Greater Western Sydney GIANTS Head Coach Kevin Sheedy has thrown his support behind the Sydney Swans in the lead up to their blockbuster preliminary final against Collingwood.
Wearing a Swans jumper, Sheedy explained he had put aside the cross-town rivalry to support AFL in Sydney.
"It's about Sydney and NSW against the others. If Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh and Craig Bird get to a grand final, it's an enormous promotion for AFL in NSW,” said Sheedy.
"There are a lot of great NSW players in the AFL and we don't hear enough of them."
Swans coach John Longmire couldn't be happier to have the support of the veteran coach.
"I might send him a membership application," Longmire said.
"You don't really understand the challenges you have in Sydney until you've experienced it and lived it. Sheeds understands the greater challenges and the game itself."
Sheedy said it was easy to support whoever was playing Collingwood.
"Beating Collingwood brings a lot of people together," Sheedy said.
The Swans play Collingwood on Friday night at ANZ stadium.
Longmire encouraged AFL fans to get along to the game, which is expected to draw upwards of 50,000 fans.
"I sat in the crowd at the MCG and during the third quarter when Collingwood made their run you could feel it, their fans were going right off," Longmire said.
"That's what youget with a home crowd.
"There's no doubt the Collingwood army will be heading up the Hume Highway to cross the border into NSW.
"Crowds can playa big part in momentum.”
