Let’s make it clear, this isn’t official at this stage. The AFL are yet to ratify it.
Let’s also make it clear that it is GWS’s request rather than the AFL’s idea.
It’s a bold move for the Giants to be so open about this, as they try to break into the western Sydney market.
The plan is almost a declaration of war against their rival code, as they try to land the first blow.
The 2012 AFL season was expected to begin on the final weekend of March, a week after the NRL. Some may argue that week’s advantage would give the NRL the upper-hand in the region. That’s debatable although the Swans’ crowds have traditionally started off slowly.
GWS’s request would see them play on March 24 against the Swans in a stand-alone fixture sure to garner maximum attention, before the rest of the competition kick off a week later.
It would be a first for the AFL to stagger the start of the season in such a fashion.
But once again, the AFL hasn’t confirmed this and, in my opinion, won’t go ahead with this as its doomed as a bad idea.
Firstly, as we saw with the Gold Coast Suns this season, it’s going to be very, very difficult for the new club to be competitive in their opening year, let alone their first game. A 100-plus-points Giants defeat in their glamour opening round fixture wouldn’t be a good look for the AFL. Quite the contrary really.
As well, the Giants’ debut game should already have plenty of hype and an element of novelty about it, ensuring it will garner plenty of attention whenever its played and whoever its played against.
The Sydney derby when the Giants take on the Swans for the first time, will also naturally grab plenty of attention, so why waste that in Round One?
Those two matches represent the potential for two blockbusters for GWS and they’ll need everyone of them as they try to find their place in their tough market.
Indeed, the AFL saved the Queensland derby until Round 7 this year, whilst scheduling a big-drawing Victorian club, Carlton, for Gold Coast’s debut game. You fancy they’ll take a similar tack with the Giants.
As well, the idea of taking on the NRL’s Round One is surely a divisive proposal, as in many ways it signals a code war. It has the potential to alienate league fans in the region who may have flirted with the idea of supporting the Giants.
In this context, the Giants request is curious. The question to be asked, is why they feel they need to make a big impact in Round One?
The Swans’ history of slow early-season crowds could have something to do with it, along with the fact they will want to make people aware of them in the region as soon as possible, thus opted to start with a bang.
But do they need to start the season with a bang, or can they build it up slowly? It’s probably a question for the people of the region.
GWS CEO Dale Holmes, though, has made it clear the stand-alone fixture “is his preference”.
However, given both aforementioned sides of the argument for the stand-alone Round One game, it doesn’t seem the right path to go down.
steve sharpe
Guest
love lurking at the quarter time huddle in local footy. so good
steve sharpe
Guest
good article, agree with it all
stabpass
Guest
I doubt that Coniglio will be a better player than Swallow, but Zac Smith was great find. IMO there are literally 100's of players in various leagues around the country, that can make the grade given a chance, or 2nd chance, or 3rd ..... Podsiadly, Barlow etc etc !!. Nice story below about a young Wagga kid hoping to make the grade. http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/football-australian-rules/redfern-excited-with-gws-scholarship/2309052.aspx Would this kid have had the same chance, if GWS did not exist, the recruiting stakes in ACT/NSW has really stepped up, because of GWS's intent to turn over any stone to find local talent.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Can go either way, if coniglio is better than Swallow, that would be something. Ps coniglio means rabbit in Italian, just thought I'd throw that in.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I've been to two giants games, been like a bit of bush footy, good fun, listen to Sheeds and choco at quarter time breaks.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
I'd wait to see the rest of the side first before making that prediction. I'm betting they get a dozen or so players from the state leagues in addition to a few more fringe players from other clubs. Add to that the best kids in the country and I think they'll have a far more competitive team in the short term. Probably only win 4 or 5 games though. Agree about Zac Smith, but most clubs don't have a young ruckman that good. On the other side, Coniglio will probably be a better player than Swallow.
Macca
Guest
Jack GWS will make the Suns first year look like a massive success. Look at their comparative recruits Ablett, Rischitelli & Brennan V Scully, Ward & Palmer - Three wins in the short term to the Suns there. Bock V Davis - Another short term win to the Suns. Then you look at Cornes, Brogan & McDonald against Harris, Fraser and Stanley - probably a win to GWS but given the age of McDonald and Cornes it's not that big a win. The other big advantage to the suns was Zach Smith, I doubt GWS will get as much out of their young ruckman as the suns did with this bloke.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
I'd be surprised if the Giants are as uncompetitive as the Suns were. Mainly because they're recruiting a lot more experienced players. Bear in mind the Suns had a whopping 9 players under 20 for their first game (Carlton had 1), and another 3 that were over 20, but playing their first game. Over half their side. The Giants will have more experience, and are likely to field more older debutants. I'd guess that only 5 or 6 of their team will be under 20, with more kids getting rotated through the side as the year progresses.
Guido
Guest
I dont think GWS will need to win too many in the first season. They will be the underdog obviously. I ve been to a couple GWS games this year and it appears to be a bit of a party atmosphere, sydney folk with a love of assie rules, whether it is homegrown or imported. I'm a Crows fan living in Sydney but I'll happily go to a few Giants games next year. Only worry is that ANZ might kill that atmosphere.
stabpass
Guest
I would have thought that the first, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and about 100 more shots had been fired by the paranoid Sydney press, before this alleged shot was fired back. By the end of next season, it would not suprise me, that GWS was pulling bigger crowds than most NRL sides in Sydney. BUT IMO, the GWS/Swans game should noy be played earlier, but at about round 5, Essendon would be a good first up opponent, because of the Sheedy factor. GWS has of course offered Penrith RL club use of their facilities, after Phil Gould went off his nut about Australian football.
Chris
Guest
The Giants are going to get flogged pretty much regardless of who they play. The one exception being Gold Coast. So I don't think holding off playing the Swans until later in the season will be a particularly good idea. And with the result likely to be so lop-sided I would have held the game at the Showground (assuming it will be ready in time?). A full 25,000 at the SHowground would have a much better atmosphere than 30,000 at ANZ Stadium - which is all they'll get I think...
Phil
Guest
Maybe they will play Giants vs the Suns - two teams who are likely to struggle, the Giants will be underdogs at home, and fans will get to see K vs Izzy...
Tony
Guest
GWS are looking to attract non-NRL supporters, so the idea of going up against NRL is a side issue. All part of the Sydney code battle!
alij
Guest
I say do it. The AFL doesn't need NRL fans to succeed, fears about alienating or offending them are overblown. The NRL has been running a hate campaign against the AFL for years, if not decades. Either people have bought into their propaganda by now or they never will. The NRL has painted itself into a corner of small minded parochialism that is repulsive to everyone but NRL fans. Provoke the NRL, let them pour out their hate, it works to the AFL's advantage.
Marc
Guest
I agree, shouldnt expose the Giants on their own to be flogged. I also think a better game for the giants, just from a PR point of view and marketing would be The Master vs The Apprentice GWS vs Essendon.
TomC
Guest
I agree with the point made in the article. I also think that the AFL needs to have some subtelty about penetrating the GWS market. Most of their potential supporters already support another code, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to force them to choose between entrenched teams and the new boys. Better off trying to build support over time, rather than taking the NRL head on.
Macca
Guest
This isn't so much about getting the game at round 1, it's about talking about getting a game in round 1, getting articles like this written in the Sydeny papers to remind people that GWS exists. Of course the AFL aren't going to allow a stand alone game which would result in a the week before the real season starts being filled with talk of just how bad the GWS are and will they win a game. I can see the AFL giving GWS ther first game against the Suns to try and put off the floggings for another week, especially after the Suns belting by the blues took the gloss of that franchise pretty quick and as pointed out in the article ROund 1 should be a big crowd regardless.
mds1970
Roar Guru
The Giants have been a long time in preparation, and I can understand why Dale Holmes would be keen to get into it and get the Giants going as quickly as possible. The early start's not a bad idea, although it would be hard to build any form of momentum if they're then having a bye when everyone else has their opening round. As for the first up opponent, I wouldn't want to play the Swans first up. A high-profile blockbuster to open the season would make sense. And, with the Giants sure to use the media to build up as much publicity as they can, there's sure to be plenty of curiosity value about their first game which should attract a strong crowd. But I'd prefer to hold the derby as an ace up our sleeve for later in the season. If I was doing the AFL draw, the opponent I'd give to the Giants for their first game would be someone with a following in Sydney, but not the Swans. With the Kevin Sheedy connection, I think Essendon would be the ideal round 1 opponent.