In a delusional state

[TigerTank]

I think that the Sydney Swans' "boo-a-roo" campaign is not at all productive. In fact, I believe it short-sighted and, ultimately, not good for football in Sydney - and by extension, not good for the Swans.

For Sydney to mature as an AFL centre, the Swans and their true fans have to realise who is the enemy, and a financially weak club from a now irrelevant (in a football sense) Melbourne suburb is not a serious threat.

The reality is that (a) Sydney - the city - deserves to have Australian football every weekend, and that (b) on the weekends that Sydney plays at home (and not playing against the Roos), the Kangaroos are NOT the enemy.

The obvious solution to (a) is a second AFL club in the harbour city. Given that they would only play in Sydney when the Swans are away, this will in no way directly affect the Swans' attendances.

Point (b) is the key here. If the Swans are rotating with another club in Sydney, then the Swans will be competing for attendances only with non-AFL clubs, most notably NRL and Rugby Union clubs, just as they are now.

So who is the real enemy then? Obviously Parramatta or Penrith are more serious threats to the Swans (in terms of attendance and membership) than is the second AFL club in town.

I believe, that in contrast to the Sydney Swans' current way of thought, a second AFL club in Sydney would only serve to strengthen the AFL's foothold in Sydney, and therefore strengthen the Swans' overall status in town as "the Big Sydney club". Does Liverpool suffer from Everton's position in the Premier League? On the contrary, it gives Liverpool a derby and a yardstick.

The Sydney Football Club is sufficiently well entrenched that the competition from another AFL club would only rob non-AFL clubs of support - not many Sydney Swans fans are going to ditch them for a newcomer, but a Wests Tigers or Northern Eagles fan who doesn't like the Swans may consider someone else.

The Kangaroos have earned first crack (or really second crack if you count South Melbourne) at the Sydney market. It would be too much to start an AFL club there from scratch.

In the meantime, the Sydney Swans should be encouraging a second club in Sydney. By all means encourage a derby-like rivalry, but to invite Sydney as a town to make the Kangaroos unwelcome in Sydney; that doesn't help football in Sydney, does it?

The reality is that if the Kangaroos set up permanently in Sydney (not this half-arsed Melbourne/Sydney hybrid crap they are doing at the moment - there's probably very little room for the Kangaroos to improve in the Melbourne market anyway), the better it is for football, the Swans and the Kangaroos.

Then, Sydney can start thinking about "booing a roo", and at least it would then actually mean something.

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TT - The obligatory bad-tempered Richmond supporter

[This message has been edited by TigerTank (edited 17 April 2001).]

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

TT I agree with your post entirely, the Roos problem in Sydney is that they havent embraced the idea they have been seen to want to take the money and run. They say they have changed there name to the Kangaroos, but Dennis Pagan and the boys delight in continually referring to them as Nth Melbourne. Thats fine, but i dont think the Sydney public are that stupid, either your in or your out. This halfway house situation just builds cynacism. Its not helping there cause in Melbourne and its not winning any friends in Sydney.

 

[CJH]

1. I hope this comment is viewed objectively by those most affected and do that they do not get caught up with the sentences containing the words unimportant and "ain't room"
2. What on earth could Sydney achieve out of this promotion? Maybe just trying to protect their patch, but even that is dubious. It's not like they would gain anything out of the gate?
3. Maybe they did it in concert with the Kangaroos, in order to boost the Roo's gate?
4. I think what you say about Sydney having a rival is spot on. It is the rivalry that generates the passion which translates to bums on seats. None of this plastic hype.
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   King of the Jungle - TigerFury.net -Independant Richmond Tigers website

 

[TigerTank]

Offending paragraphs now amended.

 

[SydneyBomber]

Originally posted by TigerTank:
I think that the Sydney Swans' "boo-a-roo" campaign is not at all productive. In fact, I believe it short-sighted and, ultimately, not good for football in Sydney - and by extension, not good for the Swans.

As a SydneySider (Born in Melb tho!), I agree.
Unfortunately, some of the Buckethead Sydney fans are very 'Us Vs. Them' and feel VERY threatened by the Kangaroos taking over THEIR patch.

I don't understand it either, but I think that one of the reasons that the Swans club don't want the Roos up here is because they're all to aware of how fickle SOME of the Swans fans are...

Before all of the Swans fans howl me down, I will say that I have many friends up here who are ARDENT Swans fans that are members and go to ALL games. But even they get pissed off with the amount of bandwagon supporters up here - it just seems to be part & parcel with the way things work in Sydney.
Now that the Swans appear a lot more powerful than the Roos, maybe this hatred/fear will die down, as the Roos are less likely to be more successful as a club (in the near future anyway), and thus less likely to 'steal' Swans members.

Anyway, can't wait for Friday night - Ess Vs. Swans. It should be an absolute cracker of a game! See you there Swannies, and may the best team win!

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

Originally posted by CJH:

1. I hope this comment is viewed objectively by those most affected and do that they do not get caught up with the sentences containing the words unimportant and "ain't room"
2. What on earth could Sydney achieve out of this promotion? Maybe just trying to protect their patch, but even that is dubious. It's not like they would gain anything out of the gate?
3. Maybe they did it in concert with the Kangaroos, in order to boost the Roo's gate?
4. I think what you say about Sydney having a rival is spot on. It is the rivalry that generates the passion which translates to bums on seats. None of this plastic hype.
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1. 
   
   
   CJH, Swannies bought the marketing rights for the game from the Roos for $150,000, so i guess they need to maximise the gate to ensure they get a greater return than the $150,000 they guaranteed the Roos. This action alone proves the Roos know they are not accepted in Sydney as 'the second side' Sydney therefore had alot to gain by getting there supporters to turn up

 

[Bernie]

The amount of pain and anguish between

a. What a good idea to get another team in Sydney

and

b. Go Northern Roos !

is frightening, no matter what wonderful logic is applied. As soon as that idea is in any way embraced by say Nth Melb., the fans AND players will be jumping off in droves and the AFL self fulfilling prophecy of 'your club can only survive thru' relocation ' will be revealed.

It happened before - have a look at the Fitzroy Board - and we're brewing up for another one. Maybe they could move North to Qld. so that at least one Qld. team could win in Melbourne !