The bad, the good, and the ugly : the formation of heroes within the setting of a new sports team

  • Keith D. Parry

Western Sydney University thesis: Doctoral thesis

Abstract

This thesis examines the formation of sporting heroes in the context of a new sporting club. In particular, it investigates when and how a sporting hero is formed, and who (or what) dictates the emergence of a hero. Central to this line of enquiry is a discussion of the negotiation between fans, the club, and the media in forming a hero. Moreover, this thesis discusses sports hero formation in relation to national identity, arguing that it can be a critical component of the development of a hero. Drawing upon the work of Joseph Campbell and Orrin E. Klapp, it contextualises the sporting hero in the wider narratives of hero typologies. As a secondary line of enquiry I explore the characteristics of, and barriers to, the formation of fan and club cultures in the context of a new sporting club. The themes of the thesis are analysed through a case study investigation of the new Australian Football League (AFL) club, the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants. The 2012 debut of this team in the AFL afforded an unusual opportunity to examine how sporting heroes, a team, and its fans are simultaneously formed. The research utilises a mixed qualitative methodology, incorporating organisational communication analysis, observations at GWS Giants' matches and events, and semiotic and discourse analyses of club communications to members, of online fan forums, and of media coverage in the two best-selling Sydney-based daily newspapers, The Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald. This thesis identifies three key figures within the club - Israel Folau, Jeremy Cameron, and Kevin Sheedy - as prominent individuals. Folau, a former rugby league player, was 'headhunted' to be a hero and was utilised in marketing and promotional material, but was not able to perform to a heroic level on the pitch, and was condemned for being a sporting 'mercenary'. Narratives were built up around Cameron as an emerging hero, emphasising his athletic ability and cultural connection to notions of 'Australianness'. He was presented as a 'boy from the bush' in a manner that was reminiscent of the revered Australian cricketer Don Bradman. Sheedy, the club's first coach, is one of Australian football's best-known figures, with narratives around him focussing on his personal history in the sport and image as a 'typical Australian' who played the historically resonant role of the 'clever hero'. The culture of a club takes time to develop and the identification and activity of GWS Giants' fans, with respect to the club and their heroes, was influenced by their on-field success - or lack thereof. I conclude that fan cultures are spatially specific, meaning that the geographical and cultural diversity of the GWS region hinders the development of a club culture. Finally, the thesis argues that the formation of sports heroes is shaped by established notions of national identity and longstanding mythological archetypes rather than heroes' personal traits or deeds. Universal hero myths, furthermore, provide recognised narratives that frame the emergence of new heroes in otherwise very different societies. My research offers a significant contribution to debates surrounding the roles of heroes both in and outside sport. It advances the sociological understanding of the dynamics of sports hero formation and functions as a platform for future, innovative research in its field.
Date of Award2017
Original languageEnglish

Keywords

  • Australian football
  • football players
  • sports spectators
  • Greater Western Sydney Giants (Football team)
  • sports journalism
  • Australia

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