3 July 2010

ACT 4 GWS?

| The Axe Man
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[First filed: Jul 1, 2010 @ 14:39]

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Word in The Age is that the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Aussie Rules team wants to play 20 games over 5 years in Canberra at Manuka.

They also want to establish ties with a local team in the ACTAFL and setup a training base here.

All of this doesn’t come free though, apparently it’s contingent on a few conditions being met; such as local government and business support as well as at least 5000 supporters forking over $50 to join as club members

I tried to find a webpage for ACT 4 GWS to sign up but couldn’t find anything though.

What do people think?

Will the team get the numbers?

Can anyone tell me where to sign up?

UPDATE: The ACT 4 GWS website is now found.

And Andrew Barr is urging you all to get involved.

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Another masterstroke by the AFL. Saves the embarrasment of 2 men and a dog turning up to watch games like GWS v Port Adelaide at their sydney home ground and secures the code in the A.C.T.

Holden Caulfield4:26 pm 05 Jul 10

I tend to live in a bit of bubble in regards to commercial media outlets in Canberra, so I’m not sure how heavily promoted the ACT4GWS campaign has been. However, it doesn’t look like support is rushing in; at the time of writing there is around 180 paid up supporters and less than 20 followers on twitter.

Hopefully people will get on board soon. Having a GWS presence in Canberra, while not perfect, is a better option than having a Melbourne team prostituting itself at the behest of Andrew Barr and his mates.

Growling Ferret3:35 pm 05 Jul 10

Peter

Get in direct contact with the local amateur clubs – there are 500 blokes running around in district football, plus 100 Superfools/Masters blokes.

This is a market of fans of the sport who could become passionate ambassadors for your club.

Yes because when Jr. Riewoldt strikes an injured players hand its okay is it, what about Scott Thompson then? Gimme a break.

no, gospeedygo, i didn’t suggest these cases were ok… i was explicit, as was enrique (c’arna catters indeed!), in suggesting this scourge be expunged from the afl ouevre, so reiwoldt and thompson should also fry. bit of close reading helps.

Waiting For Godot said :

Tooks said :

I dislike AFL as a sport, but really admire the way they run their game. Makes Rugby League look like a bunch of amateurs.

. . . apart from their slack attitude towards drug abuse by players, eh Tooks.

I think all the codes have that problem.

Waiting For Godot11:54 am 03 Jul 10

Tooks said :

I dislike AFL as a sport, but really admire the way they run their game. Makes Rugby League look like a bunch of amateurs.

. . . apart from their slack attitude towards drug abuse by players, eh Tooks.

A Noisy Noise Annoys An Oyster11:52 am 03 Jul 10

I have nothing against AFL games being played in Canberra as long as our rates and taxes aren’t subsidising it.

I dislike AFL as a sport, but really admire the way they run their game. Makes Rugby League look like a bunch of amateurs.

Holden Caulfield11:11 pm 02 Jul 10

I signed up this morning Peter when the counter was in the 60s; good to see you’re into the 130s now. All the best with it.

With any luck we might even get a Carlton game in Canberra in honour of Jezza!

gospeedygo said :

Whats that Rugby competition called with all the Dinosaurs always shooting themselves in foot? Can’t remember.

The Investec Super 14.

No doubt this will lead to the AFL pushing for the potential new stadium to be “multipurpose” i.e. ordinary for rectangular sports. Hands off AFL, the people of Canberra deserve a decent stadium to watch their two favourite teams, not some vast expanse to appease a bunch of blow ins promising “up to four games a year”

sexynotsmart5:59 pm 02 Jul 10

If you squint just right, Kevin the Almighty looks like the guy in the old Godfrey’s vacuum cleaner ads.

Oh, and count me in. If there’s a choice, can Canberra get games early in the season? The weather’s great in March and April. July and August and the air is a wee nippy, even in the afternoon.

Whats that Rugby competition called with all the Dinosaurs always shooting themselves in foot? Can’t remember.

Nathan Bock

Steven Milne

Andrew Lovett

Brenodon Fevola

Just heard that Kevin Sheedy is going to be on ABC Stateline tonight with Chris Kimball at 7.30pm talking about the ACT 4 GWS Campaign…

letsdoitcanberra4:50 pm 02 Jul 10

Hi everyone,

Peter Taylor from the ACT 4 GWS bid.

I’ve been really encouraged by the positive support since the launch of the ‘ACT 4 GWS’ campaign.

The ‘ACT 4 GWS’ campaign looks to achieve a long-term partnership with team GWS.

Our aim is to secure 5000 $50 memberships pledges as well as local and regional corporate support.

In return AFL in Canberra and the region will get the following:

• GWS will play up to 20 games in Canberra over the next 5 years
• AFL in Canberra and region will have a seat on the GWS board
• GWS will continue to invest in talent academies
• GWS will establish a training base in the Canberra
• GWS will conduct community camps
• GWS will field a team in the AFL Canberra competition or in a second tier AFL competition that will feature Canberra clubs.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Canberrans to have a meaning role in the AFL.

We have twelve weeks to reach our goals and I urge every AFL fan in Canberra to log onto http://www.ACT4GWS.com.au kick a $50 to secure the national game for our national capital.

It’s our time!

Thanks,

Peter Taylor
Head of ACT 4 GWS

enrique said :

astrojax said :

let bakes fry – c’arna cats… targetting another player’s injuries nowhere within cooee of the ball? reprobate!

astrojax – you and I should get together for a beer to watch a game sometime! Go the Catters!!!

Fine up and coming Saints he says… first there was Hamill with his dirty tactics, now Baker. Fine indeed. It’s about time something was done to stamp out that type of rubbish from the game.

Yes because when Jr. Riewoldt strikes an injured players hand its okay is it, what about Scott Thompson then? Gimme a break.

bugalugs said :

Things

Whats that Rugby competition called with all the Dinosaurs always shooting themselves in foot? Can’t remember.

Troll…

Heh heh, funny you should mention Kieran Jack – this kid comes from a true Rugby family if ever there was one and yet him and his old man Gary see no problem with AFL.

Relax man, no-one is forcing you to do something you don’t want to – just pointing out that there is no need to criticise others because they are different. We all know where that leads… (i.e. Pauline Hanson has left the country)

“I think you will find it is pretty big in the NT as well. Certainly much better than either of the rugby codes or association football.”

There are 230,000 people that live in NT and about 500,000 in Tasmania = 730,000 in 2 state territories

There are about 630,000 in Hunter Region and 290,000 in Illawarra region = 920,000 in regions Nth and Sth of Sydney

You wouldn’t get more die hard Rugby League supporters in Australia in those 2 regions

And that is…?

The AFL train has already left the station bugalugs and most of the country is now on board. Those that don’t get it yet it will just be hitching a ride when they finally realise what they’re missing.

A comment like yours was probably appropriate back in the 80s when the Swans were moving to Sydney. Once the Bears formed in Brisbane and the Lions subsequently merged with them in ‘96 the debate was already over. You’re living in the past mate – it’s already a national game.

AFL is delusional. They have had a team in Sydney (the country’s biggest) market for close to 30 years. When the team is firing they get 35,000 spectators, now it is closer to 25,000. They are regularly the worst rating show when the Swans are shown live into Sydney on either Friday or Saturday night

I love this “National Game” statement that is regularly tossed up

How many local players do the Swans have this season after 30 years?Jack, Bevan and Roberts-Thomson (yeah that’s strong local support)

Where are the rest imported from? Vic,SA and WA

I would suggest Brisbane wouldn’t be much different

Just bcause every state has a team in a local comp doesn’t mean it is a “Truly” national comp

colourful sydney racing identity2:42 pm 02 Jul 10

bugalugs said :

There is a reason Australian Rules is basically only played in Southern and Western Australia!

I think you will find it is pretty big in the NT as well. Certainly much better than either of the rugby codes or association football.

bugalugs said :

There is a reason Australian Rules is basically only played in Southern and Western Australia!

And that is…?

The AFL train has already left the station bugalugs and most of the country is now on board. Those that don’t get it yet it will just be hitching a ride when they finally realise what they’re missing.

A comment like yours was probably appropriate back in the 80s when the Swans were moving to Sydney. Once the Bears formed in Brisbane and the Lions subsequently merged with them in ’96 the debate was already over. You’re living in the past mate – it’s already a national game.

There is a reason Australian Rules is basically only played in Southern and Western Australia!

I’ve signed up – member #36.

Certainly worth getting involved, we might even see some good footy down here!

I’d be happy to support the code in the ACT – if only they could get rid of all those knock-ons and introduce a sensible off-side rule.

astrojax said :

let bakes fry – c’arna cats… targetting another player’s injuries nowhere within cooee of the ball? reprobate!

astrojax – you and I should get together for a beer to watch a game sometime! Go the Catters!!!

Fine up and coming Saints he says… first there was Hamill with his dirty tactics, now Baker. Fine indeed. It’s about time something was done to stamp out that type of rubbish from the game.

Not sure if I’ll support GWS as a team (they may well become my second team) but $50 seems a reasonable price to pay to actually get some games in Canberra each year (I wonder how many of the 4 per year will be NAB cup vs regular season? if the NAB cup continues in an 18 team comp)

Looks like you can’t lose. If the campaign gets up you can direct your $50 to season tickets / membership. If it doesn’t, you get the money back.

Any word from the ACT gov if they’re on board? Looks like we won’t be getting a new stadium as part of the world cup bid anyway.

I’m in. They may not be my first team but they might just be my local team…

Yep, I’d sign up and might even go to a game or two.

I’d sign just to get the footy here more often.

The $50 isn’t an necessarily towards becoming a GWS member(I hope they come up with a decent name) member when they join the competition, but it can be put towards it if the bid is successful.

I notice that all the goals they have set need to be met by the end of the 2010 AFL season for it to succeed, although if it doesn’t succeed you get your money back.

Sounds like a decent investment towards getting a decent game and decent teams in this town, I hope it succeeds.

Growling Ferret8:46 pm 01 Jul 10

AFL Canberra is about to get turned upside down if the rumours are right.

You might be able to watch Israel Folau and Harmichael play in Canberra half a dozen times next year at Manuka, Football Park and Greenway.

But hell yeah, get on GWS. Especially if they do 3-5 game Canberra memberships for $100 or so.

(Go Pies)

let bakes fry – c’arna cats… targetting another player’s injuries nowhere within cooee of the ball? reprobate! stevie j to kick seven in the g/f against the stains, cats win by eighty… 😉

but agree, hope they host a few teams actually worth turning up to watch.

Website is http://www.act4gws.com.au

Looks like a great campaign!

It hope to Jehovah they play teams other than Sydney or the Doggies. How about those fine young up and comers the Saints?

Free Bakes.

Holden Caulfield3:51 pm 01 Jul 10

I thought this article was going to be about Josh Bruce, a local lad, who has just become the first TAC Cup kid signed to the GWS list.

In regards to going to watch GWSvplay, I’d certainly be more keen to support this venture than I was prepared to do for those North Melbourne harlots.

Yep, I’d sign up.

amarooresident3 said :

I’d become a member, even though I’m a member of another club. Hell, for 50 bucks each I’d buy two. Just happy to support the sport.

Spot on AR3.
I already spend well over $600 for a couple of memberships but will join this (if i could only work out how to)

amarooresident33:04 pm 01 Jul 10

I’d become a member, even though I’m a member of another club. Hell, for 50 bucks each I’d buy two. Just happy to support the sport.

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