As the GIANTS prepare to play the Swans in a JLT Community Series derby at Blacktown International Sportspark on Friday evening, we delved into the photo archives and found some classic snaps from the GIANTS' rich history at the ground.
November 9, 2009 - Team GWS is Born
A large media throng gathers around Kevin Sheedy after he was unveiled as the then-named Team GWS head coach. Snapped by Michael Amendolia, the photo captures the magnitude of the announcement. A legend of the game, the four-time VFL/AFL premiership coach had departed as Essendon coach at the end of the 2007 season but signed on to be the inaugural coach the AFL's newest club.
April 3, 2010 - Team GWS' First Game
Mike Bowers photo captures a special moment; Team GWS' first employee Alan McConnell instructing a young group of players ahead of their first match against the Australian Institute of Sport in early 2010. McConnell would go on to become the GIANTS' Director of Coaching and AFLW Head Coach while the team included current Australian One Day International wicketkeeper Alex Carey as captain. In the middle of the photo you can see current St Kilda forward Josh Bruce.
November 18, 2010 - Folau First
Israel Folau gets a feel for the footy in his first training session with the GIANTS at Blacktown International Sportspark. Folau made a high profile switch from NRL to AFL in 2010 and this photo by Craig Golding shows the marquee signing getting accustomed to his new surroundings and new code.
February 19, 2011 - Dawning of the GIANTS
The GIANTS make their way out onto Blacktown International Sportspark for the first time in their now iconic orange and charcoal. The squad containing a number of under-aged players included now established stars Jeremy Cameron and Dylan Shiel. Craig Golding's snap captures a historic moment as the GIANTS burst onto the AFL landscape for the first time. At the front (with the afro!) is current Melbourne player Tom Bugg. This was the club's first-ever outing as GIANTS in the pre-season competition.
November 25, 2011 - The Class of 2011
The morning after the 2011 NAB AFL Draft, coach Kevin Sheedy (
February 18, 2012 - Ward's Western Reunification
Just a month away from the GIANTS first ever AFL match, co-captain Callan Ward shakes hands with former teammate and Western Bulldogs captain Matthew Boyd ahead of a NAB Cup game at Blacktown International Sportspark. Photographer Michael Wilson captures an interesting moment; just six months prior Ward was dressed in the red, white and blue of the Bulldogs playing in
April 15, 2012 - A Sign of Things to Come
AFL Photos maestro Michael Wilson captures the moment Jeremy Cameron launched himself onto the AFL stage. The then 19-year-old pulled in an absolute screamer against the West Coast Eagles as the GIANTS played the first - and only -
February 24, 2013 - Whitfield's First
The GIANTS number one draft pick from the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, Lachie Whitfield, gets his kick away against Carlton. The exciting midfielder would go on to play 19 games in his debut season, quickly establishing himself as a GIANTS' regular. Craig Golding captures one of
March 7, 2015 - GIANTS Thump Suns
Tom Bugg celebrates a goal with Tom Downie (right) and Josh Kelly (left) as the scoreboard in the background shows the GIANTS 28 points in front of the Suns during a NAB Challenge match. The GIANTS would go on to have a breakthrough season in 2015, missing out on finals by just eight points.
September 11, 2016 - The First Flag
The GIANTS Reserves celebrate one of the most remarkable Grand Final wins over the Swans Reserves in the 2016 NEAFL Grand Final. Photographer Ben Tranter captures the delight of the playing group who minutes earlier won the club its first premiership by four points thanks to a last gasp goal by James Stewart.
February 3, 2017 - AFLW Delight as Setterfield gets Soaked
Photographer Brendon Thorne captures a special moment, AFLW captain Amanda Farrugia and her teammates celebrate their first-ever win. The GIANTS triumphed over Melbourne in a rain-soaked match but the weather eased in time for the GIANTS' celebrations and team song before...
The heavens opened allowing Matt King to snap this photo of a soaked Will Setterfield during the JLT Community Series clash in 2017. It was the GIANTS Academy graduate's first appearance in the senior team as a wild storm lashed Blacktown International Sportspark. 37.8mm of rain fell across Sydney that day but for the brave crowd of
