Google's most successful sporting team of 2012

I dont think google numbers for a team mean anything. The fact that the two "foreign" code teams, the storm and the swans, are high up the list probably reflects the fact that when a Sydneysider or Melbournite who knows nothing about the relevant code hears that the Swan or Storm are in a final, maybe that makes them think ... "ah ... who´s in the team" "what sport is that" etc etc . A good example of the irrelevance of the google statistics is me. I am an Aussie living abroad, and I love rugby, and follow the Wallabies and Waratahs and Sydney University. My only source of info for Aussie rugby is the net. However, to get news I never use google, I go direct to rugbyheaven, this site, rugbyrugby, the sites of my preference. I assume most strong followers of a sport or team would do the same.

Exactly Ken, and I think that is the point. When a Sydneysider or Melbournite hears that the Swan or Storm are in the grand final, maybe that makes them think ... "ah ... who´s in the team" "what sport is that" etc etc The fact that both teams are "foreign" to many in their own city is probably hugely relevant to the fact they are so high on the google list. A good example is me. I am an Aussie living abroad, and I love rugby, and follow the Wallabies and Waratahs and Sydney University. However, to get news I never use google, I go direct to rugbyheaven, this site, rugbyrugby, the sites of my preference. I assume most strong followers of a sport or team would do the same.

I think not just Sydney-siders, but Australians in general. I'm a mad Swans fan down in Melbourne and there were a lot of friends around me that told me they'd googled/checked the paper/AFL.com.au to find out who plays for Sydney because "they've done so well even though Adam Goodes is crap now."

Here Here I thought the same ,

Hahahahaha. That's classic! :-)

Actually I hadn't thought about that. I am a sports mad Sydneysider. I can name every player for Sydney FC and the Paramatta Eels. Most players for the Warratahs, NRL sides, WSW. Hell I can even name a couple from the Kings and the Swifts, but not one from the Swans.

I googled the Queensland Reds 4,500 times this year in a desperate bid to get them in the top 10. And to find out on Christmas Day I failed is devastating. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].

Google is for people who have no knowledge on the subject but stats are used these days to justify a pay packet based on bs

"And to the codes in Australian I would have to say that the sleeping giant is the world game of football. Or maybe they have been awake for some time and the rest of us are just starting to realise it." mate i support you wholeheartedly in this statement , merry xmas :)

'why isn’t it relevant that the Swans are the most Googled team in Australia?' That's not the way it works though, it's up to the person presenting the stat as relevant to point out why. It's the absence of relevance that makes it irrelevant. There's literally millions of stats that we could generate about football teams. How many kids each supporter has, who eats the highest fibre breakfast or whose supporters own the most pushbikes. Relevance is what makes stats useful. What does it actually mean for the Swans to be the googled team in Australia and is it by a large or insignificant margin? It's not popularity, I don't think anyone would even suggest that the Swans are not the most popular team in the country or that the Storm are not the most popular team in the NRL. Both of them are outsiders which struggle for recognition in 'foreign' towns - maybe that's why people were googling them?

Unless Cameron currently writes articles for the Roar(?), forgive him for his effortless analysis on your article in which over time us Roarers will continue to develop our English, grammar and punctuation. Though thanks for the English lesson Cameron.

I know I personally I didn't say it was irrelevant but saying "In the years to come, the data reported by Google will rival TV ratings in terms of importance.” That's what irked me "maybe the increase in interest is what is driving it." Really? What else would it be? Google > Sydney swans > refresh > refresh > refresh. Ahh there is your reason.

So assuming that all supporters of all football teams of all codes know where to look when searching for their team, why isn't it relevant that the Swans are the most Googled team in Australia? I know that there are other stats that matter more, but all things being equal it is still a fact and maybe the increase in interest is what is driving it.

Allsports, thank you. At the end of the day sport is just am interest but it's times like Christmas and new years that makes us be greatful for everything we have. I wish you a safe and merry xmas/ new years too. May peace, joy and love come to all.

um, yeah, what hasn't been said? Pointless stats that mean little - very few sports fans are going to google their teams. They know where they get their footy news, they'll usually know the clubs url. I guess it's ever so slightly interesting that the most popular AFL and NRL teams being googled are the out-of-towners, who both got far more attention in their cities than they usually would by making grand finals. But to try to make some broad ranging analysis of popularity from this is laughable.

Without casting nasty commentary at you AllSports - I see why you've tried to provide this information, but seriously.. the comments thread represents better thought than your list of Google Searches. But rather than having a crack on what was probably appropriately cast as a "slow news day".. thanks @Jeff Cook, I thought I'd drop down some thoughts on WHERE relevant information exists on this topic of "successful teams"... Given that success usually resides in winning, firstly, I'd say the answer has to lie moreso in stats and results than just searches. Otherwise, you'd say that LANCE ARMSTRONG which was sure one of the most globally searched terms of 2012 would be a "success" (not most Lance Armstrong searches also probably included the word "cheat").

Allsports, Google Tv = Channel 9, Channel 7, One, Foxtel/Foxsports, Foxtel Go, interest into expanding coverage via applications through IPads, IPhones, etc. Google shopping = Type Broncos merchandise and find what you get, gumtree, ebay, westfield online. Google books = readable in published I'm open for mass exposure but before Google vests it's interest in our sports or our sports vesting their attention in the "search engine" then these are just another set of numbers to add to riffle up discussions that most have ill-informed opinions and rely heavily on technology. Here is some stats for you - Broncos roughly 260,000 Facebook likes Broncos, bulldogs and rabbits most watched rugby league teams with 22.9mill, 21.8mill and 19.75mill respectively. Swans were the third most watched AFL team Here is a link providing a great insight to how well free-to-air and pay TV are fairing. http://m.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/afl-a-league-big-winners-in-football-report-after-viewers-switch-off-rugby/story-e6frg7o6-1226525246762 I don't doubt the influence Google could have but to say whether I open my mind or not that data reported on google could rival TV ratings in terms of importance is in my opinion and most would generally feel the same, it's ridiculous. regards Kellett_1992

Error in first sentence, may not have instead of may not of.