View Full Version : Can the Tom Wills, Henry Harrison connection help promote GWS??
speedpeck23
12 Oct 2010, 21:00
Surely it has to count for something. The two most influential people involved in the origin and early critical development of Australian Football were both born in the area to be represented by GWS.
The charismatic Tom Wills born on the Molonglo River plains in 1835 just near present day Canberra (like so much of the Tom Wills story incredible but true....the main figure in developing the national game born in the region of the nation's capital 80 years before it was founded) and the more conservative but equally influential Henry Colden "Antill" Harrison who was born at Picton 80k west of Sydney in 1836. In fact the property where Harrison was born remains today as the Antill Country Club Golf Course.
These links to present day AFL are tenuous but undeniable. If you bother to look up Wikipedia about these two guys you get a better appreciation of just how the genesis of Australian Football has such a significant connection to the history of NSW and in fact Queensland.....particularly in the case of Wills.
UrLordLeper
13 Oct 2010, 14:01
I would love to believe that it would help promote the new club, but TBH having these undeniably influential individuals originate in the area hasn't really done an awful lot to promote the sport itself in the area much, do I'm not thinking too much will come from it.
speedpeck23
13 Oct 2010, 20:29
I'm hopeful it will give GWS supporters some real sense of connection and relevance to the game. Looks like it may take sometime judging by the less than overwhelming response to this thread!
It comes under the "Oh that's nice" category.
Little impact and only of interest if your already on board.
speedpeck23
14 Oct 2010, 20:54
It comes under the "Oh that's nice" category.
Little impact and only of interest if your already on board.
Gives me a valid reason to support them....second only to my own team.
HardenUp
15 Oct 2010, 10:21
Surely it has to count for something. The two most influential people involved in the origin and early critical development of Australian Football were both born in the area to be represented by GWS.
The charismatic Tom Wills born on the Molonglo River plains in 1835 just near present day Canberra (like so much of the Tom Wills story incredible but true....the main figure in developing the national game born in the region of the nation's capital 80 years before it was founded) and the more conservative but equally influential Henry Colden "Antill" Harrison who was born at Picton 80k west of Sydney in 1836. In fact the property where Harrison was born remains today as the Antill Country Club Golf Course.
These links to present day AFL are tenuous but undeniable. If you bother to look up Wikipedia about these two guys you get a better appreciation of just how the genesis of Australian Football has such a significant connection to the history of NSW and in fact Queensland.....particularly in the case of Wills.
I do think this is important. As we re-grow the culture of Australian football in western Sydney, it will have more significance.
One point to note is that circa 1900 Australian football had a foothold in Sydney but imperialists from England wanted rugby (union) to be the dominant game so squashed our 'colonial' game in private schools etc. It is the reason why private schools etc to this day push rugby union.
We now have a long-overdue push into GWS. Wills and Co will get their just recognition in coming years as the greenshoots appear and take hold in the local culture.
It comes under the "Oh that's nice" category.
Little impact and only of interest if your already on board.
Gives me a valid reason to support them....second only to my own team.
Don't get me wrong I love my Aust footy history as well , but it's only a useful argument against someone suggesting the sport is intruding into Sydney.
I'd say GWS has much bigger mountains to climb.
UrLordLeper
15 Oct 2010, 14:31
Quote:
Originally Posted by speedpeck23 View Post
It comes under the "Oh that's nice" category.
Little impact and only of interest if your already on board.
Gives me a valid reason to support them....second only to my own team.
Don't get me wrong I love my Aust footy history as well , but it's only a useful argument against someone suggesting the sport is intruding into Sydney.
I'd say GWS has much bigger mountains to climb.
I agreee with you RB, but I think that the more people who support GWS - even as their second team, and from whatever rationale thay care to find - the easier it will be for GWS to get over those mountains..