Over the past three days, the members, corporate partners, staff, coaches, players and fans of the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have been sharing their memories and favourite moments from our first AFL match on Saturday night.
These moment have ranged from off field to on field, from footy fans to AFL first timers and now we want to know what YOU thought of the game.
Please send your memories and photos through to Rebecca.Mills@gwsgiants.com.au
Here are some of ours:
Trevor Clisby, Captain’s Club Manager - The smiles on every ones faces. We finally have arrived. This a community, a real football club and people feel connected not just watching a team play on the television. The roar of the crowd when Callan kicked our first goal.
Michelle Camp, Merchandise Manager - Hearing a little boy decked out in Giants gear singing the team song at the top of his lungs on the way into the stadium (about 4 years old) and his dad decked out in swans gear! Selling $80k worth of orange!
Beth McLean, Membership and ticketing Manager - Announcing over the radio to our staff that gates are opening for the very first time in 5 mins.
The speech given down in the bowels of the stadium by David Redden (member since day 1 and been at all our games ) to the rest of our banner volunteers just before they were to raise the banner for the very first time - echoes of Kevin Sheedy even at banner level.
When David came off the ground he was in tears. As we were.
Rebecca Mills, Digital Media Co-Ordinator – Watching my favourite photos from the last year flash up on the screen in the 60 second count down and then hearing the roar from the crowd as they counted down with it from 10.
Glenn Pearse, Corporate Partnership Manager - The execution and excitement around our Corporate Partners in all the hospitality rooms - great vibe! The boys entering the arena and Callan's goal being our first ever in an AFL premiership match.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTOS FROM ROUND 1
Melissa Lambert, GIANTS House Mother - The whole night was full of favorites, but l there was a couple of standouts for me. Firstly the Parents of our boys and the emotion and excitement they bought to the game. The second was the countdown on the big screen. That was emotional for me seeing all the footage of the boys from the last year was a tear jerker.
Amanda Cameron: Good First game guys . Even though I don't know the rules very well you guys played well . This was my first ever full AFL match that I have watched . Good luck for the 2012 season
Michael Shillito: 17 debutants, the youngest average age of a team in history - it looked a mismatch on paper. But these Giants have ticker, a fighting spirit. After the Swans kicked those five quick goals to start the third term, the floodgates could so easily have opened and the margin blown out.
But we will never surrender; we'll fight until the end.
Sheeds and the players can be very proud of their efforts. The Giants didn't win, but they showed the footy world they won't be pushovers.
Ed Napiorkowski: Well done boys, a great first game showing the potential you have. Particularly liked the way you supported each other & played as a team rather than seeking individual stats. Keep it up.
Rob Lowe: FANTASTIC effort guys WELL DONE. I said it could be a blood bath and that would have been Ok as it was our first game. It was not even close to that, great game and great crowd shame we didn't hit 40k but nevermind that.
Stand PROUD Stand STRONG Stand as the GIANTS you are.
Through thick and thin, Proud to call myself a foundation member.
Chad McFarland: Tonight any doubt was eliminated... I am a GWS GIANTS supporter. For the first time I was cheering a team other than the swans, I even had my first taste of dislike for Goodsey and didn't care about my favourite player Kieren Jack, and was cheering the Giants as if they were playing the eagles.... which for those who know me is HUGE.
Whilst there were many rookie mistakes, there were many signs of future promise for the Giants roookies, and it's safe to say that after one awesome tackle Izzy (Israel Folau) became one of my favourite players (and soon as this whole house/moving problem is settled, I'll be buying a Giants #4 guernsey). "Experts" thought it's be a 100+ point thrashing, but it was a little over 10 goals, compared to the Suns debut loss of 119 last year, that was amazing. If the Swans were still my no#1 team I would be devastated by a 63-point loss, but for the Giants, I'm so happy, so proud.
They did so well when all the odds were against them. Wooden spooners in their first year... No way! These kids are going to pick up a few wins and finish about 10 - 12th, and maybe pick up to 6 - 7 wins, especially once some of the "more experienced" players come into the side. The Giants might not have won; but they sure have started on a positive note. Don't hate them when they start to dominate in a few years. My true team has finally arrived! Well done to every one at GWS
