Talking Footy

If Gould is that weak in influencing the NRL, he won't make any difference.

The AFL has been in Sydney on a consistent visiting basis since 1979. I see no sign of any "focus" from the NRL, nor so I see any sign of a sleeping beast about to wake up. The attendances prove this.

TLPG wrote:

If Gould is that weak in influencing the NRL, he won't make any difference.

The AFL has been in Sydney on a consistent visiting basis since 1979. I see no sign of any "focus" from the NRL, nor so I see any sign of a sleeping beast about to wake up. The attendances prove this.

the coming years will tell the tale

tell the AFL to bring plenty of toilet paper
theres going to be a massive smelly fly blown turd in western sydney in a few years
called GWS

Oh I agree that West Sydney will stiff. But that's not because the AFL is already on the nose like you think. It's because the AFL has made a bad read of the Sydney market, basing it on population rather than actual interest in the game as a whole (taking into account all the senior footy clubs in Sydney). It's enough to support one team - the Swans. Not two.

RL made the same mistake with Brisbane.

I have to disagree with you both Raider and TLPG. GWS given time will be massive when you consider the population waiting to be tapped into in western Sydney. I'm proud to say I'm a foundation member.

GWS already have more members than the NRL Penrith Panthers and that's without having even played a game in the AFL yet. It's about building a new club over generations. No one from the AFL is suggesting it is going to be easy or deliver handsome returns in the short term. The goal is long term growth of the code in NSW. I'm more than happy to see the AFL has a vision to grow Australia's great game.

I wouldn't say pipping Penrith is a good thing given that they have the lowest average attendance of all the NRL clubs (11K IIRC). West Sydney are playing in the NEAFL at present so it's not as though they are inactive on the field.

I just can't see it lasting in the short term, which is the critical factor, without having a negative impact on the Swans. I've always said that Sydney will only be ready for a second team when the SAFL is strong enough to support it. At the moment it's not and that's why no other Sydney clubs are in the NEAFL. Aside from West Sydney and the Swan's seconds it's all ACT and Queensland.

Not knocking the attempt to grow. I just think they should have looked to Canberra first in the region.

Beaussie wrote:

I have to disagree with you both Raider and TLPG. GWS given time will be massive when you consider the population waiting to be tapped into in western Sydney. I'm proud to say I'm a foundation member.

GWS already have more members than the NRL Penrith Panthers and that's without having even played a game in the AFL yet. It's about building a new club over generations. No one from the AFL is suggesting it is going to be easy or deliver handsome returns in the short term. The goal is long term growth of the code in NSW. I'm more than happy to see the AFL has a vision to grow Australia's great game.

they have " foundation members " who paid 50 bucks
& 5K , I think theres 8K all up , of them are from Canberra

it was hilarious
they wanted 5K people to sign up for $50 down here & gave them 6 months to get this number
the 6 months past .. they had about half that number .. so they extended the sign up period by 3 more months .. with a few weeks to go .. they were still about 2K shy
so they then got the local AFL clubs to buy the rest
& trumpeted what a great feat it was

they are going to be one of Australian sports most spectacular disasters

Canberra is part of the AFL/GWS to grow the game in NSW/ACT. Games will be played in Canberra as of next season and GWS has already signed up thousands of new members in Canberra.

The way I see it, the game will never reach its full potential in NSW/ACT without a second team. For far to long the Swans have been expected to do all the heavy lifting alone for Australia's biggest state population wise. It's not realistic or desireable to expect the Swans to be able to perform that function adequately alone.

Don't be surprised if the Giants end up in Canberra if that's the case, Beau. If they are sharing home games between Manuka and Homebush though I guess that would help. And if they have a good number of members from Canberra that just might protect the Swans just enough.

For Raider, I don't think anything in Australian sport was a spectacular disaster like Super League. And nothing ever could be.

TLPG wrote:

Don't be surprised if the Giants end up in Canberra if that's the case, Beau. If they are sharing home games between Manuka and Homebush though I guess that would help. And if they have a good number of members from Canberra that just might protect the Swans just enough.

For Raider, I don't think anything in Australian sport was a spectacular disaster like Super League. And nothing ever could be.

so an addmission from the most egotistical sport on the planet that they couldn't hack it in League Heartland ... that they couldn't find enough support after 30 years for another side in the Country's largest city & they got sent packing to somewhere else

my my .. you don't understand your own sport let alone anyone elses

Raider, that's very close to a personal attack again (and slander) in your last sentence.

There is enough support for AFL in Sydney just to correct that misnomer. It would be best if Raider didn't comment on something he is unashamedly against and isn't willing to look at in any detail.

TLPG wrote:

Raider, that's very close to a personal attack again (and slander) in your last sentence.

There is enough support for AFL in Sydney just to correct that misnomer. It would be best if Raider didn't comment on something he is unashamedly against and isn't willing to look at in any detail.

your comment was treated with the disdain it deserved
that is all

Coming from someone who know very little about AFL, I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you.

TLPG wrote:

Coming from someone who know very little about AFL, I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you.

yeah

disdain is a compliment usually isn't it > :_<>

From someone who has no clue what they are talking about - yes.

(Removed another ridiculous exchange between Raider and Onions)

Raiderdave wrote:

Beaussie wrote:

I have to disagree with you both Raider and TLPG. GWS given time will be massive when you consider the population waiting to be tapped into in western Sydney. I'm proud to say I'm a foundation member.

GWS already have more members than the NRL Penrith Panthers and that's without having even played a game in the AFL yet. It's about building a new club over generations. No one from the AFL is suggesting it is going to be easy or deliver handsome returns in the short term. The goal is long term growth of the code in NSW. I'm more than happy to see the AFL has a vision to grow Australia's great game.

they have " foundation members " who paid 50 bucks
& 5K , I think theres 8K all up , of them are from Canberra

it was hilarious
they wanted 5K people to sign up for $50 down here & gave them 6 months to get this number
the 6 months past .. they had about half that number .. so they extended the sign up period by 3 more months .. with a few weeks to go .. they were still about 2K shy
so they then got the local AFL clubs to buy the rest
& trumpeted what a great feat it was

they are going to be one of Australian sports most spectacular disasters

Stop making rubbish up Raider. You'll see next season when like the Suns on the Gold Coast, the Giants will be bigger than the NRL clubs in western Sydney. Mark my words, in a few years Penrith Panthers will be seeking merger talks with Parramatta Eels or Canterbury Bulldogs.