Greater Western Sydney Giants facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greater Western Sydney Giants
Names
Full name	Western Sydney Football Club Limited, trading as Greater Western Sydney Football Club
Nickname(s)	Giants, GWS, Orange Team
2024 season
After finals	AFL: 5th VFL: N/A
Home-and-away season	AFL: 4th VFL:
Leading goalkicker	AFL: Jesse Hogan (77 goals) VFL:
Club details
Founded	2010 (14 years ago)
Colours	Orange      Charcoal      White
Competition	AFL: Senior men AFLW: Senior women VFL: Reserves men VFLW: Reserves women
Chairman	Tony Shepherd
CEO	David Matthews
Coach	AFL: Adam Kingsley AFLW: Cameron Bernasconi VFL: Wayne Cripps
Captain(s)	AFL: Toby Greene AFLW: Rebecca Beeson VFL: Ryan Hebron
Premierships	AFL (0) NEAFL (1) 2016
Ground(s)	AFL: Engie Stadium (23,500) & Manuka Oval (16,000) AFLW/VFL: Blacktown Oval (10,000)
Former ground(s)	Blacktown Oval (2010–2013) Stadium Australia (2012–2013)
Training ground(s)	WestConnex Centre & Tom Wills Oval
Uniforms
Home Away Clash
Other information
Official website	gwsgiants.com.au

GWS Giants departments
Australian rules football (men's)	Australian rules football (women's)	Netball (women's)

The Greater Western Sydney Giants (often called the GWS Giants or just Giants) are a professional Australian rules football team. They are based in Sydney Olympic Park, representing the Greater Western Sydney area in New South Wales.

The Giants joined the Australian Football League (AFL) in 2012. They were the 18th team to enter the league. The club trains at the WestConnex Centre in Olympic Park. Most of their home games are played at Sydney Showground Stadium, also in Olympic Park. They also play four home games each season at Manuka Oval in Canberra. This is part of a deal with the ACT Government.

When they first started, the Giants found it tough. They finished last in their first two seasons. But they improved a lot! They made the finals for the first time in 2016. In 2019, they played in their first ever AFL Grand Final. However, they lost to Richmond by a large margin.

The Giants also have other teams. They have a team in the AFL Women's league since 2017. Their reserves team has played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) since 2021. The club also has the Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy. This academy helps develop young players. They also have a netball team called Giants Netball in the Suncorp Super Netball league.

Giants History: How the Team Started

The idea for an AFL team in Western Sydney began in 1999. The AFL wanted to make the North Melbourne Football Club Sydney's second team. This idea didn't work out, and North Melbourne left the Sydney market.

The AFL became interested in Western Sydney again after the Sydney Swans played in the Grand Final in 2005. In 2006, the AFL started a program to find and train young players in Western Sydney. This area had many people but few professional Australian Footballers. The AFL gained support from the NSW premier, Morris Iemma, in 2006. The league also became a partner in a new sports facility in Rooty Hill. This facility was announced as the new home for the Western Sydney team in 2007. In 2008, the AFL officially registered the name Western Sydney Football Club Ltd.

Forming the Team: Key Steps

In March 2008, the AFL got approval from its 16 club presidents. They agreed to create an 18th team in Western Sydney. A group worked on rules for players and draft benefits for the new team.

The AFL helped secure AFL Legend Kevin Sheedy as inaugural coach

In November 2008, the AFL announced a big plan. They would spend A$100 million to upgrade a stadium at the Sydney Showground. This stadium was originally built for baseball. The AFL said delays were due to the 2008 economic crisis. They admitted the team might start later than planned.

In May 2009, Alan McConnell became the club's high performance manager. He was the first full-time person hired for GWS. Kevin Sheedy, an AFL legend, became the first coach in November 2009. He signed a three-year contract. His first senior assistant coach was Mark Williams.

In November 2010, Skoda Australia became the team's first major sponsor. They signed a three-year deal. This deal included naming rights for the team's home ground. Today, Virgin Australia, Toyo Tyres, and St. George bank are main sponsors. Puma is their clothing partner.

On October 4, 2012, Leon Cameron was confirmed as the new senior assistant coach for 2013. He later became the Senior Coach and held this role for nine years. He resigned in May 2022.

Building a Home in Western Sydney

In 2007, the NSW government, Blacktown City Council, Cricket NSW, and the AFL agreed to build a sports center. The Blacktown International Sportspark cost $27.5 million. The agreement between Blacktown City Council and the AFL was for 84 years. The NSW Government contributed $15 million.

The new facility included a main AFL/Cricket Oval. It was the same size as the Melbourne Cricket Ground. There was also a second oval, a 1600-seat grandstand, and indoor practice areas. Blacktown International Sports Centre opened on August 22, 2009.

On April 15, 2012, the Giants played their first AFL game at Blacktown International Sportspark. They played against the West Coast Eagles. The Eagles won the game.

In April 2013, a new training ground was developed. This led to the Giants moving to Sydney Olympic Park. The NSW Government spent an extra $45 million to upgrade the Sydney Showground Stadium. This became the new home for the Western Sydney AFL team.

These special benefits for the Giants ended earlier than planned, at the end of the 2016 AFL season.

Recruiting Players to the Giants

Israel Folau, a high-profile recruit by the club. The former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer was from the Brisbane Broncos. Folau has been credited with helping to establish the Giants in Western Sydney.

The Giants received special rules for recruiting players, similar to the Gold Coast Suns. They could sign uncontracted players from other AFL clubs in either 2011 or 2012. They also had special picks in a "mini-draft" for younger players. In the 2011 AFL Draft, they received the first selection in each round. They also got selections 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 in the first round.

In 2011, the Giants made nine trades. They traded mini-draft selections and other players for more early draft picks. This meant they held the first five draft selections and 11 of the first 14.

Many players wondered who would join the Giants. In August 2011, Phil Davis from Adelaide became the first player to sign. Four more AFL players joined the Giants for 2012. These included Callan Ward and Sam Reid from the Bulldogs. Rhys Palmer from Fremantle and Tom Scully from Melbourne also joined.

Some experienced players came out of retirement to play for the Giants in 2012. These included former Melbourne Captain James McDonald, Brisbane veteran Luke Power, and Port Adelaide players Dean Brogan and Chad Cornes. McDonald and Power also became playing Assistant Coaches.

The Giants also recruited Israel Folau, a famous rugby league and rugby union player. He had never played Australian rules football before.

First Seasons: Learning and Growing (2012-2015)

Before joining the AFL, the Giants played in the TAC Cup in 2010. They also played in the North East Australian Football League in 2011. They also took part in pre-season tournaments in 2011 and 2012.

Banner at the inaugural GWS game against the Sydney Swans

The Giants played their first AFL game on March 24, 2012. It was the first Sydney Derby against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium. They lost by 63 points. On May 12, 2012, the club got its first win. They defeated the Gold Coast Suns by 27 points. Their only other win that season was against Port Adelaide.

The Giants had many big losses in their first year. Five games were lost by over 100 points. They finished last with a low percentage. In their second season (2013), things were even tougher. They lost their first seventeen games. They avoided a winless season by beating Melbourne in Round 19.

At the end of 2013, coach Kevin Sheedy stepped down. Leon Cameron took over as head coach. Sheedy joined the club's board. Chairman Tony Shepherd called Sheedy "the father of the Giants."

In their third season (2014), the Giants started strong. They won two of their first three games. This included a big win against the Sydney Swans. They finished 16th, avoiding the wooden spoon for the first time.

The 2015 season was quite successful. They signed Ryan Griffen and re-signed Jeremy Cameron. The team finished 11th with 11 wins and 11 losses. They even beat Hawthorn, who went on to win the premiership.

Breaking Through: Finals Appearances (2016-2019)

The Giants' fifth season (2016) was their best yet. They won more games than they lost (16 wins, 6 losses). They made their first finals series and finished 4th. A big moment was their 75-point win over Hawthorn. This showed how much they had improved. They also had their largest average home crowd.

In their first final, they played the Sydney Swans. The Giants won by 36 points. This win was a huge step for the club. Two weeks later, they faced the Western Bulldogs in the preliminary final. The Giants were trying to reach their first Grand Final. It was a very close game. The Bulldogs won by six points in the final minutes.

In 2017, many people expected the Giants to win the premiership. They had a lot of injuries but still managed to finish in the top 4. They lost again in the preliminary final, this time to Richmond. This was in front of a huge crowd of 94,000 people.

The 2018 season was a mix of good and bad. The Giants finished seventh. They won their first final against Sydney. But they lost to Collingwood in the semi-final. After the season, some key players like Dylan Shiel and Tom Scully left the club.

In 2019, the Giants made their fourth straight finals series. They finished sixth. Co-captain Callan Ward had a serious knee injury early in the year. Jeremy Cameron became the first GWS player to win the Coleman Medal. This award is for the player who kicks the most goals. He kicked 67 goals.

GWS and Richmond players ahead of the 2019 AFL Grand Final

The Giants had a surprising run in the 2019 finals. They beat the Bulldogs by 58 points. Then they won a thrilling game against Brisbane by three points. They also won a close preliminary final against Collingwood by four points. This meant they reached their first ever AFL Grand Final. They were only the second team since 2000 to reach the Grand Final from outside the top four.

Jeremy Cameron, 2019 Coleman Medallist

In the 2019 AFL Grand Final, they played against Richmond. The Tigers won by 89 points. It was one of the biggest losses in Grand Final history. After the season, some more original players left the club. The Giants brought in veteran ruckman Sam Jacobs.

Recent Seasons (2020-Present)

The 2020 AFL season was a tough one for the Giants. They wanted to do better after the Grand Final loss. But they had inconsistent games and finished tenth. This was the first time they missed the finals since 2015.

Before the 2021 AFL season, star player Jeremy Cameron was traded to Geelong. Other defenders also left. The Giants also showed off new jersey designs for their 10th season.

The Giants started 2021 with three losses. Many players were injured early in the season. But they still managed to beat Sydney by two points. Due to COVID-19, the Giants had to spend two months away from New South Wales. Despite this, they made the finals again, finishing seventh. They beat Sydney in a thrilling final by one point. Their season ended the next week with a loss to Geelong.

The 2022 AFL season was difficult. The Giants won only 6 games and finished 16th. Coach Leon Cameron stepped down after nine years. Mark McVeigh was the temporary coach. Adam Kingsley was named the new senior coach in August 2022.

In 2023, many people didn't expect much from the Giants. But it was an amazing year! They started slow but finished strong. They made the finals for the sixth time in eight seasons, finishing seventh. They won two finals easily. Their great run ended in the preliminary final, losing to Collingwood by just one point. Adam Kingsley won the AFL Coaches Association Senior Coach of the Year award.

The 2024 AFL season was solid but ended in disappointment. The Giants won their first five games. They also won seven games in a row at the end of the season. This earned them a "double chance" in the finals for the first time since 2017. They finished fourth. Jesse Hogan won the Coleman Medal for kicking the most goals (69). He finished the season with a club record 77 goals.

However, the Giants lost both their finals games. They lost to Sydney and then Brisbane. They had big leads in both games but couldn't hold on.

Drafting New Talent

The Giants have had some top draft picks over the years.

Club Identity: Name, Colours, and More

Giants fans walk towards the MCG ahead of 2019 AFL Grand Final

Team Name and Nickname

On November 16, 2010, Greater Western Sydney announced their team name: the "Giants." They often write it in capital letters: GIANTS.

In 2022, a commentator jokingly called them "the orange team." Many AFL fans started using this nickname. The GWS Giants' official TikTok page even uses "Orange Team" in their bio!

Team Colours and Jerseys

The Giants' colours are orange, charcoal (dark grey), and white. For their first season in 2012, fans voted on two possible home jerseys. One had a charcoal "G" on an orange background. The other had an orange top with a white "G" on a charcoal bottom. Their shorts are charcoal, and their socks are orange with charcoal tops.

GWS mascot GMan

They also have a "clash" jersey for away games. This jersey has changed over the years. In 2011, it was light grey with a charcoal "G." In 2012, it became white with a charcoal collar and an orange and charcoal design on the shoulders. Their Canberra jersey is similar to their home one but includes a simplified Telstra Tower design.

Since 2021, Puma has made the club's clothing.

Mascot and Team Song

The Giants' team motto is "Think Big. Live Big. Play Big." Their mascot, G-Man, was introduced on February 18, 2012. For the AFLW team, they have a mascot named Gigi, unveiled in 2018.

The club song is "There's a Big Big Sound." It was written by Harry Angus from the band The Cat Empire. The song became very popular in 2019 when the Giants made it to the Grand Final. Fans sometimes call the club "The Big Big Sound."

Team Rivalries

Sydney Swans: The Sydney Derby

When the GWS Giants joined the AFL in 2012, it created the "Sydney Derby" or "Battle of the Bridge." This is a rivalry between the two Sydney-based AFL clubs. They play each other twice every season. The best player in each derby game wins the Brett Kirk Medal.

At first, the Swans usually won these games. But recently, the Giants have become much more competitive. The Giants have played the Swans three times in finals matches, and they have won every time!

Western Bulldogs: A Fierce Rivalry

The Giants have a strong rivalry with the Western Bulldogs. This started in the 2016 AFL finals. In a very close preliminary final, both teams fought hard to reach the Grand Final. The Bulldogs won by just six points.

Since then, their games have often been intense. In 2017, Giants player Toby Greene kicked a Bulldogs player during a game, leading to a big fight. In 2019, the Bulldogs beat the Giants by a large margin. But three weeks later, in the finals, the Giants got revenge. They beat the Bulldogs by 58 points. In that game, players from both teams got into fights. This rivalry continues to be very exciting for fans.

Club Operations

How the Club is Run

The club is owned by the AFL Commission. The Commission chooses seven of the nine board members. The other two are chosen by the club's members.

Members and Sponsors

Team Sponsors

Training and Home Grounds

The Giants' training facility and offices are called the WestConnex Centre and Tom Wills Oval. They are located at Sydney Olympic Park. The main oval is named after Tom Wills, an important person in Australian football history.

The Giants play most of their home games at Sydney Showground Stadium (also known as Engie Stadium). This stadium is also in Olympic Park. The club also plays four home games each season at Manuka Oval in Canberra. This is part of a 10-year deal with the ACT government. A Canberra logo is on their jersey for these games. The Giants also played in a special jersey for Canberra's centenary celebrations.

Season Highlights and Records

AFL Women's Team

In April 2016, the Giants decided to try and get a team in the first AFL Women's season in 2017. They had already worked with local clubs and run a program for young female players. In June, they were announced as one of the eight founding clubs.

Tim Schmidt became the team's first head coach in July 2016. Days later, they signed their first two star players, Renee Forth and Emma Swanson. Because there were many talented players in NSW/ACT, the Giants were allowed to sign five players before the draft.

In September, the Giants won the first pick in the first draft. They chose Nicola Barr from Sydney University.

The team was sponsored by Harvey Norman, FlexiGroup, and Sydney Airport in its first season. In July 2017, Alan McConnell became the new coach. Amanda Farrugia was the captain in 2018, with Alicia Eva as vice-captain.

AFLW Season Summaries

Gabrielle Trainor Medal Winners

Reserves Team: Developing Future Stars

The Greater Western Sydney Giants also have a reserves team. This team played in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) from 2012 to 2019. The main team played in the NEAFL in 2011 before joining the AFL. When the NEAFL closed in 2020, the Giants reserves team joined the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 2021.

The 2016 NEAFL Premiership Team

The Giants reserves team did not have a captain until Ryan Hebron was appointed in 2022.

Reserves Team Seasons

• Although GWS finished eighth in 2021, no finals series was held as the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy

The Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy

The Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy (or just Giants Academy) helps develop young players for the club. It started in 2010. There are 70 staff members in 11 facilities. They work with 700 young players aged 13 and up. They have training hubs in places like Blacktown, Canberra, and Wagga Wagga.

The Academy's U16 and U18 teams compete in national championships. The Giants Academy also joined the Talent League in 2019.

Images for kids

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  Australian rules football pictogram

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  Netball pictogram

See also

In Spanish: Greater Western Sydney Football Club para niños