All of these signings being "confirmed" on the webz today have been basically rumoured for weeks so they come as no surprise at all.

so? confirmation doesnt hurt anybody

Just sayin' is all.

Much like the Popa announcement. Everyone saw it a mile away.

Fun Timeline Fact for anyone who's interested. I'm researching intellectual property and in my boredom, i started searching for all the WSFC trademark shizz-nizz.

On the 5th of September, 2008, the FFA registered WESTERN SYDNEY FC, but on the 8th of April, 2010 had lost it due to its use by them lapsing.

And on the 2nd of August, 2010, the AFL registered WESTERN SYDNEY FC, along with other like-sounding terms. The AFL's trademark is due for acceptance on the 14th of January, 2013. Although, as far as my knowledge of IP goes, if the AFL doesn't physically protect the trademark of WESTERN SYDNEY FC by putting the (c) next to it on merchandise/ website/ etc, as FFA didn't, it may come up for grabs by other parties. Not that that matters for us, as the FFA has already left the idea of the simple WSFC for either Wanderers, Athletic, etc, etc.

It's as though the AFL were waiting for this Trademark of the FFAs to lapse, so that they could claim ownership of all WSFC derived terms in this building period for both West Sydney clubs.

http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/atmoss/Falcon.Result


Edited by sobkowski: 3/6/2012 03:31:06 PM

The NSW government spent $15 million on developing the Blacktown precinct for a second AFL team and cricket. It also allocated $45 million for the upgrading of the Sydney Showground to make it suitable for Australian football.

According to reports in July 2008, Blacktown council siphoned off its taxpayer-provided sports budget for the facility, described as a $27.5 million project.

The AFL and cricket provided $2,875,000 and with the NSW government tipping in $15 million, presumably Blacktown council provided the rest.

On the eve of the Giants' first home game at the renamed Sydney Showground, Skoda Stadium, the federal government announced it would contribute $2 million to facilities at Sydney Olympic Park.

A press release from the Minister for Sport, Kate Lundy, announced the funds would be allocated to ''an elite-standard AFL training oval and community sports field'', while ''the AFL and the GWS Giants will build a multicultural community education centre (MCEC), which will feature a 75-person theatrette, dedicated classroom and community meeting rooms''.

The ACT government has also given the Giants $26 million over 10 years to play four games a year in Canberra, while Wagga Wagga council will pay $300,000 over three years for pre-season games.

The AFL insists they haven't abandoned Blacktown, pointing out it will be used as a base for development where they claim to spend $4 million a year.

They will also play an additional televised pre-season game there, run their elite junior competitions plus train there for 12 sessions a year.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/lonesome-giants-endangered-in-wild-west-20120604-1zs5b.html#ixzz1wvH4ptNR

I agree with you 100% Joffa. I can understand the money spent on Sydney Show Ground now known as Skoda Stadium but to spend $15 million on a training ground is beyond a joke especially when you take into account how many times the ground will even have more then 1000 people there to watch a game.
And yet people whinge about the peanuts we get from the government for football.

Amazing the amount of money given to the AFL by the Local, State and Federal Governments and the FFA get $8 million redirected from another project...almost criminal imo.

FYI, this isn't the GWS thread.
AFL will be on notice when WS get a bigger crowd average in their first season after being created 6 months before the season as opposed to GWS and their oh so important 2 year build up.

I know its a long term strategy, but no one cares about AFL in western sydney. And those that do, already follow the swans.

You can justify the Showgrounds spend? I can't.

In the first instance, there is a very capable stadium next door which PAYS tenants to have events at their venue.

The only reason they didn't want to use the National Stadium was because a 5000 crowd would be a 'bad look' for them.

They had 65 million dollars spent on that oval in Blacktown with a 10K capacity. They had a 6000 crowd against West Coast - the kind of figure they will continually draw due to the lack of interest in both AFL and GWS. Blacktown was a perfect size for them, especially considering the investment put into the ground by the NSW Government.

In the alternative, was it necessary to increase the capacity of the Showgrounds? Canterbury Bulldogs played their games there for almost half a decade with the 17K capacity with 10K temporary seats/terracing. They moved because their supporter base didnt appreciate playing on an oval. Yet the State Gov't decided to both expand the capacity by 50% and make it an all seater. Once again, what was wrong the both the stadium next door and the stadium's original capacity?

I'm not even going to bother the justification for that training ground. 1/3 of the investment for the WC Bid for goodness sake and that caused such a public out rage!


Edited by aussietarfan: 6/6/2012 09:54:10 AM

In regards to West Sydney, NSWPL based talent - How is Chris Tadrosse going these days/where is he? He ofcourse featured for the National aged teams, went to Germany for a few years and returned to Aus to play with Fury. He's a young LB in only mid 20s still - I wonder if Poppa will give the likes of he a look. He'd surely be a suitable left sided option for the rotation/squad depth?

Penrith a big part of new A-League club's goal

8 Jun 12 @ 12:01am by Chris Georgakopoulos

Lyall Gorman was impressed with the passion of Penrith.

PENRITH could host the new western Sydney A-League side, with a “range of possibilities” to be considered, executive chairman Lyall Gorman said.

Gorman had meetings with Penrith councillors and soccer officials on Monday.

The club is looking at several options for a home ground, training facilities and office facilities, to name a few.

“There are a range of possibilities for Penrith and several other areas in western Sydney that we have to bunker down and work through,” Gorman told the Press.

“Whether that be a grassroots approach, pre-season game, the W-League or youth league team playing (in Penrith) there are many opportunities.

“Fundamentally we want to connect to the whole of western Sydney.

“All the councillors from the mayor (Greg Davies) down were very passionate and the local association run by John (Churchward) and Linda (Cerone) is very passionate and committed to the game.”

http://penrith-press.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/were-a-big-part-of-new-clubs-goal/

“There are a range of possibilities for Penrith and several other areas in western Sydney that we have to bunker down and work through,”

It wont be Penrith. Take most of the fans near an hour to get there if not more by public transport. If you read the article clearly Gorman says this about Penrith. “Whether that be a grassroots approach, pre-season game, the W-League or youth league team playing (in Penrith) there are many opportunities." No where does he mention it as permanent home ground for first team football.

What is the deadline for announcement of your name?

GWS vs Richmond
Skoda Stadium
Crowd: 7,538

Elrich,Beuchamp,Cole,Chipperfield,Covic,Mooy,Haliti,and Bridge so far are the players that i have heard or read about most likely having signed already for West Sydney behind the secenes.
With 8 out of 11 it will be interesting to see what our starting line ups would be with question marks for the remaining 3 spots in the starting 11.

----- Haliti -- Bridge -----

----------- Mooy -----------

???? ----------------- Cole

----------- ???? -----------

Chipp - Beuchamp - ??? - Elrich

--------- Covic -----------

I have only seen Chipperfield play left back whenever i have watched him but is it true he has been playing as a striker for FC Basel in the last few years?