Sydney Derby (AFL)
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 Pre-game at Sydney Derby I | |
| Teams | |
|---|---|
| First meeting | 24 March 2012 (GWS 37–100 Sydney) |
| Latest meeting | 5 August 2023 (GWS 85–96 Sydney) |
| Next meeting | 4 May 2024 |
| Trophy | Lifeline Cup |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 26 |
| All-time series (AFL only) |  Sydney Swans 16 wins GWS Giants 10 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 | Sydney, 1 05 August 2023–Present |
The Sydney Derby, formerly and unofficially called 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 conclusion of the 2023 AFL season, the head-to-head score is in favour of the Sydney Swans with 16 wins to 10; the teams have also met three times in finals matches, with Greater Western Sydney winning each time.
The match's name is somewhat controversial, as the clubs are based in Eastern and Western Sydney, respectively, whilst the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge for which the match is named connects North Sydney, not Greater Western Sydney, to the city.[4]
History[edit]
The first Sydney Derby was held on 24 March 2012 and attracted a then-record Derby 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 that year, The Daily Telegraph noted there was "genuine dislike off the field" between the clubs.[5] 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.[6] 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."[7] 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".[8] It was the first AFL game at Sydney Showground Stadium to be declared a sell-out, and it 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.[9][10]
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 record derby crowd of 60,222.[11][12] 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.[13] 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.[14]
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,[15] while Sydney's outbreak in July 2021 saw that month's fixture moved first to Mars Stadium in Ballarat,[16] then to Metricon Stadium following a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.[17]
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.[18] 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[edit]
The two venues usually used for the Sydney Derby are the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sydney Showground Stadium. However, the first three Sydney Derbies and the 2016 finals series derby were held at Stadium Australia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sydney Derby was played at various neutral grounds. Sydney Derby XIX was played at Optus Stadium in Perth,[15] Sydney Derby XXI was played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast,[17] and Sydney Derby XXII was played at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.[18]
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Sydney Cricket Ground
(Sydney Swans) -
Sydney Showground Stadium
(GWS Giants) -
Results[edit]
Source: Click here
Timeline[edit]
Brett Kirk Medal[edit]
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 |
| II | Kieren Jack | Sydney | |
| 2013 | III | Kieren Jack (2) | Sydney |
| IV | Nick Malceski | Sydney | |
| 2014 | V | Callan Ward | Greater Western Sydney |
| VI | Kieren Jack (3) | Sydney | |
| 2015 | VII | Dan Hannebery | Sydney |
| VIII | Josh Kennedy (2) | Sydney | |
| 2016 | IX | Luke Parker | Sydney |
| X | Heath Shaw | Greater Western Sydney | |
| 2017 | XII | Shane Mumford | Greater Western Sydney |
| XIII | Lance Franklin | Sydney | |
| Callan Ward (2) | Greater Western Sydney | ||
| 2018 | XIV | Callum Mills | Sydney |
| XV | Lance Franklin (2) | Sydney | |
| 2019 | XVII | Tim Taranto | Greater Western Sydney |
| XVIII | Jacob Hopper | Greater Western Sydney | |
| 2020 | XIX | Luke Parker (2) | Sydney |
| 2021 | XX | Lance Franklin (3) | Sydney |
| XXI | Luke Parker (3) | Sydney | |
| 2022 | XXIII | Luke Parker (4) | Sydney |
| XXIV | Luke Parker (5) | Sydney | |
| 2023 | XXV | Toby Greene | Greater Western Sydney |
| XXVI | Errol Gulden | Sydney |
NOTE: No medal was awarded in Sydney Derby XI, Sydney Derby XVI or Sydney Derby XXII due to those matches being finals matches.
Statistics[edit]
Below are listed statistics from the Battle of the Bridge only.
Team statistics[edit]
Highest scores[edit]
| Club | Round | Goals | Behinds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 2013, Round 16 | 24 | 27 | 171 |
| Sydney | 2015, Round 21 | 20 | 13 | 133 |
| Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 19 | 18 | 132 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2019, Round 6 | 18 | 12 | 120 |
| Sydney | 2022, Round 20 | 17 | 10 | 112 |
Lowest scores[edit]
| Club | Round | Goals | Behinds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Western Sydney | 2020, Round 12 | 3 | 7 | 25 |
| Sydney | 2018, Elimination Final | 4 | 6 | 30 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2012, Round 1 | 5 | 7 | 37 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 5 | 8 | 38 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2022, Round 20 | 5 | 9 | 39 |
Biggest wins[edit]
| Club | Round | Winning score | Losing score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 2013, Round 16 | 24.27 (171) | 5.12 (42) | 129 |
| Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 19.18 (132) | 5.8 (38) | 94 |
| Sydney | 2015, Round 21 | 20.13 (133) | 6.8 (44) | 89 |
| Sydney | 2022, Round 20 | 17.10 (112) | 5.9 (39) | 73 |
| Sydney | 2012, Round 1 | 14.16 (100) | 5.7 (37) | 63 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2018, Elimination Final | 10.19 (79) | 4.6 (30) | 49 |
Smallest wins[edit]
| Club | Round | Winning score | Losing score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Western Sydney | 2023, Round 7 | 17.5 (107) | 16.10 (106) | 1 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2021, Elimination Final | 11.8 (74) | 10.13 (73) | 1 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2019, Round 20 | 12.11 (83) | 12.9 (81) | 2 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2021, Round 5 | 9.17 (71) | 10.9 (69) | 2 |
| Sydney | 2023, Round 21 | 15.6 (96) | 12.13 (85) | 11 |
| Sydney | 2017, Round 17 | 14.12 (96) | 12.11 (83) | 13 |
Player statistics[edit]
Players highlighted in green are still on AFL lists for either Sydney or Greater Western Sydney.
Goals in one game[edit]
Goal total[edit]
| Player | Club | Goals | Behinds | Accuracy | Games | Goals/Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 36 | 28 | 54.4% | 12 | 2.81 |
| Jeremy Cameron | Greater Western Sydney | 33 | 23 | 58.2% | 16 | 2.13 |
| Toby Greene | Greater Western Sydney | 25 | 15 | 62.5% | 15 | 1.67 |
| Jonathon Patton | Greater Western Sydney | 16 | 6 | 72.7% | 11 | 1.45 |
| Kieren Jack | Sydney | 16 | 10 | 61.5% | 16 | 1.00 |
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney | 16 | 11 | 59.3% | 18 | 0.89 |
| Tom Papley | Sydney | 15 | 12 | 55.5% | 11 | 1.36 |
| Ben McGlynn | Sydney | 14 | 4 | 77.8% | 10 | 1.40 |
| Kurt Tippett | Sydney | 13 | 13 | 50.0% | 8 | 1.63 |
| Stephen Coniglio | Greater Western Sydney | 13 | 3 | 81.3% | 15 | 0.86 |
Disposals in one game[edit]
| Player | Club | Date | Disposals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Green | Greater Western Sydney | 2023, Round 21 | 38 |
| Jarrad McVeigh | Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 37 |
| Lachie Whitfield | Greater Western Sydney | 2015, Round 3 | 37 |
| Ryan O'Keefe | Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 36 |
| Jarrad McVeigh | Sydney | 2013, Round 16 | 35 |
| Dan Hannebery | Sydney | 2015, Round 3 | 35 |
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney | 2015, Round 21 | 35 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney | 2021, Elimination Final | 34 |
| Dan Hannebery | Sydney | 2013, Round 16 | 34 |
| Adam Treloar | Greater Western Sydney | 2014, Round 1 | 34 |
| Toby Greene | Greater Western Sydney | 2019, Round 20 | 34 |
| Kieren Jack | Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 33 |
| Devon Smith | Greater Western Sydney | 2015, Round 3 | 33 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney | 2018, Round 22 | 33 |
| Dylan Shiel | Greater Western Sydney | 2018, Round 22 | 33 |
| Jacob Hopper | Greater Western Sydney | 2019, Round 6 | 33 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney | 2021, Round 18 | 31 |
Derbies played[edit]
Brownlow votes[edit]
Brownlow Votes as of the end of the 2018 AFL season.
| Player | Club | Votes | H&A | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney | 14 | 15 | 0.93 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 9 | 9 | 1.00 |
| Shane Mumford | Greater Western Sydney & Sydney | 8 | 11 | 0.73 |
| Kieren Jack | Sydney | 7 | 13 | 0.54 |
| Callan Ward | Greater Western Sydney | 6 | 14 | 0.43 |
Coach statistics[edit]
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 | 2012– | 22 | 15 | 7 | 68.18% |
| Adam Kingsley | Greater Western Sydney | 2023– | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.00% |
| Leon Cameron | Greater Western Sydney | 2014–2022 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 46.66% |
| Kevin Sheedy | Greater Western Sydney | 2012–2013 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0.00% |
| Mark McVeigh | Greater Western Sydney | 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% |
Other Sydney Derbies[edit]
AFL Pre-Season results[edit]
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[edit]
| Year | Date | Round | Home team | Away team | Score | Winner | Venue | Attendance[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S7 (2022) | 10 September 2022 | 3 | Sydney | GWS Giants | 18 - 65 | Great. West. Sydney | SCG | 4,223 |
| 2023 | 3 September 2023 | 1 | Sydney | GWS Giants | 51 - 46 | Sydney | North Sydney Oval | 5,474 |
VFL[edit]
| Year | Date | Round | Home team | Away team | Score | Winner | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17 April 2021 | 1 | Sydney | GWS Giants | 96-70 | Sydney | Tramway Oval |
| 2022 | 30 July 2022 | 19 | Sydney | GWS Giants | 77-39 | Sydney | SCG |
| 2023 | 5 August 2023 | 20 | GWS Giants | Sydney | 67-145 | Sydney | Blacktown International Sportspark |
| 2024 | 4 May 2024 | 6 | Sydney | GWS Giants | TBC | TBC | SCG |
See also[edit]
- 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)
Notes[edit]
- ^ Attendances listed in bold were official sell-outs.
References[edit]
- ^ "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.
- ^ Swans v GWS rivalry is building but yet to ignite, writes Richard Hinds.. dailytelegraph.com.au, June 9, 2016, Retrieved 2024-01-25
- ^ 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.
