It’s not quite as big as the famous 1996 preliminary final where Tony Lockett kicked that point after the siren, nor the Swans’ 2005 semi-final against Geelong at the SCG.
But there will be a pivotal game of AFL played in Sydney this Saturday afternoon.
It’s not for a trophy, not even for a place in the finals, just the standard four competition points, but the win would be invaluable to both the GWS Giants and the Melbourne Demons.
They have managed to draw solid crowds for their ‘home’ derbies against the Swans – crowds naturally enhanced with red and white followers – and there was of course the gimmick of being part of the crowd for the first ever GWS game back in March 2012.
However, this is truly a game which any fans the club have, any of you who are even slightly considering throwing some support behind the club in the future, should made a point of heading out to Skoda Stadium on Saturday to watch.
For the first time ever – apart from those extreme optimists – if you are a GWS fan, you can go to a game in Sydney, with a genuine belief they can win.
Sure the Giants did win twice last year, but once was in Canberra, and while the other time was at Skoda, it truly was an upset. Against Melbourne, you can buy your ticket, take your seat, and know the Giants are a realistic winning chance, a rare feeling for the realists among the Giants faithful.
While the punters aren’t exactly camping overnight for tickets, I would be sincerely disappointed if the Giants didn’t manage to attract a record crowd for the match, surpassing the 11,887 who attended their first game at venue back in May 2012 against Essendon.
The club managed to get 10,783 to their last home game (also against the Bombers), and while it was expected they could be competitive, nobody really thought they would win.
They were competitive against Essendon and again against the Magpies last weekend. This is it.
The stars are aligned, they are in form, they match-up well with the Demons, let’s not forget, while they lost to the Demons in Round 4 this year, they did lead at the final change by three goals, and this match has been marked on the calendar for some time as the one they can get, and I think they will.
A Giants’ win would see the 1964 Fitzroy team hang on to their mantle as the last team to go through a season without a win, and would give Kevin Sheedy his 366th win (and possibly his last) as a coach from 631 matches.
As I said, the stars have aligned.
Everyone has said the Giants are suffering the same second season blues the Gold Coast Suns endured.
The Suns would go 21 games without a win over the 2011-12 seasons, before ending the streak with a win over Richmond.
The Giants have not won since they beat Port Adelaide last season – their losing streak is also 21 games.
The last time the Giants won, was on this same weekend, the first in August, last year.
And finally, back in the bleak old days for Sydney’s other team, the Swans, they lost 26 games in succession during 1992 and 1993, before ending the streak in front of just 8,250 at the SCG when they kicked 23 goals in a 40-point win over – you guessed it, Melbourne.
This is it, the ‘Tom Scully Cup’ is headed to western Sydney.
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Things heating up in Canberra!
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
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Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
