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GWS Giants

September 2024

Left: Fitzroy’s Alastair Lynch flies high over Ben Buckley (left) as John Longmire watches on. Right: Sydney’s Isaac Heeney launches over GWS defender Jack Buckley.

The remarkable history in Heeney’s magic mark

Hard lessons learned through elite sporting administration taught these two Australian business partners invaluable lessons for navigating the corporate sector.

  • Tom Rabe
The SCG’s members stands are increasingly packed.

‘Had to pay with Qantas points’: The Sydney struggle for Swans tickets

Some SCG members missed out on tickets to the Swans’ AFL preliminary final on Friday, as Sydneysiders flock to see the high-flying team.

  • Maxim Shanahan
The Giants run through their banner for the opening of the 2024 season.

What the data says about the rise of the AFL’s northern fan base

The AFL began this season with an opening round that focused solely on the northern states. Was it worth the gamble?

  • Zoe Samios
The popularity of the Sydney Swans has made it harder to get to games for SCG members.

Swans high means SCG members struggle to get tickets

Sydney Swans’ performance and the growing popularity of AFL in the northern states had thousands flocking to the SCG’s famous stands. The success comes with a catch.

  • Zoe Samios

October 2023

Tim Reed is the new GWS chairman.

BCA boss Tim Reed to guide AFL Giants into new era

Mr Reed becomes the second chairman of the AFL’s western Sydney club, replacing Tony Shepherd who led the Giants since their 2011 inception.

  • Zoe Samios
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Outgoing GWS club president Tony Shepherd

AFL’s succession drama approves a spin-off

An interview in the AFR has opened up a race to see who will replace Tony Shepherd as club president of the GWS Giants.

  • Mark Di Stefano

September 2023

“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys. It was a tough, hard-fought contest,” says Adrain Fonseca of GWS Giants’ loss to Carlton last weekend.

This migrant went from Sydney’s west to two mansions in the east

Adrian Fonseca moved to Australia from India when he was 2. Now he GWS’ deputy chairman and has bought two properties in Sydney’s Bellevue Hill for $30 million.

  • Sally Patten
Ron Barassi as a young man and posing for a portrait in 2010.

‘Extraordinary life’: Sporting icon Ron Barassi dies

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led tributes to Ron Barassi, saying there was no more famous name in football.

  • Updated
  • Anna Harrington and Roger Vaughan

May 2023

Recent Tasmanian star Jack Riewoldt.

Club presidents tick off Tasmanian AFL licence

Tasmania will have an AFL team after the presidents of the 18 existing clubs unanimously agreed to grant the state the league’s 19th licence.

  • Anna Harrington and Ethan James

October 2022

NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn was forced to quit as the head of the Essendon football club in Melbourne because of his Christian beliefs.

Thorburn’s cancelling shows politics is now football’s main game

The AFL prides itself on being a cultural and workplace leader – and unfortunately it is. What the AFL does today is what the government and society will do tomorrow.

  • John Roskam

September 2022

Lance Franklin could deliver Sydney the AFL premiership and Seven a ratings bonanza on Saturday when his side takes on Geelong in the AFL decider.

The Sydney effect: how AFL wins when the Swans make the grand final

Seven and the AFL are set to benefit from a ratings bonanza when Sydney takes on Geelong in Saturday’s AFL decider, history says.

  • Gus McCubbing and Mark Di Stefano

November 2021

Heaps Normal chief executive Andy Miller says a pure play zero alcohol beer company has more credibility than brewing giants having an each way bet.

Zero alcohol brewer Heaps Normal raises $8.5m to fuel growth

Adore Beauty founder Kate Morris and Who Gives a Crap eco toilet paper founder Simon Griffiths are investors.

  • Simon Evans

August 2021

Celebration time: Max Gawn is mobbed after kicking the match-winning goal after the siren.

Demons take top spot in dramatic final round

The final eight for the AFL has been settled, but only after a weekend of  dramatic finishes.

  • Michael Pelly

August 2020

Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc, pictured in South Africa in February, is also part of the the investment group.

Aussie sports stars team up to invest in tech start-ups

A group of Australian athletes representing the NBA, Test cricket, NRL, netball and AFL are investing in the next generation of tech companies.

  • Natasha Gillezeau

May 2020

Jamie Elliott of the Magpies handballs while being tackled during a Collingwood Magpies AFL training session at Holden Centre on Monday.

AFL blockbusters locked in for restart

The AFL has announced a series of heavyweight Thursday and Friday night fixtures as it aims to reopen the 2020 season with a bang next month.

  • Shayne Hope
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April 2020

Virgin was the sponsor and carrier of many sports teams.

Major sports facing Virgin revenue hit

Virgin holds a lucrative major sponsorship deal with the AFL, and teams such as the Giants, Carlton and the Coast Gold, as well as the Supercars.

  • Shayne Hope and Ed Jackson

September 2019

GWS President Tony Shepherd and Richmond Tigers President Peggy O'Neal at the MCG a day ahead of the AFL Grand Final.

A league of their own: AFL draws new boundaries

Saturday's AFL grand final will be a story of vindication and redemption but the two final teams know there is more at stake too.

  • Patrick Durkin
AFL chairman Richard Goyder holds the premiership cup aloft on Thursday. He says he is hoping for a close game despite feeling vindication over the GWS experiment.

AFL lands giant blow in battle for Sydney heartland

In eight years, GWS membership has trebled to over 30,000, participation rates are up in NSW and an extra $54 million has been added to the broadcast rights deal.

  • Patrick Durkin
GWS Giants chairman Tony Shepherd belts out the club song with Stephen Coniglio of the Giants (right).

We're on a winner, says GWS president Tony Shepherd

A grand final berth will boost membership, attendance and corporate support for a club that has done it tough, says Tony Shepherd.

  • Patrick Durkin
Richmond President Peggy O'Neal and CEO Brendon Gale at Punt Road Oval are hungry for more success.

Richmond's message for corporate Australia

Corporate heavyweights and CEOs will descend on the MCG on Friday night for the AFL finals which have become as much business as sport.

  • Patrick Durkin

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/greater-western-sydney-giants-5si