AFL's Western Sydney franchise

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

Seriously, Demetriou's got his hand on it!
The success of an AFL club in Sydney's West: the heartland of League (ie. Bulldogs, Tigers, the MIGHTY EELS & to a lesser extent the Panthers)
Fair dinkum, is pushing sh*t uphill...
If they ain't winning matches straight outa the blocks nobody's gonna give a rat's clacka 'bout 'em!
I reckon for a club mascot they gotta sign up Australia's favourite 'Westy' Trent from Punchbowl for anyone to take notice eh!
I wish 'em all the best however (always had a soft spot for the underdog)
But speaking from pub experience, most heads in the Coathanger City (particularly the West) greet Aussie Rulz with a total indifference!
What about Van Diemen's Land? (ie. Tassie)
...thoughts?

[Interceptor]

Been talked about quite a lot before.

Most people won't disagree with your assessment.
Gold Coast will probably do okay, but Western Sydney will be a damn hard sell.
Everyone here thinks Tassie should have their own side instead.

[TroyGFC]

Tasmania Inbreeds or Devils

[Sojourner]

It will be very interesting to see what happens with this, I think it will actually do damage to the AFL in NSW rather than promoting it and I wouldent be surprised if the team eventually is "moved" to Tassie as a result.

The current AFL supporting public have been quite open in not supporting games at Aussie Stadium, so to open a new franchise in competition to the side that is already supported in NSW is an interesting concept. Its also interesting that they wish to open the side in the vicinity of the Penrith Panthers who are the most wealthy NRL Club and who currently own some 38 venues and considerably more Poker Machines than the Adelaide Casino. I can see their staff welcoming a competing club with open arms along with the Parramatta club and others too

I would also wonder at how much actual research has been done with the local community and what data they have recovered on the numbers of people in the area tha are "indifferent" to the AFL as opposed to people who openly cant stand AFL football and having spent a lot of time in the Penrith area myself, it is my impression that the latter group are by far the majority.

It could well be that the above is what Demetriou leaves as his "legacy" to the AFL which might end up being some poetic justice anyway!

[Pete the Meat]

It will never work. I am a Swans barracker, and when we have a couple of lean years like the last couple, the fans drop off in their thousands. No way would a second team from Sydney be very viable.

[Interceptor]

Something to remember in this is that although the AFL has announced the Western Sydney franchise, it's no certainty to go ahead.

Earlier this year, the administrators of the Gold Coast club had to present a pretty sound business case (indicating potential sponsorships, members, etc) to the AFL that the franchise was indeed viable.
So that will surely happen again for Western Sydney.

If it looks like a dud, then they might actually pull the plug.

[Rik E Boy]

If it looks like a dud, then they might actually pull the plug.

Just like they did with St Kilda.

regards,

REB

[Dirko]

Just like they did with St Kilda.

regards,

REB

Mr.66 to thread....Mr.66 to thread....

[Hondo]

I think the financial crisis will delay this venture

Not that I've heard anything - just based on public comments by AD about the need to control expenditure for the next few years amid the risk of AFL clubs losing major sponsors and therefore needing more from the AFL's hand-out fund.

[Benchwarmer]

What about names:

Bankstown Bogans
Marrickville Moccasins
West Sydney W**kers
Canterbury Coneheads

[Mythical Creature]

Penrith Poofs

[GWW]

Demtriou's Duds

[Tassie Blues]

SEN just had an interesting stat Sydney Metro area has 12% of the Australian population and there was no draft pick from that area! hmmm West Sydney is going to be great when will the AFL work out that Tassie should be the 18th team think there was 4 picks from Tassie.