A bold vision

Five years ago, the AFL revealed a bold vision for the future growth of the game. By 2015, an AFL game would be played in New South Wales and Queensland every week.

This vision is fundamental to the expansion of the code and the creation of a truly national footprint. But could it be done sooner?

The AFL Commission, the AFL Executive and the then AFL NSW/ACT General Manger, Dale Holmes believed the expansion of the game in New South Wales could be fast tracked. Holmes had overseen growth of football in NSW since 2004, and by 2007 it was time to realise the vision– Sydney needed a second team sooner.

It was no longer about small steps, the time had come to be bold and ambitious.The AFL shared this vision, and now it was up to Holmes, his team, and the people of Greater Western Sydney, ACT and Southern NSW, to prove they could make it work.

The Challenge

The AFL commission set a clear challenge – meet key performance criteria for the foundation of a sustainable AFL Club, and GWS would be granted the 18th AFL licence.
From the outset it was a giant undertaking, with many saying that it wouldn’t happen … however the Club never faltered, GWS stayed committed to its vision to arrive where it is today – A proud community club, on the brink of its first AFL season… and this only the beginning.

Over 12 months the team worked to put in place the best people and infrastructure to demonstrate to the AFL commission that this could work.

Coach

GWS needed to get the right people behind the Club. Who better to enlist than four-time AFL premiership coach and Australian Football Hall of Fame member Kevin Sheedy – he’s a man with a vision and most importantly he’s a man who loves a challenge.

Club staff

GWS secured some of the most experienced and leading football and sports professionals in the country, including Graeme Allan and Alan McConnell among others.

Players

In late 2009 the AFL commission put established list concessions to ensure that the Greater Western Sydney franchise had every opportunity to build the best list possible. The Club is currently recruiting the best young footballers from across Australia. The response from these footballers and their families has been exceptional. They’re excited by the opportunity and genuinely want to be apart of the growth of the Club. In June 2010, GWS made headlines with the recruitment of NRL star Israel Folau.

Training facility

In 2009 GWS celebrated the opening of Blacktown Olympic Park – the home of GWS. Jointly funded by Blacktown City Council, AFL and Cricket NSW, the purpose built $27.5 million facility boasts two first class AFL/Cricket Ovals with the main oval having a capacity for 10,000 spectators with grandstand seating for 1600. The venue allows GWS to bring pre-season matches and special AFL events to the community, whilst also providing a state of the art facility for the new club and its players.

Partners

Greater Western Sydney is the third-biggest economy in Australia – some refer to it as the growth engine of NSW. Increasingly corporate Australia is recognizing the business sense in partnering with a national sponsorship property in a region that is bigger than France! The club is proud of the corporate support shown to date, from Skoda, our Premier partner, through to our Platinum, Gold and Silver partners. In addition the club has secured more than 75 foundation partners – the response has been overwhelming.

Playing Stadium

In July 2010 the State Government and the AFL officially signed a funding agreement which will allow the redevelopment of the Sydney Showgrounds. As a community-based club, we applaud the government’s decision to revitalise and reinvigorate an existing facility. Team GWS has always remained committed to developing a home ground for our fans which will create an intimate and enjoyable experience, most importantly at a venue that sits proudly within Greater Western Sydney.

New Beginnings

On July 29, 2010 GWS was officially awarded the 18th AFL license.

All that remained was finding the right name. The search for the name was the driving force behind a state-wide community campaign. To ensure they got it right, GWS needed to truly engage with the community to deliver an identity that people could connect with and believe in. The response to that campaign was overwhelming, with nearly 20,000 entries lodged on line.

GWS wouldn’t be here today without the support it received from the community. The Club is committed rewarding the faith the community have shown them and the faith shown by their partners, supporters and their players. GWS is striving to show of Australia what the people of GWS already know – that this is an area on the move, an area of innovation, of ideas, of enthusiasm and opportunity.

The club will continue to be built on four core values intrinsic to the Club, the code and the region - INNOVATION, INTEGRITY INCLUSION  and ASPIRATION.

On November 16, the Club brand was launched to a corporate and community audience of over 800 people at the Sydney Showgrounds.

From that date on we became the GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS.

BEING A GIANT ISN’T ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR BODY
ITS ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR HEART AND YOUR AMBITION

Its about daring to dream big.
Taking every opportunity to challenge yourself.
Realising your full potential, and;
Inspiring others to do the same.
It’s about courage, commitment and determination.
Stepping up, standing tall and succeeding against the odds.
To be the best that we can be.

Dare to Think Like Giants

So much has been done, but the journey is only just beginning. The Club is more committed than ever to establishing a community focused football club that will represent the people of Greater Western Sydney, the ACT and Southern NSW. It’s a GIANT ambition – but together we will achieve it.