Sydney Derby (AFL)

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This article is about the Australian Football League Sydney Derby. For other uses, see Sydney Derby (disambiguation).

Sydney Derby (AFL)
Pre-game at Sydney Derby I
Teams
First meeting24 March 2012
(GWS 37–100 Sydney)
Latest meeting7 September 2024
(Sydney 88–82 GWS)
Next meetingTBD
TrophyLifeline Cup
Statistics
Meetings total29
All-time series (AFL only) Sydney Swans 19 wins
GWS Giants 10 wins
Postseason results GWS Giants 3 wins
Sydney Swans 1 win
Largest victorySydney – 129 points
14 July 2013
Longest win streakSydney, 4
28 June 2014–12 June 2016 and 05 August 2023–present
Current win streakSydney, 4
05 August 2023–present

The Sydney Derby, formerly and unofficially called the Battle of the Bridge or the Battle of Sydney,[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 finals series of the 2024 AFL season, the head-to-head score is in favour of the Sydney Swans with 19 wins to 10; the teams have also met four times in finals matches, with Greater Western Sydney winning three finals to Sydney's one.

The match's former nickname, The Battle of the Bridge, was suggested by GWS's inaugural coach Kevin Sheedy. The bridge in question is the Anzac Bridge which connects Eastern and Western Sydney, not the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, which connects North Sydney to the city part of Sydney.[4][5]

History

[edit]
The Sydney Cricket Ground as seen during the 2018 second elimination final (Sydney Derby XVI)

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.[6] 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.[7] 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."[8] 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".[9] 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.[10][11]

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.[12][13] 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.[14] 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.[15]

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,[16] while Sydney's outbreak in July 2021 saw that month's fixture moved first to Mars Stadium in Ballarat,[17] then to Metricon Stadium following a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.[18]

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.[19] 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

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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,[16] Sydney Derby XXI was played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast,[18] and Sydney Derby XXII was played at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.[19]

AFL results

[edit]
Year Date Rd Home Team Score Away Team Score Ground Crowd Result/Winner M H2H
I 2012 24/03 1 Greater Western Sydney 5.7 (37) Sydney 14.16 (100) Stadium Australia 38,203 Sydney 63 +1
II 30/06 14 Sydney 19.18 (132) Greater Western Sydney 5.8 (38) 22,565 Sydney 94 +2
III 2013 30/03 1 Greater Western Sydney 11.10 (76) Sydney 16.10 (106) 23,690 Sydney 30 +3
IV 14/07 16 Sydney 24.27 (171) Greater Western Sydney 5.12 (42) Sydney Cricket Ground 21,757 Sydney 129 +4
V 2014 15/03 1 Greater Western Sydney 15.9 (99) Sydney 9.13 (67) Sydney Showground Stadium 17,102 Greater Western Sydney 32 +3
VI 28/06 15 Sydney 15.16 (106) Greater Western Sydney 8.12 (60) Sydney Cricket Ground 27,778 Sydney 46 +4
VII 2015 18/04 3 Sydney 16.15 (111) Greater Western Sydney 12.18 (90) 31,966 Sydney 21 +5
VIII 22/08 21 Greater Western Sydney 6.8 (44) Sydney 20.13 (133) Sydney Showground Stadium 19,507 Sydney 89 +6
IX 2016 09/04 3 Sydney 14.9 (93) Greater Western Sydney 10.8 (68) Sydney Cricket Ground 37,045 Sydney 25 +7
X 12/06 12 Greater Western Sydney 15.15 (105) Sydney 9.9 (63) Sydney Showground Stadium 21,541 Greater Western Sydney 42 +6
XI 10/09 QF Sydney 7.13 (55) Greater Western Sydney 12.19 (91) Stadium Australia 60,222 Greater Western Sydney 36 +5
XII 2017 22/04 5 Sydney 9.9 (63) Greater Western Sydney 15.15 (105) Sydney Cricket Ground 34,824 Greater Western Sydney 42 +4
XIII 15/07 17 Greater Western Sydney 12.11 (83) Sydney 14.12 (96) Sydney Showground Stadium 21,924 Sydney 13 +5
XIV 2018 07/04 3 Sydney 16.7 (103) Greater Western Sydney 12.15 (87) Sydney Cricket Ground 34,711 Sydney 16 +6
XV 18/08 22 Greater Western Sydney 8.12 (60) Sydney 11.14 (80) Sydney Showground Stadium 21,433 Sydney 20 +7
XVI 08/09 EF Sydney 4.6 (30) Greater Western Sydney 10.19 (79) Sydney Cricket Ground 40,350 Greater Western Sydney 49 +6
XVII 2019 27/04 6 Sydney 12.7 (79) Greater Western Sydney 18.12 (120) 29,780 Greater Western Sydney 41 +5
XVIII 03/08 20 Greater Western Sydney 12.11 (83) Sydney 12.9 (81) Sydney Showground Stadium 16,116 Greater Western Sydney 2 +4
XIX 2020 13/08 12 Sydney 10.6 (66) Greater Western Sydney 3.7 (25) Perth Stadium 6,464[a] Sydney 41 +5
XX 2021 17/04 5 Sydney 10.9 (69) Greater Western Sydney 9.17 (71) Sydney Cricket Ground 33,541 Greater Western Sydney 2 +4
XXI 18/07 18 Greater Western Sydney 11.6 (72) Sydney 15.8 (98) Carrara Stadium 2,374[a] Sydney 26 +5
XXII 28/08 EF Sydney 10.13 (73) Greater Western Sydney 11.8 (74) York Park 8,635 Greater Western Sydney 1 +4
XXIII 2022 19/03 1 Greater Western Sydney 13.14 (92) Sydney 17.10 (112) Stadium Australia 25,572 Sydney 20 +5
XXIV 30/07 20 Sydney 17.10 (112) Greater Western Sydney 5.9 (39) Sydney Cricket Ground 31,916 Sydney 73 +6
XXV 2023 29/04 7 Sydney 16.10 (106) Greater Western Sydney 17.5 (107) 31,615 Greater Western Sydney 1 +5
XXVI 05/08 21 Greater Western Sydney 12.13 (85) Sydney 15.6 (96) Sydney Showground Stadium 19,332 Sydney 11 +6
XXVII 2024 04/05 8 Sydney 14.14 (98) Greater Western Sydney 10.9 (69) Sydney Cricket Ground 40,337 Sydney 29 +7
XXVIII 22/06 15 Greater Western Sydney 11.9 (75) Sydney 15.12 (102) Sydney Showground Stadium 19,751 Sydney 27 +8
XXIX 07/09 QF Sydney 13.10 (88) Greater Western Sydney 12.10 (82) Sydney Cricket Ground 43,189 Sydney 6 +9

Source: Click here

a Crowds impacted by COVID-19

Timeline

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GWS
SYD
GWS
SYD
GWS
SYD
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SYD
GWS
SYD
GWS
SYD
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2012
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2013
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2014
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2015
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2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025

Brett Kirk Medal

[edit]
Former Sydney Swans captain Luke Parker holds the record for most Brett Kirk medals (5).
Current GWS Giants captain Toby Greene is the most recent recipient of the award to represent Greater Western Sydney.

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. Players highlighted in green are current players for either club.

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
2024 XXVII Errol Gulden (2) Sydney
XXVIII Errol Gulden (3) Sydney

NOTE: No medal was awarded in Sydney Derby XI, Sydney Derby XVI, Sydney Derby XXII or Sydney Derby XXIX due to those matches being finals matches.

Most wins

[edit]
Number Player Team Matches
5 Luke Parker Sydney IX (2016)
XIX (2020)
XXI (2021)
XXII, XXIV (2022)
3 Lance Franklin Sydney XIII (2017)
XV (2018)
XX (2021)
3 Kieran Jack Sydney II (2012)
III (2013)
VI (2014)
3 Errol Gulden Sydney XXVI (2023)
XXVII, XXVIII (2024)

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 2024, Qualifying Final 13.10 (88) 12.10 (82) 6
Sydney 2023, Round 21 15.6 (96) 12.13 (85) 11

Player statistics

[edit]

Players highlighted in green are still on AFL lists for either Sydney or Greater Western Sydney. Updated to the end of 2024.

Scores in one game

[edit]
Player Club Date Goals Behinds
Lance Franklin Sydney 2015, Round 3 5 5
Lance Franklin Sydney 2018, Round 22 5 4
Lance Franklin Sydney 2014, Round 15 5 3
Kurt Tippett Sydney 2015, Round 21 5 3
Luke Parker Sydney 2022, Round 1 5 1
Lance Franklin Sydney 2021, Round 5 5 0
Jeremy Cameron Greater Western Sydney 2016, Qualifying Final 4 4
Lance Franklin Sydney 2017, Round 17 4 4

Goal total

[edit]
Lance Franklin has kicked the most goals for Sydney in Sydney Derby history (36).
Player Club Goals Behinds Accuracy Games Goals/Game
Lance Franklin Sydney 50 32 61.0% 17 2.94
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 36 28 56.3% 21 1.71
Jeremy Cameron Greater Western Sydney 33 23 58.2% 16 2.13
Tom Papley Sydney 27 16 62.8% 18 1.50
Isaac Heeney Sydney 25 14 64.1% 20 1.25

Disposals in one game

[edit]
Player Club Date Disposals
Errol Gulden Sydney 2024, Round 15 41
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
Tom Green Greater Western Sydney 2024, Round 15 35

Derbies played

[edit]
Player Club Games
Callan Ward Greater Western Sydney 25
Luke Parker Sydney 24
Lachie Whitfield Greater Western Sydney 23
Josh Kennedy Sydney 22
Jake Lloyd Sydney 22
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 21
Josh Kelly Greater Western Sydney 21
Dane Rampe Sydney 21
Nick Haynes Greater Western Sydney 20
Isaac Heeney Sydney 20
Harry Cunningham Sydney 20
Stephen Coniglio Greater Western Sydney 19

Brownlow votes

[edit]
New South Wales native and AFL Premiership player/coach John Longmire holds the best winning percentage of any coach in Sydney Derby history (68.75%).[clarification needed]

Brownlow Votes as of the end of the 2023 AFL season.

Player Club Votes H&A Average
Luke Parker Sydney 19 24 0.79
Josh Kennedy Sydney 16 22 0.73
Lance Franklin Sydney 15 17 0.88
Shane Mumford Greater Western Sydney & Sydney 8 16 0.5
Kieran Jack Sydney 7 16 0.44

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– 24 17 7 70.83%
Adam Kingsley Greater Western Sydney 2023– 5 1 4 20.00%
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]

Pre-season

[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 GWS and Sydney have played 10 pre-season fixtures including annually from 2013 to 2021.

Year Date Round Home team Away team Score Winner Venue
2011 19 February 2011 1 GWS Giants Sydney 4-83 Sydney Blacktown ISP Oval
2013 24 February 2013 1 GWS Giants Sydney 52-28 GWS Blacktown ISP Oval
2014 20 February 2014 2 GWS Giants Sydney 75-115 Sydney Manuka Oval
2015 22 March 2015 4 GWS Giants Sydney 67-73 Sydney Manuka Oval
2016 4 March 2016 3 Sydney GWS Giants 60-94 GWS Drummoyne Oval
2017 3 March 2017 3 GWS Giants Sydney 42-54 Sydney Blacktown ISP Oval
2018 9 March 2018 3 Sydney GWS Giants 82-71 Sydney Blacktown ISP Oval
2019 2 March 2019 1 GWS Giants Sydney 81-59 GWS Blacktown ISP Oval
2020 29 February 2020 2 GWS Giants Sydney 121-27 GWS Blacktown ISP Oval
2021 7 March 2021 1 GWS Giants Sydney 114-86 GWS Sydney Showground Stadium

AFLW

[edit]
Year Date Round Home team Away team Score Winner Venue Attendance[a]
S7 (2022) 10 September 2022 3 Sydney GWS Giants 18 - 65 GWS 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 85-75 Sydney SCG
2024 22 June 2024 13 GWS Giants Sydney 90-76 GWS Blacktown International Sportspark

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Attendances listed in bold were official sell-outs.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Buddy Franklin stars as Swans outclass Giants in Sydney derby". theaustralian.com.au. The Australian. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  2. ^ Warren, Adrian (9 April 2016). "Swans champ Adam Goodes takes a final bow". The New Daily. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  3. ^ Wu, Andrew. "Sydney Swans remain a top four team says Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron". The Age. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  4. ^ Swans v GWS rivalry is building but yet to ignite, writes Richard Hinds.. dailytelegraph.com.au, June 9, 2016, Retrieved 2024-01-25
  5. ^ "Giants and Swans fight Battle of the Bridge". afl.com.au. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  6. ^ Cordy, Neil (27 June 2014). "Just three years old, the Sydney Swans, GWS Giants rivalry is building into a classic". The Daily Telegraph.
  7. ^ Horne, Ben (10 June 2016). "GWS Giants v Sydney Swans: Young players won't rely on talent to succeed". The Daily Telegraph.
  8. ^ Hinds, Richard (9 June 2016). "Swans v GWS rivalry is building but yet to ignite, writes Richard Hinds". The Daily Telegraph.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Wu, Andrew (9 June 2016). "AFL 2016: Greater Western Sydney Giants want earlier home games for 2017". The Age.
  11. ^ Horne, Ben (15 June 2016). "GWS Giants demand TV prime time exposure on Friday nights". The Daily Telegraph.
  12. ^ Hinds, Richard (10 September 2016). "GWS Giants come of age to upset Sydney Swans in first qualifying final". News.com.au.
  13. ^ "AFL lands NRL huge blow with bumper crowd for Sydney Swans v GWS Giants qualifying final". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 September 2016.
  14. ^ Wu, Andrew (26 August 2018). "Giants to meet Swans in finals after devil of a day against Demons". The Age. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  15. ^ De Silva, Chris (8 September 2018). "GWS Giants humiliate Sydney Swans in elimination final". Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "FIXTURE UPDATE: Giants v Swans R18 venue locked in". AFL.com.au. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Statement: AFL confirms round 18 fixture update". AFL.com.au. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  19. ^ a b "IT'S FINALS TIME: Match-ups, venues revealed for week one". AFL.com.au. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
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