Greater Western Sydney star Dylan Shiel encourages Giants supporters to make themselves heard

THE Giants have wasted no time ramming home the message that ANZ Stadium is GWS “heartland”.

Dylan Shiel. Picture: Toby Zerna

THE Giants have wasted no time ramming home the message that ANZ Stadium is GWS “heartland”.

Whereas Sydney never wanted to play finals football at Sydney Olympic Park, their rivals are claiming the scheduling decision made by the AFL to be a genuine bonus — declaring “the west is our home’’.

There’s a subliminal psychological advantage that goes to the fourth-placed Giants, who can prey on the apathy the minor premier Swans have shown towards ANZ.

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Giants star Dylan Shiel is confident his club’s ever growing band of supporters will jump at the golden chance to make themselves heard in a final being hosted in their own backyard.

“We’re pretty happy obviously playing at ANZ,” Shiel told The Daily Telegraph.

Dylan Shiel is confident playing at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s the heartland of Greater Western Sydney and 100 metres from Spotless Stadium and a couple of hundred from our training base Tom Willis Oval.

“It’s great for us to be playing there but it’s also great for our fans. The accessibility to the ground is going to be great for them. So we encourage as many people to head to the game as possible — for us.

“Being at this club from the start, I’ve seen the support grow each year and particularly with these derbies … the more we play the more support it seems like we have. The players really notice it, it makes a real difference.”

Giants general manager of football Wayne Campbell said the ANZ scheduling only enhanced the club’s historic debut on the AFL’s biggest stage.

GWS are none from three at ANZ in their history, while the Swans record there is strong.

However, neither team has played there in 2016 — evening the playing field once again for the Giants.

“Our club has always been strong that the west is our home. It’s a really exciting day for NSW footy … we can’t get away from the fact it’s a really big moment for the club to play our first final,” Campbell said.

“The fact it’s in Sydney and it’s in western Sydney is a real bonus for us. It’s an exciting time and we won’t be shying away from that. It’s a finals game — it’s going to be a big game, and our boys will really look forward to it.”

The teams won’t go to battle until Saturday week, but there is a feeling already at the Giants that ticket sales will be through the roof among their fans and members.

The Giants celebrate a goal against Sydney last time they met. Picture. Phil Hillyard

The last derby clash between the teams at Spotless Stadium was a sellout, and the Giants feel that the momentum they’re gaining out west will only be amplified for a final.

It seemed as though the Giants would miss the top four, but now they have a huge opportunity to crack the finals wide open.

“The sentiment has been really strong from our fans. A that we’ve finished in the top four, and B that we get to play in western Sydney, just down the road where our training base is and across the road from our home ground,” said Campbell.

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“In terms of being able to get there for our fans it’s a bonus. In terms of where we actually get to play, you take what comes your way so we’ll take that.”

The Giants will have at least one training session at ANZ next week to familiarise themselves with the conditions.

Originally published as Greater Western Sydney star Dylan Shiel encourages Giants supporters to make themselves heard