The television cameras lying in wait at Sydney Airport on Monday were a telltale sign of Greater Western Sydney’s rise to AFL prominence.
But the Giants are determined to stay level headed as the hype around them grows.
Sunday’s 19-point away win over Port Adelaide pushed the Giants up to second, albeit only on percentage above five other clubs on 48 points.
Only once before at a far less important time of the season back after round four of 2015, have the Giants held down such a high position.
A top-four spot and perhaps even a top two position is a realistic aspiration for the fifth-season club, who have never finished a year above the 11th place they managed in 2015.
Midfielder Stephen Coniglio pointed to the shock home loss to Collingwood earlier this month as a warning the Giants can’t get carried away with their lofty status.
That defeat dropped the Giants from third to seventh.
Wins in Brisbane and Adelaide have bumped them back up the ladder and increased the interest in the western Sydney club.
“It’s the first time I’ve had cameras at the airport in my time, so anytime you’re winning it’s good,” said Coniglio, who has been with the club since it entered the competition.
“It’s just important for us that we keep a level head.
“In that Collingwood game, maybe we got ahead of ourselves, maybe we didn’t.
“But we just have to make sure we don’t have any slip ups like that again.”
After Richmond, GWS plays at the Gold Coast, hosts the two west Australian clubs in Sydney in successive weeks and finishes off against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
Coniglio maintained his career-best form of this year by matching his season average of 28 disposals in the win over Port.
“I think it’s just the team performing better and with that comes your own personal performance,” he said.
“I think a number of our guys are having career best years.
“For me personally it’s just stemming from that, quality people around me and helping me get the ball.”
The only possible negative for Coniglio about his weekend in Adelaide was it kept him away from the 21st birthday party of his younger brother Jacob in Perth.
However, media savvy Coniglio used the cameras to give a shout out to his sibling, who actually turned 21 on Monday.
Josh
Guest
They're second on the ladder and there's no evidence anywhere. feel free to post up where you saw someone wearing GWS merchandise in Western Sydney recently.
clipper
Guest
Compared to the Storm who started with 12716 average in 1998 and in 2015 had a 13453 average, just over a 5% increase - a 20% increase in 5 years doesn't really sound like a failure to me.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
The Giants average attendances this season across both their home grounds, where they have won seven out of eight, are up to 12,593, from 10,786 last year. That's low by AFL standards, but is pretty much spot on the A-League average - not bad for a team that has never played finals footy in its five year history. The Giants Fox ratings are nothing short of spectacular - well above the AFL average (well above), and as I said, often one game rates more than a full round of A-League games (meaning WSW is rating about one-fifth of what the Giants rate).
Republican
Guest
....the test of any 'club' is the support gleaned during lean times, well it was in days gone by. Of course these are no longer 'clubs', they are brands, while their support is fickle, their supporters impressionable consumers who demand success, day in day out. The demographic that is GWS may experience a temporary rise in interest given their recent winning form but rest assured, this is a precarious criteria in respect of sustainabiity when the culture is so fixated on winning. What happens next year for e.g., when their personal sells out for a higher price? The safety net i.e. Canberra remains vital to their existence for many years to come I believe, especially during those inevitable lean years.
Casper
Guest
Anon - Essendon and Collingwood made Anzac Day a massive match. They deserve to be rewarded for it.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Fair point- I can only guess that it is a big selling point for a club for sponsorship etc at the beginning of the year etc
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Happy to be labelled delusional for stating some facts, membership up, crowds up, kids playing club football up. I will wear it.
anon
Guest
Not sure why we have to pick two teams for Good Friday and ruin it like the afternoon ANZAC game has been for non-Collingwood and non-Essendon fans.
anon
Guest
I remember the Swans getting 50k viewers in Sydney on Channel 10 for Swans Saturday night games. Giants games might rate highly, but I would guess that the vast majority of viewers are people living in the southern states. I watch Giants games because they are a young, exciting team on the rise. Everyone is bored with Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney. If the Giants were getting big ratings on TV in NSW then you'd see that reflected in crowd attendances.
Casper
Guest
They might get better crowds when the stadium is bigger. Don't you find it odd though that the ratings aren't better, considering WSW are meant to be huge in WS?
Gecko
Guest
I live in Sydney. If it's a bit cold or wet, people here don't venture out to the footy, and if it;'s sunny, they take the boat out onto one of the bays! If there's ever a 30,000 crowd for anything, I'd be amazed.
clipper
Guest
To be fair, Mister Football, ratings are just one factor - WSW is huge in Western Sydney and would have higher attendance if the ground was expanded (as it will be) and huge junior numbers and increasing market share at the expense of league. But, I do notice Josh has still not answered my question as to the metrics of success and failure - just that GWS is always bad, will always be a failure.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I note GWS topped Fox's ratings last Sunday, at a guess, I reckon this must be the 6th or 7th time this season they have topped Fox's ratings on a Saturday or Sunday (might even be more than that). STV 1. LIVE: AFL PORT ADEL V GWS FOX FOOTY - 208,000 2. LIVE: NRL DRAGONS V TIGERS FOX SPORTS 1 - 196,000 3. LIVE: NRL SHARKS V KNIGHTS FOX SPORTS 1 - 166,000 4. LIVE: AFL HAWTHORN V RICHMOND FOX SPORTS 3 - 151,000 If we compare to the A-League, most weekends, the A-League fails to reach total ratings of 208k for five games, and that's outside of the football season when there is little else on TV.
Josh
Guest
harry the eternal delusionist strikes again. AFL doesn't exist in Western Sydney it'll always be a failed project.
AR
Guest
The AFL have confirmed that a GWS v Sydney final will be played at ANZ Stadium A GWS v (anyone else) final will be played at Spotless. What a shameful waste of an opportunity ANZ would be.
clipper
Guest
Josh is entitled to his opinion, but it would be good if he could expand on the 'GWS is bad' mantra. I have asked several times what he would constitute as GWS been on a successful track, but have yet to receive one answer. The figures you mention suggest they are tracking OK, but in a few years time if they do not regularly get 15k plus for their home games, with a percentage increase every year and have not jumped over at least a couple of NRL team averages in Sydney, then I would say they have not made any progress. It is hard for a new team in a new area - the Storm still haven't jumped over any AFL teams in Melbourne, yet have been consistently making the finals every year.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Sell out at Canberra this weekend, they just broke 15,000 members, huge increase in club junior footy in WS, increase in home crowds by a significant amount at Spotless. Yep, they are a bunch of losers. Looking forward to finals sell outs at Spotless. Next season another huge increase in junior footy out west etc etc
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Stand by for good friday footy - Saints V Kangas.
justinr
Guest
Yeah, but that's the AFL's fault. It's ridiculous that the team that has played the most entertaining style of football this season couldn't get one showcase match. All teams are entitled one Friday night game surely.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Would have been the millionth six day break for North this season.