But don’t you know, we play rugby league here. Not bloody aerial ping-pong.
In 1999, the AFL began to float the idea of a second Sydney team. The Swans were up and running, and the market exposure had proved a profitable venture for the league.
The men in suits whispered among themselves, but that’s all it seemed to be.
In 2005, there were a few more whispers, and the area of Western Sydney was considered. As the region populated considerably faster than anticipated, development of the game at a grassroots level looked positive. There was a bit more of a murmur now.
The league received support from the Morris Iemma government in 2006, and developed programs and partnerships with the Blacktown Sports Centre, right in the rugby league heartland of Rooty Hill.
Over the next couple of years, the AFL worked to link with the Western Sydney University, developing a NEAFL team.
Toes were firmly dipped in the water now.
In 2012, the Greater Western Sydney Giants played their first game in the AFL, losing to the Swans by 63 points.
Sure, there were a couple of finer details worked out during those six years, along with just a couple of recruiting and draft concessions.
Flash forward to 2017, and the team that grew from the original floating idea are odds-on favourites to win the premiership.
Those ‘insurmountable cultural barriers’ faced by AFL in Western Sydney (which saw AFL Tasmania fight the bid so fiercely), might just bloody disappear if they can come home with a flag.
But who becomes the hero of the West?
In a team so heavily stacked with talent – with jokes across the league of other clubs recruiting purely from the Giant’s reserves – which player steps up to become the first premiership hero of the Western Sydney experiment?
It is difficult to look past super-midfielder Stephen Coniglio as the man who drives the group across the line in September.
The 2011 number two draft pick has remained the standard-setter across the playing group since his debut in the first round of the 2012 season. His 34 disposals against Port Adelaide in Round 4 last year underlined the maturity the team had finally reached.
Heath Shaw is an undoubtedly reliable and consistent team man, averaging over 24 touches a game and ranked first in the league for rebound 50s. The former Magpie was only beaten by Nick Riewoldt for total marks taken across the 2016 season.
Shaw is a bona fide one-on-one master and he isn’t going anywhere just yet.
Toby Greene finished 2016 in blinding form and has the kind of aggression that unsettles opposition defences. He kicked 44 goals for the giants last year – a significant jump from the 15 that went through the sticks in 2015.
With Cameron dragging away key defenders, Greene looks to be a crucial goal sneak who now has a bit of a whiff for big games.
Because their list just wasn’t good enough (oh, come on), they’ve gone and had a screamer of a trade period too. Will Brett Deledio have the same Stevie-J effect and bolster the young-guns into an even more cohesive attack? God help us.
In trying to identify their potential standout September performers, you really start to realise how deep they go – ‘but I know he did this, but he did it too, and he can do that, and then there is also him…’
The density of their elite picks and reserve talent in injury prone ruck and forward line areas means the Giants are entering a premiership window that may be longer than we’ve ever seen.
It is principally agreed between AFL pundits that clubs usually have a three-to-four-year window with a flag worthy list to actually get the job done. Yet, with the list now compiled in Western Sydney, these opportunities could last several seasons longer.
For anyone looking ahead, oh boy, there’s a Giant in September.
Justin Ahrns
Roar Guru
The Giants can absolutely do some serious damage come September. They are probably equal favorites for the flag along with the other mob from NSW, the Swans. Dynasty in the making.
Agent11
Guest
Ok kevin sheedy.
Benh2477
Guest
And the Suns? Why aren't you talking about how good their list is? How good their concessions were? How about some credit to the Giants for how they have managed their list...
Jim
Guest
As i said earlier the true challenge will be in the first downturn of the team. Everyone loves a winner, but will people care when gws goes back to the pack, which will happen at some stage.
Jim
Guest
No doubt they have andy - its human nature to fight and protect a monopoly position - whether in spot, business or any other arena.
prince igor
Guest
Yes GWS are on their way and they will help to build a good following of Australian Football supporters over the next few seasons What a lot of knockers (and there are plenty in Sydney) forget is people once they are exposed to AFL footy find it very exciting and fast moving game and thats its biggest asset GWS has already got 14,000 and hoping to reach 20,000 this year and thats more than most of the Sydney based RL clubs have. Build it and they will come and they will in their thousands.
andyl12
Guest
Do you think that, had the AFL never introduced GWS, the Swans would still be towing the "not ready for a second team" line? I don't disagree with them that the attitudes of the Sydney public are an added challenge for a Sydney team, but I wonder if they just used that line to protect their monopoly for as long as they could.
Jim
Guest
Of course they got flogged early, but they also got the most generous concessions one club could ever imagine, and had a super list always in the making - just needing time and experience. The Giants should win multiple flags in coming years, given the quality of their list - anything less would not befit arguably the most talented list ever in the history of the VFL/AFL.
Jim
Guest
I think that opinion had more than a reasonable amount of validity for a long time andy - while the Swans improved substantially in the early '00s, it was not till the '05 flag and subsequent decade of high quality performances year in year out that they have firmly established themselves, and taken their membership base and crowd figures to the next level. It took a lot of baby steps, and plenty of giant leaps backwards to finally get to that point AFL in Sydney took almost a quarter of a century from the Swans moving up there to firmly establish a decent toe hold, and get it to a position that a second team's existence made some sense. It will be the same for the Giants - most likely 25 years before they are truly in a stable position, non-reliant on AFL house to make the numbers stack up. They have made good progress so far, but the true state of affairs will really only be revealed when the club's list hits its first trough and performances go down. One thing is for sure - Sydneysiders do love winners. It might be a long while till that happens mind you, given the depth of talent at their disposal, and continuing access to lots of high end talent to refill its list when the other clubs poach high end talent. I think the AFL broadly got the timing right with GWS - but I still think they really are a misnomer in many ways - given they are not based in Western Sydney. Should of just been the Sydney Giants for mine, but that is just a fairly minor point.
Jenna Downer
Roar Rookie
Cheers mate.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
In the 2010 WAFL Grand Final, a one-point win by the mighty Black Ducks,Coniglio, at 17, collected 17 possessions and kicked four goals. Together with an unbelievably good Andrew Krakouer, he and his Swan Districts teammates made it a most memorable day
I hate pies
Guest
Yeah it's been a hard road, those 3 years when they were easybeats. They'll really deserve their flag.
mds1970
Roar Guru
It didn't take long for the Giants to change from the easybeats of the early years to genuine contenders. Copped some shellackings in the early years, but learned from the experience. Some aggressive trading and some great recruiting; alongside the development of the young players. And now the Giants are a genuine chance. There's no certainties in footy. A major run of injuries would cripple their chances, as would happen for any club. And this year, for the first time, the Giants go into a season with the weight of expectations on them - it will be fascinating to see how that unfolds. But, as a Giants fanatic who's been with them since day one, these are exciting times. Can't get too far ahead of ourselves; but the days of being easybeats is long gone and this season has massive potential. Here Come The Giants!!!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Very, very good article Jenna! Love the opening line!
andyl12
Guest
For years, the Swans insisted the Sydney market was nowhere near ready for a second team and that therefore there should not be one. They even asked that the Swans' logo be used in every aspect of the code's promotion in NSW (which the AFL will rejected). Some opinions from the Swans camp on how this previous view looks in the current climate would be welcome.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
jeff no one expects the Giants to match the drawing power of current A-League leaders, SFC, (who drew 8,380 last night), or the NRL clubs in Sydney, who often manage to draw a few more, but let us hope the Giants can attract a small faithful following. Who knows, a Sydney club might emerge in the near future with the drawing power of the AFL Women's.
Big Ben
Guest
Wake-up Jeff every-bodies wigglin' (certainly all of the Australian football haters anyway) I'm in Sydney and I care.
jeff dustby
Guest
and no one in sydney will care
Red Real Football
Guest
A poetic opening! I for one was quite happy that the Giants lost in that epic match last year. It has provided some heartache for the Giants fans. Personally I hope that something similar happens again this year, sorry. The Giants list is simply breath taking all over the park. ALL their players are now experienced footballers at the highest level.I believe the pioneer players will be central to the teams success, with players like Shaw and Deledio playing a supporting role. Don't forget that every year, the Giants salary cap is reduced and all clubs are on the prowl. It will be better in the long run if the Giants win one premiership this window, and only after a couple of years of devastating heartbreak.