The GIANTS will head home to their heartland in the Riverina for a pre-season AFL practice match against the Swans in Albury at the end of this month.

The cross-town rivals will go head-to-head in the only practice match ahead of the AAMI Community Series as the preparations for round one heat up.

Lavington Sports Ground will host the pre-season Sydney Derby on Friday, February 25 with both teams to host an open training session for members and fans on Thursday evening.

Albury and the Riverina have been part of the GIANTS’ heartland since the club entered the league over a decade ago. Dozens of players from the local area have pulled on the GIANTS jumper at the elite level in both the AFL and AFLW competitions while more than 600 young girls and boys participate in GIANTS Academy programs across the region.

GIANTS coach Leon Cameron, himself born and bred in country Victoria, said the club is excited to be able to take the game to the GIANTS’ heartland.

“35 per cent of our list is made up of players from NSW and the ACT and with seven players hailing directly from the Riverina area, this is a true home game for us,” he said.

“Our players can’t wait to get home and play in front of their families and friends. More importantly, we can’t wait to take a game back to regional NSW after the hardships of the last few years.

“We played AFL and AFLW games in Wagga Wagga in early 2020 and it was a wonderful experience and we expect it will be exactly the same down the road in Albury.

“This is one of only two chances we get to play a full-scale practice match ahead of the season opener so the Albury community will see the best of the best battle it out for round one spots in their own backyard.

“We can’t wait to get down there and encourage everyone to grab a ticket and turn the city orange.”

Of the 15 players on the GIANTS’ list who hail from NSW and the ACT, Riverina locals Jacob Hopper, Harry Perryman, Jarrod Brander, Harry Himmelberg, Matt Flynn and Will Shaw will all put their hands up to play while Albury local Zach Sproule is unfortunately sidelined with a shoulder injury.

The GIANTS will take on the Swans at 6pm on Friday, February 25 at Lavington Sports Ground. 

Entry will be free for 2022 GIANTS members, with match access and ticket details to be confirmed soon. For those who can’t attend the match, all the action will be streamed live on Kayo.

The GIANTS’ AFLW team are currently scheduled to take on Carlton on the same night at Manuka Oval in Canberra with full coverage on the Seven Network, Foxtel, Kayo, the AFLW app and across the GIANTS’ channels.

The GIANTS will also take on the Swans to open the AFL season in round one in a massive Sydney Derby XIII at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park on March 19.

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