Greater Western Sydney Giants

Greater Western Sydney Giants
Names
Full name Western Sydney Football Club Ltd.
Nickname(s) GWS, Giants
2014 season
Home-and-away season 16th
Leading goalkicker Jeremy Cameron (29 goals)
Best and fairest Shane Mumford
Club details
Founded 2009
Colours      Orange      Charcoal      White
Competition Australian Football League (AFL)
Chairman Tony Shepherd
CEO David Matthews
Coach Leon Cameron
Captain(s) Phil Davis (co-captain)
Callan Ward (co-captain)
Ground(s) Spotless Stadium (capacity: 25,000)
Startrack Oval (capacity: 13,550)
Former ground(s) Blacktown ISP Oval (2010–2013)
Stadium Australia (2012–2013)
Training ground(s) Tom Wills Oval
Other information
Official website www.gwsgiants.com.au

The Greater Western Sydney Giants, nicknamed the GWS Giants or just Giants, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League (AFL). Representing the Greater Western Sydney area and Canberra,[1][2] the club is based at the Tom Wills Oval in Sydney Olympic Park.[3][4] The team's primary home ground is Sydney Showground Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. Four games a year are played at Manuka Oval in Canberra as part of a deal with the government of the Australian Capital Territory. A reserve team, the UWS Giants, participates in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL), as part of a partnership between the club and the University of Western Sydney.[5] The commercial club entity itself is a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of the AFL Commission.

History

Early proposals

The idea of an AFL team from western Sydney originated from the AFL's plans in 1999 to make the North Melbourne Football Club (known then simply as the Kangaroos) Sydney's second team. Following the momentum of the relocated Swans Grand Final appearance, the AFL had backed the move for North Melbourne, a club which had then previously gained market exposure by defeating the Swans in their first re-location Grand Final appearance. However the venture was unsuccessful and after several games a season North Melbourne never managed to draw crowds of over 15,000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground before finally leaving the market and experimenting with Canberra and later the Gold Coast.

The AFL's interest in the Western Sydney market appeared to be rekindled after the Sydney Swans' second, more successful Grand Final appearance in 2005, which started grassroots interest in the game in the highly populous region. In 2006, the AFL introduced the NSW Scholarships scheme, primarily aimed at juniors in West Sydney market to foster home grown talent and produce AFL players, a region which despite its large and growing population, had produced few professional Australian Footballers. The AFL was buoyed when it gained the support of then NSW premier Morris Iemma in late 2006, and the league became a partner in the Blacktown sporting facility in Rooty Hill, New South Wales. The facility was announced as the new home base for its team out of western Sydney in 2007; it announced that it had planned to grant its 18th licence in mid to late 2008. In January 2008, the AFL officially registered the business name Western Sydney Football Club Ltd with ASIC.[6][7]

In March 2008, it was revealed by the media that the AFL had considered a radical proposal to launch an Irish-dominated team in Sydney's western suburbs, which would perform before an international audience under the "Celtic" brand name. The "Sydney Celtics" plan was first put to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou in early 2007 by Gaelic Players Association executive Donal O'Neill. It was said that the proposal originated at the International Rules series in Ireland in late 2006 when O'Neill put forward a plan to purchase an AFL licence in Sydney. However, the idea never materialised and the AFL has since stated that this was never a serious option.[8][9]

Formation

Establishment support

In March 2008, the AFL won the support of the league's 16 club presidents to establish an eighteenth side in Western Sydney.[10] The Western Sydney working party devising player rules and draft concessions for the second Sydney team met on 22 July 2008.

During 2008, the AFL Commission, whose agenda was to make a final decision on the Western Sydney Football Club, delayed it on multiple occasions. During the same year, in November, the AFL announced a A$100 million venture for a boutique stadium at the Sydney Showground, in the city's west.[11]

After a third meeting in Sydney in November, the AFL cited the Economic crisis of 2008 as being a key factor in the delays. While the AFL reiterated its stance on the Western Sydney licence, the commission admitted that the delay in the decision was due to financial remodeling of the bid in response to the crisis, and conceded that the debut of the team in the AFL may eventuate one or more seasons later than initially suggested. The expansion licence drew increasing media skepticism and public criticism, particularly in the light of a poor finals attendance in Sydney,[12] declining Sydney Swans attendances and memberships, the economic crisis and the Tasmanian AFL Bid which had gained significant momentum and public support during 2008. An Australian Senate enquiry into the Tasmanian AFL Bid concluded that Sydney had "insurmountable cultural barriers" to the establishment of a second AFL team.[13]

In May 2009, AIS/AFL Academy coach Alan McConnell was appointed as the club's high performance manager. McConnell was the first full-time appointment for GWS and his new role commenced on 1 July 2009. Kevin Sheedy was appointed inaugural coach in November 2009, signing a three-year contract.[14] His role commenced on 2 February 2010. His first senior assistant coach was former premiership coach of Port Adelaide, Mark Williams.[15] Williams left the role at the conclusion of 2012, in order to become a development coach [16] at the Richmond Tigers.

In November 2010 Skoda Australia was announced as the team's first major sponsor, signing a three-year contract which included naming rights to the team's home ground at the Sydney Showground.[17] SpotJobs became a sponsor in March 2015. They will feature on the back of the Giants’ playing jerseys for home matches in Sydney and Canberra and on the front of the jerseys for all the team’s away games.[18]

On October 4, 2012, Greater Western Sydney confirmed Leon Cameron as its new senior assistant coach for next year.

Concessions on entry into the AFL
Year Draft Picks Senior List Size Salary Cap Allowance Zone Access Notes
2011 - - - 4 NSW
2 NT 		The club was allowed to sign up to twelve 17 year olds born between 1 January and 30 April 1993. The club also received the first 8 picks in the rookie draft.
2012 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15
MD: 1,2 		50 $1,000,000 extra 4 NSW
2 NT 		At the conclusion of the 2011 season the club was able to sign up to 16 current AFL players who were uncontracted for the 2012 season.The club was also allowed to sign up to 10 players who had previously elected for the national draft and weren't selected.
2013 MD: 1,2 50 $1,000,000 extra 4 NSW
2 NT 		At the conclusion of the 2012 season the club was able to sign up to 16 current AFL players who were uncontracted for the 2013 season.The club was also allowed to sign up to 10 players who had previously elected for the national draft and weren't selected.
2014 AFL Standard 50 $1,000,000 extra AFL Standard -
2015 AFL Standard 48 $880,000 extra AFL Standard -
2016 AFL Standard 46 $760,000 extra AFL Standard -
2017 AFL Standard 44 $640,000 extra AFL Standard -
2018 AFL Standard 42 $520,000 extra AFL Standard -
2019 AFL Standard AFL standard AFL standard AFL standard All concessions removed and the club operates like every other team in the AFL.

Player recruitment

Israel Folau, a high-profile recruit by the club. The former rugby league player was from the Brisbane Broncos

Greater Western Sydney were provided with similar recruitment entitlements to the Gold Coast who had entered the AFL the year before the Giants. Key differences included that their access to an uncontracted player from each other AFL club was able to be acted on in either 2011 or 2012. The club was also allocated the ability to trade up to four selections in a "mini-draft" of players born between January and April 1994, that would otherwise not be eligible to be drafted until the 2012 AFL Draft. They also were given the first selection in each round of the 2011 AFL Draft as well as selections 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 in the first round of the draft.[19]

The 2011 Trade Week saw the Giants take part in nine trades, involving two selections in the mini-draft as well trading away players who had previously nominated for the draft in return for additional early draft selections in the 2011 AFL Draft, that resulted in them holding the first five draft selections and 11 of the first 14.[20]

During the 2011 season, there was much speculation about which uncontracted players would sign with the Giants. In August 2011, Adelaide defender Phil Davis became the first player to announce that he would sign with the new club.[21] During 2011, four more AFL listed players announced they would be playing for the Giants in 2012 - Bulldogs midfielders Callan Ward and Sam Reid, Fremantle midfielder Rhys Palmer and Melbourne midfielder Tom Scully.

Former Melbourne Captain James McDonald, Brisbane veteran Luke Power and Port Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan and midfielder Chad Cornes came out of retirement to play for the Giants in 2012.[22] McDonald and Power took on roles as playing Assistant Coaches.

Greater Western Sydney also recruited Israel Folau, a former rugby league player, from the Brisbane Broncos.

Player signings
Player Former club Date[N 1] Compensation[N 2]
Davis, PhilPhil Davis Adelaide 2 August 2011[21] One first-round draft pick.[23]
Ward, CallanCallan Ward Western Bulldogs 5 September 2011[24] One first-round draft pick.[23]
Palmer, RhysRhys Palmer Fremantle 6 September 2011[25] One end-of-first-round draft pick.[23]
Scully, TomTom Scully Melbourne 12 September 2011[26] Two first-round draft picks.[23]
Reid, SamSam Reid Western Bulldogs 13 October 2011[27] One third-round draft pick.[28]
  1. ↑ refers to the date the signing was announced, rather than the date on which the player actually signed.
  2. ↑ any club that loses an uncontracted player to Greater Western Sydney is eligible to at least one compensation pick in the AFL Draft, depending on the age and ability of the player concerned.

2012: Debut season

GWS Giants Inaugural Banner, March 24, 2012
Banner at the inaugural GWS game against the Sydney Swans

Before entering the AFL, the club played in the TAC Cup in 2010 and North East Australian Football League in 2011, as well as the 2011 and 2012 AFL pre-season tournaments, and the 2011 Foxtel Cup.[29][30]

The club played its first game in the Australian Football League on 24 March 2012 at ANZ Stadium in the inaugural Sydney Derby against the Sydney Swans which they lost by 63 points. On 12 May 2012 the club recorded its first win, defeating the Gold Coast Suns in a Round 7 match by 13.16 (94) to 9.13 (67). The only other victory of the team's inaugural season was a 34 point win over Port Adelaide. Greater Western Sydney's percentage of 46.17 was the lowest by any club since St Kilda, in 1955, had a percentage of 45.4 and, before that, Melbourne in 1919 with 43.0.

The Giants had numerous big losses, including five by over 100 points, beating the previous record of four set by Fitzroy in their final season, the Brisbane Bears in 1991, St Kilda in 1985 and Footscray in 1982. They lost four other games by over 80 points and finished with a percentage of 46.17. In doing so they earned the lowest percentage of any team since the AFL began seasons under its new name in 1990.

2013: Second season

In their second season, Greater Western Sydney fared even worse than in their debut season. The Giants lost their first seventeen games, an ignominy suffered only by Fremantle in 2001, St. Kilda in 1910 and seven teams who finished with an 0-18 record. The most recent of these VFL/AFL teams who lost all eighteen games was Fitzroy in 1964. Greater Western Sydney's combined percentage for their first two seasons is in fact the lowest by any club since St. Kilda in 1901 and 1902. Furthermore in a repeat to their 2012 AFL season, the Giants lost 5 games by 100 points or more.

In Round 19, they avoided becoming the eighth team to ever go through a season winless, winning their first game of the year against Melbourne to snap a 21 game losing streak. Leading into the final round of the home and away season, Jeremy Cameron kicked 62 goals this season and was equal third in the race for the Coleman Medal, two goals behind the leader, Jarryd Roughead.

At the end of the season, head coach Kevin Sheedy stood aside in place of Leon Cameron, who had been assistant to Sheedy in 2013.[31] On Thursday 19 December 2013, it was announced that Sheedy had been appointed to the club's board. Club Chairman, Tony Shepherd, highlighted Sheedy's importance when he said, "In many ways Kevin Sheedy is the father of the Giants. He's been here from the start and has helped build the Giants."[32][33]

2014: Third season

Greater Western Sydney started their third season impressively winning two of their first three games, including beating their much-fancied cross-town rivals, the Sydney Swans 15.9 99 to 9.13 67 in their first round encounter at Spotless Stadium.[34] On 13 May 2014, Greater Western Sydney midfielder Toby Greene was charged with a number of offences including assault with a dangerous weapon and intentionally causing serious injury over an alleged assault in a Melbourne licensed venue the previous night.[35]

2015: Fourth Season

Before the start of the 2015 AFL Season, the Giants managed to sign Ryan Griffen in addition to re-signing Jeremy Cameron.

Club symbols

The GWS Giants cheer squad.

On 16 November 2010, Greater Western Sydney announced their club guernseys and their nickname of the "Giants".[36]

The team colours are orange, charcoal and white, with the club unveiling two prospective home jumpers for fans to be decided on for the inaugural 2012 season. One was orange with a large, stylised charcoal "G" in the centre and charcoal side panels on the sides, with the other featuring an orange yoke in the top half and a white "G" wrapped around charcoal colours in the bottom half. The colour of the team's shorts is charcoal and their socks are orange with charcoal fold-downs. During the 2011 season a clash guernsey was unveiled. The jumper has a light grey background with a charcoal rendition of the home jumper's G on the chest. This was altered in the 2012 season for a white jumper with charcoal collar and cuffs, charcoal "G" symbol in the centre and orange and charcoal stylised shoulder pads.

The clash guernsey changed in 2014, to a white top with an G that was slightly smaller than the home jumper. Included on the guernsey was also a large diagonal section of charcoal from the players left cuff down towards the centre of the bottom hem. This is repeated on the back, with the orange "G" being replaced with an orange line next to the charcoal section. The guernsey featured charcoal cuffs, numbers and collar.[37]

The team motto is Think Big. Live Big. Play Big. Their mascot G-Man was unveiled on 18 February 2012 before the team took the ground for their first NAB Cup match of 2012.

The team song There's A Big Big Sound was first unveiled to the foundation members and 2012 members on 16 February 2012 via a phone call, the following day the team song was released to the public. The song was written and produced by award-winning Australian artist Harry Angus of Australian band The Cat Empire.[38]

Supporter base

Year Members Average home crowd Finishing position
2012
10,241
10,824[39]
18th (last)
2013
12,681[40]
9,701[39]
18th (last)
2014
13,047[40]
9,226[39]
16th
2015
10,002[41]
7,760[39]
N/A

Facilities

The Giants' training ground is located at Sydney Olympic Park, and was named Tom Wills Oval in 2013 in honour of New South Wales-born Australian football pioneer Tom Wills.[42]

Canberra

The Giants are expected to play four games a year at Manuka Oval (three regular season, one preseason) for the first 10 years after signing a deal with the ACT Government worth $23 million. A Canberra logo will be incorporated on its guernsey, with a separate Canberra guernsey being used for games at Manuka. The Giants also played in a special Guernsey as part of the centenary of Canberra celebrations, stating that the team is "part of the Canberra community".[2] GWS-ACT Academy is also intended to be created, with the territory also gaining representation on the club's board.[43][44]

Current squad

The inaugural co-captains of the club were Phil Davis, Luke Power and Callan Ward. Both Davis and Ward were retained as captains in 2013, whilst Tom Scully was added to the leadership group as a Vice-Captain.

Greater Western Sydney Football Club
Senior squad Rookie List Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain
  • (vc) Vice captain
  • Long-term injury list
  • Upgraded rookie(s)

Updated: 30 January 2014
Source(s): A Numbers Game

AFL squad changes for 2015

Ins

Player Previous Club League Via
Ryan Griffen Western Bulldogs AFL
Joel Patful Brisbane Lions AFL
Caleb Marchbank Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup 2014 AFL Draft
Jarrod Pickett South Fremantle WAFL 2014 AFL Draft
Paul Ahern Calder Cannons TAC Cup 2014 AFL Draft
Jack Steele Belconnen NEAFL 2014 AFL Draft
Jeremy Finlayson Sydney Hills Eagles NEAFL 2014 AFL Draft
Patrick McKenna Gisbourne BFL 2014 AFL Draft

Outs

Player New Club League Via
Stephen Gilham Retired
Josh Hunt Retired
Sam Frost Melbourne AFL
Jonathan O'Rourke Hawthorn AFL
Kristian JakschCarlton AFL
Jonathan Giles Essendon AFL
Mark Whiley Carlton AFL

Honour board

Greater Western Sydney Giants Honor Roll
TAC Cup
Year Position

W-L-D

 Coach Captain Best and Fairest Leading goalkicker (goals)
2010 12 2-14-0 Alan McConnell
North East AFL
Year Position

W-L-D

 Coach Captain Best and Fairest Leading goalkicker (goals)
2011 8 17-13-5 Brett Hand
Australian Football League
Year Position

W-L-D

 Coach Captain Best and Fairest Leading goalkicker (goals)
2012 18 (Wooden Spoon) 2-20-0 Kevin Sheedy Callan Ward
Luke Power
Phil Davis 		Callan Ward Jeremy Cameron (29)
2013 18 (Wooden Spoon) 1-21-0 Kevin Sheedy Callan Ward
Phil Davis 		Jeremy Cameron Jeremy Cameron (62)
2014 16 6-16-0 Leon Cameron Callan Ward
Phil Davis 		Shane Mumford Jeremy Cameron (29)
2015 Leon Cameron Callan Ward
Phil Davis

Club Rising Star

Community Award

Coaches Award

Academy Player of the Year

Members Choice Award

NEAFL Player of the Year

Club Goal of the Year

Club Mark of the Year

Club Standard Award

Match records

References

  1. ↑ "Giants plan Manuka community camp". 15 November 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "GIANTS add gold for Canberra". 9 April 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "GWS Giants unveil new high performance training centre at Sydney Olympic Park". 7 May 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "GWS training goes eastward". 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "UWS GIANTS set to kick a goal for GWS". 14 December 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Caroline Wilson (14 March 2008). "Silence from presidents means 18-team AFL". The Age (Australia). Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  7. ↑ "ASIC Free Company Name Search". http://www.asic.gov.au ASIC. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  8. ↑ "The Sydney Celtics would need more than the luck of the Irish". Melbourne: The Age www.theage.com.au. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  9. ↑ Caroline Wilson (12 July 2008). "AFL eyes Ireland for Celtic team". The Age (Australia). Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  10. ↑ Barrett, Damian (1 April 2008). "Western Sydney Football Club Ltd registered as new Sydney AFL club". Herald Sun (Australia: News Limited). Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  11. ↑ AFL'S $100mill plan for Sydney Showground
  12. ↑ Caroline Wilson (3 December 2008). "AFL's bid for western Sydney team hits a snag – little interest". The Age (Australia). Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  13. ↑ Sydney too weak for second AFL team, Senate says from heraldsun.com.au
  14. ↑ Sheedy to coach Western Sydney from abc.net.au
  15. ↑ Todd Balym, Herald Sun (November 26, 2010): Mark Williams joins Greater Western Sydney Giants as assistant coach to Kevin Sheedy
  16. ↑ Sam Landsberger, Herald Sun (September 2, 2012): Mark Williams Leaves GWS to Join Richmond
  17. ↑ Rogers, Michael (16 November 2010). "It's the Giants". AFL. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  18. ↑ "Giants sign up with SpotJobs.com". SportsProMedia.com. Retrieved 2015-07-04. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  19. ↑ West Sydney's two-year Raid on Vic stars
  20. ↑ Giants unsure how AFL draft crop rates
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Davis to leave Adelaide for GWS – afc.com.au. Published 2 August 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  22. ↑ "Sheedy rules out Hall, Mooney and Aker". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 5 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Two picks for Scully – afl.com.au. Written by Mark Macgugan. Published 13 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  24. ↑ Club statement on Callan Ward – westernbulldogs.com.au. Published 5 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  25. ↑ Palmer joins GWS – afl.com.au. Written by Nathan Schmook. Published 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  26. ↑ Scully joins the Giants – afl.com.au. Written by Gary Walsh. Published 12 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  27. ↑ Giants poach one more – afl.com.au. Written by Luke Holmesby. Published 13 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  28. ↑ Dogs get late pick for Reid – heraldsun.com.au. Published 20 October 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  29. ↑ Michael Gleeson (14 March 2008). "Clubs fast-track new entrants". The Age (Australia). Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  30. ↑ "AFL looks at 30-man squads for NAB Cup opener". Australian Football League. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  31. ↑ "Leon Cameron in four-year deal with GWS". The Australian. 4 October 2012.
  32. ↑ "Sheedy Joins GIANTS Board". GWS Giants. GWS Giants. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  33. ↑ http://www.newcastlestar.com.au/story/1717064/cameron-wants-sheedy-to-stay/?cs=12
  34. ↑ AFL (15 March 2014). "GWS Giants Vs Sydney Swans Match Centre". The AFL (Australia). Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  35. ↑ Dampney, James (13 May 2014). "Toby Greene charged over night club incident". AFL Official Website.
  36. ↑ "New AFL team to be called the Giants". Orange.iprime.com.au. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  37. ↑ http://footyjumpers.com/
  38. ↑ GWS team song from afl.com.au
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 http://afltables.com/afl/crowds/gws.html
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-02/club-memberships-rise
  41. ↑ as at 12 April 2015 http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/
  42. ↑ Tom Wills Oval, Sydney Olympic Park Authority. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  43. ↑ "GWS-Canberra deal 'good value for money'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  44. ↑ John-Paul Moloney and Jon Tuxworth (10 November 2010). "ACT secures deal with GWS". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 24 November 2010.

External links