AFL GWS Giants – Kevin Sheedy with Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Mr Andrew Barr. Slattery Images.
In a gutsy challenge against the NRL, Greater Western Sydney Giants have unofficially booked a date with inter-city rivals Sydney Swans at ANZ on the same weekend as the first round of the 2012 NRL season. As brave as this move is, it could well go against the new franchisee.
March 24, 2012.
That’s the date for the showdown that was accidentally ear-marked by Giants CEO Dale Holmes at a grand final luncheon yesterday.
Right after the NAB Cup wraps up, no other AFL team is expected to play that weekend except GWS and Sydney. Why? To put the NRL and AFL in direct competition for crowds.
It’s not good for either team for physical and mental recuperation before the new season. Especially if one of them (or both of them) make the NAB grand final, which though unlikely, is not impossible.
The Giants, led by key signings of NRL-product Israel Folau, as well as Callan Ward, Tom Scully and more recently former Brisbane Lion stalwart Luke Power, have certainly been a controversial addition to the AFL.
The fight for fans in Sydney’s west has been well publicized in the media and has clearly ruffled a few feathers on both sides.
To add to the drama of the west being seen as rugby league heartland, the AFL in true AFL style appear determined to establish the newest team by splitting code allegiances of the fans by pitting them directly against NRL teams.
The announcement of this Round One clash at ANZ Stadium shows just how determined they are to make their presence known.
Honing in on the 11,000 member mark GWS have a solid club foundation considering they are yet to take the field in the top competition. They’ve been tirelessly promoting the club in every which-way possible, around the entire area Greater-Western Sydney encompasses.
Better still, they had a pretty darn good season in the NEAFL. So why the compulsion to war with NRL?
These tactics to try and get two codes waring is nothing new, but it does leave an icky feeling in the hearts and minds of both AFL and NRL supporters.
If I was living in western Sydney I’d be pretty annoyed that I’m being fought over like this.
Credit to GWS for wanting to kick off the season with a bang, but surely this is not the best method to draw crowds when the feeling towards Aussie Rules in the west is already so tense.
How do they think they will appeal to dual-code appreciators if they go about it this way?
The strategy from GWS goes by the horribly incorrect assumption that Sydney-siders can only love one code -rugby league- and that to get numbers into the stadium they have to break that up.
How wrong they are.
A quick look at the Sydney Swans membership numbers proves there is support for AFL, and with a thriving population, larger than melbourne might I add, there’s absolutely no reason another AFL team in Sydney can’t be accommodated and grow alongside other codes.
There are numerous Aussie Rules clubs in Sydney, from Aus-kick to semi-professional ranks, from young to old. I went to a sports high school in Sydney where AFL was one of the larger elite sporting programs, so the love of the game is there.
I just don’t understand why, when there is a clear market for GWS to build off, why they insist on garnering support in this confrontational way.
If the fans want to come, they will come.
This approach is not fair on the players, on the support staff and most of all on the fans. It is not a positive way to bring in supporters.
The Giants have issued the challenge to Sydney’s west.
Whether or not they’ll accept that challenge however, is another story.
No-one likes being the piece of meat in a dog fight.
BigMal
Guest
So how much is the AFL paying you Shane?
Shane Richardson
Guest
Living in the heart of GWS area all my life you will always have the diehard NRL fans who no matter what will ignore the great game of AFL. Despite this, I have seen the corruption from my generation about the game dissipated over the years and young people are more open to it and once they get to watch a few games are hooked like the rest of us fans. More and more I see young kids around my area wearing different AFL guernsey's which is a truer indication of whole much it has became excepted and how the NRL must be extremely concerned for the long term future of NRL in NSW. I never watched a game of AFL until the Super league war started and was converted then and have converted my own wife and kids who have became devoted to the game. The combination of the "Safe" Auskick program, cheaper ticket prices and the family aspect of the crowd make it so attractive to parents compared to rugby league. I don't think the NRL will die but it will followed by a certain crowd which turns me away from attending live games (you know like the Collingwood type supporters :) ), as long as the AFL keeps spending the money the game is only getting stronger. Good on the AFL for being gutsy enough to put the line in the sand, keep it up. Go Swannies.
Tony
Guest
Excellent article in SMH today, quoting Demetriou as thanking the Sydney media for all the publicity the "code war" brings AFL!
M1tch
Roar Guru
The annual opener is Roosters v Souths which will be on friday night probably at the SFS. If they do I'd say it would be Penrith v Parra. It would be tough for a genine west sydney blockbuster to be on a Sat night.
M1tch
Roar Guru
I think its the worst time to play the game, the media will be mostly NRL and this game will be lost a bit..should have been around rounds 5-6 when it would generate more media.
clipper
Guest
What's the bet that the NRL will have two big WS teams playing each other (or even all of them) on the opening weekend to try and dampen the Giants debut?
me, I like football
Guest
exactly right! this whole war thing is BS to sell papers and I can't believe people actually fall for it including Melanie, or is she just after more views and replys.
me, I like football
Guest
lucky the AFL has not gone down that path then
me, I like football
Guest
Who says this has anything to do with the NRL? Why can't it be a stand alone weekend to build the hype and rivalry amongst AFL and sports fans. It might hurt the NRL people to hear this, but it's not about you. The hate RL fans feel for the AFL due to fear or ignorance (if it is fear than it is ignorance) is not recepricated. Take a chill pill guys, the AFL just wants to grow it's meagre share in a large market. noone is out to get you. So could the RL scribes please stop with the BS
JamesP
Guest
I reckon the AFL are keeping night grand finals and Monday night footy up their sleeve for the next TV rights deal. This year they had 2 new teams and an extra game to sell. I have absolutely no problem with a Saturday night grand final...say about 7pm. You can still have the build ups and all the breakfasts during the day - but instead of starting at 7am like they do now; you can start them later at say 11am. Or change them into lunches - whatever...and the game is done and dusted by 10pm, leaving revellers to party well into the night. And, if you follow my link in my previosu post, it says the grand final cotract with the MCG finishes in 2038. By then, the 2 new teams will be well and truly bedded down, Perth and Adelaide will have shiny new stadiums - perfect opportunity for the AFL to begin rotatign the grand final and make the game truly national for all.
JamesP
Guest
Good point Wookie In fact, in this article just today, Demetriou talks about his good relationship with Gallop and that he has no desire for the AFl to be "number 1" in Sydney "Contrary to what most believe, Demetriou says ''with absolute sincerity'' he does not have a secret desire for AFL to be the number one game in Sydney. He has a great respect for the NRL because ''they are what we are in Melbourne'', the game generates passion, has a long history, and is ''embedded in people's psyche''. He wants success with GWS in Sydney, but knows it will take time, and is realistic enough to know a barrage of negative press will come if the Giants are continually belted next year." http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/code-war-what-is-it-good-for-great-publicity-says-demetriou-20110929-1kzdl.html
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
No matter when the game was scheduled you can bet the headlines would still read 'AFL declares war'. Muppet journos will remain muppets. A round 1 derby is a bad idea anyway and i'd be surprised if the AFL go ahead with it. Giants v Essendon in round 1 is a far better fixture. Leave the derby for round 6 or 7.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
I could have sworn that I read somewhere that the NRL season was kicking off next year with a game at Eden Park Auckland on March 1. Have I missed something?
ac
Guest
To the Wookie - I think is called declaring war without actually saying it. But to be fair - "hey this is business".
Simmo
Guest
Actions speak louder than words. They'd be foolish to publicly admit that this franchise is a turf grab but that's the only conclusion one can draw from their actions.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Find me a single quote from either Demetriou, Anderson or Mclachlan that says the AFL wants to destroy the NRL or any other code. Im willing to bet you cant. You can however find any number of quotes from NRL officials regarding AFL encroachment, battles, wars and other confrontational comments.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
its not really a lot different to any number of NRL inititatives this year that went up against the Gold Coast schedule. The season opener is a request by GWS, not an AFL HQ initiative, although they may receive it, the AFL draw is not yet out.
Jeff
Guest
Night finals are OK, but there are a lot of people working during those hours too, I could envisage a NRL grand Final played by St George and Manly , where over half of Australia would have to wait till after midnight to watch it. The sport's admin teams should be strong enough to dictate WHEN the games are to be played. The TV channels do not OWN our game. AFL have stood up to the channels, NRL MUST follow their example.
Meesta Cool
Guest
I agree with Stabpass on this one. A grand final (Such as AFL) has the morning beakfasts, followed by all day promotion till the start of the game,Which fills the stadium . Followed by the game itself. followed by a night on the town for the many fans who wish to celebrate or commiserate. PERFECT!. NRL should revert back to this timeslot and schedule the final series to start as the AFL series finishes. I believe this was suggested earlier this week and I think it is an excellent idea. The Roar' should be compulsory reading for the NRL leaders.
Johnno
Guest
stabpass, you can like tradition and traditions change you are being inflexible. and blowing up the pokies killing tv ratings by not having night grand finals. AFL is professional and money comes first the AFL would not exist stabpass without money. You are to backward conservative for my levels stabpass. And clearly if tv ratings are the issue here to , clearly more Australians prefer night grand finals as more would tune in, than during the day where they have other priorities that are more important. So under your style you a depriving a large majority of people who would watch the AFL grand final i they did noit have day prorities as currently is the case eg(work, shopping), but would happily watch the AFL grand final at night when they have nothing do to. There are more neutral fans in AUstralia than fans who just want a grand final during the day. ANd tv ratings on saturday night are high so you not have to go to wednesday night.