SA Footy

IMHO, both Woodville and Torrens supporters should be commended for the manner in which they embraced, or accepted, their clubs decision to merge with the other ... As should the WWTFC for continually being respectful of each founding clubs past.

No doubt, it would have been a bitter pill for many to swallow (and I have zero idea as to how many may have walked away as a result), as everyone would be proud of their history and tradition, and love their club.

My question, especially given the uncertain financial times surrounding some clubs is ... If it were the BEST or ONLY option for your club, would you support them under the guise of a new merged club?

Thats something i can't answer - I think i would have to be in that position to see what my frame of my mind is

Having said that, if it did happen, i would be a shattered, shattered man. I can only imagine what some of the "older" supporters would feel

Stevie_K wrote:Thats something i can't answer - I think i would have to be in that position to see what my frame of my mind is

Having said that, if it did happen, i would be a shattered, shattered man. I can only imagine what some of the "older" supporters would feel

Well said SK, I selected the option "Other" as I wouldn't know until it happened.

I think I would support the new team. I love watching SANFL footy and at least a merged team would have some familiarity, going for another existing team doesn't sound very inviting at all.

Nup, they'd be my most disliked team if they did.
I'd still enjoy the SANFL but would be more likely to follow another club casually then ever supporting a merged entity.

I"am with ya Wedgie, follow the SANFL because South are in it, no South no interest and definately no interest in any merged entity.

Wedgie wrote:Nup, they'd be my most disliked team if they did.
I'd still enjoy the SANFL but would be more likely to follow another club casually then ever supporting a merged entity.

IMHO,I think that is a selfish way to look at the subject. It may well be the only way to keep a part of your original club in the competition due to pressing financial issues or some other serious reason. Mergers are not done on the whim of 1 or 2 people, they normally occur because there is no other option so to not support what's best for your club, to me, lacks compassion.

If we merged with Westies it'd be just OK, but if it was with South, no bloody way would I support them....

aceman wrote:

Wedgie wrote:Nup, they'd be my most disliked team if they did.
I'd still enjoy the SANFL but would be more likely to follow another club casually then ever supporting a merged entity.

IMHO,I think that is a selfish way to look at the subject. It may well be the only way to keep a part of your original club in the competition due to pressing financial issues or some other serious reason. Mergers are not done on the whim of 1 or 2 people, they normally occur because there is no other option so to not support what's best for your club, to me, lacks compassion.

It may be selfish but its my opinion. Some might argue someone that my opinion is unselfish if it involves me joining groups, creating websites, creating rallies, campaigning for board changes, etc but so be it. If my club wasn't strong enough to stand up and save or keep their club going as a single entity I certainly wouldn't be interested in any club that has to take the easy way out or being a part of a group of people that allowed that to happen.
If North merged with Sturt in the 90s Id hope the new club would come bottom every year and not win a game.
I didn't want to see that happen and was part of the group "Roosters Against Merger" which rallied people to oppose the merger and the rest is history. We put a bit of pressure on the current board and management which I'd like to think would have eventually made a difference. In the end we weren't really needed as we rallied behind the Sturt anti merger front and they cut it off before it got any further, thank christ.
I'd argue those who sit on their arse and do virtually nothing while their club is forced into a merger situation would be the selfish ones.

My family are already full members at Geelong too so I'd probably just spend my time going to more Cats games instead of North games if it ever happened which is pretty unlikely with the way the club is going these days.

I'd argue whether the WWTFC has been successful or maybe a better word is accepted. I used to go with a next door neighbour to Sturt and Woodville games, alternating week to week.

I never felt anything Woodville was kept in that merger. Torrens became the dominant club, it was perdominantly blue and gold and kept the Eagles emblem, Woodville just had Oval Avenue as its contribution.

I'm sure others would disagree, but its an emotional feeling, to me Torrens is the team in the league, Woodville is gone.

That's the problem with mergers, often one team dominates the other and you don't really get a fair almalgamation of the two clubs. A better name for the club would of been the Woodville Eagles or West Torrens Warriors.

You have fair 50-50 split on the name there... no one uses WWT, because no one wants to blurt out such a long name, so Eagles this, Eagles that.

Just my thoughts...

Stevie_K wrote:Thats something i can't answer - I think i would have to be in that position to see what my frame of my mind is

Having said that, if it did happen, i would be a shattered, shattered man. I can only imagine what some of the "older" supporters would feel

As a WWT member fan supporter and a West Torrens fan before that it is indeed a very good question .
I for one really thought my football going days were over .Even though at pre merger I think my finances were bad enough only to allow me to listen and watch on the TV.
I did in fact try to stay away and to stop watching /listening on the TV Radio.But you know I couldn't I had to go I had to watch I had to support I had to follow . In fact I was that bad the WIFE MADE ME GO to games at WOODVILLE .My finances had only slightly improved .And in the early years I can be seen in replays sitting on the steps in my fold up chair in the left hand pocket.When I couldn't make it to the grounds I reverted back to radio and tv .
My very proudest moment was in 1993 sitting amongst the Norwood cheer squad and cheering my beloved Eagles on to victory .Of course the next flag took a very long while time and my son has joined me and we now make pilgrimages to all the ovals .

And my family here and in NSW as well as friends in both states .Still can not understand why I will not talk football when my Eagles lose

Micky - Had the Eagles not been "around the money" immediately after amalgamation, how much effect do you think it would have had on the new club?

A big issue with mergers is which home ground do you adopt. Pretty much no merger is an even 50/50 split.
Many merger supporters think token remnants of a former club should satisfy the ardent supporter. I disagree strongly, to me a merger is a death knell pure and simple.
I imagine poker machines came in a little too late for Torrens, more the tragedy.

csbowes wrote:I'd argue whether the WWTFC has been successful or maybe a better word is accepted. I used to go with a next door neighbour to Sturt and Woodville games, alternating week to week.

I never felt anything Woodville was kept in that merger. Torrens became the dominant club, it was perdominantly blue and gold and kept the Eagles emblem, Woodville just had Oval Avenue as its contribution.

I'm sure others would disagree, but its an emotional feeling, to me Torrens is the team in the league, Woodville is gone.

That's the problem with mergers, often one team dominates the other and you don't really get a fair almalgamation of the two clubs. A better name for the club would of been the Woodville Eagles or West Torrens Warriors.

You have fair 50-50 split on the name there... no one uses WWT, because no one wants to blurt out such a long name, so Eagles this, Eagles that.

Just my thoughts...

I have no problem with what colours my club wears .what nick name my club is called .i do prefer woodville oval over thebbie(heaven forbide I just wrote that).As long as my team wins I don't care what we are called .

You must remember many of both teams fans lived in the woodville council area (now Charles sturt).This council zone covered both league clubs .and some elderly fans who sit in front of me played for woodville in the 1940's.And if they played league they were tied to West Torrens.

A merger perhaps but a family coming back together if you ask me.

And i repeat.

I have no problem with what colours my club wears .what nick name my club is called .i do prefer woodville oval over thebbie(heaven forbide I just wrote that).As long as my team wins I don't care what we are called .

So endith the speach by
MICKYJ

Constance_Perm wrote:Micky - Had the Eagles not been "around the money" immediately after amalgamation, how much effect do you think it would have had on the new club?

Very good question CP
I can not speak for the old woodville fans .But as an old torrens fan it was better to watch a team win week after week than finish bottom .

Two medicore teams joined to produce 1 good team .
BUT that era finished in 1994 that first grandfinal loss set the tone for a few years .

I am the first to admit I demand the team to be in the top 5 at least .This is the result of the merger.I for one can not follow a team anymore that has 1 win and be happy .
The merger has bred the expectation of success every time the season starts.

I hope that keeps going .

Ronnie wrote:A big issue with mergers is which home ground do you adopt. Pretty much no merger is an even 50/50 split.
Many merger supporters think token remnants of a former club should satisfy the ardent supporter. I disagree strongly, to me a merger is a death knell pure and simple.
I imagine poker machines came in a little too late for Torrens, more the tragedy.

Well we have in fact 3 home grounds (if we dont count hindmarsh )
Woodville
Thebarton
Football Park

my feelings would be that i would still go and watch SANFL games but if my team merged, it would be hard to say yes or no now, that would have to wait until the merger happened.

SJABC wrote:If we merged with Westies it'd be just OK, but if it was with South, no bloody way would I support them....

Totally agree, I could support a merged side with Westies but if it was Glenelg I think I would rather watch rugby!

Wedgie makes a good point in that the circumstances that lead up to the merger might impact how I felt about the new team.

But I reckon I'd still support them. Maybe not as passionately but if it was the only way for North Adel to continue in some form, then so be it. As MickeyJ said re WWT, early success on field would heal a lot of supporter's wounds. Everyone loves a winning bandwagon!

However, I reckon my dad would have more trouble then me with it. He has another 30 years of supporting the club.

It would be interesting to poll the WT-Woodville supporters to see which way they handled their merger.

To terrible a thought to even consider!