formed, i hope the AFL and ACTAFL get it somewhat right this time.

Hutch Please elaborate, assuming you are referring to my post i.e. Cheers

what a load of crap!!!!

The bottom line here is that without a GWS deal the ACT would be left in AFL limbo. If anything, we stood to lose all AFL elite presence from the capital as early as 2011, with the Bulldogs having done the dirty on this local demographic to play in the footy blackhole that is NZ, now starting from 2012, since 2011 was a little premature given that countries hosting of Rugby World Cup. From what I understand Wellington will be committing to two home games per year for a cool &100K. I agree that this latest GWS deal appears at face value, fiscally irresponsible and obscene and that there are blatant expedient forces at play on the part of GWS and the AFL, however the Australian Footy community here has a decade to build on this, in ensuring a positive outcome for footy in Canberra, long term. The significant grass roots talent in this demographic will now have access to a more defined elite pathway as well as access to the establishment of a new second tier two conference Eastern League. There are many factions displaying dubious agendas in the ACT presently as a result of this deal, including the anti labor lobby, the anti sport lobby and of course the expected anti AFL lobby coming from the Soccer, League and the Union fraternity. The hypocrisy being aired by these competing football codes, smacks of fear as this presents as the best opportunity yet for Australian Footy to dominate the footy landscape in Nations Capital, (a code war being fought all around the country), given a more consistent elite presence now in the offing. Despite the denial and flagrant hyperbole of competing codes, in painting themselves as victims in this process, can I remind everyone that they can hardly lay claim to exclusive demographic rights, either fiscally or historically given the inherent Australian Football pedigree that exists in The ACT. These nay sayers know all too well that the foundations and status of the Indigenous code in Canberra, has long been on a par and is possibly more compelling than others, given it's lack of elite presence that has seen competing codes afforded a distinct advantage and privilege, in inflating their code profiles. Australian Footy is indeed a threat to all and sundry and I only trust it can build on this platform in offering the numerous long suffering Australian footy patrons who dwell in this fair city, deserved elite exposure and a more effective pathway for the many young Australian Footy aspirants playing the game that is represented throughout every ACT school. Cheers

re P&R, in the VAFA St Bedes Mentone dropped down to C grade, then, in 3 successive years they won the premierships in C, then B and then A grade. (from 2006 to 2008). Astounding effort. Esp in Aust Footy (as compared to the lower scoring forms of 'football').

not a question of should but a question of when - agree with tassie, perth could be on the cards for a 3rd team and dont discount wellington as a possible venue despite concerns expressed on another thread rather than a conference system i would prefer a H&A calendar that saw all teams play each other once with 2/3 split rounds built in making it a 21/22 week season - only downside would be 10 teams playing 1 less designated home game every alternate year but afl could build in compensation to membership packages to offset that

Senior football in Sydney can only grow if the junior base is strong and pushing through, a proper promotion/relegation system that works in other comps such as the WAAFL http://www.wafootball.com.au/waafl/fixtures-and-results , is still some way off as promotion/relegation is not a right but decided by the league. It appears though, that Sydney will have 6 grades of senior football next season, and no doubt more energy will be spent in building football in Sydneys west to become on par with senior football in the north and south of the city. Dont know whats happenong down at Manly, but they are becoming a very big club.

Excellent signs aren't they. Along with the performance of the Auburn lads and really breaking into the various ethnic groups - - obviously on theRoar, correctly or otherwise, some people have accused AFL (in Sydney) of being a 'middle class white' sport. For those of us outside of Sydney, it's clearly been anything but. So, good signs - - main thing is the junior level development to back up the seniors. Similar to footy overseas where next months Oceania U16s in Tonga is a critical competition to develop a new generation of senior players, and potential AFL talent.

The irony of the NEAFL - - is that it's potentially a big deal, a big story for the development and future direction of the game in the less strong states and potentially off shore. And yet the Melb Herald Sun on Friday carried the story buried WITHIN an article about Jack Anthony going to the Dockers (that was the headline), about 2/3s into the article as a 'meanwhile' without even a sub-heading. Astounding. Anyway, the 10 and 7 team conferences. No Sydney AFL sides yet. Hopefully a few years down the track, there might be scope of 2 or 3 Syd teams, and a nice 10 + 10 for the 2 conferences. The other question though, what scope for PNG/FNQ, or NZ/Pacific slotting in?? The NEAFL will also give the AFL some important experience at operating a 2 conference system. It could yet be a blue print for a future division of the AFL proper should it expand to 20 teams (Tassie19 and XYZ20).

I couldn't but imagine that some of the people offering criticism might not be RU 'old boys' from the private colleges of Sydney. No, never!!! ;-)

AFL clubs have generally done better via sponsorship value because of the club membership - - having a year on year list of 30,000, to 50,000 signed up paid up members becomes a ready and willing marketing database. That there's often a 10,000 or so churn from one year to the next, increases the reach. That's simple marketing 101. Obviously there's other areas where AFL clubs are 'weaker' such as 2.30 AM tv coverage in Khazakstan on a 3rd tier soccer channel up against re-runs of EPL matches. ;-)

I found this article interesting, has the introduction of GWS already had a impact on the growth of Australian football in Sydney ?, with a record amount of senior and under 18 teams nominating for 2011. http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-1047-0-0-0&sID=53282&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=13870201&sectionID=53282

I'm worried about the diluting of the AFL product in Syd. To me and many other Sydney-siders AFL is all about big crowds and traditional Melbourne teams with a passionate following. I prefer rugby league but that's only because I grew up in Syd - me and a few mates will generally go to one Swans game a year and I don't know if the AFL will be able to attract "swinging" fans like us if they are only pulling 10 or so thousand people to a GWS game. It's not just that but the Sydney media will tear the AFL apart if they're not pulling big crowds and moving the team to Canberra every couple of weeks. Like a lot of bloggers on the Roar, the Daily Telegraph loves the "code war" angle. Sure it took the Swans 15 years to get up and running but it is a very different climate now - people want success overnight and the media will tear you right down if you're not delivering it. It's just an idea but if the AFL came out and said they were working in partnership with the NRL in western Syd in some way that might take the sting out of this ridiculous code war argument and further their cause.

If the people of Western Sydney are to feel that the team is theirs, then they won't like it seen as whoring out to the highest bidder so soon, fair enough when financial reality sets in and they have little choice, but from day one. not a good move.

from the article "On average, AFL clubs raised 30 per cent more revenue through sponsorship than rugby league and union, partly because they had more inventory to sell available space on their uniforms, Mr Levine said." has anyone looked at AFL jumpers compared to Rugby League. Rugby League tend to be walking billboards.

We will just have to wait and see, but there is no doubt that GWS may become the biggest football club in Australia, and no !! i am not talking about next year, i am talking about 15 years. Sponorship signs are very good indeed, but the club is being built on the initial premise "if you build it , they will come ", rather than GWS crying out for a team. Although Canberra has been crying out for a team for 30 years.

Apparently GWS have signed their first Major Sponsor - They have already have other lower level sponsors on board but not a full complement yet. All will be revealed in the future. Interesting comment in the Sydney based article about how AFL jumpers attract 30% more advertising revenue than Rugby jumpers. Link-- http://www.smh.com.au/business/afls-newest-team-aims-for-the-top-before-it-plays-a-game-20101111-17pdv.html