Sydney Swans want GWS out of Sydney

[WesternSydneyHawk]

While this has been raised as a sidenote in other threads, I think this deserves its own thread.

For a while now, there have been rumblings that some senior figures at the Sydney Swans have not been happy about having a second team in Sydney.

That stretches right back to the creation of the Giants. And going back even further, the Swans openly undermined efforts by North Melbourne to play a number of games each year in Sydney back in the '90s.

In recent months, that has only escalated.

First, unflattering and out-of-date Western Sydney junior participation figures were leaked to the media.

Then the Swans' boss, Andrew Pridham, openly made unprompted comments about how the Giants have made no headway in Western Sydney.

And now there's reports that the Swans are lobbying the AFL to move the Giants to Canberra and Wagga.

Because of board rules, I won't quote the article, but here's the link:

Rival club fumes at ‘selfish’ Swans’ bombshell statement to AFL

Tensions are flaring after the latest escalation in a long-running feud emerged from behind closed doors for ‘the first time’.

7news.com.au

Personally, I think there should be an AFL club in Canberra. But it should be the 20th club, and not the relocated Giants.

But more importantly, I think Pridham needs to pull his head in, and stop putting the interests of the Swabs ahead of the sport in Sydney.

 

[Colonial]

To be fair this isnt new. These scum have never wanted us here. Funny as the most H&A media attention either gets is during the Derbys.

They have this dream of Giants fans and members just jumping on their bandwagon. It wont happen.

 

[Underarm]

Personally I'm not happy about 8 other teams in my city. Not sure there's anything the AFL can do about it though.

 

[The Feeder Club]

But more importantly, I think Pridham needs to pull his head in, and stop putting the interests of the Swabs ahead of the sport in Sydney.

What? He's the pres. He'd be a lame duck bordering on negligent if he didn't put the interests of his own club first

 

[Colonial]

What? He's the pres. He'd be a lame duck bordering on negligent if he didn't put the interests of his own club first

Theres a difference between putting his club first and actively trying to harm the sport in the region.

 

[The Feeder Club]

Theres a difference between putting his club first and actively trying to harm the sport in the region.

A business talks down a competitor in the same market? Oh the humanity.

He sees you as a threat. Take it as a compliment and stop whingeing

 

[Colonial]

A business talks down a competitor in the same market? Oh the humanity.

Not just us. He/they do nothing for the sport up here.

He sees you as a threat.

Really, Eagles do nothing to actively destroy your mob.

 

[LordLucifer]

"The estimated population in June 2025 was 5,638,830, which is about 66% of the state's population."


The largest city in the country and they want to be the only club in it ??

Sydney is big enough for three teams plus there is no reason why there can't be two teams located in two of the large regional centres as well.

FMD, this is either clickbait sh1t or some people have utterly warped ideas.

It's times like this you need a stronger leader than Dopey Dillon.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Is there some sort of agreement that prevents GWS playing home games SCG?

 

[Colonial]

Really, Eagles do nothing to actively destroy your mob.

If i had a time capsule I'd take you back to the late 90s for an education
[/QUOTE]
so a few years 30 years ago.

 

[The Feeder Club]

Really, Eagles do nothing to actively destroy your mob.

If I had a time capsule I'd take you back to the late 90s for an eye opener

 

[The Feeder Club]

Sorry I quoted you twice Colonial
No, not a few years.
Look i am not trying to suggest you're market is as easy as ours, but we built the club up against huge resistance from the Eagles and with much less unfettered welfare from the AFL. Pridham is looking after the swans interests as he should. There are way deeper structural problems for gws than what the Sydney president says

 

[Purple Suit]

"The estimated population in June 2025 was 5,638,830, which is about 66% of the state's population."


The largest city in the country and they want to be the only club in it ??

Sydney is big enough for three teams plus there is no reason why there can't be two teams located in two of the large regional centres as well.

FMD, this is either clickbait sh1t or some people have utterly warped ideas.

It's times like this you need a stronger leader than Dopey Dillon.

It's not really big enough though since there are 9 NRL clubs there too. GWS have the lowest attendance by a mile and are not financially viable without a subsidy from head office.

Moving to Canberra would be an option but I think the AFL will instead continue to spread the Giants thinner and have enough to paper over any cracks.

 

[LordLucifer]

It's not really big enough though since there are 9 NRL clubs there too. GWS have the lowest attendance by a mile and are not financially viable without a subsidy from head office.

Moving to Canberra would be an option but I think the AFL will instead continue to spread the Giants thinner and have enough to paper over any cracks.

Cannot agree.

There is definitely scope for more teams in NSW, what the NRL do or have is irrelevant.

 

[LordLucifer]

Just to put this into perpective :

The estimated population of Greater Perth in 2026 ranges from approximately 2.2 million to over 2.5 million,

Two WA teams for a population in the 2-mills

Three teams in Sydney for a 5.5mill population is definitely do-able.

 

[iameviljez]

I think this is excellent for the game in Sydney. The two teams SHOULD hate each other.

 

[WhyAmIHere]

You should see what the SANFL composite team in the Adelaide Camry Crows tried to do to Port Adelaide ...

It's not the worst thing that is going to happen to the GWS Giants and helps stoke the already genuine rivalry.

Rise up and thrive in spite of it Giants (or whatever you change your name to) - RISE UP!!!

 

[Dirty_banchez]

A very colonial mindset from the Swans.

It's very disappointing to read as I expected better from the Swans.

 

[Stumpy Pete]

What? He's the pres. He'd be a lame duck bordering on negligent if he didn't put the interests of his own club first

You point is a good one but I think plenty of people on this forum will recall former Swans’ presidents (Richard Colless in particular) being incredibly critical of those clubs who questioned things like the cost of living allowance.

The Swans criticised these clubs as being ignorant of the drive for national expansion.

For the Swans to now appear to be self-interested and to be unwilling to cop a few hits in order to support a second club in Australia’s most popular is city just smacks of hypocrisy.

Regards

S. Pete

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Theres a difference between putting his club first and actively trying to harm the sport in the region.

Can someone call Don Pyke up and tell him this please?

 

[north_lad]

A very colonial mindset from the Swans.

It's very disappointing to read as I expected better from the Swans.

Why? Swans are campaigners

 

[sherb]

Sorry I quoted you twice Colonial
No, not a few years.
Look i am not trying to suggest you're market is as easy as ours, but we built the club up against huge resistance from the Eagles and with much less unfettered welfare from the AFL. Pridham is looking after the swans interests as he should. There are way deeper structural problems for gws than what the Sydney president says

Whether Pridham likes it or not, in a still developing market like Sydney he has a wider responsibility than just to his club.

 

[Colonial]

Is there some sort of agreement that prevents GWS playing home games SCG?

none other than a relocated footy club, a baby and bathwater.

Whether Pridham likes it or not, in a still developing market like Sydney he has a wider responsibility than just to his club.

Bingo

 

[joe444]

While this has been raised as a sidenote in other threads, I think this deserves its own thread.

I don't.

 

[Philhawk]

Anyone want to compare the crowd growth in the Giants 15th year (compared to their first) to the Swans in their 15th year as well?

Pridham is a self serving idiot.