Sydney Derby (AFL)
The Sydney Derby or 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 13 August 2020, the head to head is in favour of the Sydney Swans by twelve wins to seven.
Pre-game at Sydney Derby I | |
First meeting | 24 March 2012 |
---|---|
Latest meeting | 13 August 2020 |
Next meeting | 2021 |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 19 |
All-time series (AFL only) | |
Largest victory | Sydney Swans (129 points; Round 16, 2013) |
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 they progressively moved up the AFL ladder, getting 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 1st 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]
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. Sydney Derby XIX was played at Optus Stadium in Perth.[14]
- Sydney Cricket Ground
(Sydney Swans) - Sydney Showground Stadium
(GWS Giants)
Results
Year | Date | Rd | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Score | Ground | Crowd | Winner | H2H | |
I | 2012 | 24/03 | 1 | 5.7 (37) | 14.16 (100) | Stadium Australia | 38,203 | Sydney by 63 | +1 | ||
II | 30/06 | 14 | 19.18 (132) | 5.8 (38) | Stadium Australia | 22,565 | Sydney by 94 | +2 | |||
III | 2013 | 30/03 | 1 | 11.10 (76) | 16.10 (106) | Stadium Australia | 23,690 | Sydney by 30 | +3 | ||
IV | 14/07 | 16 | 24.27 (171) | 5.12 (42) | SCG | 21,757 | Sydney by 129 | +4 | |||
V | 2014 | 15/03 | 1 | 15.9 (99) | 9.13 (67) | Showground | 17,102 | GWS by 32 | +3 | ||
VI | 28/06 | 15 | 15.16 (106) | 8.12 (60) | SCG | 27,778 | Sydney by 46 | +4 | |||
VII | 2015 | 18/04 | 3 | 16.15 (111) | 12.18 (90) | SCG | 31,966 | Sydney by 21 | +5 | ||
VIII | 22/08 | 21 | 6.8 (44) | 20.13 (133) | Showground | 19,507 | Sydney by 89 | +6 | |||
IX | 2016 | 09/04 | 3 | 14.9 (93) | 10.8 (68) | SCG | 37,045 | Sydney by 25 | +7 | ||
X | 12/06 | 12 | 15.15 (105) | 9.9 (63) | Showground | 21,541 | GWS by 42 | +6 | |||
XI | 10/09 | QF | 7.13 (55) | 12.19 (91) | Stadium Australia | 60,222 | GWS by 36 | +5 | |||
XII | 2017 | 22/02 | 5 | 9.9 (63) | 15.15 (105) | SCG | 34,824 | GWS by 42 | +4 | ||
XIII | 15/07 | 17 | 12.11 (83) | 14.12 (96) | Showground | 21,924 | Sydney by 13 | +5 | |||
XIV | 2018 | 07/04 | 3 | 16.7 (103) | 12.15 (87) | SCG | 34,711 | Sydney by 16 | +6 | ||
XV | 18/08 | 22 | 8.12 (60) | 11.14 (80) | Showground | 21,433 | Sydney by 20 | +7 | |||
XVI | 08/09 | EF | 4.6 (30) | 10.19 (79) | SCG | 40,350 | GWS by 49 | +6 | |||
XVII | 2019 | 27/04 | 6 | 12.7 (79) | 18.12 (120) | SCG | 29,780 | GWS by 41 | +5 | ||
XVIII | 03/08 | 20 | 12.11 (83) | 12.9 (81) | Showground | 16,116 | GWS by 2 | +4 | |||
XIX | 2020 | 13/08 | 12 | 10.6 (66) | 3.7 (25) | Optus Stadium | TBD | Sydney by 41 | +5 |
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 |
NOTE: No medal was awarded in Sydney Derby XI & Sydney Derby XVI due to both matches being a finals match.
Statistics
Below are listed statistics from the Sydney Derby only.
Team statistics
Highest scores
Club | Round | Goals | Behinds | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013, Round 16 | 24 | 27 | 171 | |
2015, Round 21 | 20 | 13 | 133 | |
2012, Round 14 | 19 | 18 | 132 | |
2019, Round 6 | 18 | 12 | 120 | |
2015, Round 3 | 16 | 15 | 111 |
Lowest scores
Club | Round | Goals | Behinds | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020, Round 12 | 3 | 7 | 25 | |
2018, Elimination Final | 4 | 6 | 30 | |
2012, Round 1 | 5 | 7 | 37 | |
2012, Round 14 | 5 | 8 | 38 | |
2013, Round 16 | 5 | 12 | 42 |
Biggest wins
Club | Round | Winning score | Losing score | Margin |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013, Round 16 | 24.27 (171) | 5.12 (42) | 129 | |
2012, Round 14 | 19.18 (132) | 5.8 (38) | 94 | |
2015, Round 21 | 20.13 (133) | 6.8 (44) | 89 | |
2012, Round 1 | 14.16 (100) | 5.7 (37) | 63 | |
2018, Elimination Final | 10.19 (79) | 4.6 (30) | 49 |
Smallest wins
Club | Round | Winning score | Losing score | Margin |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019, Round 20 | 12.11 (83) | 12.9 (81) | 2 | |
2017, Round 17 | 14.12 (96) | 12.11 (83) | 13 | |
2018, Round 3 | 16.7 (103) | 12.15 (87) | 16 | |
2018, Round 22 | 11.14 (80) | 8.12 (60) | 20 | |
2015, Round 3 | 16.15 (111) | 12.18 (90) | 21 |
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 | 2015, Round 3 | 5 | 5 | 35 | |
Lance Franklin | 2018, Round 22 | 5 | 4 | 34 | |
Lance Franklin | 2014, Round 15 | 5 | 3 | 33 | |
Kurt Tippett | 2015, Round 21 | 5 | 3 | 33 | |
Jeremy Cameron | 2016, Qualifying Final | 4 | 4 | 28 | |
Lance Franklin | 2017, Round 17 | 4 | 4 | 28 | |
Toby Greene | 2016, Round 12 | 4 | 2 | 26 | |
Issac Heeney | 2019, Round 20 | 4 | 2 | 26 | |
Lance Franklin | 2016, Round 3 | 4 | 1 | 25 | |
Toby Greene | 2017, Round 5 | 4 | 1 | 25 | |
Jeremy Cameron | 2014, Round 1 | 4 | 0 | 24 | |
Issac Heeney | 2015, Round 3 | 4 | 0 | 24 | |
Stephen Coniglio | 2019, Round 6 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
Goal total
Player | Club | Goals | Behinds | Accuracy | Games | Goals/Game |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeremy Cameron | 32 | 23 | 58.2% | 15 | 2.13 | |
Lance Franklin | 31 | 26 | 54.4% | 11 | 2.81 | |
Toby Greene | 22 | 14 | 61.1% | 14 | 1.57 | |
Jonathon Patton | 16 | 6 | 72.7% | 11 | 1.45 | |
Kieren Jack | 16 | 10 | 61.5% | 16 | 1.00 | |
Josh Kennedy | 16 | 11 | 59.3% | 18 | 0.89 | |
Tom Papley | 14 | 9 | 60.9% | 9 | 1.56 | |
Ben McGlynn | 14 | 4 | 77.8% | 10 | 1.40 | |
Kurt Tippett | 13 | 13 | 50.0% | 8 | 1.63 | |
Stephen Coniglio | 13 | 3 | 81.3% | 13 | 1.00 |
Disposals in one game
Player | Club | Date | Disposals |
---|---|---|---|
Jarrad McVeigh | 2012, Round 14 | 37 | |
Lachie Whitfield | 2015, Round 3 | 37 | |
Ryan O'Keefe | 2012, Round 14 | 36 | |
Jarrad McVeigh | 2013, Round 16 | 35 | |
Dan Hannebery | 2015, Round 3 | 35 | |
Josh Kennedy | 2015, Round 21 | 35 | |
Dan Hannebery | 2013, Round 16 | 34 | |
Adam Treloar | 2014, Round 1 | 34 | |
Toby Greene | 2019, Round 20 | 34 | |
Kieren Jack | 2012, Round 14 | 33 | |
Devon Smith | 2015, Round 3 | 33 | |
Luke Parker | 2018, Round 22 | 33 | |
Dylan Shiel | 2018, Round 22 | 33 | |
Jacob Hopper | 2019, Round 6 | 33 |
Derbies played
Player | Club | Games |
---|---|---|
Josh Kennedy | 18 | |
Phil Davis | 16 | |
Kieren Jack | 16 | |
Luke Parker | 16 | |
Callan Ward | 16 | |
Jeremy Cameron | 15 | |
Dan Hannebery | 15 | |
Heath Grundy | 15 | |
Dylan Shiel | 15 | |
Lachie Whitfield | 15 | |
Toby Greene | 14 | |
Jarrad McVeigh | 14 | |
Shane Mumford | 14 | |
Dane Rampe | 14 |
Brownlow votes
Brownlow Votes as of the end of the 2018 AFL season.
Player | Club | Votes | H&A | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|
Josh Kennedy | 14 | 15 | 0.93 | |
Lance Franklin | 9 | 9 | 1.00 | |
Shane Mumford | 8 | 11 | 0.73 | |
Kieren Jack | 7 | 13 | 0.54 | |
Callan Ward | 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 | 2012–present | 18 | 11 | 7 | 61.11% | |
Leon Cameron | 2014–present | 14 | 7 | 7 | 50.00% | |
Kevin Sheedy | 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 Greater Western Sydney Giants & the Sydney Swans, played as a curtain-raiser for the men's Sydney Derby IX.[15]
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.
- "Swans champ Adam Goodes takes a final bow | The New Daily". 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.
- "GWS Giants come of age to upset Sydney Swans in first qualifying final". News.com.au. 10 September 2016.
- "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.
- 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.
- http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2016-04-06/women-to-take-centre-stage-ahead-of-derby