Incoming chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan says the AFL is incredibly confident about the Greater Western Sydney Giants future despite their recent on-field hammerings.
The third-season franchise have lost six in a row and are second last with a 2-7 record and a percentage of 68.8.
In their last two games, they suffered 111 and 113-point maulings by West Coast and Richmond respectively, with neither of those clubs in the top eight.
While Gold Coast, who are just one year older than GWS are third with a 7-2 record, McLachlan was adamant the Giants would also flourish in the not too distant future.
“We understand how hard their job and their journey is,” McLachlan said of the Giants in Sydney on Tuesday morning.
“When you take the list development approach that both the Suns and the Giants have, I think people understand it’s a longer, tougher journey to success.
“But when you get there, I think the highs will be higher and more enduring.
“I think we’re starting to see that with the Suns on the Gold Coast.
“They are now 7-2 and everyone is looking quite warily at them and I think the Giants’ time will come.
“They(GWS) have got an extraordinary amount of talent there.
“They will have their ups and downs, but we’re incredibly confident about where they will be on-field in the next year or so and hopefully the broader success follows after that.”
McLachlan acknowledged the success of the Suns generated expectations of GWS.
“I think expectation creates challenges and they are obviously going to have a challenging week after a bad couple of losses,” McLachlan said.
“But I think people do understand they are really young and with youth you get highs and lows and they are just going to have to be resilient and work through it.
“The system says with that talent and the good culture they have and the great coaching staff, they will get through this.
“The pressure was on Richmond last week, it was on Carlton three or four weeks ago, at the moment it’s on the Giants.”
McLachlan emphasised the AFL was concerned about any struggling clubs, not just GWS.
“I think whether it’s the Giants or St Kilda or Brisbane, clubs who are finding it tougher, there’s no joy in that, for the AFL or anyone in the industry,” McLachlan said.
“We’re working with the clubs to hopefully develop the clubs on and off field. That’s one of the key challenges for us.
“It’s problematic at a few clubs and that’s one of the big challenges of the coming years, to narrow the gap between the top and bottom.”
alitis48
Guest
That is a ridiculous thing to say. The Broncos are the most popular team in Brisbane. Even though they are not going so well they still pack Sunsorp Stadium.
karlos
Guest
I said at the time and I will say it again now. It was a knee jerk reaction to rugby league's continued revival. They figured if they were ever going to suceed, it had to be done straight away or not at all. They took the risky option and that took some balls, but perhaps not a lot of planning or brains.
ciudadmarron
Guest
You're wrong about the swans supporters, you forgot the hipsters. What I still don't get about the famous 20 year plan is that if the AFL were prepared to invest for 20 years in this project to make it work, why they didn't spend some time thinking about it a little more at the beginning.
alitis48
Guest
Westie, you have obviously never spent time in Sydney. Its a place where AFL is not in the hearts and minds of sporting fans. Thats just a fact . Go to any pub in Sydney and try to start up a conversation on GWS or the Swans. See how far it gets you. The crowds that go to the swans games are essentially composed of intestate fans, ex Victorians, little old ladies from the eastern suburbs and the casual person with a free pass.
alitis48
Guest
The only way GWS can succeed is if you move a whole lot of people from the western suburbs of Melbourne to the western suburbs of Sydney!!!!!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
That's a lot of mistakes AR!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I am a member of a weak Victorian team, and I suspect in 20 years time we'll be exactly as we were 20 years ago - fighting for scraps and still without a premiership in my life time. That's footy.
AR
Guest
I think many mistakes were made - some of them fundamental - the base, Canberra, the name, even the colours. The'll eventually become successul on-field, but I wonder how much damage they'll sustain in the meantime.
Cat
Roar Guru
At the end of the day its all about on field success, win and they come, loss and they don't.
TomC
Roar Guru
I agree, but I'm starting to wonder if they had a plan for what to do at this stage. I think they've banked on the crowds starting to turn up once the team becomes successful. But there's a lot more to a successful team than a lot of high draft picks.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Anyone mention Port Adelaide as yet? Set a record crowd on the weekend, but just 2 years ago they were camouflaging the empty seats with tarps. So no matter the market, lack of success will drive your crowd down.
TomC
Roar Guru
I'd probably rather live in Brisbane than anywhere in the Gold Coast. But then I'd probably do my best to avoid either one of them. The Sunshine Coast on the other hand is one of my favourite places in Oz. I do wonder a bit about how the Suns could survive if they ever got into the trouble the Lions are in now. The Gold Coast is an unforgiving sporting market and once a team starts to flounder it struggles to become successful again.
Pete
Guest
The Lions were the most popular sporting team in Brisbane when they won 3 in row, selling out the gabba every week. Now they are losing so there crowds have fallen a lot but once they start winning again the Gabba will get full & interest will start again just like in 01, 02, 03, 04, 05
fishes
Guest
'Build it they will come'... 'It's a 20 year project'... Heard it all before. How will the weaker Victorian clubs like St. Kilda and Melbourne be doing in 20 years?
fishes
Guest
I think 'Westeie' is the one who didn't back up his claims. 'The fans will turn up once the wins start' is all he said. Really? Just like how well the Brisbane Lions are doing after 3 premierships? The AFL will find it even harder than in Brisbane because of the popularity of Football as well.
Justin3
Guest
So what John? GC doesnt have the dense population to support a successful sports team. Many have tried and many have gone . I think you are off the mark
AR
Guest
My view is this: - the AFL expected the foray into Western Sydney to be very, very difficult (hence the huge amount of money it set aside). - 3 years in, and it probably thinks that it will be at *least* as difficult as predicted, if not more so. So really, not much has changed.
Cat
Roar Guru
You sound like a hater with nothing to back up your spew.
otto
Guest
Westie, i think you are like the rest of the AFL administration circus. You are all DELUSIONAL!
Westie
Guest
Yep, the sky is falling for AFL.... again according to the doomsayers. How long have they been saying this up in Sydney, since 1982 and the Swannies are still rolling along, racking up the largest average attendances for any club in NSW. The AFL planned for this, and this Giants outfit needs another two seasons to mature sufficiently. As for success in the stands and tv ratings. The fans will turn up once the wins start racking up and tv is nationwide and on subscription nowadays do it will be good overall. This is what will happen. In ten years from now, the two largest sporting clubs in NSW will be both AFL clubs. End of story.