Tiger_Watto
New member
**<big>AFL boss Andrew Demetriou is under no illusions that the code is second to rugby league in Sydney's west</big>**
By staff writers FOX SPORTS March 06, 2012 12:16PM
\
\
AFL chief Andrew Demetriou is under no illusions about the challenges that face the code as they expand into rugby league heartland in Sydney's western suburbs this season.
A year after Gold Coast Suns made their first step into 'rugby league territory' in south-east Queensland, Greater Western Sydney Giants will do the same in Sydney's west by playing their first AFL season in 2012.
In an exclusive interview with Fox Sports News, Demetriou acknowledged that the AFL would never be the No.1 code of choice in western Sydney.
He said there was room for both codes to co-exist in the expanding market.
"I'm on the public record as saying we don't expect to dominate, particularly in this market," Demetriou said.
"If we can increase our penetration and increase awareness of AFL in NSW, particularly in Greater Western Sydney, that would be a real bonanza for us. But I'm under no illusions that we would dominate in this territory. NRL is well embedded, as it should be. It's been here over 100 years and you've got to respect that.
"I actually enjoy rugby league. I've got enormous respect for the NRL. I think it's a great competition, it's not unlike ours. It's got a great history, particularly here in NSW and we learn a lot from the NRL.
"As I said before, we just want to give people another option. It's OK to follow GWS and OK to follow Penrith, I hope.
"Like in Melbourne, we have lots of people that follow Collingwood and Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Rebels. I'm sure there's enough to go around."
Demetriou predicted a tough first season on the field for the Giants, whose squad predominantly consists of rookies with no AFL experience.
But the AFL boss praised the club's ability to build a team from scratch and said immediate success on the field was not what the Giants were about.
"I think a win for GWS would just to be respected as a team in our competition," he said.
"We've always said that we're just trying to create an opportunity for people in Greater Western Sydney to have an option.
"I think they're gaining respect and if they can earn respect from everybody, that will be a real win."
Despite conceding the code would never "dominate" rugby league, he maintained that the AFL was in Sydney's west for the long haul.
"We're not doing this because we think we're in for a quick win and that we're trying to overtake rugby league or dominate in a particular market," he said.
"We're in it because we believe in the long haul it's better … to grow the game nationally.
"We can't really call ourselves a truly national competition if you've got one team in Sydney. We need to support the Swans and that's why we're investing over $100 million in this football club.
"And we've said this is not a five-year exercise. This is a 20, 30, 40-year decision and hopefully in the long run it will be the right decision."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/afl-ceo-andrew-demetriou-to-discuss-the-battle-for-western-sydney-in-interview-with-fox-sports-news-on-tuesday/story-e6frf3e3-1226289672916
By staff writers FOX SPORTS March 06, 2012 12:16PM
\
\
AFL chief Andrew Demetriou is under no illusions about the challenges that face the code as they expand into rugby league heartland in Sydney's western suburbs this season.
A year after Gold Coast Suns made their first step into 'rugby league territory' in south-east Queensland, Greater Western Sydney Giants will do the same in Sydney's west by playing their first AFL season in 2012.
In an exclusive interview with Fox Sports News, Demetriou acknowledged that the AFL would never be the No.1 code of choice in western Sydney.
He said there was room for both codes to co-exist in the expanding market.
"I'm on the public record as saying we don't expect to dominate, particularly in this market," Demetriou said.
"If we can increase our penetration and increase awareness of AFL in NSW, particularly in Greater Western Sydney, that would be a real bonanza for us. But I'm under no illusions that we would dominate in this territory. NRL is well embedded, as it should be. It's been here over 100 years and you've got to respect that.
"I actually enjoy rugby league. I've got enormous respect for the NRL. I think it's a great competition, it's not unlike ours. It's got a great history, particularly here in NSW and we learn a lot from the NRL.
"As I said before, we just want to give people another option. It's OK to follow GWS and OK to follow Penrith, I hope.
"Like in Melbourne, we have lots of people that follow Collingwood and Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Rebels. I'm sure there's enough to go around."
Demetriou predicted a tough first season on the field for the Giants, whose squad predominantly consists of rookies with no AFL experience.
But the AFL boss praised the club's ability to build a team from scratch and said immediate success on the field was not what the Giants were about.
"I think a win for GWS would just to be respected as a team in our competition," he said.
"We've always said that we're just trying to create an opportunity for people in Greater Western Sydney to have an option.
"I think they're gaining respect and if they can earn respect from everybody, that will be a real win."
Despite conceding the code would never "dominate" rugby league, he maintained that the AFL was in Sydney's west for the long haul.
"We're not doing this because we think we're in for a quick win and that we're trying to overtake rugby league or dominate in a particular market," he said.
"We're in it because we believe in the long haul it's better … to grow the game nationally.
"We can't really call ourselves a truly national competition if you've got one team in Sydney. We need to support the Swans and that's why we're investing over $100 million in this football club.
"And we've said this is not a five-year exercise. This is a 20, 30, 40-year decision and hopefully in the long run it will be the right decision."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/afl-ceo-andrew-demetriou-to-discuss-the-battle-for-western-sydney-in-interview-with-fox-sports-news-on-tuesday/story-e6frf3e3-1226289672916
