The Western Sydney Football Club

anthony · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:53 am

I've just read in the SMH that the new WS club may field an U-18 side when the GC team does. This is sooner than I expected!

beastjim · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:19 pm

The AFL may be trying to push the two teams through together to stop the potential of a bye each round for a season or two.

anthony · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:35 pm

To be sure. Aso it may be there are potential players that need to be developed now. NSW/ACT did dafeat Vic Country in the recent U-18 series.

Rob · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:55 pm

anthony wrote:

I've just read in the SMH that the new WS club may field an U-18 side when the GC team does. This is sooner than I expected!

It would just be basically the state side less players from the Riverina (who play for the Murray Bushrangers).

Same with the GC under 18's side - it would be filled with mostly Queensland state players.

Only major difference is that the new side would probably have first dibs on them.

Rob · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:57 pm

Simmo79 wrote:

Quote:

At least in the case of the GC and WS you can argue that it's an investment in the future - there's a far greater chance of clubs in these areas having a sustainable support base 10 or 20 years in the future.

It's hard to forecast more than 10 years into the future but if I was the AFL I wouldn't be banking on a Western Sydney over an existing Melbourne side. Maybe if a club had a foot in each market :wink:

You reckon? As the Bulldogs president said last night, if they no longer get handouts they will die, along with 2 other Melbourne clubs. Given the chances of that changing in 10 years time are pretty much zero, even a 50/1 chance of WS being viable in 10 years is still a better bet.

yob · **Posted:** Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:59 pm

anthony wrote:

I've just read in the SMH that the new WS club may field an U-18 side when the GC team does. This is sooner than I expected!

Probably just a rebadged NSW/ACT Rams.

dibo · **Joined:** Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:27 pm **Posts:** 1398

Simmo79 wrote:

That would work. Keep their Victorian fan base as intact as possible (the AFL can get rig the draw so they have as many away games as possible in Victoria and against bigger clubs) + the new Sydney fans over time.

A much better proposition than starting a brand new club in Sydney that draws from the Swans marginal support but without any Victorian following.

if it worked for south, it can work on north...

anthony · **Posted:** Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:47 pm

I also think it could be the Canberra Kangaroos

IanRitchie · **Posted:** Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:53 pm

Where will they find their fans?

Oh, i see. Melbourne.

hot_dogma · **Posted:** Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:50 pm

anthony wrote:

I also think it could be the Canberra Kangaroos

anthony · **Posted:** Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:52 pm

I have a feeling that when Nth Melb does move it will be to Canberra. Just a feeling :idea:

hot_dogma · **Posted:** Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:57 pm

anthony wrote:

I have a feeling that when Nth Melb does move it will be to Canberra. Just a feeling :idea:

They have already tried Canberra and it flopped.

Just like everywhere else.

The funniest thing was the big ACTEWagl advertsing at Canberra Stadium which had three fans: Raiders, Brumbies and Kangaroos :lol:

. I remember mocking it during the Sydney FC pre-season game there two years ago as it was after the pull-out.

anthony · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:50 am

They certainly never got big crowds. But it seems Raiders & Brumbies crowds have also been declining.

Rob · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:21 am

Is it even possible to get a big crowd in Canberra? The whole city could turn up and you still wouldn't even get to the AFL's average crowd.

anthony · **Posted:** Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:43 am

Didn't the Raiders used to get 20,000?
Of course nobody gets anywhere near the AFL's average crowds

The Western Sydney Football Club

Who is online