ANZ Stadium / Olympic Park  Homebush, Sydney Australia

Unbelievable, simply unbelievable that’s how I sum up the Greater Western Sydney Giants dream debut finals performance and victory over the Sydney Swans at Homebush on Saturday. It was the most compelling, toughest, hard fought, exhilarating football games ever seen in Sydney with the GWS Giants running out convincing 36 point winners in the Qualifying Final. The victory sees the AFL’s newest footballing franchise only one win away from the grand final.

Played in perfect football weather and with a huge crowd in attendance, the atmosphere was fitting of a record breaking final that heralded in a new and exciting era of Australian Rules football in New South Wales.

The first few minutes Sydney seemed the more composed as the typical finals nerves were apparent. The GWS boys quickly shrugged it off and soon were presenting hard at the ball. The pressure and tackling from both sides was enormous.

The pressure was intense early on. The GWS Giants didn’t take a backward step. Photo: Jodie Newell

The Giants in particular didn’t take a backward step in responding to Sydney’s game plan. They instigated several punishing gang tackles and left their opponents in some instances, dazed and shaken. For Giants forward Stevie Johnson, he took matters a little bit too far and clipped Swans playmaker in Josh Kennedy with a crude elbow to the head region which stunned the ball magnet. A wobbly Kennedy had to be helped from the field after the solid contact and was out of the game for a crucial 20 minutes.

Stevie J found himself in hot water after a crude clash on Swan Josh Kennedy. Johnson will miss 1 match. Photo: Jodie Newell

Johnson would later be found by the AFL Match Review Panel committee to be guilty of rough conduct and was handed a one week suspension. Johnson will miss the preliminary final and will be hoping his team can make the grand final so he take the field again, a remarkable scenario considering he was finished in the eyes of his former club Geelong at the end of last season.

Jeremy Cameron bearing the scars of a tough football battle. Photo : Jodie Newell

Giants ruckman Shane Mumford added to the Swans troubles with a punishing tackle on Kurt Tippett that left the key forward also dazed and confused and had to leave the field for treatment. Tippett would later be diagnosed to have a hairline fracture to the jaw after another unrelated incident. He will miss the crucial sudden death final against Adelaide this Saturday night at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Giants didn’t go unscathed as they to copped their fair share of heavy bumps and tackles. Several Giants players bore bloody cuts from the solid, tough pressure delivered by Sydney and also had to leave the field. Devon Smith, Tom Scully and Jeremy Cameron in particular had clear “battle” scars on their faces after the game which illustrated just how tough an encounter this was. The rivalry between the two teams was stepped up by an enormous margin to boiling point. Whilst there has been some heat in previous games between the two teams, this match was easily the fiercest game played by the Giants and Swans.

Swans midfielder Luke Parker is put under pressure by the GWS defense. Photo: Jodie Newell

They say champions shine the most come finals time. For the Greater Western Sydney Giants a couple of players certainly did that. Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron put in standout performances. Both players made plays that counted when it mattered. Greene slotted though an impossible goal just before the end of the first quarter. He followed that up with the GWS Giants first goal in the second quarter. After Greene’s efforts the Giants never lost the lead. Jeremy Cameron then stepped up in the 3rd quarter and kicked 3 crucial goals to cement the game. I couldn’t help but shake my head in joyful disbelief thinking these two boys haven’t played a senior AFL finals match yet they are performing like true champions.

Jeremy Cameron looked right at home amongst the finals action on Saturday. Photo: Jodie Newell

Jeremy Cameron looked right at home. He belongs in the finals series as does his fellow team-mates. I was asked earlier this year by Bruce McAvaney at the Sydney Cricket Ground, how would you describe the rise of the Giants. Using a Beatles success story analogy I replied “It’s like watching A Hard Day’s Night”. The film captures the group full of youthful exuberance and fearlessness. It was shot around the time they exploded into super stardom around the world. You get the feeling the Giants are on a similar track. Whether they achieve the ultimate goal this month or in the coming years, you get the feeling this team is on the cusp of something very special.

Every reason to smile. Toby Greene booted 2 goals & was one of the best Giants. Photo: Jodie Newell

For Sydney, good players were hard to find. They looked shaken by the GWS Giants. They also looked flat and weren’t their usual hardened selves. Lance Franklin was well held by Phil Davis. Franklin was goalless and looked uncomfortable playing far up the ground instead of his usual 50 metre arc hovering. Dan Hannebery did get enough touches and Josh Kennedy did settle back into the game, but they lacked the speed and aggression that the Giants displayed. The Giants backline was in superb touch with Heath Shaw, Nick Haynes and Joel Patful all chipping in and putting their bodies on the line for the hard contest. Zac Williams is another who played a great game. This kid is something else.Another tough nut with evasive pace and finesse and the ability to spark a fierce Giants attack. He was ably assisted by Nathan Wilson.Both players are good re-bounders and tackle hard at the contest.

Two tough hombres.GWS defenders Heath Shaw (right) & Zac Williams. Photo: Jodie Newell

Then you have the super-duper midfield of the GWS. Tom Scully, Ryan Griffen, Devon Smith, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward put in a masterclass of midfield work. They all ran hard. They chased, they tackled, they niggled, they talked back and they kicked goals. They are the true holders and exponents of the “Orange Tsunami” which was in full flight at Homebush. Lachie Whitfield also deserves special mention. After absurd allegations of evading ASADA testing and all the press hype that came with it, Whitfiled shrugged off the nonsense and played a great game with 27 disposals and 1 goal. A perfect, focused response to all the naysayers.

Devon Smith was hard at the ball and was ably assisted by his teammates. Photo: Jodie Newell

So what next for both teams? The Giants will enjoy the week off to recover after a tough encounter. They will be without key forward in Steve Johnson via a one week suspension. Contenders for his slot include Rhys Palmer who played well in the NEAFL team that won the flag over the weekend against Sydney by 4 points.Harrison Himmelburg is another for consideration as he also put in a solid showing. Selection wise, there is no doubt Leon Cameron will be influenced by which team they will play in either Hawthorn or the Western Bulldogs.Regardless of the selection dilemmas, there is plenty of depth in Giantsland.

A big, big sound from the West of the town. Photo: Jodie Newell

The Sydney Swans will welcome a return to the SCG. In familiar surrounds, they will need every bit of home ground advantage to beat the Adelaide Crows. They will have to be back at their best to nullify a potent Crows forward line in Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts. Lance Franklin should relish the return to a smaller ground where he revels in goal scoring. The Swans will have to cover for Kurt Tippett and Rising Star winner and key defender Callum Mills (hamstring). Sydney should turn to Toby Nankervis to cover the ruck duties.Jeremy Laidler has been touted in selection discussions to replace Mills,  whilst Dean Towers may also be included after he played a serviceable game in the NEAFL. Whatever the outcome the next couple of weeks are going to be the most dramatic football weeks New South Wales has ever experienced. If it’s anything like week 1 of the AFL Sydney finals “festival” It should be classic football.

SYDNEY SWANS                            3.3    5.7   6.10      7.13 (55)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY        3.4    5.9   9.13    12.19 (91)

GOALS
Sydney Swans: Tom Papley 2, Kieren Jack 2, George Hewett, Josh Kennedy, Ben McGlynn
Greater Western Sydney: Jeremy Cameron 4, Toby Greene 2,  Tom Scully 2, Devon Smith, Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio, Callan Ward

BEST
Sydney Swans: Dan Hannebery,  Aliir Aliir, Jake Lloyd,
Greater Western Sydney: Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Heath Shaw

INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Callum Mills (hamstring), Josh Kennedy (head), Kurt Tippett (hairline fracture of jaw)
Greater Western Sydney: Callan Ward (shoulder)

Reports: –

Umpires: Matthew Nicholls, Ray Chamberlain, Shaun Ryan

Official crowd: 60,222 at ANZ Stadium Olympic Park Stadium Homebush, Sydney Australia

Boys No More. As mentioned in our report it was an incredible day for football in New South Wales. We’ve watched the young GWS Giants boys grow up since 2012. As J.J. Hunsecker (played by Burt Lancaster) from the 1957 film Sweet Smell of Success would put it “I call him the boy with the ice-cream face” when alluding to co-star Tony Curtis’s boyish, smooth looks, you could say that about the GWS Giants 2012 version. The Giants have definitely grown from boys to men. From easy 100 point beats to hardened finals winning champs the growth was crowned on Saturday. It was just another milestone moment for the club. Only a grand final victory will be the pinnacle for this remarkable team. Folks that aren’t familiar with the Giants may not realize this, but a strong club culture has been in place since 2012. Through the hard times, players, staff and families have been through some tough times and roared at each and every progression this team has made. One will never forget the raw emotion of Luke Power as he spoke in the rooms after his 300 game achievement. He was genuinely appreciative of the opportunity to reach an important career milestone. The rooms on that day were packed and hushed as Luke spoke. They all cheered him after he finished. You could feel this was a real AFL club and whilst they hadn’t played many games, you got the sense everyone present was buying into the GWS culture of fighting to the end and never surrendering. Luke Power still is involved at the club as a line coach and is well respected.

2012 Boys with ice-cream faces no more. The Giants became of age on Saturday. Photo: Jodie Newell

Giants Chairman & Genuine Footy Fan, Tony Shepherd. As the final minutes ticked down the clock of the qualifying final, heading towards the Giants race were various members of the board. Deputy Chairman Joe Carrozzi, John Webster, community liaison and former Aussie cricketer Gavin Robertson had wide grins. CEO Dave Matthews was high fiving well wishers and Chairman Tony Shepherd’s excitement was palpable. “Shep” as we call him, has been with the club since the start and admitted to us during an early interview that the business side of football wasn’t always fun, but the actual football stuff such as a first win or key milestone was. Tony was thrilled at what his side had achieved on Saturday. He has always believed there would be days like this and is to be commended for help building the GWS Giants to what they are today. Shepherd has been seen various times throughout the Giants history fist pumping the air after a big win. Shep is a genuine football fan and has a passion for the game. It’s reassuring to see such emotion expressed.

Giants Chairman Tony Shepherd during one the club’s rare wins in the early days. He’s a genuine footy fan. Photo: Jodie Newell

Capable of anything Make no mistake this team is capable of going all the way. I’ve personally attended many finals games from the 1970’s to now. Over those years I’ve witnessed incredible finals moments. Phil Carmen’s brain fade in the 1977 second semi v Hawthorn when he belted Michael Tuck and with it, belted Collingwood into another year of  finals misery.The subsequent drawn 1977 grand final between North & the Magpies. The Wayne Harmes tap close to the boundary to Ken Sheldon who with a goal, sealed the 1979 grand final for Carlton over Collingwood. I saw the raw brutality of the 1973 Grand Final between Richmond and Carlton. The Hawks playing “unsociable” football against a “deer in the headlights” Sydney Swans in the 2014 Grand Final. It’s a special time of the year and what I saw on Saturday would rank just as high with the above moments. Here you had a team making their finals debut in front of 60,000 people on an unfamiliar ground. They played the seasoned, experienced minor premiers in Sydney, yet the Giants not only turned up, they came to play without fear and their brazen attitude was inspirational. Players can become larger during September. I remember Phil Baker in the 1970’s finals series for North Melbourne. During the regular season he was so so. An average forward who kicked the odd goal. Come finals time, “Snake” Baker was taking massive, thrilling marks above packs and importantly, kicking goals. He’d also throw in some talking back to his opponent. Baker would nonchalantly walk up to Hawthorn backman Kelvin Moore and start clapping and laughing right in his face after booting a goal.Similarly, Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron stood up and they looked so at home in the finals environment. Just like Baker, Greene let his Swans opponent know all about his goal kicking efforts. Cameron was just as fearless. His 3 goals in the 3rd quarter had class stamped all over them. I had to pinch myself to remind me that this was a Qualifying Final and what was happening in front of me was for real. It was easily the greatest finals debut in AFL history. I am so hoping that this ride continues. It would be one of the greatest footballing achievements if the boys from Tom Wills Oval can pull this one off.

Capable of Anything. The GWS Giants looked right at home winning a finals game. Photo: Jodie Newell

Giants fans made plenty of noise. Sure there was more red and white in the crowd. The Swans have been in this city for a much longer time. But the “Orange Army” will soon have further recruits if they continue to play this irresistible brand of football. The Swans fans in attendance were stunned into silence as the Giants stamped their authority on the game in the 3rd Quarter. There was a sea of orange at the southern end of Homebush Stadium. They roared themselves hoarse after each Giants goal and waved to the early departing Swans fans who realized that their chances of winning had gone. During the final minutes, I was standing in the Giants race area alongside Barry Hall. Hall remarked he hated seeing people leave early. The majority of Swans fans did bravely sit through the finals minutes, but we agree with Baz that you should stick with your team through thick or thin.

The Orange Army were in full voice on Saturday. Photo: Jodie Newell

Homebush actually rocked for an AFL Game! Wonders will never cease to amaze. Homebush really had a sensational atmosphere for this game. I haven’t heard a roar like I did on Saturday. The intensity of the contest added to the occasion. Each goal was cheered loudly. Each bump, each questionable decision was booed loudly.  The surface was in magnificent condition and just when you thought goodbye and good riddance, you get what you did on the weekend and all was forgiven. Maybe the Giants could consider playing their bigger games at Homebush or at least consult with the planned overhaul which purports to see the stadium turned into a rectangular venue. Going by Saturday’s game Homebush is  an option worth keeping. On a bizarre and at the time scary note. A sea-plane looked to be struggling over the stadium around the final quarter. It was flying slowly into a stiff breeze right over the action. In today’s times who knows what may have happened. In the end it was or wasn’t a scheduled flyover. Where’s Biggles?

Ze Plane! Ze Plane! Boss. What was that about? A low flying sea plane flew over Homebush during the final quarter. Photo: Jodie Newell

NEAFL Premiership. The “Festival of The Giants” continued on Sunday. The party continued for the GWS Giants as they snagged the NEAFL Flag. Massive congrats to the GWS Giants team who beat the Sydney Swans by 4 points in a thrilling encounter on Sunday at Blacktown International Sports Centre. It was quality contest and was an obvious place to watch for possible replacements for both teams. Sydney will have to cover for at least two players in Mills and Tippett. Whilst GWS will have to replace Stevie Johnson who was suspended for 1 match. For the Swans Nankervis, Towers and Laidler come to mind, whilst for the Giants, Rhys Plamer, Adam Kennedy or Harrison Himmelburg are worth consideration. A real shame that Matt Kennedy copped a nasty ankle injury and looks like his season is over. He’s a future star and it would have been great to see him in action during the finals.

The 2016 NEAFL Premiers. The Greater Western Sydney Giants. Photo: courtesy NEAFL Twitter feed @neaflofficial