Giants coach Kevin Sheedy and Israel Folau take the stage during the Greater Western Sydney unveiling of its club name and colours at the Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney. Slattery Images
I’m sure there were a few of our readers on The Roar who, along with me, would’ve received an email from the AFL’s newest franchise on Wednesday titled “GWS Giants hit 10,000 members”. My first reaction was, what an achievement for a club who’s never played an AFL game.
I’m someone who likes to keep an eye on the AFL’s expansion efforts and recall the Gold Coast Suns reached the ‘magical’ 10,000 members figure around September last year, so the Giants would argue they’re ahead in that respect.
That’s exactly the positive image GWS and the AFL want to get across, but I, dare I say like many others, was still sceptical about the email.
It really grabbed my attention as I’ve had my doubts that Greater Western Sydney would even manage crowds of 10,000 once the hype dies down about their entrance into the AFL next year.
So I simply had to investigate this email further.
One burning question in my mind was, what exactly do you get from a GWS membership in 2011, when they don’t play their first AFL game until March next year?
To be honest, you don’t get a lot.
The membership package essentially consists of a GWS cap, bumper sticker, membership card, entry to North East Australian Football League games in 2011 and priority access to purchasing a membership in 2012.
But then again, they don’t cost a lot. Fifty bucks to be precise.
Giants chief executive Dale Holmes said in the press release: “To have 10,000 people already committing to the Giants and putting their hand up to say ‘I support the club’, that’s a great result.”
I’m not sure $50 is a genuine commitment to the club, Dale, but it is something.
Without wanting to spread innuendo, I’ve also been informed by some who signed up that family memberships were pretty liberally created when two memberships were purchased in order to boost the figures.
Whatever the case, I want to make it clear I don’t think this whole process is about simply putting across a positive PR image. The AFL does expansion well, so there’s always something to learn from them.
The idea that the $50 2011 membership would earn those who signed up priority access to a membership in 2012, with $50 off the price, is a smart initiative. It’s a way to convert those foundation members into real members attending AFL games in 2012. And that’s the real key for GWS.
Fifty bucks isn’t a big commitment, despite what Holmes may say, so it’s easy for people with some interest to sign up. However, GWS will now aim to convert those genuine sign-ups into members and that’s the big challenge.
Another interesting aspect of all this, is this email came out just days after a curious story in the Sydney Morning Herald about the AFL putting money into western Sydney councils to erect footy goalposts at local sporting ovals and making some venues Aussie Rules exclusive in the rugby and soccer heartland.
According to the story, there’s one Aussie Rules oval for every 68 junior players in western Sydney. Staggering stuff.
However, the point here is, the AFL has the financial might and will to really push to expand its game into western Sydney.
GWS’s 10,000 membership milestone should be taken with a grain of salt, but the AFL will be doing its utmost to capitalise on any semblance of interest in the game in western Sydney.
Peter
Guest
Leaving aside disuputes over the NFL, Sydney v Melbourne, people paying memberships for "nothing" no one in the known universe liking AFL/NFL/Curling/Yoghurt knitting I actually went to the GWS match this weekend just gone at Manuka. There were probably about 1000 people there, it was a good match, and a very large portion of the crowd wore orange GWS hats and screamed obscenities at the umpire. It was eerily similar to attending the footy...
John
Guest
All of you NRL one eyes, let me put it simply. AFL draws the highest numbers to games. The AFL competition outrates the NRL competition (not NRL, State of Origin, City/Country, ANZAC day test, four nations, etc etc etc) on TV, even the GWS membership would rank it in the top half of NRL tallies, forget the fact that they have never played an AFL match, wages are higher in AFL, what more can you compare? The Sydney Swans get more people to their games than ANY Sydney NRL club, the Lions get more than the Broncos. Who cares where the members come from? AFL has long distance membership packages for all their clubs. If I pay my money and go and watch Carlton 5 times a year becasue they are 800km away, does that make me less of a member? This is the small comp chip on the NRL shoulder. Where was the outrage and war when the Storm moved to Melbourne and received a 6 million dollar per year subsidy from News? Where is the outrage at a Perth team being floated? NRL is of no consequence in the Southern States, but lo and behold, in NSW the NRL is at absolute fever pitch because AFL is in Western Sydney an area they neglected for years! If the game is crap, why are you complaining so much? If you had confidence that GWS would fail, why not treat it like the Storm and the proposed Perth club (word to the wise, tons of Sth Africans in Perth and their rugby team struggles) are treated by the AFL - ignored? Why are Karmichael and Izzy so bad when your NSW State of Origin coach was a rugby boy till he jumped codes? Ray Price, Russell Fairfax, Michael O'Connor. The ultimate hypocracy when players can not jump codes FROM league, but some of your greatest jumped (for the money) to league.
Lauren
Guest
Another soccer fan taking shots at australian football and the AFL, how pathetic. Australian football is growing. get over it. amateur football is growing rapidly throughout the world and soon will become respected above many english and american sports. Not everybody in the world bows down to the crown and english sports, to constantly here adults winge constantly about the success of a superior sport on a tiny nation is embarrassing. for you.
stabpass
Guest
Right, and GWS will train on Gipps rd during summer, and their players can earn up to a million, what exactly is your point. Blacktown is used by cricket, for 6 months of the year.
Midfielder
Guest
Cough cough mate these grounds are the home of second teir RL clubs ... Mc Credie Park has Guildford Owls playing ... my old team... its semi professional a top player could earn close to 100 K per year... using your logic the SGC in winter is only used by the Swans...
stabpass
Guest
Holroyd has two grounds exclusively used by Rugby League, these being Mc Credie Park at Guildford and Ringrose Park at Wentworthville. Gipps Road Sporting Complex has fields that are used exclusively for athletics, AFL and baseball throughout the year http://www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au/your_council/news_public_comment/news/holroyds_sporting_fields I wonder if we will see a suitable amount of outrage about the 2 rugby league only grounds !!.
ac
Guest
I have to say this also the Cattery likes to have a shot at anyone who he doesnt agree with. You play very unfair. People can have a comment. You mighten agree with it Cattery but your sarcastic comments should be kept in check. Let people comment and then respond but not in a way that demeans them. Your pfo AFL no doubt about that and thats great but let other people be pro their thoughts also. State the facts without trying to look at wrong motives. Now i have said it i feel better.
ac
Guest
I coughed twice at the Blacktown railyway station last week and they counted me as a Member of the GWS. My son went to a Auskick coaching clinic and he is now one of the thousands of youngsters who play AFL. Hasnt touched a ball since then. Rought conduct sums it up so well. Love the Spin though. Seems the AFL has forgotten one thing. The Swannies.
Kersy
Guest
Gold Coast SUNS had almost the exact same package in 2010 when they reached 10,000 members and they were $45 each! Now they have 14,000 members in their first AFL year. You really should research before you write your opinion! GWS have every opportunity to expand and should be very proud of their milestone!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
JVGO You state that AFL fans are brainwashed (which we hear often on this site), but you should really re-read what you have just written: "The AFL will get the people by telling them they are better than the rest" "The people who don't buy into this will be taunted and treated as second rate, less intelligent, old fashioned" Where is this stuff coming from???
clipper
Guest
Hi Jaceman, please use the posters full name in replying, as I'm the original clipper, and I wouldn't like to be linked to some of his comments.
hutch
Guest
Same old lies republican. Afl has a following in the act, but it is nowhere near the rugby codes, especially rugby league!
JVGO
Guest
Is Holroyd council broke and being supported by the generosity of the AFL? i doubt it. The council just spent $100,000 of ratepayers money on the AFL expansion. Of the supposed 68 AFL kids who need the oval that is $1500 per kid. Do the kids in other sporting competitions get $1500 spent on them by the council or are they supported by the registration fees and rental that their clubs pay the council. Obviously the AFL doesn't contribute much to council in participation fees as they don't have much participation. So the AFL have stepped in with incentives for council. The issue is really pretty simple even for AFL obscurantists like yourself.
JVGO
Guest
'The other local football clubs that occupy whatever ovals they traditionally occupy are part of the community and have been long term.' If you read that you might realise that this applies to the Goannas. Good on them. They are obviously not part of the issue or an example of the principles we are talking about (unless they are demanding exclusivity for themsleves via AFL money).
stabpass
Guest
Parramatta Goannas have been there since the 1970's, they are a volunteer run club, the ground has been upgraded to AFL standard for GWS summer training. http://www.gogoannas.com.au/home.php At every turn you are tripped up as being wrong, ask yoursef why !!.
stabpass
Guest
The rangers number is on a public register, he appeared happy to speak, he knows the area, ground, the history, and the truth. What research, besides making wild accusations, spouting mistruths, and jumping on board with the rest of the haters, have you undertaken ?. IMO you dont really think it's sporting apartheid, not even close, your just an Australian Football hater, who has seen the oppurtunity to sink a sly kick into the game.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
JVGO All the codes have grounds to which they have exclusive use, the main difference is that the AFL actually chipped in significant money to resurrect an otherwise derelict ground., which would have remained thus had the AFL not done that, so what is your beef exactly. Your chosen sport, which ever one it is, has exclusive rights to a ground in the area without having dished out a cent - be happy with that!
JVGO
Guest
Stabpass, the truth is Cattery said it himself yesterday. That the AFL exists entirely to promote Australian Rules Football which is it's business. He taunted me with the fact. So in every case, as in this one, it is not part of the community, it isn't interested in what the community cares about but is only there to promote it's own interests. The Cattery thinks this is a good thing because AFL football is all he cares about. The other local football clubs that occupy whatever ovals they traditionally occupy are part of the community and have been long term. They are run by community volunteers, not AFL development officers and paid officials. They don't distort the political system though their money and influence. The AFL will attract the people who want things done for them rather than do it themselves, who want their kids to feel better about themselves because they have more than the other kids, they will get the people who want the AFL free handouts and subsidies. The AFL wil get the people by telling them they are better than the rest of the community because they are now part of the better AFL 'community' the new brand. The people who don't buy into this will be taunted and treated as second rate, less intelligent, old fashioned. That's the way it works. Just look how brain washed every AFL poster on this site is already to this way of thinking.
JVGO
Guest
So there are signs posted that only RL teams are allowed on those grounds, Stabpass? And the local RL club has paid money to the council for this exclusivity? Or maybe it has just been traditional for the 60 or 70 years these clubs have been there. This has gone from inanity to insanity. I hope this ranger knows what you let him in for. Did you ask him if you could post his number and name on the website? You guys are completely crazy.
stabpass
Guest
@ kacey, yep, bully boys, need to be put in their place, even on the internet, you have been proven wrong on all your 'simple questions' , i guess you are just misunderstood .... Right !!.