- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
When the topic of where to place a 20th AFL team arises, there’s one place that makes the most sense.
A fast-growing population, with more unrepresented AFL fans than any other city – Canberra should be the clear frontrunner.
But then comes the predictable refrain: “What about the Giants?”
The introduction of a 20th team represents an enormous opportunity for Canberra; a team of our own to unite behind. The city should not be denied that opportunity to prop up a team three hours away.
The Giants have been an important part of the AFL scene in Canberra since their inaugural season. The ACT Government paying for three men’s games a year has provided fans a stable dose of top flight footy. We can be grateful for what the Giants have brought to the capital, but we owe them no loyalty.
When the time comes for the 20th team, our relationship will have run its course. We have both grown and it will be time for the Giants to let Canberra go. There’s no reason we can’t part amicably.
Conversely, Canberrans would rightly be disgruntled if the Giants were the reason we were ignored.
The current relationship between the Giants and Canberra is somewhat lopsided.
Canberra has been a supporting partner. The city provides consistently good crowds and the ACT Government contributes millions of dollars every year. But the capital will always play second fiddle. Canberra only hosts three men’s games a year, and rarely against the largest clubs. The Giants have never brought Carlton, Essendon or Collingwood to Manuka in the regular men’s season, nor have they brought any finals.
And that’s fine.
Western Sydney is, and should be, the Giants’ focus. But it means that Canberra can never hope for more. Canberra is screaming out for more games, but the Giants have no more to give. In fact, they should be playing fewer games outside of Sydney. Western Sydney and Canberra are two separate markets – and one club is not big enough to give both markets what they need.
That is why a Canberra team could actually be the best thing that happens to GWS.
The Giants’ relationship with Canberra is holding them back from growing in Sydney. Playing home games interstate halts momentum and feeds the perception they have one foot out the door. It leads to constant calls to just relocate to Canberra (which will no doubt pop up in the comment section). None of this helps grow their core base in Sydney.
As a long-term Giants member, I am truly appreciative for what they have done for footy in the capital. Just because it has been a relationship of convenience doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a good relationship.
But we want more, we need more, and we have shown that we are capable of having more. And if the Giants were the reason Canberra missed the 20th team, that would sour what has been a good relationship.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.