An interesting article written by Tony Tannous on the fate of two newly formed franchises in Western Sydney was fermenting debate yesterday on The Roar.
He surmises that its ironic that the AFL is asking football for help in promoting the Greater Western Sydney Giants given its disregard for the round ball game in Australia.
In the article there is a link to another piece written by journalist Sebastian Hassett containing some very bullish quotes from David Gallop on the absurd notion that the FFA would help the AFL in boosting the fortunes of the Giants. He cites the fact that both are competitors fighting for fans, players and corporate support.
Both the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Giants entered into the public arena around the same time. Both teams have had wildly contrasting fortunes. The Wanderers have won silverware and amassed a passionate and growing fan-base that fills Parramatta Stadium. The Giants have for most of their existence endured crushing defeats in front of anaemic home crowds.
Should the Wanderers help the Giants? Maybe the more important question is how?
Would they share the same ground? AFL can’t be played on a rectangular pitch and football never looks good at an oval ground. Why would the Wanderers leave the vibrancy and cacophony of noise at Pirtek Stadium for the soul crushing blandness of Spotless Stadium at Homebush?
Would they share memberships? Most football fans in Western Sydney are followers of rugby league teams like the Bulldogs, Panthers and Tigers. If getting a two-for-one deal they would rather get cheaper tickets to those teams.
Would they get mutual stars of both codes to promote each other’s game? This happens to a certain extent in rugby league with Russell Crowe’s Rabbitohs, who have a shirt sponsorship with V8 Supercars. If that’s the case why would football fans care what new Giants recruit Ryan Griffen has to say about a game he doesn’t play? What traction would the Giants get out of Tony Popovic attending a Giants game?
Gillon McLachan and the executives at AFL’s Melbourne headquarters need to re-think their strategy for the Giants. First they need to apologise for Kevin Sheedy’s ‘immigration department’ quote on why the Wanderers were achieving success.
It did irreparable damage to the Giants brand and the Melbourne media who gave it scant attention and had no idea how badly it was received in Western Sydney.
Instead of trying to piggyback onto a successful team when still wrangling with football over stadium availability in Melbourne, they should try and be humble and listen to the community they are attempting to win over.
JR Salazar
Guest
...grand final at subiaco?
JR Salazar
Guest
Mmmm....falafel...
Lover of all Football Codes
Guest
If the people of western Sydney follow what has been happening with the unfairness of the Swans trading ban, why would they support a team and league that could be subject to the same rule changes the moment they achieve success. You can't keep changing the rules or shifting the posts/ imposing unjust penalties because of a whining club CEO that appears to have more clout than the AFL's head honcho. You don't attract new converts, which the AFL think will happen by throwing millions of dollars towards, this way.
bryan
Guest
I could do with a Falafel right about now! :0
bryan
Guest
"Build a lower 35k capacity level first with a roof that can easily come off." Only wimps need roofs on Football stadiums. If you want an indoor game,watch basketball! :)
bryan
Guest
"own" sort of works! :)
Josh
Guest
Hey you missed the part about showing a bit more respect.
Josh
Guest
Nothing...except our money which we are going to get back from you one way or another.
Josh
Guest
Yep, your beloved AFL is copping it, just ask the Manuka Midgets if they cop any grief offline...
Perry Bridge
Guest
#my mate james The entire weekend is never kept free - whether it be for a RU test, or an RL SoO or a soccer match - we've often had footy on Friday, the other game on Saturday and footy back on Sunday. The request is to maintain a slot across the weekend of May the 10th. Not specifically on May the 10th itself. Yes - there is a game on Sunday May 10. But it was left vacant on the Friday night. Note that the AFL generally is running about 5 Melb/Vic games each week. Granted Geelong host a few games but across many weeks there are 5 Melb games spread over MCG and Etihad - so a good number of weeks where one of those venues holds game on 3 consecutive days. In that particular round (6) - there are 2 MCG, 2 Etihad matches and North plays a home game in Hobart to free up a slot. The weekend of May 17 back to 5 Melb games.
Leland Facepalmer
Guest
You're an angry guy on the internet. And that's great, and you're good at it, and I'm glad you are having fun, because if you're not doing anything else, you might as well have fun, right? But apart from me taking the time to make a mockery, no one is listening, or responding, to you, are they Josh? Futility.
my mate james
Guest
A bit naive to think that a fixture that drew less than 15,000 last year would be allowed priority access over an event that would attract over 50,000 with the Victorian Government standing idly by and giving NSW a leg up. Bottom of the ladder? Very funny. I guess you'd be happy with GWS being kicked out of Spotless for a Monster Truck Event. We know where THEY stand in the scheme of things. Furthermore, the catering company at Docklands would hate to lose out on all that cash....
my mate james
Guest
As it turns out, matches have been scheduled for both the 10th and 17th May at Etihad. I guess they weren't able to move the game on the 17th at short notice but were able to fill the gap on the 10th quite swiftly. I trust the Dogs v Dockers game will be sellout. We know now where the AFL stands with regards to competing codes. Don't expect any kindness for the GWSG.
Nonu
Guest
So football has never had a function out of season Josh you must be 10 years old...
Nonu
Guest
Leonardo You have no basis for your statement - is it a Sydney thing - the Storm were welcomed into Victoria but perhaps because they are seen as a threat they are sscorned by some narrow folks in Sydneys west. I think similar statements were made when the Swans moved by people with less than the full quid. The telegraph beat up their entry because they saw how NRL thrives on controversy. The Giants will win some fans and some will not be interested so what - what are you afraid of - the NRL happliy talks of expansion but the AFL cant apparently. Funny no-one has commented on the joint Melbourne code proposal that was to launch melbourne as a sporting brand which had the AFL backing....
Nonu
Guest
Leonardo You have no basis for your statement - is it a Sydney thing - the Storm were welcomed into Victoria but perhaps because they are seen as a threat they are sscorned by some narrow folks in Sydneys west. I think similar statements were made when the Swans moved by people with less than the full quid. The telegraph beat up their entry because they saw how NRL thrives on controversy. The Giants will win some fans and some will not be interested so what - what are you afraid of - the NRL happliy talks of expansion but the AFL cant apparently. Funny no-one has commented on the joint Melbourne code proposal that was to launch melbourne as a sporting brand which had the AFL backing....
Nonu
Guest
speaking of arrogance - Josh speaks for all WSW supporters
Nonu
Guest
Punter Grandest statement with no evidence in the sports history...
Nonu
Guest
Punter Grandest statement with no evidence in the sports history...
Socrates
Guest
@midfielder STOP THE PRESS............. BREAKING NEWS........... My source for this is a rusted on hard core former Victorian AFL fan living near Blacktown who has been coaching AFL juniors near Blacktown for over 15 years. You've been talking to julian assange again...... or is edward snowden your source this time around.