West not best for Wallabies

[Hoolly Doolly]

Another Grumbles Doozy

The decision to stage Wallabies Tests against NRL and AFL finals matches has hit a snag. While the idea in essence has merit, it becomes a fizzer when the Wallabies are struggling, and those in charge of scheduling pick the wrong city. Such was the case with this weekend's Test in Perth, where so many locals wouldn't have had a clue the Wallabies were in town. The Perth television networks, obsessed with what Fremantle and West Coast are up to in the AFL finals, ignored the Wallabies for most of the week. The local paper gave them only minimal coverage. The Wallabies also discovered it was a foreign city when they were involved in a meet and greet function with the Springboks in the centre of town. At least 80 per cent of the crowd were Boks supporters. Not surprisingly some in the ARU are starting to seriously wonder about the value of Perth Tests, and whether it would be wiser to stage such major internationals on the east coast, where they'll at least get some publicity and home-town support

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...#ixzz25yIUx2Gc

[Hoolly Doolly]

I know its not specifically about the EWF but if true just shows the ARU's contempt towards growth of the game in WA and to an extent the success of the EWF.

[NTT]

The key sentence is - "it's a fizzer when the Wallabies are struggling."
Can't blame the city when only 1 of the matchday 22 come from said city. Other problem is maybe it's time we got a Perth test against the All Blacks, playing the Saffas over and over gets repetitive gets repetitive gets repetitive gets repetitive .....

[brokendown gunfighter]

there was an attempt to host a Bledisloe cup match here a couple of years ago.it fell through mainly because eventscorp would not come to the party re funding

[Rex Messup]

I didn't hear what the crowd was for the Perth test but it was pretty full.
There was plenty of support for the wallabies and plenty of support for the bokke......the ongoing chants of bokka bokka reverberating around the ground made for a great atmosphere.
The South Africans have a great understanding of the game and are quite gracious win, lose or draw. It is great to have their support in Perth and the rugby fanaticism that they bring.
Anybody who knows about rugby knew the springbok test was on. There was a massive turnout for the BBQ/Brai and Bok town was full on match day.
I thought it was a great day out. It makes sense to have a springbok test in Perth because it will be well patronised by the Afrikanners.
People in Sydney have their own heads shoved so far up their own anus with their self importance that we must not read too much into any comment from afar.

The Perth test was a great sporting event for Perth. It was great for the game of rugby in WA and the test and test promotions were well patronised by South African fans and wallaby fans alike.

Isn't it great that all these rugby mad supporters call Perth home and very soon we will benefit from their children turning out for the WA age teams, Westyern Force and hopefully as "home grown" wallabies.

The only way is up

Dead set

[GAFFA]

There was 34,377 people at the game if i remember correctly
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[jargan83]

Subiaco is a shit ground even for AFL

I would rather travel to Brisbane to watch the Wallabies in a decent ground where I'm not a million kilometers away from the action

Having said that Growden is a muppet, why should the ARU schedule it's game on the off chance another code may be playing finals

[eleypinkbit]

The BBQ was the only session for the fans to meet the Springboks. Wallabies had two other meet the player opportunities that week. Understandable there were more SA fans than Aus there
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[sandgroperrugby]

What they do not seem to comprehend is that while dad saffa has the bok shirt on and is passionate his children often have wallabies gear on. And on another note a lot of the SA guys I know all go for the force.

Two years ago I went to the Melbourne AB wallabies match I reckon there were more kiwis at that game than Aussies but they are still getting tests and big tests at that.

[The Oracle]

Interesting observation:

Of the four "local" ballboys lining up for the national anthems between the teams, two sang the SA anthem!

That highlights the extent of Saffa immigration.

[Alison]

Of all the drivel I've seen with Growden's name above it, this takes the biscuit.

His tiresome and incessant anti-WA jibes can't simply be because he's writing for a Sydney audience, surely?

[Burgs]

Hopefully the ARU understand Western Australia better than Growden does...

[Emu]

Hey some of this is justified, there are people shooting you in the feet. Those people with the
postscipt of demanding a rectangle field. If it does not hold 40k then it has to be Subiaco for a Test. #havingitbothways

[blueandblack]

I notice he mentioned NRL in there too. Perhaps they should schedule Wallaby matches away from QLD & NSW, since they will be focused on the NRL.

Lets see. Traditional AFL states are WA, SA & Vic so no Wallaby matches there, Rugby League = QLD & NSW, so no Wallaby matches there. ACT has Canberra Raiders, so put them in with NRL. That leaves Wallaby matches to be played in Tassie or NT only.

[GIGS20]

Melbourne doesn't seem to have a problem with getting big test matches and they only ever play on ovals, that's not an issue for the ARU the issue is that Melbourne is the bigger market, but they have had far less success in it. They are happy to put bled cup matches in Melbourne because the tickets always sell, usually to kiwis.

WA will never get a bled cup until there is some potential of selling 60k and above.