Sheed's is Back and the AFL Brand Strengthens!

[Duckman#72]

The AFL just keep coming up with the winning plays.

What better person to market and sell the game of AFL to Sydney than Big Kev....and not a bad coach either. If anyone can get Greater Western Sydney interested in AFL he's the man.

His love of the game is contagious and he's an "ideas man". With the big difference being that his "ideas" work.

I thought something may have been a bit suspicious last year when he "pulled out" of the Richmond job.

Great result....I only hope that Sydney learn to understand the lingo of "marshmellows, seagulls and aliens".

I saw Paul Osborne on "The 7:30 Report" last night commenting on the Sheeds appointment and had to smile to myself. If Paul Osborne is the brains behind the NRL fight against AFL in Sydney, then I'm sure Kev will be quietly grinning from ear to ear. Just a word of advice Paul - mock and underestimate Kevin Sheedy and the AFL at your own peril. He didn't win an international award for lateral thinking by sticking his head in a forward pack for 15 years.

Another brilliant decision Andrew.

Duckman

 

[prawn_86]

Yeh on the news last night they 'interviewed' some Western Syd residents about it. I wonder how long it took them to get the 2 cuts they wanted of people saying they dont know what AFL is, or that no-one out there will ever follow it...

It wont be easy for the AFL to gain huge crowds out there, but they are on the front foot. Rugby League is relying on handouts just to defend its postition, let alone grow it.

 

[Putty7]

Sheed's is a legend no doubt, I can't believe some of the sooking that came out of some Dons supporters about his performance when we lost him, as shown by the Cats last year just because you are the red hot favourite doesn't mean you are going to take every flag that comes along. As for his new appointment, good luck to him, it's a big job but lets face it Rugby hasn't done itself to many favours in season 2009.

 

[bloomy88]

Sheedy will no doubt be a great asset to the establishment of West Sydney. Even when Essondon were down the bottom of the ladder he always seemed to be on the news every night. Im sure he will have plenty of ideas of how to put West Sydney on the map in NSW, im sure they'll make good watching...

 

[Duckman#72]

Even when Essondon were down the bottom of the ladder he always seemed to be on the news every night. Im sure he will have plenty of ideas of how to put West Sydney on the map in NSW

Good point Bloomy.

A few notes about Sheedy:

* He loves batting for the underdog, the "under classes", the downtrodden and loves giving it to "The Establishment".

* He is a keen historian who has a very strong belief in what it means to be an Australian and our sense of duty towards that.

* He strongly believes in bringing young boys to the football club and turning them out at the end of their careers as community minded, wonderful citizen with a future after football. It has never just been about "footy" with Sheeds.

* He has a very strong link with Aboriginal culture and leading aboriginal figures.

I think he will love being in Western Sydney, and will see himself as a "Pied Piper" providing those disenchanted with the world with a path to follow.

It was interesting that one of the very first announcements that Sheeds made after being made coach was about looking for indigenous players for our indigenous game. Before long he is going to have aboriginals from Redfern to Cairns, from Boggabilla to Dubbo all looking at the opportunities that the AFL and Sheedy can offer.

Duckman

 

[bloomy88]

It was interesting that one of the very first announcements that Sheeds made after being made coach was about looking for indigenous players for our indigenous game. Before long he is going to have aboriginals from Redfern to Cairns, from Boggabilla to Dubbo all looking at the opportunities that the AFL and Sheedy can offer.

Id pay to go a team of aboriginals, they'd but inconsistent as anyting but some of the performances they'd put on would be amazing...

 

[Macquack]

Kevin Sheedy said :-

Could you imagine if you could build a club as good as the Opera House

Being a Sydneysider, I would have to say that is one of the corniest things of heard of in a long time.

Another pearl from Sheedy:-

Look, is Manchester the most attractive city in the world? No. Manchester United put Manchester on the map.

 

[Duckman#72]

Kevin Sheedy said :-



Being a Sydneysider, I would have to say that is one of the corniest things of heard of in a long time.

LOL

The main point is that he is being heard!

For three nights straight here in Qld we received ABC news sports coverage of Kevin Sheedy and AFL in Sydney. Except when Sydney made the Grand Final, I can't remember when we ever had a story about AFL out of Sydney!!

The media are a funny lot. There was a internet headline saying that after taking a poll, only 16.7% of people in the greater western sydney area knew who Kevin Sheedy was. After much gloating about how hard it was going to be for the AFL to gain a foothold out there....they dropped this bombshell.....of the people polled, only 50% could identify a picture of Jarred Hayne!!!!

Bloody Hell!!! I'm thinking 16.7% was a good result!!!! Ha ha

Duckman

 

[professor_frink]

Yeh on the news last night they 'interviewed' some Western Syd residents about it. I wonder how long it took them to get the 2 cuts they wanted of people saying they dont know what AFL is, or that no-one out there will ever follow it...

I think it would have taken 2 -3 minutes.

It wont be easy for the AFL to gain huge crowds out there, but they are on the front foot. Rugby League is relying on handouts just to defend its postition, let alone grow it.

people in Sydney barely even go to watch NRL games unless it's a final or state of origin. Can't see the AFL ever getting much in the way of a real crowd out there when most don't even go to watch Rugby League games.

 

[Macquack]

people in Sydney barely even go to watch NRL games unless it's a final or state of origin. Can't see the AFL ever getting much in the way of a real crowd out there when most don't even go to watch Rugby League games.

The AFL faithful will argue that theirs is a superior game so people of western Sydney will flock to the new team. I agree with your view professor_frink.