Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchises?

[Paganism]

I know it is almost sacrilege...

But today I had a conversation with one of the drivers at my work who is ditching Essendon for the new Gold Coast team. He is from there originally, and has family still up there. His reasoning was that he followed Essendon because there was no Gold Coast team but now that there is his heart will be with them. I wonder if there are many others like him, and how many there are. Could this have much of an impact on teams membership numbers and game day attendances?

Edit..he was an Essendon member for the last 7 years.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I couldn't see myself doing it.

I've become attached to Geelong now and I couldn't see myself developing the same kind of passion for any other club.

If Tasmania were to get a team, they would become my second team and it would be a move I would support as it would allow a greater variety of games to be played down here but Geelong would still be my team.

 

[SJ]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

Check the Gold Coast board, half of them have.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

One BF Poster comes to mind.

 

[UrLordLeper]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

There's a good thread on this on the GC Suns page.. "who did you follow before the SUNS" or something..
Mostly it seems there are quite a few people local to the 'Coast who are jumping aboard from other clubs, a few who never really had a team they were passionate about, as well as a few people who have been upsed with the Lions recently.
And I can understand them doing it, if you lived on the GC or grew up there you'd want to get behind your local team. Personally I may be moving to Sydney at the end of next year and if I do that I will sign as a GWS member and go to their games, but I would get an Interstate EFC membership and the Bombers would still be my #1.
However I'm probably going to try and become an interstate GWS member anyway, just because they are going to need all the support they can get.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

Celtic_Pride

 

[Ari]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

NO. Essendon through and through. Always have been, always will be.

I despise the Lions but am looking forward to getting to a few Gold Coast games this year being that it's only half hour down the freeway for me!

 

[indieswan96]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

Considering I live about 10 minutes from there home ground I considered supporting GWS, and quickly pushed it out of mind. GWS are the scum of the AFL.

 

[Soul_Pie]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

It's probably hard for many of us to understand, most of us are priveleged enough to have our own local team to support, we can go see matches at least every second week and we can have the feeling of being a part of that club in a very real and direct way. Really we are very lucky in this regard when you consider AFL supporters living in Tassie, Newcastle, Canberra, etc...

I suppose for many people in this situation they just chose a team out of necessity because they didn't have a local team so wanted to at least support someone. They might see this team play once a year, might be the only supporter of that kind in their neighbourhood, and many of them probably had a lingering want for a local team. Now that they've got that, I don't think any less of them if they want to change to the club they wanted to support from the beginning, it's a great opportunity to get behind a new club and to be a part of the local fan community.

 

[Tiger2709]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

There's a good thread on this on the GC Suns page.. "who did you follow before the SUNS" or something..
Mostly it seems there are quite a few people local to the 'Coast who are jumping aboard from other clubs, a few who never really had a team they were passionate about, as well as a few people who have been upsed with the Lions recently.
And I can understand them doing it, if you lived on the GC or grew up there you'd want to get behind your local team. Personally I may be moving to Sydney at the end of next year and if I do that I will sign as a GWS member and go to their games, but I would get an Interstate EFC membership and the Bombers would still be my #1.
However I'm probably going to try and become an interstate GWS member anyway, just because they are going to need all the support they can get.

I have lived in WA the last 15 years and there is no way in the world that I would stop supporting Richmond, no interest in supporting the local teams, only downside is not getting to watch much live footy, but Subi is not somewhere that I enjoy watching football anyway.

 

[handy point]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

No chance.

That said, I will be attending GWS games and hoping they grow a good grassroots supporter base.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

no, although, i might sign up to one of the higher level memberships @ the coast, coz chances are the hawks will be playing them in a grand final, garuntees me tickets on both sides

 

[Father Jack]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I went for a non-Vic team at the first opportunity (a pure non-Vic team, not a transplanted Vic team). Guess I am stuck with them now By the time Tassie gets one it will likely be thirty or forty years too late for me. I've done all the swapping i'm ever going to do. I'll have to hold out for an A League side i guess.

 

[sherb]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I'll have my own "local" side to go and watch from 2012 - and I will take out a membership to support them - but I'll be staying a Blues supporter and member as well.

I'm not sure why some people think that you have to ditch support for your long term club in order to get behind a new club starting up in your area.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I was going to give up Adelaide for GWS, but after 3 minutes with GWS being under my name on BigFooty I changed my mind and went back to Adelaide

realised then i wouldn't be able to change

(I spent the ages on 6 to 18 in Western Sydney)

 

[Paganism]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

Check the Gold Coast board, half of them have.

Just did I was amazed at the number of people changing clubs. It does go to show that "home really is where the heart is".

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

Considering I live about 10 minutes from there home ground I considered supporting GWS, and quickly pushed it out of mind. GWS are the scum of the AFL.

Instead of the Swans or as well as?

 

[indieswan96]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

Instead of the Swans or as well as?

As well as.

 

[sherb]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

Considering I live about 10 minutes from there home ground I considered supporting GWS, and quickly pushed it out of mind. GWS are the scum of the AFL.

What made you come to this conclusion?

I mean, apart from GWS actually existing that is.....

 

[PumpyChowdown]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I moved from Gippsland to the Gold Coast when I was aged 9. Played junior footy for the Palm Beach-Currumbin Lions. Though I live in Brissy now, I've always considered myself a Coastie.

I've been a Blue fan since day dot, but I will HEAVILY support Gold Coast. Probably 100% Carlton and 97% Gold Coast. Will definitely be getting a GC membership too as I plan on attending most games.

 

[Punt_Road_Roar]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I have lived in WA the last 15 years and there is no way in the world that I would stop supporting Richmond, no interest in supporting the local teams, only downside is not getting to watch much live footy, but Subi is not somewhere that I enjoy watching football anyway.

know how you feel brother.

 

[UrLordLeper]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I have lived in WA the last 15 years and there is no way in the world that I would stop supporting Richmond, no interest in supporting the local teams, only downside is not getting to watch much live footy, but Subi is not somewhere that I enjoy watching football anyway.

I understand where you're coming from, but I honestly don't think there was any chance that the teams in WA wouldn't have been very strongly supported.
However GWS, being in League territory, is in for a much tougher ride. So even if people were going to stick with their original team, I'd expect a lot of them would still want GWS to do well to increase the profile of AFL, and they'd do that by buying a cheap membership or just by going to the games there.

 

[UrLordLeper]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I moved from Gippsland to the Gold Coast when I was aged 9. Played junior footy for the Palm Beach-Currumbin Lions. Though I live in Brissy now, I've always considered myself a Coastie.

I've been a Blue fan since day dot, but I will HEAVILY support Gold Coast. Probably 100% Carlton and 97% Gold Coast. Will definitely be getting a GC membership too as I plan on attending most games.

I'm hoping you don't work in finance.. or accounting.. or anything to do with maths / percentages..
Are players who only give 197% on game day just lazy or what??

 

[sherb]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

However GWS, being in League territory, is in for a much tougher ride. So even if people were going to stick with their original team, I'd expect a lot of them would still want GWS to do well to increase the profile of AFL, and they'd do that by buying a cheap membership or just by going to the games there.

Yes. Excellently put.

In the case of GWS, it's not just about supporting the club, it's about supporting the growth of the game out here (at all levels).

 

[Giants FC]

Re: Is there anyone out there who will be ditching their current AFL team for 1 of the new Franchise

I've lived more than half my life in Western Sydney. Sydney is my home, it's where my life is and where I watch my sport.
Australian Football has always been my passion. I've always supported Essendon - which was easier when I lived in Victoria, but living in Sydney I only got to see the Bombers a handful of times per year.
But the expansion of footy has always been a big interest of mine; and I've long believed a Western Sydney team will be an important step in the growth of the game. And now that the team is a reality, I'll be putting my money where my mouth is.
GWS, if it's going to work, will need start-up supporters; and I'll be one of them. Being a part of the spread of footy into my home area is attractive. So is the pioneering aspect of being a part of a footy club from scratch. And also not having to do the long distance relationship thing with a footy club, and to be actually able to see my club play more often.
The first GWS v Essendon game will be weird. Barracking against the Bombers will run against all my pre-existing footballing instincts. It wasn't an easy decision, but I know it's the right one.

And GWS have got Sheeds. That seals the deal.