GWS is the AFL's biggest problem - not North, GC, or Tassie

[LoungeLizard]

Is it a Tasmanian thing, they can't handle any criticism whatsoever?

Maybe they aren't prepared for AFL, maybe they should stick to the bush league.

 

[Tasmanian saint]

Hawthorn has been playing in Tasmania for much longer.



You are delusional to think that being "Tasmanian" is some magic cure-all.
FIFO games are a measuring stick and you'd expect a home grown team to better a FIFO situation
but it's not a gimme is it. Take the rose coloured glasses off and start looking objectively at the probabilities.

Objectively are you honestly trying to make an argument that a local Tasmanian team won’t have more support then fifo clubs

 

[LoungeLizard]

Objectively are you honestly trying to make an argument that a local Tasmanian team won’t have more support then fifo clubs

Most would think if you get your own team more would turn up.

But you said yourself, before there was a Sydney team, the AFL tested the waters, if they are doing the same here, they won't be that happy.

So we need Tasmanians to stop following the team they now follow and go to games.

I really don't think crowds are on top of the presidents agendas.
The GWS crowds are a concern, but at the moment, I think the AFL are prepared to wait.

 

[Tasmanian saint]

I don't think South Melbourne played many games in Sydney at all, maybe a couple, but the AFL did play a fair few games in Sydney over the years, they tested the waters you could say.

Played all there home games in Sydney in 1982 while still being based in Melbourne didn’t relocate until 1983

 

[LoungeLizard]

Played all there home games in Sydney in 1982 while still being based in Melbourne didn’t relocate until 1983

You're right they did, but they weren't South Melbourne in 1982 also, anyway, the VFL tested the waters 1st and I also think the war with the VFA had some influence, they wanted the Sunday tv slot.

 

[RedV3x]

Objectively are you honestly trying to make an argument that a local Tasmanian team won’t have more support then fifo clubs

Objectively - do you comprehend English ?

"FIFO games are a measuring stick and you'd expect a home grown team to better a FIFO situation"

 

[Tasmanian saint]

You're right they did, but they weren't South Melbourne in 1982 also, anyway, the VFL tested the waters 1st and I also think the war with the VFA had some influence, they wanted the Sunday tv slot.

Were still reconised as South Melbourne in 82 didn’t change name til 83

 

[RedV3x]

What drugs are you on

How many AFL draftees come from Tasmania ?
The reality is that you'll might have an AFL side that has the name "Tasmania" on it. (A bit like hawthorn eh)
Now if you really wanted a Tasmanian team then a Tasmanian AFLW side would be a lot more representative.
Why not start with an AFLW side to get the process rolling ?

 

[LoungeLizard]

Were still reconised as South Melbourne in 82 didn’t change name til 83

Not what I remember, they changed their name in 1982 to the Swans

 

[RedV3x]

Most would think if you get your own team more would turn up.

Yes.

But you said yourself, before there was a Sydney team, the AFL tested the waters, if they are doing the same here, they won't be that happy.

Maybe the "testing" has gone on too long and Tasmanains are getting fatigued
especially with the handballing to NM.

So we need Tasmanians to stop following the team they now follow and go to games.

No. Rusted on support come from rusted on supporters of local leagues.
You're basically waiting for the "theatre-goers" to bandwagon.

I really don't think crowds are on top of the presidents agendas.
The GWS crowds are a concern, but at the moment, I think the AFL are prepared to wait.

The Suns and the GWS were ontrack but got derailed. I would say the AFL is looking for the rebound.

 

[Tasmanian saint]

How many AFL draftees come from Tasmania ?
The reality is that you'll might have an AFL side that has the name "Tasmania" on it. (A bit like hawthorn eh)
Now if you really wanted a Tasmanian team then a Tasmanian AFLW side would be a lot more representative.
Why not start with an AFLW side to get the process rolling ?

Ask the afl we applied for a aflw license when they were expanding and instead got a half arsed north Melbourne alignment instead

 

[MC Bad Genius]

Not what I remember, they changed their name in 1982 to the Swans

Wiki says they started the 1982 as South Melbourne, changed to "Swans" mid-way through the season in June, then changed to Sydney for the 1983 season.

 

[LoungeLizard]

Wiki says they started the 1982 as South Melbourne, changed to "Swans" mid-way through the season in June, then changed to Sydney for the 1983 season.

Ok, I always thought they changed to Swans for the season, it was a long time ago.

 

[Bjo187]

I mentioned they could play some of the lower drawing games at Blacktown Oval. It has a 10k capacity.

I've been to the stadium it's not good enough to be an AFL venue. Showgrounds is a good stadium just too many seats and the fact those seats are bright red probably doesn't help either.

 

[Tasmanian saint]

Not what I remember, they changed their name in 1982 to the Swans

Wiki says they started the 1982 as South Melbourne, changed to "Swans" mid-way through the season in June, then changed to Sydney for the 1983 season.

Spot on the mark

 

[MC Bad Genius]

Ok, I always thought they changed to Swans for the season, it was a long time ago.

It sure was. Just before my time

 

[Aussie in exile]

GWS definitely has a way to go, but they've got 19k paying Sydney-based members (more than most Sydney NRL clubs) it's just changing the culture to actually attend.

I actually think it'd be better if Tasmania's stadium isn't immediately ready. An upgrade or temporary seating and it'd be packed for a few years, then when the new stadium comes in you'd get an Adelaide Oval-like boost

So it raises the question as to where are these members on match days?

 

[madmug]

Hawthorn actually have "Tasmania" on their jumpers.



Yes exactly - with stuff all Tasmanians.
You might even have players from Western Sydney.

Which is where Brisbane Bears then Lions, the Swans, GC, GWS all started, being run by experienced football people. Those mainly from interstate.

You do know their are Tasmanians in AFL coaching & Administration? Thats not to say they'll all rush back here at the start of a Tasmanian AFL team. But don't be surprised if some do.

Being in the AFL, the specialist AFL football key jobs will need to be done by experienced people. Back room jobs like Finances, Accounting, Marketing, General Administration & Medical/Football support staff etc just need suitably qualified people from anywhere, even Tasmania!.

 

[RedV3x]

Which is where Brisbane Bears then Lions, the Swans, GC, GWS all started, being run by experienced football people. Those mainly from interstate.

So are you are acknowledging that the new team will just carry the name in the beginning,
that the team will be just a little better than a Hawthorn with different colours ?
I hope it would be better than N.M. with different colours.

 

[footyfan1978]

I agree.

One of the big mistakes made early on (which still continues) was to play some of their games in Canberra each year, it sent a confusing message about their commitment to the area they were supposedly representing.

Agreed, I think they should be based in Western Sydney only and reward people that live there , that are essentially pioneer supporters to have as many games there as possible.
Similarly I am not a massive fan of AFL when they had Suns play in China or matches way up in Cairns if they counted as Suns home matches.
If you want to build a supporter base from scratch you cannot send confusing messaging of what the club exists for.
I'd also be happy to see Western Sydney in the name of the second NSW based club. It should be voted on by their own supporters.

 

[Tigerlaird]

We know the AFL media love a crisis. Right now it is North. Before this we have had GC, Port, Dees, etc. Changes were made and all have come through. North have 50K members and are financially solid, so that will be an easy three to five year fix with some player concessions.

AFL media attention is starting to turn towards GWS. In particular their horrible Showgrounds crowds. They are averaging under 6K. The lowest in AFL/VFL recorded history (excluding COVID and WW2) was Brisbane who averaged 6.5K in 1992. As a comparison, GC had 18K last week v Tigers. GWS best ever non Swans home crowd is 15K.

Footy Classified this week highlighted their salary cap/contract mess with guys like Coniglio (2027) and Kelly (2029, yes, really) on million dollar long term deals, along with Greene and Whitfield on similar coin. This will stop them being able to get Dusty or any other free agents. Given that most players would be prefer to be playing in an AFL city front of bigger crowds, I guess that you have to overpay to keep players.

Now that they are a bottom six club, crowds are unlikely to rise any time soon. They are stuck halfway between Sydney and Canberra. What can the AFL do to save the GIANTS?

Move to Canberra? When you take out the Swans games Canberra (10.5K) has higher average crowds than Showgrounds (9K) over the 10 years. When you factor in that the bigger clubs like Pies/Bombers/Tigers/Blues play @ Showgrounds, this is even more impressive. Are there really many potential AFL fans in NRL mad Western Sydney? North drew bigger crowds @ SCG in the 1990s. Sure, there are lots of people in Western Sydney, but most have little to zero interest in footy.

Focus on Western Sydney? Should they revert to their original name Western Sydney and focus on their supposed core area? Are they missing a marketing opportunity by not using the word Sydney in their name (it is always GWS or GIANTS, never Western Sydney)

Merge with a struggling Vic club? Given they only play eight games in Sydney, a merged club could keep that and play three home and five/six away in Melbourne, making it more palatable. With a Tassie team likely, perhaps the AFL could dangle a carrot, like they did in 1996 when Port was granted a provisional licence.

Or do they just be patient, and hope that is 10/20/30 years they can build crowds up to 15K - 20k?

Have them come to South Australia to merge with disgruntled SANFL clubs so that we can all finally have a 3rd SA AFL team. Everyone's sick of Crows and Port.

 

[Angus Young]

GWS needed Buddy to go there.. Clarkson to coach and now maybe Dusty. They needed/need some big names.

 

[RedV3x]

GWS needed Buddy to go there.. Clarkson to coach and now maybe Dusty. They needed/need some big names.

Nah. Just need to get back to where they were when winning.

 

[Angus Young]

Nah. Just need to get back to where they were when winning.

That too.

 

[Angus Young]

So it raises the question as to where are these members on match days?

Same could be said for a lot of teams.