On and off the field, AFL club Greater Western Sydney were singing the second-year blues on Sunday.
Adelaide dished out a 135-point thumping at Showground Stadium, with a crowd of just 5,830 on hand for the Giants’ first game of the year at their Sydney Olympic Park home.
It was the lowest attendance figure for a regular-season AFL match since 5,083 showed up to Fitzroy’s one and only win in 1996, the Lions’ final season before merging with Brisbane.
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy flagged the fact it was Mother’s Day and nearly a third of the way through the season before their opening game at the venue, which was unavailable earlier due to the Royal Sydney Show.
But the four-time premiership coach seemed let down by the turnout, especially after the Giants far exceeded expectations in their last start.
“We’ve got to play better than that to attract a crowd,” Sheedy said of the team’s one-sided loss to the Crows.
“It’s a pity because in the end that’s how many turned up after a pretty solid performance against Essendon (a 39-point loss) last week.
“…That was probably a reminder of what the Swans have been telling us. (Sydney chairman) Richard Colless says you’re going to do it hard early.
“So it just tells everybody how tough it’s going to be to build the club.
“We don’t have the recruiting officer called the immigration department, recruiting fans for (successful A-League soccer club) Western Sydney Wanderers.
“We’ve got to start a whole new ballpark and go and find fans.”
The Giants have played away from Sydney since their opening-round derby against the Swans, a major hurdle in the hunt for crowds.
Sheedy, renowned for his outside-the-box ideas, had a novel solution to get the Giants onto their Olympic Park base earlier in the year.
“To get here in the middle of May (is not good enough),” Sheedy said.
“Even though the NAB Cup final might not have been played yet, we can still move in and start a season earlier.
“Just like they have in England … the FA Cup is still running (at the same time as the Premier League) … so you can have a two-season prong.
“We’ve got to get our game here earlier.”
Sheedy also took a swipe at the AFL for scheduling Gold Coast and GWS on Mother’s Day.
League Freak
Roar Guru
Thanks for posting my link. I'm glad you enjoying the read. :-)
League Freak
Roar Guru
Thanks for the nice comments. That is one of the interesting things about my site. You really can see how my opinions have changed over the years. Glad you enjoyed it!
Australian Rules
Guest
Show me one example when I've bagged the sport of rugby league or soccer. Just one... Commenting on an issue, or being critical about an issue, is one thing...but the rush to bag the AFL or the Giants (200+ comments and counting) is unparalleled.
Macca
Guest
Redb - Most of the European countries you have called basket cases got that way because the had high govt spending on "social/public" area's like high pensions, farm sudsidies etc, I would assume public funding of public infrastructure (like a stadium) could be more tolerated there - however it would of added to their current woes. In fact I think a large part of Greece's issues stem from the millions they spent on infrastructure for the Olympics. Stadiums might be long term investments but they don't return money to the govt, they provide a socail benefit.
Franko
Guest
I say try explaining it to a European because some of the only nations to spend tax payer money on stadiums are now bankrupt. Portugal (For the Euro's) being the main offender. It's a bit off topic, but no tax-payer money should ever be spent on stadiums, if team can afford it, by all means, otherwise govts should stick to spening money on important things: Schools, Hospitals, The Baby Bonus ;) It's not a code-war thing. If the wanderers want a new stadium, they should save their pennies (as Le Mans, Arsenal, and Mainz have) if you can't afford it yourself, dont build it (Valencia)
Redb
Roar Guru
Fussball, This is not 'supposedly' a soccer blog for all the hateful links and articles you can find. In fact where is Ian Syson surely he should contribute to the AFL hate. :) Francis Leach, known soccerphile even conceded Sheedy is no R word. Do you beleive him?
Redb
Roar Guru
Davo, Funding helps, winning is the key.
Redb
Roar Guru
"the guy runs a website called “League Freak”, so he had no reason to jump in and defend WSW" ahh but he has a reason to stick the boots into AFL in Western Sydney. Known for it.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The Federal Member for Chifley - an electorate centred in Blacktown in Western Sydney - Ed Husic was interviewed by Francis Leach today. Ed Husic supports all sporting clubs in his electorate & can't understand Sheedy's comments. He also thinks the AFL "lost the people of Western Sydney" when they decided to move out of Blacktown & set up base at Skoda Stadium. Audio link (9 minute interview): https://soundcloud.com/edhusic/ed-husic-on-abc-grandstand
Sky Blue
Guest
You're about as insular and ignorant than that Sheedy bloke. No wonder your game can't expand into new markets.
Redb
Roar Guru
Macca, Franko's implied point is that Europe would not tolerate money spent on stadiums when they have far greater economic issues. Stadiums are long term investments not 2 years.
Jimbo
Guest
Feel free to link all these so called articles from the AFL media about soccer. i think you are very confused here. When there is 200 comments on a AF board about a small crowd, and probably more than half from supporters of other codes, the seige mentality appears to be opposite of what you claim.
Desert Qlder
Roar Rookie
Touchy.
mahonjt
Guest
LOL
mahonjt
Guest
I have exchanged a few tweets with him over the years. Says some crazy stuff on ocassion (dont we all, including Kevin Sheedy) - but he has always understood the relevance of football to many people in Australia. This was a terrific read - once again. If you go back you can even see hoe his thinking has evolved over time. A sign of a decent person IMO.
Punter
Guest
What a sad season that was!!!! Still get depressed thinking about it, so much happier being championship mid table runners.
Redb
Roar Guru
So who has the issue? Sheedy's comments have been taken to an extreme by some and who have perhaps painted a target on themselves for convenience. On one hand some say we are no longer in the 1950s and I agree with them, but that comment cuts both ways. Two 'patrons' at an AFL game on the weekend were thrown out of the stadium for making comments about Majak Daw, thrown out becuase fans dont tolerate that stuff anymore. It gets reported becuase people are not tolerating discrimination. http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/missionary-sheedy-deserves-to-be-judged-by-his-actions-20130513-2jh8s.html
Jimbo
Guest
How many draws did they have, for many soccer fans a draw is as good as a win.
Punter
Guest
Or on the football threads, where you constantly stating the 'truth' . I found most not haters just telling the truth.
Macca
Guest
Redb - So would they be better off having spent tax payer money on Stadiums? Would they have avoided their current situation if they had of?