BringBackTorps
Club Legend
- Jan 5, 2017
- 2,963
- 1,827
- AFL Club
- GWS
1. This is a Doctoral Thesis presented by Dr K. Perry in 2017 to Western Sydney University.
WARNING: Very long read.
Some light holidays' reading, involving the creation of GWS, & its strategies, & challenges, to build, over time, a large fan base in WS.
WS has a high % immigrant & working class demographic (excluding the NW) that, previously, had very little connections with AF.
Complex sociological & psychological theories are widely canvassed...301 pages!
Or just turn to the Chapters 5-8, that solely involve GWS, to avoid the complex theoretical analysis of the general public & general sports fans' influences, motivations & behaviours.
Dr K. Perry even studied, & cited, Big Footy GWS Threads! (Amongst other social media, AFL & GWS Releases, & Sydney MSM articles, attending GWS games & GWS & AFL events in the WS etc.).
Perry writes
"This Thesis examines the formation of sporting heroes in the context of a new sporting club. In particular, it investigates when & how a sporting hero is formed, & who (or what) dictates the emergence of a hero...Moreover, this Thesis discusses sports hero formation in relation to national identity (my emphasis), arguing it can be a critical component of the development of heroes".
Whilst acknowledging GWS is making progress, Perry states its Giant Stadium crowds & on-field players are characterised by their "whiteness" (his word).
The situation can change. In the multi cultural/multi ethnic diversity of WS, GWS must attract a more diverse fan base to maximise its appeal & fan nos.
As GWS had c. 30,500 members, & average home crowds of 11,000+, in 2019, GWS is certainly making strong progress. In 2011, it had nil.
2. This 2018 SBS report covers GWS' attempts to engage ethnic communities.
WARNING: Very long read.
Some light holidays' reading, involving the creation of GWS, & its strategies, & challenges, to build, over time, a large fan base in WS.
WS has a high % immigrant & working class demographic (excluding the NW) that, previously, had very little connections with AF.
Complex sociological & psychological theories are widely canvassed...301 pages!
Or just turn to the Chapters 5-8, that solely involve GWS, to avoid the complex theoretical analysis of the general public & general sports fans' influences, motivations & behaviours.
Dr K. Perry even studied, & cited, Big Footy GWS Threads! (Amongst other social media, AFL & GWS Releases, & Sydney MSM articles, attending GWS games & GWS & AFL events in the WS etc.).
Perry writes
"This Thesis examines the formation of sporting heroes in the context of a new sporting club. In particular, it investigates when & how a sporting hero is formed, & who (or what) dictates the emergence of a hero...Moreover, this Thesis discusses sports hero formation in relation to national identity (my emphasis), arguing it can be a critical component of the development of heroes".
Whilst acknowledging GWS is making progress, Perry states its Giant Stadium crowds & on-field players are characterised by their "whiteness" (his word).
The situation can change. In the multi cultural/multi ethnic diversity of WS, GWS must attract a more diverse fan base to maximise its appeal & fan nos.
As GWS had c. 30,500 members, & average home crowds of 11,000+, in 2019, GWS is certainly making strong progress. In 2011, it had nil.
2. This 2018 SBS report covers GWS' attempts to engage ethnic communities.
AFL chasing diversity in Western Sydney
AFL may be a national sport, but that hasn't slowed a determination to push the sport into Sydney's multicultural heartland.
www.sbs.com.au
Last edited: