The GIANTS’ 54-point win over North Melbourne on Sunday was more than just a crucial victory in the context of the season, it was a fitting way to end a fantastic weekend celebrating the amazing support the club continues to receive from the nation’s capital.
Celebrating Canberra Member Thanks Round against the Kangaroos, the GIANTS used the weekend to show their appreciation for the tremendous support that the Canberra region continues to provide the GIANTS.
CANBERRA FAN DAY
Starting off Canberra Member Thanks Round was a family-fun Canberra Fan Day which saw hundreds of GIANTS members and fans flock to Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka to get up close and personal with their favourite GIANTS stars.
Held in conjunction with the side’s captain’s run, GIANTS fans in Canberra were given the opportunity to watch the side go through its final on-field preparations before getting to mingle with their favourite GIANTS for a selfie or signature.
Adding to the occasion was the appearance of retiring GIANTS legend Callan Ward, who took part in an on field Q&A at the Fan Day to give GIANTS members in Canberra a chance to hear how he’s feeling about his recent retirement and the special memories he has following his remarkable 18-year career.
WARDY SAYS THANKYOU!
The special moment also allowed GIANTS members and fans in the nation’s capital a chance to thank Wardy for everything that he’s done for the club and congratulate him on an amazing career.
A special notebook was also passed around to give those in attendance the opportunity to write a special message to Wardy as he sails off into the retirement sunset.
Two GIANTS fans were also lucky enough to win signed GIANTS hats from the man himself and share a nice moment with the outgoing champion.
One of those was Ursulla Russell, a GIANTS member of 14 years who drove six hours from Shepparton on Saturday morning to be part of the Canberra Fan Day prior to Sunday’s clash.
“I was starstruck,” Ursulla said following her meet-and-greet with Callan Ward.
“Every time Cal would get the ball in a game I’d yell out ‘fine wine’ cos he just aged so well, and it was amazing getting a chance to chat to him in person after such a fantastic career.”
‘I WAS DESTINED TO BE A GIANT'
It was a special moment for Ursulla who shared that despite being part of a ‘sports mad family’ she had never committed to an AFL team until the GIANTS came along.
“Growing up, my dad went for the Swans but I didn’t follow them but I loved AFL and watched it religiously and as soon as they announced the GIANTS were entering the AFL I was like ‘oh my god I’ve got a team,’ I was destined to be a GIANT,” she said.
“Since then I’ve been a member and a 200 Club member since that’s been available and I go to a couple of games in Sydney every year and a couple in Canberra and go to as many finals as I can.”
Heading along to Sunday’s game against North Melbourne, the mad GIANTS fan admitted there were nerves ahead of a clash crucial to the club’s finals chances.
“I’m anxious,” she laughed on Saturday afternoon.
“I’d love to see us get a win to help finish the season strong and really push for that finals position. Let’s hope we can get the win.”
GAME DAY
After Saturday’s Fan Day was done it was game day, with a beautiful blue sky in Canberra setting a picture-perfect scene at Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka on Sunday, as a near sold-out crowd saw the GIANTS welcome the Roos to the nation’s capital.
While football was the headline act, thanking Canberra members for their continued and unwavering support of the GIANTS was a key focus of the club’s round 22 clash.
PRE-GAME EXPERIENCE
First on the agenda for Sunday was a treat for 20 lucky GIANTS fans who had their names drawn out for a special pre-game boundary experience with Callan Ward.
Long-time GIANTS members Amy Mayes and her family of four were part of those lucky enough to feature in the special experience with the retiring club legend.
As Amy’s favourite player, meeting Ward was a dream come true.
“It was amazing we got to say thank you. We were so lucky,” she said.
“He’s just been such a wonderful ambassador for the game.”
Amy shared how warm and genuine he was—especially with children.
“He’s so generous with his time.
“He seems like such a nice guy - every time we go to club events he’s always really nice and engaging with kids.”
‘IT WAS FANTASTIC FROM CAL AND THE CLUB TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CANBERRA FANS’
Amy said her family felt incredibly lucky to have this experience.
“I said out loud, ‘Oh my god, Cal is coming over,’” she laughed, remembering the surreal moment he approached on Sunday before the game.
“When a player of that calibre goes out the way he did it was really sad for fans like us in Canberra. We don’t get to go to many games but we love them [the GIANTS] from a distance.
“It was fantastic from Cal and the club to acknowledge the Canberra fans and give us an opportunity to say thanks for what an amazing career he’s had.”
Daniel Redondo and his son Mason - GIANTS members for the past four years - were also among the lucky GIANTS members to take part in the pre-game boundary experience with Wardy.
“Oh, it was great,” Daniel said.
“The GIANTS do a great job in Canberra. We’ve met most of the players a couple of times, which has been fantastic.”
Daniel said his son Mason, a big fan of Wardy, was thrilled to get a photo with the retiring champion—and even managed to snag one with Harry Himmelberg as well.
“He got a great photo with Callan Ward, and also Himmelberg, so that was awesome for him.
“He's 12 years old and he really likes Callan Ward so that was really great for him. It was great to see Callan walking around and interacting with everyone.”
'IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE’
To further celebrate and thank the amazing Canberra fans, the club had Wardy present a signed GIANTS jumper on field before the game to 15 lucky members drawn from those who have attended the most GIANTS home games throughout the year.
Ali Sewter, a proud Canberra local and a GIANTS foundation member, was one of those to receive a signed jumper from the GIANTS inaugural co-captain.
“It was really exciting. It was a dream come true really. I got to meet Cal Ward and I got a big hug from him and I told him he’s a national treasure,” she said.
“His imprint on the club and his legacy is going to last for a long time, and I told him what an amazing impact he’s had and that we’ll all miss him.”
For Ali, GIANTS games have become more than just the footy, it’s become a part of her family.
“I’ve been a foundation member since the beginning and been to all of the games.
“We have 10 seats at the front and our family from Sydney come down and watch it with us for the three games a year so it’s more than just footy for us, it’s got a real family significance.”
As for her new prized possession, the signed GIANTS jumper, Ali already had plans in motion to have it displayed.
“I’m going to get it framed and get it hung. I work in a school so the kids will love it.”
JUNIOR RUN OUT
As momentum began to build for the crucial clash with the Roos, the GIANTS said further thanks to a special group of some of the GANTS’ youngest Canberra-based members, with 23 GIANTS Recruits members chosen to run out with the team for the big clash with North Melbourne.
Led by youngster Deandre Williams – who also won a New Balance gift voucher – the young stars of the future got to run out with the entire AFL side hand-in-hand in a special moment for the young fans.
Watching the side run out with the youngsters as part of the Guard of Honour on Sunday was Canberra-based GIANTS member Lisa Lockey.
“Me and my husband went along and got to stand on the side when the players ran out which was pretty cool,” Lisa said.
“We actually took a young family friend Adam along and it was his first AFL game, and it was great to show him what it’s all about and it was a great experience – he loved it.”
Further celebration of our loyal Canberra Members took place soon after the GIANTS hit the field to take on the Roos, with Canberra’s Cathy Tighe named the lucky winner of a $250 Reflections Holiday Parks voucher and a future pre-game experience as Sunday’s Member of the Match.
RECORD-BREAKING WIN
With all of the pre-game Canberra Member Thanks Round festivities done for the day, it was time to give the passionate Canberra members one huge thanks in the best possible way, with a GIANT win over the Kangaroos.
With proud Canberran Tom Green starring alongside teammates Finn Callaghan, Aaron Cadman, and skipper Toby Greene, the GIANTS registered their 14th win of the season to sit inside the top eight with just two rounds remaining.
The club’s biggest-ever win over the Kangaroos, Sunday’s result was a fitting way to end a weekend celebrating the amazing support the club receives from the nation’s capital.
The cherry on top for GIANTS members on Sunday is that every member who attended the clash will go into the draw to win a GIANT Grand Final Experience, including two (2) tickets to the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final, accommodation and flights*.
SYDNEY’S TURN
Off the back of our win against the Kangaroos at Corroboree Group Oval, where our Canberra Members celebrated Callan Ward’s incredible career and we thanked our loyal GIANTS members with giveaways and activities throughout game day, we now turn our eyes to round 24 at ENGIE Stadium.
On Sunday, August 24, we’ll do it all again, taking the time to thank you, our members, for your commitment and passion in 2025 and farewell a GIANTS legend, Callan Ward, in his final home game.
Click here to purchase tickets now!
