I was living up there at that time. Don't remember anything about the Lockett story, I only found out recently about the Tiger connection. I hadn't followed footy much for a while from when I left Victoria and went up there until 1994/95 when i rediscovered the passion for footy big time!!!
What i do remember is that until Lockett and their big year in 1996 virtually NOBODY except ex-pat Vics cared about AFL. I knew a couple of people I could talk to about it that were originally from here but NSW folk couldn't have cared less about it. All of a sudden in 1996 I remember they suddenly became "our Swannies". It was sickening BUT it certainly did a lot to get NSW rugby league fans interested. It became something you could discuss with all of your colleagues. I even had an AFL tipping contest at work around then that had everyone in it. I went to a couple of our games at the SCG with a mate from work that had been one of those people that hated it before 96, he LOVED rugby league but got right into AFL too after that.
So what I'm saying is it had the desired effect but **** the AFL anyway!!!