GWS Giants...

[The Lobster Effect 845]

I would have liked them to be called the Rams.

Fits well with the geographic area (especially with the giant Ram located in Goulbourn on the drive between western Sydney and Canberra), has a long history in Australia, good for merchandise, made tough by the movie The Wrestler.

There was an NRL team called the Adelaide Rams, but they were short lived, and not really remembered.

Great suggestion on the West Sydney Rams, would have worked well. Probably not exciting enough for the kids they want to convert in sydney though??

My suggestion would be to go with something more aussie like:

West Sydney Red Backs

West Sydney Red Bellies (snakes)

West Sydney Goannas

West Sydney Funnelwebs

West Sydney Venom

West Sydney Dingos

Would any of these work? I know people use the term dingo as an insult, but the logo would have been awesome!

Edited November 16, 2010 by The Lobster Effect

[darkhorse72 1,760]

Not an attractive jumper, but no clash with us so I don't really care. Actually I would say its bland.

As for the name, I also think of the US when i hear giants. More so as they talk about 'giants' of the game whereas we talk about legends/stars etc.

So its more ingrained in their culture.

I would have gone with something more associated with Sydney but I can't think of one at the moment. Though I do like the 'bulls' but thats the emblem of my local team.

We try to inspire the new players with the vision of the bulls smashing through the opposition.

Anyway besides a couple of NAB cups it'll be awhile till we really see them, they might have finetuned a few things by then.

[Harrisonrules 273]

I like the jumper, it's plain but effective. And deep orange/charcoal is a nice touch, great to see a new team actually using original colours.

The name is another story, Giants is such a lousy name for an AFL team. It's a name that doesn't really do anything, hasn't got any characteristics or qualities to it, what's the mascot going to be? It was easily the worst choice out of the short-listed names. Then there's the (un)originality factor, aren't there already MLB and NFL teams using that name?

Vikings, Warriors, Barbarians, Titans, Wolves, Raiders... anything would have been better than Giants.

The game has become a game for super mobile and strong 187 to 195 cm athletes. The giants are from a bygone era. Already out of date. Wholse to blame the commission or Kevin

[biggestred 4,377]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/105264/default.aspx

haha those jumpers make them look like big rangas

[Deeman 1,425]

Like all great innovations of our time, I'm sure the Giants will grow on us.

[Adzman 2,085]

Nothing pisses me off more then when the "American" tag gets thrown around in sports. Does anyone remember the North Melbourne Giants in the NBL? The Giants have existed in Australian sports before, yet it gets canned because people want to jump on their high horse thinking they could come up with something better. Have a look at the AFL. "Power", "Dockers" these are not exactly great names, yet they seemed to go pretty well under the radar because they were not "American".

There are no "Giants" in West Sydney, and there are no "Demons" in Melbourne so it is not a stupid as you might think to name your team after something that does not exist.

Even if the "Wolves" had won, I am sure the same people would be calling out the name as "Americanized" because it has been used in professional sports before.

[Sir Why You Little 34,964]

Nothing pisses me off more then when the "American" tag gets thrown around in sports. Does anyone remember the North Melbourne Giants in the NBL? The Giants have existed in Australian sports before, yet it gets canned because people want to jump on their high horse thinking they could come up with something better. Have a look at the AFL. "Power", "Dockers" these are not exactly great names, yet they seemed to go pretty well under the radar because they were not "American".

There are no "Giants" in West Sydney, and there are no "Demons" in Melbourne so it is not a stupid as you might think to name your team after something that does not exist.

Even if the "Wolves" had won, I am sure the same people would be calling out the name as "Americanized" because it has been used in professional sports before.

Port Adelaide "Power" & the Fremantle "Dockers" exist yes, but the names are still & will always be rubbish, as will the GWS Giants-But as none of us supporters ever had ANY say in these changes what can you do.

[Demons 32 235]

Why is everyone crying about it being American?

Are you all really so Australian bias that you don't know of other sports in the world?

Below are some AFL teams that have the same name as an American sports team.

Eagles

Lions

Tigers

Bears

Suns

Hawks

Do we consider all these teams American copies?

People think the Wolves would be better? It's still an American basketball teams nickname!

How about the Blues? There would be multiple sports teams with that name.

Lets just get over it like we got over Gold Coast and accept they are here.

We all cried when Freo started, we all cried when Port started.

Saying their uniforms were ugly and there songs were crap... But in the end does it really freaking matter?

It's about the 22 guys who lace up every week, it's not about their moniker... And even if it was, they are not your club so what the hell gives you the right to have an opinion about it? You want an opinion, stop barracking for the Melbourne Demons and sign up with the GWS Giants.

Edited November 16, 2010 by Demons 32

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Port Adelaide "Power" & the Fremantle "Dockers" exist yes, but the names are still & will always be rubbish, as will the GWS Giants-But as none of us supporters ever had ANY say in these changes what can you do.

And why should you have any say???

You have a completely closed mind to the introduction of new teams.

I doubt the AFL is missing anything profound by avoiding misguided rants.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Lets just get over it like we got over Gold Coast and accept they are here.

Too much sense for some.

[Geddy Lee 582]

Even if the "Wolves" had won, I am sure the same people would be calling out the name as "Americanized" because it has been used in professional sports before.

People think the Wolves would be better? It's still an American basketball teams nickname!

They are two separate issues.

Whether or not Giants or Wolves are franchises in America, Wolves are still ferocious, alliterate with 'West Sydney' and don't make me think of Robbie Coltrane. But what's done is done, I'm going to have to get used to our new franchises and cheer on my CLUB to obliterate them.

[H_T 2,941]

As I said before, 'I can't think of it being used in Non USA related sports'. If it was used in Soccer, cricket, Rugby etc around the world then it would be the same as lions, sharks, tigers. But it's not. Giants has been an American sports name until now. I don't think it fits as an AFL name. But that's just my opinion.

Rubbish.

* Delhi Giants - Indian Cricket League est 2007 (CRICKET)

* Gold Coast-Tweed Giants - Australian Rugby League 88-89 (RUGBY)

[Roost It 1,434]

Change is inevitable. We were called The Fuschia's. Given the choice I'd take the Suns or the Giants.

[daisycutter 28,700]

Great suggestion on the West Sydney Rams, would have worked well. Probably not exciting enough for the kids they want to convert in sydney though??

My suggestion would be to go with something more aussie like:

West Sydney Red Jelly Backs

West Sydney Red Yellow Bellies (snakes)

West Sydney Goannas Gunna's or Gorners

West Sydney Funnelwebs FunBags

West Sydney Venom V8s

West Sydney Dingos DingBats

Would any of these work? I know people use the term dingo as an insult, but the logo would have been awesome!

Edited November 16, 2010 by daisycutter

[Sir Why You Little 34,964]

And why should you have any say???

You have a completely closed mind to the introduction of new teams.

I doubt the AFL is missing anything profound by avoiding misguided rants.

Must you comment on everything?? My opinion differs to yours again, how suprising!

[beelzebub 22,373]

I'll preface with the acknowledgment that it's going to be a hard job really to come up with a new jumper. But I don't like the ones much and consider them much more an effort to stylize a brand than create a decent footy jumper. Both Freo and Port have learnt the lesson and looked to the roots of this game and now both have quite decent FOOTY jumpers .

That Giants effort will date very quickly. the G is quite tacky. .. and bland. Yokes are very very footy. Even a charcoal jumper with orange yoke would look better. Yeah I know ... Maybe a bit too much lime ours lol.

Still .. Looks more like a logo belonging on a locomotive than a football jumper for mine .

Luckily not really our worry

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Must you comment on everything?? My opinion differs to yours again, how suprising!

Get a blog if you dont want a response to silly statements aired on a forum.

[Sir Why You Little 34,964]

Get a blog if you dont want a response to silly statements aired on a forum.

What is so silly about my above statements? All the "new" AFL sides since 1987 have had terrible jumpers, terrible names & terrible songs, and i have always believed that paid up members of all clubs should have had a vote in whether these teams should be in the AFL-particulairly these last two. (Add Port Adelaide to that list-They have been a financial and popularity winner)

The GWS Giants are going to cost all of us a lot of cash for decades-Sydney does not care, i have family up there-they just laugh.

It's like The Melbourne Storm, even after flag victories (Dodgy at that THANKS WALDRON) The Storm still have a tiny supporter base and are propped up completely by News Limited.

It will not work...and now we are stuck with it...(The jury is still out on the Gold Coast).

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

What is so silly about my above statements?

The Prosecution has no further questions, your Honour.

[Sir Why You Little 34,964]

The Prosecution has no further questions, your Honour.

Wimp B)

[Demons 32 235]

and i have always believed that paid up members of all clubs should have had a vote in whether these teams should be in the AFL

Absolutely ridiculous.

You have ZERO entitlement or ownership to this club, absolutely zero.

The people who get to vote are the people who support the club, the people who will be paid up members, the people who will go to their games.

How would you feel if any supporter of another club felt entitled to an opinion about MFC?

Or does that only apply to interstate clubs who are just starting out? Every football club has to start somewhere.

[digby wolf 1]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-to-unveil-gws-giants/story-e6frf9jf-1225954361689

Word is its GWS Giants. Hate them already. What an awful American-franchise-artificial-basketball sounding nick name. Jumper looks crap too. About as good an effort as this:

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bomberblitz.com/~rmered/images/Brisbane-1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php%3Ft%3D673164&usg=__jCzI7_JvF_SaAA3TyNMd-INjlmU=&h=406&w=559&sz=12&hl=en&start=0&sig2=h8gudn28QpJ3x5BCKizwow&zoom=1&tbnid=huiYwRF3WYBX3M:&tbnh=134&tbnw=179&ei=Q__hTPzMCYuavAPC4qjmDw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrisbane%2Bbears%2Bguernsey%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D552%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=134&vpy=87&dur=780&hovh=163&hovw=224&tx=87&ty=101&oei=Q__hTPzMCYuavAPC4qjmDw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Hate them already.

GO DEES!

I agree, we have a real cultural cringe in this country. Why couldn't they think of something culturally Australian to call them. This whole thing has that peanut sheedy's fingerprints all over it.

[Sir Why You Little 34,964]

Absolutely ridiculous.

You have ZERO entitlement or ownership to this club, absolutely zero.

The people who get to vote are the people who support the club, the people who will be paid up members, the people who will go to their games.

How would you feel if any supporter of another club felt entitled to an opinion about MFC?

Or does that only apply to interstate clubs who are just starting out? Every football club has to start somewhere.

I don't want ownership of their club, but i see nothing wrong with Paid up members of ALL clubs at least having a voice as to whether they should be in the comp.

This is going to be Bad Business-The AFL are stubborn. It will look good initially because of the Broadcast rights, but down the track it will be as successful as the Myki Ticketing Fiasco.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I don't want ownership of their club, but i see nothing wrong with Paid up members of ALL clubs at least having a voice as to whether they should be in the comp.

Because self interest of individual clubs was passed in mid 1990's to a centralised body to alleviate and avoid some of the irrelevant Club based self interested and inbred claptrap that hampers the broader competition.

If we had that sort of mentality then the Australian rules would have been a regionalised, partisan and dysfunctional unprofitable splinter organisation that would have been overrun by other football and sporting codes.

Its one of the root problems of the NRL.

[Sir Why You Little 34,964]

Because self interest of individual clubs was passed in mid 1990's to a centralised body to alleviate and avoid some of the irrelevant Club based self interested and inbred claptrap that hampers the broader competition.

If we had that sort of mentality then the Australian rules would have been a regionalised, partisan and dysfunctional unprofitable splinter organisation that would have been overrun by other football and sporting codes.

Its one of the root problems of the NRL.

I do understand that. i have the AFL Book from the 80's on that exact topic, But this GWS Giants team is going to cause big problems, The Band Aid for now is the TV rights....Its a matter of watching & waiting, But the AFL are doing the wrong thing IMO.

I can handle expansion, it has to be done, but the Market they have chosen here is just Wrong. Maybe by the time i am 95 GWS may be an accepted part of Australian culture. Just Maybe.