The GIANTS are delighted to announce that the medal awarded for best on ground in the Sydney Derby will now also bear the name of GIANTS legend Callan Ward.
Previously named the Brett Kirk Medal in honour of the former Swans hero, the medal will now share the name of both Kirk and Ward after the Swans and the GIANTS agreed to honour the contributions of both club legends.
The medal was first awarded in 2012 to honour the player deemed best on ground in the very first Sydney Derby between the GIANTS and the Swans.
Announced on the eve of Sydney Derby XXXII, the GIANTS and the Swans will now do battle for the freshly minted Kirk-Ward Medal at the SCG on Friday night.
Ward’s addition to the medal comes following a remarkable career which spanned 18 years and saw him become one of the most influential figures in GIANTS history.
Joining the GIANTS for their debut season after 60 games for the Western Bulldogs, Ward was named an inaugural co-captain of the GIANTS before further etching his name into the history books as the club’s first-ever goal kicker, first club champion, and all-time games record holder.
Retiring at the end of last season after 327 games - 267 of those in orange and charcoal – Ward was a fierce competitor and a courageous and natural leader who played an instrumental role in the club’s formation, its culture, and its identity.
In 2018, Ward was voted the AFL’s Most Courageous Player by his peers.
Ward, who has continued his legacy at the club in 2026 through a Business and Football Advisor role, said he was honoured by the tribute.
“Playing in the Derbies was always something I’d pencil in as soon as the fixture came out,” Ward said.
“As players we absolutely loved everything about it – the build-up, the competitiveness, the rivalry, the contest.
“To have anything named in my honour is truly humbling and I feel so grateful to Brett Kirk, the GIANTS, the Swans, and of course the AFL.
“I played against Brett for three years at the start of my career and always loved the opportunity to come up against such a tough competitor. To now be able to share a medal with him is something I never imagined, and something I am very proud of.
“Building the game in Sydney, and in particular Western Sydney, has been one of the most important things about arriving at the club in its infancy, and the Derbies always draw a lot of attention because of the way the game is played between both teams. It’s always a great spectacle and both teams obviously want to win – it really does feel like a finals-like atmosphere.”
Kirk said there was no more fitting GIANT to receive the honour than Ward.
“I’m extremely honoured that someone of the calibre of Wardy has joined me on the medal. I think he’s the ideal representative from the GIANTS,” Kirk said.
“Having watched him play for many years, I always admired Wardy’s toughness and his ability to put the team first. He has always led from the front and has been a great role model for his club.”
The Kirk-Ward Medal will be presented under its new name for the first time on Friday when the Swans and the GIANTS meet for Sydney Derby XXXII under the Friday night lights of the SCG.
