Sydney Derby (AFL)
 Pre-game at Sydney Derby I | |
| First meeting | 24 March 2012 (GWS 37–100 Sydney) |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | 28 August 2021 (Sydney 73–74 GWS) |
| Next meeting | 19 March 2022 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 22 |
| All-time series (AFL only) |  Sydney Swans 13 wins GWS Giants 9 wins |
| Postseason results | GWS Giants 3 wins Sydney Swans 0 wins |
| Largest victory | Sydney – 129 points 14 July 2013 |
| Longest win streak | Sydney, 4 28 June 2014–12 June 2016 |
| Current win streak | Greater Western Sydney, 1 28 August 2021–Present |
The Sydney Derby, also known as The Battle of the Bridge[1][2][3] is an Australian rules football local derby match between the two Sydney based Australian Football League (AFL) clubs, the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants. As of the end of the 2021 season, the head to head is in favour of the Sydney Swans by 13 wins to 9; the teams have also met three times in finals matches, with Greater Western Sydney winning each time.
History[]
The first Sydney Derby was held on 24 March 2012 and attracted a then-Derby record crowd of 38,203. This game was also the first game of the 2012 AFL season and the first AFL premiership match for the Giants. Fielding a very young and inexperienced team, the Giants only won three games in their first two years in the competition and failed to win any Derby games. This led to declining attendances at Sydney Derbies.
The Giants won their first Derby in the opening clash of 2014. Later in the year The Daily Telegraph noted there was 'genuine dislike off the field' between the clubs.[4] Over the subsequent years, the Giants progressively moved up the AFL ladder and got closer to the Swans, who were premiership contenders during this time. The opening Derby of 2015 attracted a crowd of over 30,000—the first time this had occurred since the first Derby. The 2016 Derbies were both well attended—the Swans home game had the second highest attendance in fixture history. The Giants home game was the 10th Sydney Derby. With both teams vying for a top four spot at the end of the season, the game was described as a blockbuster.[5] In the lead up to the game The Daily Telegraph published an article analysing the rivalry. Though noting that Sydney's surprise recruitment of Lance Franklin created some animosity between the clubs, the article went on to say 'What the rivalry needs is a flash point. ... Something to make it clear that when the Swans and Giants meet there is real feeling. Not the slightly awkward yet mutually respectful détente that currently exists'.[6] After the game, the paper declared that an altercation between Steve Johnson and Lance Franklin 'was the moment of sporting theatre that inspired a rivalry to truly ignite'.[7] It was the first AFL game at Sydney Showground Stadium to be declared a sell-out and was Foxtel's highest rating program of the day, second highest rating twilight match of the season and the second-most watched Sydney Derby - behind only the inaugural clash.[8][9]
The first finals series match between the teams was on 10 September 2016, when the Swans hosted the Giants in the 1st Qualifying Final of the 2016 season. The Giants defeated the Swans by 36 points, an historic victory considering it was the Giants' first win in a finals series match and was played before a derby record crowd of 60,222.[10][11] The two teams met again in a finals match in the 2018 second elimination final; it was the first time the sides met in a knock-out match.[12] The Giants registered their biggest-ever victory over the Swans, winning by 49 points in front of a crowd of 40,350—the largest for a Sydney Derby at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[13]
In August 2020, the two teams contested a Sydney Derby at Optus Stadium in Perth due to concerns over a second wave of coronavirus cases in Sydney,[14] while Sydney's outbreak in July 2021 saw that month's fixture moved first to Mars Stadium in Ballarat,[15] then to Metricon Stadium following a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.[16]
The two teams met in a Sydney Derby final for the third time in 2021, with that match taking place at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania. It became the fourth different state to host a Sydney Derby.[17] In front of a crowd of 8,635, the smallest ever Sydney Derby finals crowd and the third-smallest Sydney Derby crowd overall, the Giants defeated the Swans by 1 point, the narrowest winning margin in the derby's history.
Venues[]
The two venues usually used for the Sydney Derby are the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sydney Showground Stadium. The first three Sydney Derbies and the 2016 finals series derby were held at Stadium Australia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sydney Derby XIX was played at Optus Stadium in Perth,[14] Sydney Derby XXI was played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast[16] and Sydney Derby XXII was played at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.[17] This meant that three of the last four Sydney Derbies took place on neutral territory.
Sydney Cricket Ground
(Sydney Swans)
Sydney Showground Stadium
(GWS Giants)
Stadium Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Showground Stadium
Results[]
Source: Click here
Timeline[]
Brett Kirk Medal[]
The Brett Kirk Medal is awarded to the player deemed to be the best player on the ground after the match. It is named after Sydney Swans AFL premiership player Brett Kirk, who was born and raised in country New South Wales and played junior football for North Albury.
| Year | Match | Medalist | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | I | Josh Kennedy | Sydney Swans |
| II | Kieren Jack | Sydney Swans | |
| 2013 | III | Kieren Jack (2) | Sydney Swans |
| IV | Nick Malceski | Sydney Swans | |
| 2014 | V | Callan Ward | GWS Giants |
| VI | Kieren Jack (3) | Sydney Swans | |
| 2015 | VII | Dan Hannebery | Sydney Swans |
| VIII | Josh Kennedy (2) | Sydney Swans | |
| 2016 | IX | Luke Parker | Sydney Swans |
| X | Heath Shaw | GWS Giants | |
| 2017 | XII | Shane Mumford | GWS Giants |
| XIII | Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans | |
| Callan Ward (2) | GWS Giants | ||
| 2018 | XIV | Callum Mills | Sydney Swans |
| XV | Lance Franklin (2) | Sydney Swans | |
| 2019 | XVII | Tim Taranto | GWS Giants |
| XVIII | Jacob Hopper | GWS Giants | |
| 2020 | XIX | Luke Parker (2) | Sydney Swans |
| 2021 | XX | Lance Franklin (3) | Sydney Swans |
| XXI | Luke Parker (3) | Sydney Swans |
NOTE: No medal was awarded in Sydney Derby XI, Sydney Derby XVI or Sydney Derby XXII due to those matches being a finals match.
Statistics[]
Below are listed statistics from the Sydney Derby only.
Team statistics[]
Highest scores[]
| Club | Round | Goals | Behinds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Swans
|
2013, Round 16 | 24 | 27 | 171 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2015, Round 21 | 20 | 13 | 133 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2012, Round 14 | 19 | 18 | 132 |
| GWS Giants
|
2019, Round 6 | 18 | 12 | 120 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2015, Round 3 | 16 | 15 | 111 |
Lowest scores[]
| Club | Round | Goals | Behinds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GWS Giants
|
2020, Round 12 | 3 | 7 | 25 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2018, Elimination Final | 4 | 6 | 30 |
| GWS Giants
|
2012, Round 1 | 5 | 7 | 37 |
| GWS Giants
|
2012, Round 14 | 5 | 8 | 38 |
| GWS Giants
|
2013, Round 16 | 5 | 12 | 42 |
Biggest wins[]
| Club | Round | Winning score | Losing score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Swans
|
2013, Round 16 | 24.27 (171) | 5.12 (42) | 129 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2012, Round 14 | 19.18 (132) | 5.8 (38) | 94 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2015, Round 21 | 20.13 (133) | 6.8 (44) | 89 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2012, Round 1 | 14.16 (100) | 5.7 (37) | 63 |
| GWS Giants
|
2018, Elimination Final | 10.19 (79) | 4.6 (30) | 49 |
Smallest wins[]
| Club | Round | Winning score | Losing score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GWS Giants
|
2021, Elimination Final | 11.8 (74) | 10.13 (73) | 1 |
| GWS Giants
|
2019, Round 20 | 12.11 (83) | 12.9 (81) | 2 |
| GWS Giants
|
2021, Round 5 | 9.17 (71) | 10.9 (69) | 2 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2017, Round 17 | 14.12 (96) | 12.11 (83) | 13 |
| Sydney Swans
|
2018, Round 3 | 16.7 (103) | 12.15 (87) | 16 |
Player statistics[]
Players highlighted in green are still on AFL lists for either Sydney or Greater Western Sydney.
Goals in one game[]
| Player | Club | Date | Goals | Behinds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
2015, Round 3 | 5 | 5 | 35 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
2018, Round 22 | 5 | 4 | 34 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
2014, Round 15 | 5 | 3 | 33 |
| Kurt Tippett | Sydney Swans
|
2015, Round 21 | 5 | 3 | 33 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
2021, Round 5 | 5 | 0 | 30 |
| Jeremy Cameron | GWS Giants
|
2016, Qualifying Final | 4 | 4 | 28 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
2017, Round 17 | 4 | 4 | 28 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
2021, Round 18 | 4 | 2 | 26 |
| Toby Greene | GWS Giants
|
2016, Round 12 | 4 | 2 | 26 |
| Issac Heeney | Sydney Swans
|
2019, Round 20 | 4 | 2 | 26 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
2016, Round 3 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| Toby Greene | GWS Giants
|
2017, Round 5 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| Issac Heeney | Sydney Swans
|
2021, Elimination Final | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| Jeremy Cameron | GWS Giants
|
2014, Round 1 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| Issac Heeney | Sydney Swans
|
2015, Round 3 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| Stephen Coniglio | GWS Giants
|
2019, Round 6 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| Tom Papley | Sydney Swans
|
2021, Round 18 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| Toby Greene | GWS Giants
|
2017, Round 5 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| Toby Greene | GWS Giants
|
2021, Elimination Final | 3 | 1 | 19 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
2021, Elimination Final | 3 | 1 | 19 |
Goal total[]
| Player | Club | Goals | Behinds | Accuracy | Games | Goals/Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
36 | 28 | 54.4% | 12 | 2.81 |
| Jeremy Cameron | GWS Giants
|
33 | 23 | 58.2% | 16 | 2.13 |
| Toby Greene | GWS Giants
|
22 | 14 | 61.1% | 14 | 1.57 |
| Jonathon Patton | GWS Giants
|
16 | 6 | 72.7% | 11 | 1.45 |
| Kieren Jack | Sydney Swans
|
16 | 10 | 61.5% | 16 | 1.00 |
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney Swans
|
16 | 11 | 59.3% | 18 | 0.89 |
| Tom Papley | Sydney Swans
|
14 | 12 | 52.9% | 10 | 1.56 |
| Ben McGlynn | Sydney Swans
|
14 | 4 | 77.8% | 10 | 1.40 |
| Kurt Tippett | Sydney Swans
|
13 | 13 | 50.0% | 8 | 1.63 |
| Stephen Coniglio | GWS Giants
|
13 | 3 | 81.3% | 14 | 1.00 |
Disposals in one game[]
| Player | Club | Date | Disposals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrad McVeigh | Sydney Swans
|
2012, Round 14 | 37 |
| Lachie Whitfield | GWS Giants
|
2015, Round 3 | 37 |
| Ryan O'Keefe | Sydney Swans
|
2012, Round 14 | 36 |
| Jarrad McVeigh | Sydney Swans
|
2013, Round 16 | 35 |
| Dan Hannebery | Sydney Swans
|
2015, Round 3 | 35 |
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney Swans
|
2015, Round 21 | 35 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney Swans
|
2021, Elimination Final | 34 |
| Dan Hannebery | Sydney Swans
|
2013, Round 16 | 34 |
| Adam Treloar | GWS Giants
|
2014, Round 1 | 34 |
| Toby Greene | GWS Giants
|
2019, Round 20 | 34 |
| Kieren Jack | Sydney Swans
|
2012, Round 14 | 33 |
| Devon Smith | GWS Giants
|
2015, Round 3 | 33 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney Swans
|
2018, Round 22 | 33 |
| Dylan Shiel | GWS Giants
|
2018, Round 22 | 33 |
| Jacob Hopper | GWS Giants
|
2019, Round 6 | 33 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney Swans
|
2021, Round 18 | 31 |
| Harry Perryman | GWS Giants
|
2021, Elimination Final | 29 |
Derbies played[]
| Player | Club | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney Swans
|
18 |
| Phil Davis | GWS Giants
|
16 |
| Kieren Jack | Sydney Swans
|
16 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney Swans
|
16 |
| Callan Ward | GWS Giants
|
16 |
| Jeremy Cameron | GWS Giants
|
15 |
| Dan Hannebery | Sydney Swans
|
15 |
| Heath Grundy | Sydney Swans
|
15 |
| Dylan Shiel | GWS Giants
|
15 |
| Lachie Whitfield | GWS Giants
|
15 |
| Toby Greene | GWS Giants
|
14 |
| Jarrad McVeigh | Sydney Swans
|
14 |
| Shane Mumford | GWS & Sydney
|
14 |
| Dane Rampe | Sydney Swans
|
14 |
Brownlow votes[]
Brownlow Votes as of the end of the 2018 AFL season.
| Player | Club | Votes | H&A | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney Swans
|
14 | 15 | 0.93 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney Swans
|
9 | 9 | 1.00 |
| Shane Mumford | GWS & Sydney
|
8 | 11 | 0.73 |
| Kieren Jack | Sydney Swans
|
7 | 13 | 0.54 |
| Callan Ward | GWS
|
6 | 14 | 0.43 |
Coach statistics[]
Coaches highlighted in green are the current head coach for either Sydney or Greater Western Sydney.
| Coach | Club | Years | Total | Wins | Losses | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Longmire | Sydney Swans
|
2012–present | 19 | 12 | 7 | 65.83% |
| Leon Cameron | GWS
|
2014–present | 15 | 7 | 8 | 46.66% |
| Kevin Sheedy | GWS
|
2012–2013 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0.00% |
Other Sydney Derbies[]
AFL Pre-Season results[]
Like both the "Western Derby" and the "Showdown" pre-season matches do not count towards the overall Sydney Derby results and statistics. However, The first ever match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans occurred during the 2011 pre-season. To date three of the six fixtures have been held in either suburban or regional venues, as part of the restructured pre-season competition to see more matches being held in more non-traditional venues.
AFL Women's[]
In preparation for the 2017 launch of the AFL Women's competition, the AFL held 10 Exhibition Series matches during 2016. The only match held in Sydney featured both a women's side from the & the , played as a curtain-raiser for the men's Sydney Derby IX.[18]
See also[]
- Western Derby: The AFL Intrastate Derby of Western Australia, first played in 1995. (West Coast Eagles Vs. Fremantle Dockers).
- Showdown: The AFL Intrastate Derby of South Australia, first played in 1997. (Adelaide Crows Vs. Port Adelaide Power).
- QClash: The AFL intrastate Derby of Queensland, first played in 2011. (Brisbane Lions Vs. Gold Coast Suns)
References[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sydney Derby (AFL). |
- ^ "Buddy Franklin stars as Swans outclass Giants in Sydney derby". theaustralian.com.au. The Australian. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ Warren, Adrian (9 April 2016). "Swans champ Adam Goodes takes a final bow". The New Daily. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ Wu, Andrew. "Sydney Swans remain a top four team says Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron". The Age. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ Cordy, Neil (27 June 2014). "Just three years old, the Sydney Swans, GWS Giants rivalry is building into a classic". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Horne, Ben (10 June 2016). "GWS Giants v Sydney Swans: Young players won't rely on talent to succeed". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Hinds, Richard (9 June 2016). "Swans v GWS rivalry is building but yet to ignite, writes Richard Hinds". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Horne, Ben (13 June 2016). "Steve Johnson's bump on Lance Franklin showed GWS is no longer everyone's second favourite team". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Wu, Andrew (9 June 2016). "AFL 2016: Greater Western Sydney Giants want earlier home games for 2017". The Age.
- ^ Horne, Ben (15 June 2016). "GWS Giants demand TV prime time exposure on Friday nights". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Hinds, Richard (10 September 2016). "GWS Giants come of age to upset Sydney Swans in first qualifying final". News.com.au.
- ^ "AFL lands NRL huge blow with bumper crowd for Sydney Swans v GWS Giants qualifying final". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 September 2016.
- ^ Wu, Andrew (26 August 2018). "Giants to meet Swans in finals after devil of a day against Demons". The Age. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ De Silva, Chris (8 September 2018). "GWS Giants humiliate Sydney Swans in elimination final". Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
- ^ a b Barrett, Damian (21 July 2020). "Footy every day: Check out the next four rounds of the AFL's fixture". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "FIXTURE UPDATE: Giants v Swans R18 venue locked in". AFL.com.au. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Statement: AFL confirms round 18 fixture update". AFL.com.au. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b "IT'S FINALS TIME: Match-ups, venues revealed for week one". AFL.com.au. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "Women to take centre stage ahead of Derby".
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