The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS will kick off their first ever AFL season with an historic stand alone round one match against cross town rivals, the Sydney Swans on Saturday March 24 at ANZ Stadium.
In a first for the AFL the GIANTS and Swans will open the 2012 Toyota AFL Premiership Season in Sydney with the highly anticipated local derby.
The release of the 2012 fixture today will see the GIANTS will play 11 home games in their inaugural season and, in a first for AFL, GIANTS fans will have the chance to see their club in action at four different venues across Sydney and Canberra.
Blacktown International Sportspark will host its very first AFL premiership season match when the West Coast Eagles travel to Blacktown for the round three clash against the GIANTS on Sunday April 15.
GIANTS newly developed home ground, SKODA Stadium, will officially open with the highly anticipated match between the GIANTS and Essendon, with Head Coach Kevin Sheedy taking on his former club for the first time.
SKODA Stadium will feature six blockbuster matches in 2012, including 2010 Premiers Collingwood, who will travel to Western Sydney for the match in Round 18 on Saturday July 28.
The GIANTS are thrilled to bring three big matches to Manuka Oval, with the Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast Suns and the Melbourne Football club all set to travel to the nation’s capital to take on the GIANTS.
Acting Chief Executive David Matthews said the club was delighted with the fixture which presented great opportunities for the clubs and its members and supporters in its first year in the AFL competition.
“We have an excellent fixture with matches at SKODA Stadium, Blacktown International Sportspark, Manuka Oval and ANZ Stadium as we build our supporter base across Greater Western Sydney and the ACT,” he said.
“We are particularly pleased to have been able to secure a match at Blacktown International Sportspark and I want to thank the AFL and Blacktown City Council for making this happen. We hope this game will be a sell-out and great night for the whole community.
“We are also excited about our first game at SKODA Stadium against Essendon which will see Kevin Sheedy and James Hird go head to head for the first time. To host a club like Collingwood at SKODA Stadium in Round 18 is also a wonderful opportunity for the Giants and our the game here in Sydney.
“As the AFL's 18th and newest club we don't underestimate how tough a competition it is particularly for a young emerging team.”
Matthews said the GIANTS administration team had put a lot of work into its submission for the 2012 fixture and was now looking forward to the NAB AFL Draft in Sydney on November 24 where it has 11 of the first 14 selections.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to secure some of the best young talent in Australia to compliment the players we have already signed like Tom Scully, Phil Davis, Callan Ward,” he said.
