As the GIANTS prepare to play their 50th AFL game, we take a look back at 50 GIANT moments in the club’s history.
1) Alan McConnell becomes the club’s first employee when appointed High Performance Manager of Team GWS – May 21, 20092) Kevin Sheedy named inaugural coach of the GIANTS – November 9, 2009
3) Tony Shepherd announced as the inaugural Chairman of the GIANTS – February 26, 2010
4) The GIANTS announce the signing of their first players – Curtly Hampton, Sam Schulz, Mark Whiley and rugby league star Israel Folau – June 1, 2010
5) The AFL announces an agreement with the NSW Government and Royal Agricultural Society for a $60 million re-development of the Sydney Showgrounds, to become the GIANTS’ home ground – July 29, 2010
6) A 10-year partnership with the ACT Government to play games in Canberra is announced – November 10, 2010
7) The official name, logo and team colours of the GIANTS are announced – November 16, 2010
8) The GIANTS play their first NAB Cup match at Blacktown International Sportspark – February 19, 2011
9) Young Bulldog Callan Ward becomes the first un-contracted player to officially join the GIANTS – September 5, 2011
10) Experienced quartet Luke Power, Chad Cornes, Dean Brogan and James McDonald take on playing/coaching roles for the GIANTS' first season – October 17, 2011
11) David Matthew is appointed Chief Executive Officer of the GIANTS – November 22, 2011
12) The GIANTS dominate the 2011 NAB AFL Draft with 11 of the first 14 picks, locking in a large portion of the club’s first playing list – November 24, 2011
13) Lifebroker joins Skoda as the club’s first co-major partners – November 24, 2011
14) The University of Western Sydney and GIANTS announce a partnership, with the NEAFL side to be called the UWS GIANTS - December 14, 2011
15) Luke Power, Callan Ward and Phil Davis are announced as the inaugural co-captains of the GIANTS – February 14, 2012
16) The GIANTS release the club’s theme song, created by The Cat Empire’s Harry Angus – February 17, 2012
17) The GIANTS unveil their club mascot will be known as G-Man, named by two young fans – February 18, 2012
18) TV presenter and journalist Melissa Doyle is named the GIANTS’ number one ticket holder – February 26, 2012
19) The GIANTS hold their first Australia Post Community Camp in Canberra/ACT, which becomes an annual event – March, 2012
20) It’s announced that the GIANTS and Swans will play for the White Ribbon Cup whenever they meet – March 20, 2012
21) The GIANTS play their first AFL match against the Swans at ANZ Stadium in front of a crowd of 38,203 – March 24, 2012
22) Co-captain Callan Ward kicks the GIANTS' first goal – March 24, 2012
23) Blacktown International Sportspark hosts its first AFL premiership season game between the GIANTS and West Coast – April 15, 2012
24) Callan Ward becomes the first GIANTS player to earn Brownlow Medal votes with one vote in Round 4 against Adelaide – April 21, 2012
25) The GIANTS record their first win, defeating Gold Coast at StarTrack Oval Canberra – May 12, 2012
26) The GIANTS play their first game at their home ground, Spotless Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park – May 26, 2012
27) The GIANTS reach 10,000 members in their first year in the competition – June 29, 2012
28) Kevin Sheedy becomes the first person to reach 1000 games in the AFL/VFL as a player and coach – August 4, 2012
29) The GIANTS record their first win in Sydney, defeating Port Adelaide – August 4, 2012
30) Dom Tyson becomes the 8th GIANTS player nominated as a NAB AFL Rising Star in 2012, joining Jeremy Cameron, Tomas Bugg, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel, Toby Greene, Adam Treloar and Devon Smith, breaking the record for most nominees from one club in a season – September 3, 2012
31) Co-captain Callan Ward wins the inaugural Kevin Sheedy Medal as the GIANTS’ Best and Fairest player – September 6, 2012
32) Leon Cameron joins the GIANTS as Senior Assistant Coach for the 2013 season and is announced as Kevin Sheedy’s successor as Head Coach – October 4, 2012
33) The GIANTS secure Lachie Whitfield, Jono O’Rourke and Lachie Plowman with the first three picks of the 2012 NAB AFL Draft – November 22, 2012
34) The GIANTS’ home ground in Canberra becomes known as StarTrack Oval for the next two seasons – April 12, 2013
35) Narrandera’s Zac Williams becomes the first PM Capital GIANTS Academy player to make his AFL debut – April 27, 2013
36) The GIANTS officially open Tom Wills Oval as the club’s training oval at Sydney Olympic Park, named after the NSW-born pioneer of Australian Rules – May 6, 2013
37) Jeremy Cameron makes the football world take notice as he kicks seven goals against Collingwood at the MCG – July 27, 2013
38) The GIANTS break a 22-game losing streak to defeat Melbourne by 37 points at Spotless Stadium – August 3, 2013
39) 20-year old forward Jeremy Cameron becomes the first GIANTS player to be named in the AFL All-Australian team – September 16, 2013
40) Triple Brownlow Medallist Haydn Bunton Snr is named captain of the ACT/Southern NSW Team of the Century – September 26, 2013
41) Premierships stars Heath Shaw (Collingwood), Josh Hunt (Geelong) and Shane Mumford (Sydney) join the GIANTS – October 2013
42) Virgin Australia become co-major sponsors of the GIANTS for the next five years – October 30, 2013
43) The GIANTS select Tom Boyd and Josh Kelly with the first two picks at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft – November 21, 2013
44) Inaugural Head Coach Kevin Sheedy joins the GIANTS Board of Directors after leading the club in its first two seasons as coach in the AFL – December 19, 2013
45) The GIANTS’ home ground at Sydney Olympic Park becomes known as Spotless Stadium for the next five season – February 5, 2014
46) The GIANTS’ new training facility at Sydney Olympic Park, the Learning Life Centre, is opened by Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey – February 18, 2014
47) The Auburn Tigers women’s AFL team change their name to become the Auburn GIANTS as part of an important community partnership, joining the Dartmoor GIANTS, Concord GIANTS and Manly GIANTS among a host of local and international club partnerships – March 7, 2014
48) The GIANTS beat cross-town rivals the Swans for the first time in the Battle of the Bridge – March 15, 2014
49) The GIANTS draw their highest home crowd at Spotless Stadium with 17,102 attending the Battle of the Bridge, Sydney Derby V – March 15, 2014
50) The GIANTS play their 50th AFL match against the Gold Coast Suns – April 26, 2014
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