Giants star Tom Green talks his role design of GWS’ Anzac Day guernsey

Giants superstar Tom Green doesn’t need much incentive to put on a show in Canberra, but the clash with Brisbane will be extra special for the midfielder after his role in creating GWS’ guernsey.

Tom Green and Finn Callaghan in the Giants’ new Anzac guernsey. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Tom Green never needs too much incentive to put on a show in Canberra. Every time the Giants play in his hometown, he has his own fan club sitting together behind the Manuka Oval boundary line.

However, the 23-year-old knows Thursday night’s clash against the Lions will be one of the most significant in his career to date.

The midfielder played a big role in designing the guernsey that the Giants will wear on Anzac Day, combining with the Australian Defence Force to help create a jumper honouring his links to the Army.

The camouflage design on the Giants’ guernsey has been inspired by Green’s own links to the army. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“It is a really important day in the Australian calendar,” Green said. “It’s made more special by my father being a helicopter pilot in the army.

“I was approached a couple of years ago looking forward to helping design (the guernsey). It’s something I’m really proud of, I think it looks cool with the camouflage inspiration from what the army wears, I think it looks good and hopefully, the fans agree.

“You look at other sports that have done similar things, Spurs (NBA) used to have the camouflage jersey so I thought that was cool. To bring it in for us is really nice.”

While he didn’t go to his dad for too much advice on the design – “I more took it off my own bat,” Green said – he did find himself looking through old photo books to find different sources of inspiration.

“There’s a photo of me as a kid with my brothers and dad, for a day at school and we wanted to go as soldiers so dad decked us out in proper camouflage and face paint,” Green said.

“It’s a very funny and cute photo I suppose as a kid.”

As part of the Giants’ commemorations, the Australian Defence Force and NSW Police women’s team will also play a curtain raiser before the AFL match begins.

It will be the second time the Giants have played at Manuka Oval on Anzac Day following a game against the Suns in 2015.

Green will be looking to spearhead the Giants’ midfield after they were outplayed in their first loss of the season against Carlton. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

However, Green is hopeful this can become a permanent fixture on the AFL calendar particularly with so many links between Canberra and the armed forces.

“I love playing in Canberra, so being able to host it there is amazing,” he said.

“I think the traditional Anzac game is such a fantastic occasion and we’re not going to try and pretend this is on a similar scale, but to get the opportunity to play on Anzac Day is great and something I’m really looking forward to being a part of.

“I love seeing us on any big stage, so this is another we can hopefully make a bit of an event and turn it into a regular fixture.”

Originally published as Giants star Tom Green talks his role design of GWS’ Anzac Day guernsey