Who do the Swans Represent?

[funkyfetlock]

I have heard people argue that ultimately a team can only represent those people who support it. Those people say that calling a team by a geographical location name is really just an incentive to get more people from that location to support the team.

It is an argument I disagree strongly with. I believe that a team who quietly states that they actually only represent their supporters irrespective of location is really just an incentive to garner support for that team outside of their actively and openly stated location.

 

[funkyfetlock]

So for me the Swans represent Sydney (and only Sydney) through and through.

What do others think?

Do the Swans really only represent those who support the team or do they only represent the city of Sydney as they claim? Perhaps you believe they represent both.

Please answer as dispassionately as possible.

 

[moore]

So for me the Swans represent Sydney (and only Sydney) through and through.

What do others think?

Do the Swans really only represent those who support the team or do they only represent the city of Sydney as they claim? Perhaps you believe they represent both.

Please answer as dispassionately as possible.

To me Sydney has people who follow it right around Australia the same as the Magpies or Dons or any other AFL club.You only have to look at posters on Big Footy the all dont live in the town were they reside.So i cannot work out what you want from this.If we follow our great club who cares where they live.

 

[doona]

I have heard people argue that ultimately a team can only represent those people who support it. Those people say that calling a team by a geographical location name is really just an incentive to get more people from that location to support the team.

I think that a team name represents a majority of the people that support it. But by the above statement do you mean an actual city name like adelaide, melbourne, sydney etc? Because every club in the comp has a name associated with it like collingwood, st. kilda, western bulldogs (western suburbs it represents)

In my opinion i think that when they created teams like Sydney they named them by the city because at that stage they did not envisage more teams from those states, and by naming them by the city they would hopefully attract more supporters. However now that there are more teams being created in those states the names start to lose meaning.

If you look at Melbourne one reason that they are a struggling club is because they have no geographical supporters base. I never think that will happen in Sydney because there will never be that amount of clubs and the western suburbs of sydney where the new team is touted for is part of Sydney but along way out.

But in short the names represent the majority of the supporters but there are always exceptions to those rules.

 

[doona]

So for me the Swans represent Sydney (and only Sydney) through and through.

Aren't you forgetting South Melbourne? We still have alot of supporters down there and the club was in Melbourne for alot longer then it has been in Sydney.

I think that the Swans represent Sydney but you can never turn your back on the clubs history. Therefore it still represents South Melbourne.

 

[funkyfetlock]

Aren't you forgetting South Melbourne? We still have alot of supporters down there and the club was in Melbourne for alot longer then it has been in Sydney.

I think that the Swans represent Sydney but you can never turn your back on the clubs history. Therefore it still represents South Melbourne.

Of course you are right Schmidt and you have quite succinctly outlined the problem that I have with the Swans. I resent the Victorian bias of the AFL and I have nothing but contempt for the way many Victorians look down on people from Rugby League dominated states. I am tired of hearing people say that Sydney based Swans supporters still do not understand the rules, intricacies or culture of the game, despite the fact the team has been based in Sydney for more than a quarter of a century.

I grudgingly respect the fact that Victoria are responsible for nurturing and growing the game during the VFL years and I respect the tradition and history of South Melbourne. It is just difficult to resolve my dislike of Victorian arrogance and the fact my club still represents South Melbourne as well as Sydney.

 

[Corpuscles]

Of course you are right Schmidt and you have quite succinctly outlined the problem that I have with the Swans. I resent the Victorian bias of the AFL and I have nothing but contempt for the way many Victorians look down on people from Rugby League dominated states. I am tired of hearing people say that Sydney based Swans supporters still do not understand the rules, intricacies or culture of the game, despite the fact the team has been based in Sydney for more than a quarter of a century.

I grudgingly respect the fact that Victoria are responsible for nurturing and growing the game during the VFL years and I respect the tradition and history of South Melbourne. It is just difficult to resolve my dislike of Victorian arrogance and the fact my club still represents South Melbourne as well as Sydney.

Funky
Interesting unusual thread

Too me I think it is sensational that Swans have fans in both states (and i am not a Victorian or even ex Vic)

Too me Sydney SWANS represent those brave defiant bunch who stand up and be counted against peer pressure and popular consensus and chose to follow a more interesting exciting football code. Those courageous enough to make a change and have open minds

IT also represents a bunch of loyal brave souls in Victoria who for decades upon decade endured the shame of being downtrodden underdogs, strong enough to get over the disappointment of relocation and STILL proudly scream Cheer Cheer the red and the white!

If some arrogant Vic's want to call us names.. THEN GOOD they do so at their peril!!!!!!

It takes all types ....but Courageous, independant strong minds..... binds us all!

 

[OperationGetCats]

Of course you are right Schmidt and you have quite succinctly outlined the problem that I have with the Swans. I resent the Victorian bias of the AFL and I have nothing but contempt for the way many Victorians look down on people from Rugby League dominated states. I am tired of hearing people say that Sydney based Swans supporters still do not understand the rules, intricacies or culture of the game, despite the fact the team has been based in Sydney for more than a quarter of a century.

I grudgingly respect the fact that Victoria are responsible for nurturing and growing the game during the VFL years and I respect the tradition and history of South Melbourne. It is just difficult to resolve my dislike of Victorian arrogance and the fact my club still represents South Melbourne as well as Sydney.

I can see you don't like Victorians... therefore Victorians don't like you.

 

[doona]

I can see you don't like Victorians... therefore Victorians don't like you.

I think that funkyfetlock was quite forward with his views on victorians however alot of what he said is true. Victorians dont respect supporters from other states

• alot of Victorians don't recognize sydneysiders as true AFL supporters.
• alot of Victorians still think that we dont know the rules.
• alot of victorians rather then having stronger team rivalry, they devote there attentions to Vic teams verse the teams from the rest of Australia. Personally i dont care what 7 other teams are in the finals all i care about are the swans. where as victorians want there club and 7 other clubs from victoria.
• Victorians felt like the hall of fame match 'Vic v Dream Team' was fair. Why is it that victorians were the only state to be properly represented.
• The list goes on...

This isn't suppose to be a beat up of Victorians but simply stating some facts. If you take offense im sorry. But i dont think that anything i said is false.

 

[kira]

1st point
a team will always be bound to its past, those who have followed the club and those who have created the club to what it is now

south melbourne fans would love for the club to return, and end ties with sydney... vice versa with sydney

but that would never happen, so with tradition no matter the future for this club, the club will always represent those that have followed it

2nd point
geography seperates the alliances between teams across the world, except in australia where the divisions are blurred

and the effects of mergers and relocation exacerbate the problem

hence alliance by geography, counts little to the australian landscape

 

[MF]

south melbourne fans would love for the club to return, and end ties with sydney... vice versa with sydney

Thats certainly not the case for me. I have accepted the fact that our teams future is much safer in Sydney and I have absolutely no problem or any kind of resentment towards the Sydney based fans. I definitely wouldn't want to cut our ties with Sydney based supporters (even if the team located back to South Melbourne) and to be honest it's pretty dissapointing to hear people like you state that Sydney siders would love to cut ties with South Melbourne because I certainly don't believe this is the case.

To answer the OP though.... I think moore put it pretty well in the 3rd post of the thread.

 

[kira]

Thats certainly not the case for me. I have accepted the fact that our teams future is much safer in Sydney and I have absolutely no problem or any kind of resentment towards the Sydney based fans. I definitely wouldn't want to cut our ties with Sydney based supporters (even if the team located back to South Melbourne) and to be honest it's pretty dissapointing to hear people like you state that Sydney siders would love to cut ties with South Melbourne because I certainly don't believe this is the case.

ok 'love' was probably the wrong word to use

but my point was - in an ideal world (i.e. economic security, suitable grounds and sufficient supporter base), where neither factions needed each other - each faction would likely choose to have their own individual club

but there is no resentment... however saying that, this club represents south melbourne just as much as it represent sydneysiders or anyone else who supports the club

 

[liz]

Thats certainly not the case for me. I have accepted the fact that our teams future is much safer in Sydney and I have absolutely no problem or any kind of resentment towards the Sydney based fans. I definitely wouldn't want to cut our ties with Sydney based supporters (even if the team located back to South Melbourne) and to be honest it's pretty dissapointing to hear people like you state that Sydney siders would love to cut ties with South Melbourne because I certainly don't believe this is the case.

I love the fact that our club is one with a rich heritage. I even love the fact that its heritage is one of being a battling club - it made the 2005 triumph so much sweeter. Even though I personally hadn't been waiting 72 years, it felt like I had because I shared the moment with plenty who had been waiting that long.

I love the fact that players like Bobby Skilton still burn with pride for the club, despite it playing in a different location and with half a different name.

I love the fact that when I go down to Melbourne to watch games, it doesn't feel like you're part of an away crowd. You're part of a local, passionate following for our club.

 

[nicky]

Of course you are right Schmidt and you have quite succinctly outlined the problem that I have with the Swans. I resent the Victorian bias of the AFL and I have nothing but contempt for the way many Victorians look down on people from Rugby League dominated states. I am tired of hearing people say that Sydney based Swans supporters still do not understand the rules, intricacies or culture of the game, despite the fact the team has been based in Sydney for more than a quarter of a century.

I grudgingly respect the fact that Victoria are responsible for nurturing and growing the game during the VFL years and I respect the tradition and history of South Melbourne. It is just difficult to resolve my dislike of Victorian arrogance and the fact my club still represents South Melbourne as well as Sydney.

funky, i resent the victorian dominance too so why am i being told by another swan fan that i do not have the right to barrack for the swans???

You're entitled to resent the victorian dominance but don't take it out on us, we're on the same side dude... literally

 

[nicky]

Funky
Interesting unusual thread

Too me I think it is sensational that Swans have fans in both states (and i am not a Victorian or even ex Vic)

Too me Sydney SWANS represent those brave defiant bunch who stand up and be counted against peer pressure and popular consensus and chose to follow a more interesting exciting football code. Those courageous enough to make a change and have open minds

IT also represents a bunch of loyal brave souls in Victoria who for decades upon decade endured the shame of being downtrodden underdogs, strong enough to get over the disappointment of relocation and STILL proudly scream Cheer Cheer the red and the white!

If some arrogant Vic's want to call us names.. THEN GOOD they do so at their peril!!!!!!

It takes all types ....but Courageous, independant strong minds..... binds us all!

you're a legend

 

[nicky]

1st point


south melbourne fans would love for the club to return, and end ties with sydney... vice versa with sydney

i was almost too young to remember the swans rellocating to sydney, so basically i've barracked for the SYDNEY swans my whole life. I wouldn't want them to rellocate back to south melbourne, that would be weird. I would never want to cut ties with sydney either.

I honestly believe the very small minority of sydney based swans fans who want to cut ties with us melbourne based fans are unneccessarily insecure. We love the SYDNEY swans, if the swans being a sydney team was a problem for me then i would have changed teams years ago.

 

[nicky]

Going back to the victorian dominance thing, one of the things that really pisses me off is the preciousness of struggling vic clubs in terms of 'we will not rellocate'. It's about time these victorians accepted that this is the AFL and if they really want their club to survive then they should consider rellocating.

 

[Hooley McBoob]

I was born 3 years after the Swans relocated to Sydney, so I have always followed them. I don't know much about South Melbourne, but I will forever be indebted to them for giving me the love of my life - the Sydney Swans But together we are one club. And thankfully we were smart enough and courageous enough to bite the bullet and relocate in order to save the club. The fact that there are Swans supporters spread all around the country makes me very proud to be a Sydney fan.

Brilliant posts by Corps and moore, well said sirs

 

[is2SWaNz]

I agree with Hooley McBoob.

I grew up loving the SYDNEY Swans. I never had the opportunity to live during the moments when South Melbourne reallocated to Sydney. I suggest you to read 'Shake Down the Thunder'. It gives us a real insight into what and how it shaped the Sydney Swans today. And to be honest, I'm quite thankful that I wasn't born during the gloomy days; I would've been a train wreck having to support a team who had to reallocate because of the lack of funds. However, I'm also thankful that it wasn't the Swans who had to merge with the Lions.

It's great to know how far the Sydney Swans have gone through. The dark days, the high days and in the in betweens. I think it makes our club look stronger and with a great history to look back from for many years to come. I love the fact that we have a wide spread fan base, not just in Sydney or Melbourne, but in every corner of Australia. From the West and to the South, and up in the North.

 

[moore]

I was born 3 years after the Swans relocated to Sydney, so I have always followed them. I don't know much about South Melbourne, but I will forever be indebted to them for giving me the love of my life - the Sydney Swans But together we are one club. And thankfully we were smart enough and courageous enough to bite the bullet and relocate in order to save the club. The fact that there are Swans supporters spread all around the country makes me very proud to be a Sydney fan.

Brilliant posts by Corps and moore, well said sirs

Stirring post Hooley,thats what its all about.NSW OR VICS IF YOU LOVE THE BLOODS WHO CARES WHERE YOU LIVE.
The interesting thing is the thread starter lives in Townsville.

 

[cruiser]

I love the fact that our club is one with a rich heritage. I even love the fact that its heritage is one of being a battling club - it made the 2005 triumph so much sweeter. Even though I personally hadn't been waiting 72 years, it felt like I had because I shared the moment with plenty who had been waiting that long.

I love the fact that players like Bobby Skilton still burn with pride for the club, despite it playing in a different location and with half a different name.

I love the fact that when I go down to Melbourne to watch games, it doesn't feel like you're part of an away crowd. You're part of a local, passionate following for our club.

Well said Liz. My sentiments exactly.

 

[Footbrawler]

I'm originally a Sydney-sider but now live in Sth Melbourne in the heart of Vic Swans territory. I follow them because I'm from Sydney. If they moved back to Sth Melb then I'd still follow them because I happen to live here and already follow them. But if they moved to Darwin? Or Canberra, Or Tassie? I doubt I'd still follow them. So it's geographical for me.

It amazes me sometimes how much support there still is for the Swans for down here. They are the most passionate supporters you will ever find. The culture is all about the old Bloods for them whereas for me it's about my home town and being a Sydney-sider. We follow the same team, but there is a difference. And believe me, the old Sth Supporters really appreciate having a team and the way the Sydney admin takes care of it's Sth supporters. It's a really big deal for them.

An interesting fact is that if you say you follow the Swans people don't assume you are from Sydney. Whereas if you said you followed an Adelaide or Perth team they assume you are from there.

But they do feel it's more their club than ours and a lot of them still refer to them as "South". It used to get up my nose a bit but I learned to live with it. After all is said and done we are following the same team. In fact I like seeing people around my neighbourhood in the red and white. Makes me feel right at home. You have to remember this is AFL heartland the connection to the sport, and the team you support is on a whole other level that you just don't get in Sydney.

 

[nicky]

But they do feel it's more their club than ours and a lot of them still refer to them as "South". It used to get up my nose a bit but I learned to live with it. After all is said and done we are following the same team. In fact I like seeing people around my neighbourhood in the red and white. Makes me feel right at home. You have to remember this is AFL heartland the connection to the sport, and the team you support is on a whole other level that you just don't get in Sydney.

i don't agree with that. I know OLD south melbourne supporters and they chant 'sydney' at games, i never hear them chanting south.

 

[bedford]

i don't agree with that. I know OLD south melbourne supporters and they chant 'sydney' at games, i never hear them chanting south.

HE didn't mean they chant South,sometimes people down here say it

 

[Footbrawler]

HE didn't mean they chant South,sometimes people down here say it

Thanks bedford, that is what I meant.