GWS, AFL hope for 40,000 to Giants' debut

I think the AFL has cost themselves at least 20,000 people by not allowing Swans members to go the game free of charge. I know members in Melbourne can't go to rival games but clubs there are established. You would have thought that for a first up game they would have opened the gates to the Swans members. I am a member and was bitterly disappointed to find out I had to buy tickets and will not be going. Same goes for the group of 5 that I usually go with.

Gosh, all I did was point out how bad the NRL crowds were & I am accused of hate! Yes, lousy weather - but 18k for the Souths game in an 80k stadium on opening round was pathetic. Let's see how GWS crowds are when the NRL throws all it has against them.

100 pts is a possibility, on a range of possibilities that goes from 40 to 120pts - let us hope it falls somehwere around 60pts and we'd probably accept that as a fair debut from the Giants. If Swans go in a bit underdone early in the season, and the young Giants play with a bit of enthusiasm, they might be able to get the margin closer to 40pts.

I'm ok with much of what you have said. Starting a new club is a long, hard road, even with a lot of help from the governing body. There are pluses and minuses to partnering with Canberra, but it's a gateway to southern NSW, where there is fair dinkum support for aussie rules, and at the end of the day, GWS will need as many friends as it can find in the early years.

Gee Norm, don't let the truth get in the way of your story. Torrential rain, some of the worst flooding in NSW history that affected the Penrith/Windsor region closing bridges. 9,000 was bloody good and applaud them for coming out in those conditions. Same with Parra. But don't let hate get in the way of your posts

Difference is the Rebels have not gone for a youth policy in order to peak in 2-3 years time, their model was based on immediate success. They've paid overs for some of the biggest names in World Rugby and are still struggling Storm haven't had a sub 10k year in 6-7 years. Core following sits around 10-11k. Anyway this thread is about GWS, most people seem to agree that the true test is once the gimmicks die down we'll see a true indication of their following. My take is hedging their bets with Canberra will turn out to probably be the best thing they've done.

The GWS Club has been in existence for only 2 years - It has set up in a basic non Aussie Rules area. This is new territory in many ways. Give them 5 years not 2 - The media article above refered to the current percentage split of the membership - Which for the first time showed the locals as the majoritory- The 2011 figures showd Canberra at 40% and GWS at 25% with 35% from elsewhere. Something maybe happening in the movement above- We just do not know -Too early to tell. GWS Twitter reporting that 7000 members will be reached in the next week. Hope the breakdown of the members continues - Very intriguing for AFL fans. There is a possible downside to this - The club is having difficulty in finding suitable training facilities in the summer -They may have to move to Skoda Stadium at Homebush for their summer training which will take them away from Blacktown. The mere fact this is happening - Lack of suitable grounds - Shows the tough state of the game up there. I have lived in Sydney and ended up following Aussie Rules and became a member of St George Leagues Club (Taj Mahal) and followed the Dragons as well.

Fair enough, If the Silvertails v Fibros worked then surely an East vrs West can work as well. I was surprised how many people of all demographics followed the Wallabies when they were beating NZ regularly so surely a team from the West beating Melbourne teams will garner some interest in the long term...As I said they cant do everthing in the first year and they have had multicultural carnivals (eg the Auburn AFL team with many Muslims) becaause its perceived that WS folk of SOME different cultures havent embraced NRL because its so physical.

I think the game might be a slog, with GWS making it pretty clear they will flood and try and get bodies to the contest. Sydney dont have the league's most potent attack, like it in tight and at stoppages as well .... I could easily see the game being 9 goals to 3, with victory for the Swans never really being in doubt, but the Giants refusing to let go.

They'll ice the test, for sure. And play the game at speed.

I trust the Weagles have roided up nicely in the pre-season Nathan..? ;)

Forget the crowd size, my greatest concern is what the margin might be....I've tipped 100 pts. Anyone else care got a significantly higher/lower tip?

Jaceman I disagree - why not get some runs on the board with promoting Setanta as a local in a creative and modest way (please don't use Sheeds again!!). Most of us don't even know how the game is played or know what the GWS brand stands for, so any feel good story that connects the team with the demographic can only be good. I also think you've hit the nail on the head - the AFL is trying to be everywhere at once with this team...really not good when you're trying to build a solid supporter base. I completely agree with the media coverage - but the same happens in Melbourne, one town is AFL and the other is NRL...just the way it is. Not sure if you've been out to the Giants home in Rooty Hill - it's a pretty poor area...it doesn't matter how good your media and school visits are, if the decision makers in the household are not being given value for money with memberships then they won't bother. Rooty Hill and surrounds is also amazingly culturally diverse, but everytime I've been to the Giants HQ for events or games very few from any of these cultural groups is even in attendance. Jaceman, you're right, I'm only one person - trying to give some constructive feedback from my perspective as I'm a local who wants to see the club succeed. Trust me, most people I know who are mad RL supporters from WS would be horrified to know I'm engaging in this type of forum!

I think GWS will highlight O'Hailpin when the team is picked for the first game but pointing out Setanta would appear now that he was signed only for that home grown reason. WS boy its a bit hard to be everywhere in an area with 2m people and your experience is only one. I understand they are in the Murdoch suburban papers and in the Tele often and turning up to Western Sydney functions when they are allowed, Warwick Farm races, v8s etc. They played a trial there last year in south west GWS and 2 games at Blacktown so its not as if they are ignoring the area..The AFL has a connection with 2SM and, 2GB and 2MMM so 2WS is probably out of the picture at the moment but 2WS whatever is not really a WS station anymore anyway.. Channels 7 and Nine give some coverage but Ten appears to have dropped AFL altogether after not obtaining the rights. The AFL seem to be holding their powder dry till the NRL early season hype dies down but expect it to pick up from now on...The AFL are in for the long haul so its only the first lap of a marathon....Meantime the Fairfax paper (SMH) and related radio station still give next to zero coverage which will rquire heavy advertising to fix for that demographic in western sydney. As I said elsewhere the SMH gave no coverage to the NSW parliament launch for the 2 clubs on a Wednesday when NRL news was short. Is this why the AFL are going to beef up their own media unit so as people of that demographic arent reliant on a non AFL SMH...

Good point on Setanta, I'm surprised Sheeds hasn't milked that one lol

Because there HAS to be a decline, because otherwise trolling becomes so much more difficult.

How so? I think Sydney membership and crowds has have been rather flat for the past 10 years - albeit with a spike when they played and won grand finals (2005 - 2006). That is totally undertandable. Not sure thats a "drastic decline"

Sorry if I came across negative. I actually applaud all the work the Giants and the AFL are doing to promote the game out here - getting kids and families involved in sport with a rich tradition can only have a positive outcome for the area. I suppose there is the question of why the club is not connecting with Western Sydney. My points were only to highlight that you can't preach one message and then practice actions that will leave us locals mystified. For example, playing under the banner of GWS and then playing practice matches in Albury or playing a third of your matches in another State/Territory leaves many of us questioning how long the AFL are really wanting to stay in the area. The Giants are also failing to promote the one and only local boy in their squad - believe it or not, it's Setanta....I'm sure the local Irish and Western Sydney public would be fascinated with his story if only it was told to the public!!! I think that would get more bums on seats!

We welcome the concerns of a local boy from Western Sydney giving us his sincere and forthright views on where GWS has gone wrong.

Agree that is a valid criticism of GWS, trying to be something to everyone risks being nothing to anyone. However, GWS is a big area, I think to say GWS could have already a built a connection with the local communtity is tough. My understanding is GWS has done a of work in schools and certain communtity events, but you cant be everywhere. The Canberra connection provides a ready made Australian football base that's hard to ignore and understandably needs to be nurtured. Melb Storm pick and choose in Victoria as well to connect, based on some roots. I have it on very good authority they are developing/promoting RL junior clubs in Wodonga. Now Wodonga is 300k from Melbourne. The point is you go where this some interest and try and build your brand. As for the crowds, of course they will dwindle, GWS playing at Blacktown (capacity sub 10k) this year shows what the AFL thinks it can draw stand alone against a non Vic team without a National following or travelling fans like Essendon or Collingwood. I very much doubt a relocation will happen for at least 10 years for GWS. Its being viewed as long term, the AFL is not as prone to knee jerk decisions as other codes. It plans into the future.