Sydney Derby (AFL)

The Sydney Derby, also known as The Battle of the Bridge,[1][2][3] is an Australian rules football local derby match between the two Sydney based Australian Football League (AFL) clubs, the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants. As of Round 7 of the 2023 season, the head-to-head is in favour of the Sydney Swans by 15 wins to 10; the teams have also met three times in finals matches, with Greater Western Sydney winning each time.

This article is about the Australian Football League Sydney Derby. For other uses, see Sydney Derby (disambiguation).

Sydney Derby (AFL)
Pre-game at Sydney Derby I
Teams
First meeting24 March 2012
(GWS 37–100 Sydney)
Latest meeting28 April 2023
(GWS 107–106 Sydney)
Next meeting4 August 2023
TrophyLifeline Cup
Statistics
Meetings total25
All-time series (AFL only) Sydney Swans 16 wins
GWS Giants 10 wins
Postseason results GWS Giants 3 wins
Sydney Swans 0 wins
Largest victorySydney – 129 points
14 July 2013
Longest win streakSydney, 4
28 June 2014–12 June 2016
Current win streakSydney, 1
05 August 2023–Present

The match's name is somewhat controversial, as the clubs are based in Eastern and Western Sydney respectively, whilst the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge for which the match is named connects North Sydney to the city.[4]

History
The Sydney Cricket Ground as seen during the 2018 second elimination final (Sydney Derby XVI)

The first Sydney Derby was held on 24 March 2012 and attracted a then-Derby record crowd of 38,203. This game was also the first game of the 2012 AFL season and the first AFL premiership match for the Giants. Fielding a very young and inexperienced team, the Giants only won three games in their first two years in the competition and failed to win any Derby games. This led to declining attendances at Sydney Derbies.

The Giants won their first Derby in the opening clash of 2014. Later that year, The Daily Telegraph noted there was 'genuine dislike off the field' between the clubs.[5] Over the subsequent years, the Giants progressively moved up the AFL ladder and got closer to the Swans, who were premiership contenders during this time. The opening Derby of 2015 attracted a crowd of over 30,000—the first time this had occurred since the first Derby. The 2016 Derbies were both well attended—the Swans home game had the second highest attendance in fixture history. The Giants home game was the 10th Sydney Derby. With both teams vying for a top four spot at the end of the season, the game was described as a blockbuster.[6] In the lead up to the game The Daily Telegraph published an article analysing the rivalry. Though noting that Sydney's surprise recruitment of Lance Franklin created some animosity between the clubs, the article went on to say 'What the rivalry needs is a flash point. ... Something to make it clear that when the Swans and Giants meet there is real feeling. Not the slightly awkward yet mutually respectful détente that currently exists'.[7] After the game, the paper declared that an altercation between Steve Johnson and Lance Franklin 'was the moment of sporting theatre that inspired a rivalry to truly ignite'.[8] It was the first AFL game at Sydney Showground Stadium to be declared a sell-out and was Foxtel's highest rating program of the day, second highest rating twilight match of the season and the second-most watched Sydney Derby - behind only the inaugural clash.[9][10]

The first finals series match between the teams was on 10 September 2016, when the Swans hosted the Giants in the 1st Qualifying Final of the 2016 season. The Giants defeated the Swans by 36 points, an historic victory considering it was the Giants' first win in a finals series match and was played before a derby record crowd of 60,222.[11][12] The two teams met again in a finals match in the 2018 second elimination final; it was the first time the sides met in a knock-out match.[13] The Giants registered their biggest-ever victory over the Swans, winning by 49 points in front of a crowd of 40,350—the largest for a Sydney Derby at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[14]

In August 2020, the two teams contested a Sydney Derby at Optus Stadium in Perth due to concerns over a second wave of coronavirus cases in Sydney,[15] while Sydney's outbreak in July 2021 saw that month's fixture moved first to Mars Stadium in Ballarat,[16] then to Metricon Stadium following a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.[17]

The two teams met in a Sydney Derby final for the third time in 2021, with that match taking place at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania. It became the fourth different state to host a Sydney Derby.[18] In front of a crowd of 8,635, the smallest ever Sydney Derby finals crowd and the third-smallest Sydney Derby crowd overall, the Giants defeated the Swans by 1 point, the narrowest winning margin in the derby's history.

Venues

The two venues usually used for the Sydney Derby are the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sydney Showground Stadium. The first three Sydney Derbies and the 2016 finals series derby were held at Stadium Australia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sydney Derby XIX was played at Optus Stadium in Perth,[15] Sydney Derby XXI was played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast[17] and Sydney Derby XXII was played at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.[18] This meant that three of the last four Sydney Derbies took place on neutral territory.

Results

Source: Click here


Timeline
SYD
GWS
SYD
GWS
SYD
GWS
SYD
GWS
SYD
GWS
SYD
GWS
SYD
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2012
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2013
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2014
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2015
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2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024

Brett Kirk Medal
Sydney Swans captain Luke Parker holds the record for most Brett Kirk medals (5), as well as the only player in the derby’s history to win two Brett Kirk medals in one year (2022)

The Brett Kirk Medal is awarded to the player deemed to be the best player on the ground after the match. It is named after Sydney Swans AFL premiership player Brett Kirk, who was born and raised in country New South Wales and played junior football for North Albury.

Year Match Medalist Team
2012 I Josh Kennedy Sydney
II Kieren Jack Sydney
2013 III Kieren Jack (2) Sydney
IV Nick Malceski Sydney
2014 V Callan Ward Greater Western Sydney
VI Kieren Jack (3) Sydney
2015 VII Dan Hannebery Sydney
VIII Josh Kennedy (2) Sydney
2016 IX Luke Parker Sydney
X Heath Shaw Greater Western Sydney
2017 XII Shane Mumford Greater Western Sydney
XIII Lance Franklin Sydney
Callan Ward (2) Greater Western Sydney
2018 XIV Callum Mills Sydney
XV Lance Franklin (2) Sydney
2019 XVII Tim Taranto Greater Western Sydney
XVIII Jacob Hopper Greater Western Sydney
2020 XIX Luke Parker (2) Sydney
2021 XX Lance Franklin (3) Sydney
XXI Luke Parker (3) Sydney
2022 XXIII Luke Parker (4) Sydney
XXIV Luke Parker (5) Sydney
2023 XXV Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney
XXVI Errol Gulden Sydney

NOTE: No medal was awarded in Sydney Derby XI, Sydney Derby XVI or Sydney Derby XXII due to those matches being finals matches.

Statistics

Below are listed statistics from the Battle of the Bridge only.

Highest scores
ClubRoundGoalsBehindsTotal
Sydney 2013, Round 16 24 27 171
Sydney 2015, Round 21 20 13 133
Sydney 2012, Round 14 19 18 132
Greater Western Sydney 2019, Round 6 18 12 120
Sydney 2022, Round 20 17 10 112

Lowest scores
ClubRoundGoalsBehindsTotal
Greater Western Sydney 2020, Round 12 3 7 25
Sydney 2018, Elimination Final 4 6 30
Greater Western Sydney 2012, Round 1 5 7 37
Greater Western Sydney 2012, Round 14 5 8 38
Greater Western Sydney 2022, Round 20 5 9 39

Biggest wins
ClubRoundWinning scoreLosing scoreMargin
Sydney 2013, Round 16 24.27 (171) 5.12 (42) 129
Sydney 2012, Round 14 19.18 (132) 5.8 (38) 94
Sydney 2015, Round 21 20.13 (133) 6.8 (44) 89
Sydney 2022, Round 20 17.10 (112) 5.9 (39) 73
Sydney 2012, Round 1 14.16 (100) 5.7 (37) 63
Greater Western Sydney 2018, Elimination Final 10.19 (79) 4.6 (30) 49

Smallest wins
ClubRoundWinning scoreLosing scoreMargin
Greater Western Sydney 2023, Round 7 17.5 (107) 16.10 (106) 1
Greater Western Sydney 2021, Elimination Final 11.8 (74) 10.13 (73) 1
Greater Western Sydney 2019, Round 20 12.11 (83) 12.9 (81) 2
Greater Western Sydney 2021, Round 5 9.17 (71) 10.9 (69) 2
Sydney 2023, Round 21 15.6 (96) 12.13 (85) 11
Sydney 2017, Round 17 14.12 (96) 12.11 (83) 13

Player statistics

Players highlighted in green are still on AFL lists for either Sydney or Greater Western Sydney.

Goals in one game
PlayerClub DateGoalsBehinds
Lance Franklin Sydney 2015, Round 3 5 5
Lance Franklin Sydney 2018, Round 22 5 4
Lance Franklin Sydney 2014, Round 15 5 3
Kurt Tippett Sydney 2015, Round 21 5 3
Luke Parker Sydney 2022, Round 1 5 1
Lance Franklin Sydney 2021, Round 5 5 0
Jeremy Cameron Greater Western Sydney 2016, Qualifying Final 4 4
Lance Franklin Sydney 2017, Round 17 4 4
Lance Franklin Sydney 2021, Round 18 4 2
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 2016, Round 12 4 2
Issac Heeney Sydney 2019, Round 20 4 2
Lance Franklin Sydney 2016, Round 3 4 1
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 2017, Round 5 4 1
Issac Heeney Sydney 2021, Elimination Final 4 1
Jeremy Cameron Greater Western Sydney 2014, Round 1 4 0
Issac Heeney Sydney 2015, Round 3 4 0
Stephen Coniglio Greater Western Sydney 2019, Round 6 4 0
Tom Papley Sydney 2021, Round 18 4 0
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 2023, Round 7 4 0
Hayden McLean Sydney 2023, Round 21 4 0
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 2021, Elimination Final 3 1
Lance Franklin Sydney 2021, Elimination Final 3 1

Goal total
Lance Franklin has kicked the most goals for Sydney in Sydney Derby history (36).
PlayerClubGoalsBehindsAccuracyGamesGoals/Game
Lance Franklin Sydney 36 28 54.4% 12 2.81
Jeremy Cameron Greater Western Sydney 33 23 58.2% 16 2.13
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 25 15 62.5% 15 1.67
Jonathon Patton Greater Western Sydney 16 6 72.7% 11 1.45
Kieren Jack Sydney 16 10 61.5% 16 1.00
Josh Kennedy Sydney 16 11 59.3% 18 0.89
Tom Papley Sydney 15 12 55.5% 11 1.36
Ben McGlynn Sydney 14 4 77.8% 10 1.40
Kurt Tippett Sydney 13 13 50.0% 8 1.63
Stephen Coniglio Greater Western Sydney 13 3 81.3% 15 0.86

Disposals in one game
PlayerClubDateDisposals
Tom Green Greater Western Sydney 2023, Round 21 38
Jarrad McVeigh Sydney 2012, Round 14 37
Lachie Whitfield Greater Western Sydney 2015, Round 3 37
Ryan O'Keefe Sydney 2012, Round 14 36
Jarrad McVeigh Sydney 2013, Round 16 35
Dan Hannebery Sydney 2015, Round 3 35
Josh Kennedy Sydney 2015, Round 21 35
Luke Parker Sydney 2021, Elimination Final 34
Dan Hannebery Sydney 2013, Round 16 34
Adam Treloar Greater Western Sydney 2014, Round 1 34
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 2019, Round 20 34
Kieren Jack Sydney 2012, Round 14 33
Devon Smith Greater Western Sydney 2015, Round 3 33
Luke Parker Sydney 2018, Round 22 33
Dylan Shiel Greater Western Sydney 2018, Round 22 33
Jacob Hopper Greater Western Sydney 2019, Round 6 33
Luke Parker Sydney 2021, Round 18 31

Derbies played
Player Club Games
Josh Kennedy Sydney 18
Phil Davis Greater Western Sydney 16
Kieren Jack Sydney 16
Luke Parker Sydney 16
Callan Ward Greater Western Sydney 16
Jeremy Cameron Greater Western Sydney 15
Dan Hannebery Sydney 15
Heath Grundy Sydney 15
Dylan Shiel Greater Western Sydney 15
Lachie Whitfield Greater Western Sydney 15
Toby Greene Greater Western Sydney 14
Jarrad McVeigh Sydney 14
Shane Mumford Greater Western Sydney & Sydney 14
Dane Rampe Sydney 14

Brownlow votes
New South Wales native and AFL Premiership player/coach John Longmire holds the best winning percentage of any coach in Sydney Derby history (68.75%).

Brownlow Votes as of the end of the 2018 AFL season.

Player Club Votes H&A Average
Josh Kennedy Sydney 14 15 0.93
Lance Franklin Sydney 9 9 1.00
Shane Mumford Greater Western Sydney & Sydney 8 11 0.73
Kieren Jack Sydney 7 13 0.54
Callan Ward Greater Western Sydney 6 14 0.43

Coach statistics

Coaches highlighted in green are the current head coach for either Sydney or Greater Western Sydney.

CoachClubYearsTotalWinsLossesPercent
John Longmire Sydney 2012– 22 15 7 68.18%
Adam Kingsley Greater Western Sydney 2023– 2 1 1 50.00%
Leon Cameron Greater Western Sydney 2014–2022 15 7 8 46.66%
Kevin Sheedy Greater Western Sydney 2012–2013 4 0 4 0.00%
Mark McVeigh Greater Western Sydney 2022 1 0 1 0.00%

Other Sydney Derbies

AFL Pre-Season results

Like both the "Western Derby" and the "Showdown", pre-season matches do not count towards the overall Sydney Derby results and statistics. However, The first ever match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans occurred during the 2011 pre-season. To date three of the six fixtures have been held in either suburban or regional venues, as part of the restructured pre-season competition to see more matches being held in more non-traditional venues.

AFL Women's
YearDateRoundHome teamAway teamScoreWinnerVenueAttendance[lower-alpha 1]
S7 (2022) 10 September 2022 3 Sydney GWS Giants 18 - 65 Sydney SCG 4,223
2023 3 September 2023 1 Sydney GWS Giants 51 - 46 Sydney North Sydney Oval 5,474

VFL
YearDateRoundHome teamAway teamScoreWinnerVenue
2021 17 April 2021 1 Sydney GWS Giants 96-70 Sydney Tramway Oval
2022 30 July 2022 19 Sydney GWS Giants 77-39 Sydney SCG
2023 5 August 2023 20 GWS Giants Sydney 67-145 Sydney Blacktown International Sportspark

See also

Notes
  1. Attendances listed in bold were official sell-outs.

References
  1. "Buddy Franklin stars as Swans outclass Giants in Sydney derby". theaustralian.com.au. The Australian. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  2. Warren, Adrian (9 April 2016). "Swans champ Adam Goodes takes a final bow". The New Daily. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  3. Wu, Andrew. "Sydney Swans remain a top four team says Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron". The Age. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  4. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/teams/sydney/swans-v-gws-rivalry-is-building-but-yet-to-ignite-writes-richard-hinds/news-story/85eda2c11874a8e8498021f0d48b9eb8
  5. Cordy, Neil (27 June 2014). "Just three years old, the Sydney Swans, GWS Giants rivalry is building into a classic". The Daily Telegraph.
  6. Horne, Ben (10 June 2016). "GWS Giants v Sydney Swans: Young players won't rely on talent to succeed". The Daily Telegraph.
  7. Hinds, Richard (9 June 2016). "Swans v GWS rivalry is building but yet to ignite, writes Richard Hinds". The Daily Telegraph.
  8. Horne, Ben (13 June 2016). "Steve Johnson's bump on Lance Franklin showed GWS is no longer everyone's second favourite team". The Daily Telegraph.
  9. Wu, Andrew (9 June 2016). "AFL 2016: Greater Western Sydney Giants want earlier home games for 2017". The Age.
  10. Horne, Ben (15 June 2016). "GWS Giants demand TV prime time exposure on Friday nights". The Daily Telegraph.
  11. Hinds, Richard (10 September 2016). "GWS Giants come of age to upset Sydney Swans in first qualifying final". News.com.au.
  12. "AFL lands NRL huge blow with bumper crowd for Sydney Swans v GWS Giants qualifying final". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 September 2016.
  13. Wu, Andrew (26 August 2018). "Giants to meet Swans in finals after devil of a day against Demons". The Age. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  14. De Silva, Chris (8 September 2018). "GWS Giants humiliate Sydney Swans in elimination final". Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  15. Barrett, Damian (21 July 2020). "Footy every day: Check out the next four rounds of the AFL's fixture". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  16. "FIXTURE UPDATE: Giants v Swans R18 venue locked in". AFL.com.au. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  17. "Statement: AFL confirms round 18 fixture update". AFL.com.au. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  18. "IT'S FINALS TIME: Match-ups, venues revealed for week one". AFL.com.au. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
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