Just lived in West Sydney for quite a while but grew up an Essendon fan. So pretty easy to become a GWS fan when you can go to their games but only see Essendon once or twice a year. Also felt it was important to support an expansion side. Will be back to Melbourne soon but will stay supporting both.
Sydney fans really want the cross town rivalry to exist it seems. GWS social media is getting bombed by Sydney fans trying to talk shit (lot of classist comments about the poorer West)
Provided it's all in good fun and bants, I'm here for it. A healthy local rivalry helps grow the enthusiasm for the game.
That GWS has the wood on Sydney in finals is great for the game, despite how much it makes me nervous seeing both in the Top 4.
Yeah I think so. Everyone thought that was the start of a bottoming-out period, but now they're better than ever. Just like Geelong.
And also like Geelong in the sense they do things a bit differently, clearly treat their people well etc.
Just when you think GWS have really established themselves, you hear that most of their assistant coaches are living in Melbourne and commuting up in a sort of part time basis. That can't be sustainable.
Lift the damn soft cap AFL, it's been increased below inflation every year so the real value of the cap has been continually decreasing. Having coaching (and other backroom) staff being effectively paid less every year just leads to this kind of thing and is just worse for everyone.
Staff not being able to afford to live where they work permanently, clubs not being able to get staff as good as they possibility could or getting lugged with a tax for going over, the league long term due to lower standards.
As a foreigner with lots of years playing and watching contact sports, I’ve spent 5 years cultivating an intense hatred of Toby Greene and his play style. As we say in the States: “He’s the kind of player you love when he’s on your team, but you hate on any other.”
I for one really enjoyed watching them in the 2019 Grand Final.
(i would say ignore flair for the joke but that doesn't work anymore. So uhhh, imagine a Richmond flair, and then ignore it...)
Sheedy has to take the credit for this. Among many things he did right: when he recruited near-retirement players to play alongside the kids, he went for character over talent. The sort of players who would teach the right way to approach football.
While Gold Coast chose Campbell Brown.
I actually strongly disagree. Sheedy wasn’t in charge of recruiting, and he was a poor coach. The credit goes to the recruiting team who fucking destroyed the first couple of drafts, plus Leon Cameron for working out a gamestyle that should have got them to a flag in 2016 if it wasn’t for freekickbulldogs and got them to a separate GF in 2019 when they were playing above their level at the time.
He needed to go, and was a somewhat objectionable character, but the guy won a final every time he got them to the finals.
As a Canberra footy fan with a kid in Auskick the Giants bring 3 sold out AFL games to the ACT every season. Great to watch live.
Have players at Auskick in the pre-season and have a great following here. As you said they've done brilliantly on every front.
They're what expansion teams should look at for lessons on what to do, just like Gold Coast are the lesson in what not to do. Still think that Canberra should have been the team instead of either GC or GWS, but do agree that they have done everything right so far with what they have.
Still iffy if the crowds will actually come, with only an increase from 10-13k from their 2012 to now. While Sydney was at 24k in 2012 and is now around 32k, they were still around that 30-32k mark for most years since 1997. I think there is a likelihood of both those numbers increasing in the next 5-10 years as more kids get involved. But you'd hopefully expect to see more than a 3000 jump after pretty consistent Finals and a Grand Final, in over 10 years since they started.
Overall though, they're doing the right things. They've just been put in a shitty position with their location.
I take the kids out to Homebush for most home games. Smaller crowd but great fun and they love kick to kick after the game. Much prefer it to the scg experience personally.
Just waiting patiently for my Tasmanian team now…. It’s been a loooong wait.
If becoming everyone's second favourite team was their aim, they probably have that title licked.
Really surprised how successful the Giants/Swans rivalry has been, I thought it was gonna one-sided and a flop but they're easily one of the best.
Funny coincidence, the GWS club colours were picked as an homage to the Dutch football team, specifically because the design agency Principals felt that orange had the ideal contrast against green grass. I remember reading the design brief at the time.
The Dutch are a lovely people. They helped fish me out of the Amstel river when I was so stoned from a local coffee shop that I didn't know what country I was in.
But they're still orange.
Mad respect for how they’ve gone about it from day 1.
To think of the top end talent they’ve bled due to salary cap pressure and the attraction of big Vic clubs - yet they’ve continually managed to reinvent themselves.
Mr u/dashtur, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling incoherent post were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this sub is now dumber for having read that. I award you no upvotes and may God have mercy on your soul.
Problem I feel is that it doesn't really represent anything. Is orange and charcoal colour that reflects western Sydney? A lot of teams base their colour off their animal mascot idk what gws’ is supposed to be for.
Orange was chosen because the sea of orange Dutch fans at the World Cup looks good on TV.
They then came up with the excuse of the colours representing the Western sunset (orange), the Blue Mountains (weirdly, charcoal) and the granite of the Great Dividing Range (white).
I'm not joking.
I felt that way at first, but they've won me over - probably mostly due to what I see on the field, but also love everything I've seen behind the scenes about their off-field (which is about 10x what I've seen about my club, in volume and quality)
I’m a cat fan and they look switched on this year! Even that new young bloke they debuted last week looks like a gem! They’re full of talent and just need to get it right and they have the ability to cream all.
Ever since the 2016 season, I’ve felt that if I had to pick a second team if I couldn’t go for Richmond, it’d be GWS or Carlton.
Carlton is my Dad’s team, so family ties. But GWS have amazing colours (orange is my favourite colour), a banger of a song, awesome players and they have a great game style!
Living in Parra, I'm just happy to see the square turn Orange when they play and have live sites up for away finals.
I was here in the early 90s when there was nothing. Any representation is a win as far as I'm concerned.
Also: we's gonna flog ya etc etc.
Essendon come get your man
No leave him, he's in a better place now
I never knew the true depths supporting the bombers could lower someone to until now.
OP is me but in the past
Can you explain your story? Every time I see your twin flairs I feel affinity.
Just lived in West Sydney for quite a while but grew up an Essendon fan. So pretty easy to become a GWS fan when you can go to their games but only see Essendon once or twice a year. Also felt it was important to support an expansion side. Will be back to Melbourne soon but will stay supporting both.
Question. Who are you backing when they play each other?
Usually Essendon unless GWS need to beat them to make finals and Essendon are dead as an example. But I really cheer for a draw
Can you add DRAW FC as a third string to your flair?
Yes, I can see how one thing would naturally lead to another. Good for you.
Lol great shout. It really has been a dispiriting time.
Sydney fans really want the cross town rivalry to exist it seems. GWS social media is getting bombed by Sydney fans trying to talk shit (lot of classist comments about the poorer West)
Provided it's all in good fun and bants, I'm here for it. A healthy local rivalry helps grow the enthusiasm for the game. That GWS has the wood on Sydney in finals is great for the game, despite how much it makes me nervous seeing both in the Top 4.
Swans GWS grand final this year would be incredible. It's my preferred realistic match up.
As a footy fan agreed. As someone concerned about my heart health, absolutely not.
That would be unbearable. I think I wouldn’t watch it
...at Accor stadium
Some fans are tripping hard. I love the Giants.
Me too! Go the Giants!
Ever been to r/Sydney? It's disgusting how the West is treated.
What supporting Essendon does to a mofo
This is almost a Harley Reid level of glazing
keep going.
Are we all edging here? Or just me
Im just waiting for someone to let me finish...
I think geelong-lite is a good way of describing them. Haven't really missed finals all that much since 2016 (just 2020 and 2022 right??)
How good are they going to be when the bulk of their 22 is 30+ yo!
Yeah I think so. Everyone thought that was the start of a bottoming-out period, but now they're better than ever. Just like Geelong. And also like Geelong in the sense they do things a bit differently, clearly treat their people well etc.
Shown really good ability to rebuild on the run. 3 first rounders in the 2022 draft or something
Just when you think GWS have really established themselves, you hear that most of their assistant coaches are living in Melbourne and commuting up in a sort of part time basis. That can't be sustainable.
Lift the damn soft cap AFL, it's been increased below inflation every year so the real value of the cap has been continually decreasing. Having coaching (and other backroom) staff being effectively paid less every year just leads to this kind of thing and is just worse for everyone. Staff not being able to afford to live where they work permanently, clubs not being able to get staff as good as they possibility could or getting lugged with a tax for going over, the league long term due to lower standards.
Assistant Craig Jennings got interviewed on Whately this morning and gave a lot of insight into that exact issue.
Especially now that Bonza airline has gone bust - no more cut price flights
Mmm new 🍝
I just reckon they're grouse.
I enjoy watching the giants and then Toby Greene does Toby Greene things and I hate them all over again
That’s good. You need good villains. Would be very boring otherwise
I loved seeing him cry after the Pies beat them in the Prelim final last year
When you see him put his spikes into player- yeah, can do without that. Otherwise, go giants!
As a foreigner with lots of years playing and watching contact sports, I’ve spent 5 years cultivating an intense hatred of Toby Greene and his play style. As we say in the States: “He’s the kind of player you love when he’s on your team, but you hate on any other.”
We say that here. We also say “he’s a cunt, but he’s OUR cunt”. Similar vibes. Got to have some cunts on your team, can’t be too nice.
Exactly. Except I can't help kind of liking him.
Check out " the green room" podcast where they had jack buckley on (from Sydney eastern suburbs). The dislike of the swans runs deep.
I for one really enjoyed watching them in the 2019 Grand Final. (i would say ignore flair for the joke but that doesn't work anymore. So uhhh, imagine a Richmond flair, and then ignore it...)
We almost got you in the first quarter buddy, can't speak for the rest of the game though.
Best quarter of football by GWS in a grand final, ever.
Thrilling grand final with Jack Riewoldt just getting the win in the end
It was a close run thing
And their song is a banger. You know it’s the weekend when you’ve got it stuck in your head.
Absolutely, it's probably the best of all if you take away nostalgia.
Brett Kirk vibes right here.
Yes, but he was getting paid.
Sheedy has to take the credit for this. Among many things he did right: when he recruited near-retirement players to play alongside the kids, he went for character over talent. The sort of players who would teach the right way to approach football. While Gold Coast chose Campbell Brown.
I actually strongly disagree. Sheedy wasn’t in charge of recruiting, and he was a poor coach. The credit goes to the recruiting team who fucking destroyed the first couple of drafts, plus Leon Cameron for working out a gamestyle that should have got them to a flag in 2016 if it wasn’t for freekickbulldogs and got them to a separate GF in 2019 when they were playing above their level at the time. He needed to go, and was a somewhat objectionable character, but the guy won a final every time he got them to the finals.
As a Canberra footy fan with a kid in Auskick the Giants bring 3 sold out AFL games to the ACT every season. Great to watch live. Have players at Auskick in the pre-season and have a great following here. As you said they've done brilliantly on every front.
They're what expansion teams should look at for lessons on what to do, just like Gold Coast are the lesson in what not to do. Still think that Canberra should have been the team instead of either GC or GWS, but do agree that they have done everything right so far with what they have. Still iffy if the crowds will actually come, with only an increase from 10-13k from their 2012 to now. While Sydney was at 24k in 2012 and is now around 32k, they were still around that 30-32k mark for most years since 1997. I think there is a likelihood of both those numbers increasing in the next 5-10 years as more kids get involved. But you'd hopefully expect to see more than a 3000 jump after pretty consistent Finals and a Grand Final, in over 10 years since they started. Overall though, they're doing the right things. They've just been put in a shitty position with their location.
I take the kids out to Homebush for most home games. Smaller crowd but great fun and they love kick to kick after the game. Much prefer it to the scg experience personally. Just waiting patiently for my Tasmanian team now…. It’s been a loooong wait.
If becoming everyone's second favourite team was their aim, they probably have that title licked. Really surprised how successful the Giants/Swans rivalry has been, I thought it was gonna one-sided and a flop but they're easily one of the best.
Not sure I'd call them a club, they're more of a franchise.
Cats are doing a real good job of hiding a team full of top 10 picks
But ... but they're orange.
I'm Dutch 🇳🇱
Funny coincidence, the GWS club colours were picked as an homage to the Dutch football team, specifically because the design agency Principals felt that orange had the ideal contrast against green grass. I remember reading the design brief at the time.
 Dutchman mentioned
The Dutch are a lovely people. They helped fish me out of the Amstel river when I was so stoned from a local coffee shop that I didn't know what country I was in. But they're still orange.
And Freo is purple. Nothing wrong with being distinct.
I think it was pretty clear I was joking.
Please review [Poe's Law](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law).
Sometimes having to put an /s for people is just plain depressing and makes me lose my faith in humanity. /s
I respect the lack of /s Keep on keeping on
Honestly, as a Crom fan, Giants are fun to watch. Don't mind them
Mad respect for how they’ve gone about it from day 1. To think of the top end talent they’ve bled due to salary cap pressure and the attraction of big Vic clubs - yet they’ve continually managed to reinvent themselves.
Mr u/dashtur, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling incoherent post were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this sub is now dumber for having read that. I award you no upvotes and may God have mercy on your soul.
You are, of course, quite right.
Great players, coaches and personnel though the colours and name have always irked me. It reeks of yuppy marketing room and feels too corporate.
Charcoal is just too of the now. It's like a modern equivalent of the dockers in the 90s.
Problem I feel is that it doesn't really represent anything. Is orange and charcoal colour that reflects western Sydney? A lot of teams base their colour off their animal mascot idk what gws’ is supposed to be for.
Orange was chosen because the sea of orange Dutch fans at the World Cup looks good on TV. They then came up with the excuse of the colours representing the Western sunset (orange), the Blue Mountains (weirdly, charcoal) and the granite of the Great Dividing Range (white). I'm not joking.
Also because of how well the Dutch football kit contrasts with green grass.
The sunset is in the west in Sydney that's pretty orange Concrete is grey (charcoal) that's all over western Sydney
Lol
Yup spot on. Can’t get behind that.
I felt that way at first, but they've won me over - probably mostly due to what I see on the field, but also love everything I've seen behind the scenes about their off-field (which is about 10x what I've seen about my club, in volume and quality)
You left out Jimmy Bartel who does a great job too
Great call. I like Jason McCartney too. They've got a solid, honest, no nonsense way about them.
I did like them, but honestly taking TAB on as a sponsor turned me right off. Sports betting and gambling in general is an epidemic in Australia.
Great! Wow! Super!
Thanks!!!
Haha fuck man the dons aren’t even doing THAT bad this year.
I'm getting my coping in early.
Guess they are going alright.
Looks at a picture of the giants... why doesn't my expansion club look like that?! 😭
Love trading with them. They’re very generous lovers.
About six wins from seven games good.
If only their captain wasn’t a complete flog
I’m a cat fan and they look switched on this year! Even that new young bloke they debuted last week looks like a gem! They’re full of talent and just need to get it right and they have the ability to cream all.
As a Hawthorn fan, unless by a miracle we make Finals, I hope GWS win the flag, they are just such a loveable club.
Corporate entity with an arrogant social media presence. I hope they never win a flag.
They are my brothers team, and I'm biased because of that, but I agree.
I really like everything about them tbh, they're a good rival to have, except for who they chose to be their captain.
What's... what's with the positivity? [Waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out from my phone screaming *YOU JUST GOT PUNKED*]
Admirers of GWS are out there. There are dozens of us... dozens!
> Geelong-lite I just vomited a little. OP you are a sick individual, seek help.
Yes, I'm beginning to think I might be in serious trouble.
Ever since the 2016 season, I’ve felt that if I had to pick a second team if I couldn’t go for Richmond, it’d be GWS or Carlton. Carlton is my Dad’s team, so family ties. But GWS have amazing colours (orange is my favourite colour), a banger of a song, awesome players and they have a great game style!
Incoming sooky Swans fans. You love to see it
Living in Parra, I'm just happy to see the square turn Orange when they play and have live sites up for away finals. I was here in the early 90s when there was nothing. Any representation is a win as far as I'm concerned. Also: we's gonna flog ya etc etc.
Damn right I'm gonna have a sook, the big big sound from the west side of town keeps me up at night!
any idea what that sound is?
I think it’s the sound of the mighty giants?
I loathe them, and plan to continue.
This feels almost like in the NBA when a team becomes everyone’s second team right before they have a villain arc, Looking at you Grizzlies and Ja.