Round 1 – GWS v Sydney : The gamble that backfired

 

 

 

 

If you can’t be optimistic ahead of the opening game of the season, you never will. The slate is wiped clean, it’s a fresh start and big possibilities are ahead.

 

And there were new beginnings more than ever this time. Two years of lockdowns, capacity limits, restrictions, hubs, neutral venues, games behind closed doors are behind us. For the first time since 2019 we can be confident of getting all our home games.

 

After a Grand Final replay midweek and a couple more big crowds in Melbourne, it was Sydney’s turn. The AFL and the GIANTS wanted to make a statement. I don’t think they pulled it off.

 

A local derby against the Swans was scheduled. The Olympic Stadium, which hadn’t hosted an AFL game since 2016, was booked for the occasion.

 

The GIANTS went into the game with reason to be optimistic of their on-field prospects in 2022. Returning to the finals last year, some seriously impressive talent stepping up. Hadn’t put a foot wrong in pre-season. They had some outs, and the likes of Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Brent Daniels and Nick Haynes would be missed; but they had a good team on paper.

 

And to build up the crowd, the doors were opened to Swans members. They have plenty of them. And with Buddy Franklin just five shy of the thousand goal milestone, there was the possibility of a slice of history.

 

And the sexy new scoreboard at the southern end. It stood out, standing over several bays of seating; and all over social media before the game, hyping up the occasion.

 

Some spoke before the game of a potential 60,000 crowd. I always thought that was over-optimistic, but I was hopeful of 40,000.

 

But we didn’t even get anywhere near that.

 

In the end, just 25,572 rocked up. Barely reaching the capacity of GIANTS Stadium next door.

 

The GIANTS have been going for ten years now. We’re not really a new club any more.

 

But it’s taking a long time to build the support base, far from the game’s heartland. And unfortunately the last two years of restrictions prevented the club from capitalising on the Grand Final appearance.

 

And five goals for Buddy was always a long shot. He doesn’t get big bags against the GIANTS. It wasn’t likely the milestone would be reached.

 

And although we’re not in lockdown any more, it seems some people are still scared to head out to stadiums.

 

We’ve had horrendous flooding lately, and another storm overnight and heavy rain in the morning made many who may have been sitting on the fence decide to stay home.

 

The AFL and the GIANTS rolled the dice. Took the punt. Wanted to make the statement that going to the footy is back, that big crowds are back. Gave up the home ground advantage to return to Accor for the first time in six years; to hold the big crowd that didn’t come.

 

Was it a risk worth taking? Possibly. But the risk didn’t pay off.

 

By their nature, taking risks can go wrong.

 

In hindsight, we were over-optimistic. In hindsight, it was a mistake.

 

It’s going to be a long haul to get the crowds back.

 

On the field, the GIANTS made the front running, leading for three quarters before falling behind just before three quarter time. Then the Swans controlled the game in the last.

 

Maybe the Swans are fitter than the GIANTS. The GIANTS bottled a six-goal lead against the Swans last year, then only just hung on in the Elimination Final after holding a similar lead.

 

Buddy didn’t get anywhere near the milestone. He only kicked one, and that from a borderline free kick. Instead it was Luke Parker who stepped up, booting five in a best-on-ground performance.

 

There was no big big sound, but an opening round loss. And long faces as we trudged out of that stadium. There’s a strong probability we will never return there.

 

Some you win, some you lose. This was one that got away.

 

But one loss doesn’t kill the season. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

 

The GIANTS were way off the pace early last year, but hit back to make the finals. We’ve still got some decent players to come back in.

 

There’s still a season in front of us. And unlike last year, and the year before, we can be confident of getting a full quota of home games and being allowed to attend them.

 

And that means far more than one game, and the fixturing gamble that backfired.

 

 

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY     5.3    10.7    12.10    13.14 (92)
SYDNEY                                        3.0     9.4     13.9     17.10 (112)

 

GOALS  
Greater Western Sydney: Himmelberg 3, Green 2, Hill 2, Lloyd 2, Brander, Coniglio, Taranto, Ward
Sydney: Parker 5, Florent 3, Heeney 3, McLean 2, Campbell, Franklin, Gulden, Hayward

 

BEST  
Greater Western Sydney: Green, Davis, Taranto, Ward, Coniglio
Sydney: Parker, Florent, Heeney, Mills, Blakey

 

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Sydney: McInerney (leg)

 

 

Crowd: 25,572 at Accor Stadium

 

 

Read more Round 1 reports HERE

 

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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