SA Footy

When did the WA state team start getting referred to as the black swans/ducks?

What happened to Sandgropers?

And incidentally WTF is a Sandgroper in the first place?

Pseudo wrote:When did the WA state team start getting referred to as the black swans/ducks?

What happened to Sandgropers?

And incidentally WTF is a Sandgroper in the first place?

Well they do have a black swan on their jumper.......


and from wikipedia

Sandgropers are wholly subterranean larviform insects of the family Cylindrachetidae that may grow up to 7 cm (3 in) long. Three genera are currently recognised: Cylindracheta, Cylindraustralia and Cylindrodes. Like many subterranean animals, little is known about their habits and diet, but Western Australian farmers have blamed them for substantial crop losses.

Sandgropers were once thought to be degenerate mole crickets, but they are now known to be more closely related to grasshoppers and locusts, and have been given their own family.

Although widely believed to be herbivorous, some have been found with animal remains in their gut.

Sandgropers were once thought to be degenerate mole crickets, but they are now known to be more closely related to grasshoppers and locusts, and have been given their own family.

i agree psuedo, wtf!!!!!

On a fri, Sat or Sun night, nigh any night of the week, there is "groping" in the sand across from teh Cottesloe Beach Hotel in Perth....

maybe that is where it comes from given the Cotty is a traditional haunt of WA sportspersons.

I don't know the real reason, but as a kid I always thought the Swan was a state emblem, possibly due to the Swan River.

I always loved the state jumpers back in the 60s, WA with the large black swan on the chest of a gold jumper, Tassie with a map of their state, the Big white V on a navy jumper, and our own red jumper with the blue and gold V-necks and croweater emblem ... far better than some of the trashy marketing exercises that masquerade as football jumpers these days.

magpie in the 80's wrote:

Looks more like a white maggot (umpire) to me...

Adelaide Hawk wrote:
I always loved the state jumpers back in the 60s, ....... , Tassie with a map of their state, .......

I agree, there's just something about a guernsey with a map of Tasmania on it. Not sure what though, can't quite put my finger on it.

Black Ducks is a nickname for Swans, dunno who the muppet is who started referring to the state team as that.

Pseudo wrote:
And incidentally WTF is a Sandgroper in the first place?

probably one of those type of persons that hang out in the sandhills at beaches

Pseudo wrote:When did the WA state team start getting referred to as the black swans/ducks?

What happened to Sandgropers?

And incidentally WTF is a Sandgroper in the first place?

Sandgroper (insect), a type of burrowing insect found in Western Australia

LifeFM's Special Comments Guest Shayne Hope from The West Australian / Sport FM saw this topic and covered it on their WAFL WORLD Program during the week.

You can have a listen here
http://sportfm.com.au/May%2026%202009%20WAFL%20World

In a nut shell
- Black Swans has been around for a while as a state sporting nickname as the Black Swan is the state emblem on the flag, WAFL jumper and even City of Perth logo due to the Swan River.
- Sandgropers is more an out of state name for Western Australians ie WA people don't use it much dont consider it much or an endeerment, ie like Queenslander being called Cane Toads.
- Black Ducks is an unofficial nickname for Swan Districts FC whose logo is also a Black Swan. A bit like how Glenelg are often referred to as the Bays.

Hope that covers it.

PhilH wrote:- Sandgropers is more an out of state name for Western Australians ie WA people don't use it much dont consider it much or an endeerment, ie like Queenslander being called Cane Toads.

I thought that one was a bit odd, never heard it used here but always heard it back in the days of SOO.

Same as no one in Perth ever refers to the sea breeze as the Fremantle Doctor. Apart from cricket telecasts, I've never heard it used in conversation.

Weird about Sandgropers as when I was in Perh in the 80s they had millions of soft toy sandgropers for sale everywhere. Bloody things were everywhere!
At the time they called themselves Sandgropers proudly as we call ourselves Croweaters.
Things must have changed.