The GWS cheer squad’s hoping for a good year in 2017

IN five years, the GWS Giants have attracted a huge and loyal band of supporters and many of them will hit the road to support their team — including Kath and Seb Dell’Orefice.

Loyal Giants fans Kath and Seb Dell’Orefice from Hammondville plan on being at every game this year to cheer their team on. Picture Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

LATER today when the GWS Giants run on to Blundstone Arena on Hobart’s Eastern Shore, they may be a long way from home, but they’re certainly not going to be alone.

Today many of the passionate and colourfully attired band of fanatical supporters who made the Giants their team are heading to the capital of Australia’s island state.

Loyal Giants fans Kath and Seb Dell’Orefice from Hammondville plan on being at every game this year to cheer their team on. Picture Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

They’re the core members of the GWS cheer squad.

They’ll be holding up the banner the team will run through onto the field and when play starts you’ll find them behind the goalposts, adorned in orange and black, waving and cheering and letting their team know they aren’t this far South alone.

Kath Dell’Orefice leading from the front of the squad. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Leading them will be Seb and Kath Dell’Orefice from Hammondville in southwest Sydney.

“I want them to show the football world. We’re the youngest club so [we] have a lot to prove.,” Mr Dell’Orefice said.

The Giants’s cheer squad in full roar. Kath and Seb Dell’Orefice are on the right. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Dell’Orefices have been Giants fans from day one. Mr Dell’Orefice grew up backing Essendon and a few years ago he was able to convince his wife that Australian rules was a game it’s easy to get passionate about.

When they learnt Sydney was to get a team starting from scratch (Sydney Swans are long term harbour city residents, but are still South Melbourne transplanted North), it didn’t take long for them to get on board.

Seb and Kath Dell’Orefice at their Hammondville home.

Now it’s not just their team, but their boys who’ll run on against North Melbourne.

As Mrs Dell’Orefice told the Leader’s Marie Hogg last year, “We feel like a part of the club, we know these boys — they’ve played kick-to-kick with my kids.

“Honestly it’s like watching 22 of our sons out there.”

Last week those boys racked up the clubs biggest ever winning margin thrashing the Gold Coast Suns 160 to 58.

Toby Greene celebrates after kicking a goal against the Gold Coast Suns in round two. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

For Mr Dell’Orefice, it was a sweet moment.

“We were hoping they’d break the record [for a winning margin} which was around 90. But when it rolled over the 100 mark, it was unbelievable,” said Seb.

But just as heartening for them was amount of support being showed.

“[There were] 8000 people there, and most of them were giants Giants fans and they really gave their support when the team ran out, It was real good cheer [when they ran out for their] first home game.”

Last year, the Giants came within grasp of booking a grand final place, but were knocked out in the preliminary final by the eventual premiers the Western Bulldogs.

The face says it all. One of the dejected Giants fans after their loss in the AFL Preliminary Final between GWS and Western Bulldogs last year. Picture: Toby Zerna

So far they’ve got a win and a loss for the season as do today’s opponents the North Melbourne Kangaroos.

But the fans are hoping last year’s strong showing and the experience it provided will stand them in good stead.

But that success means that now there’s a lot of people watching GWS and it no longer has any authority to claim underdog status.

“Now that we’re known, there’s a lot of pressure,” said Seb. “ It’s not going to be easy. It’s a long season.”

That’s the case for the supporters as well. If you’re watching the game broadcast from Tasmania today you’ll see many of them there.

Toby Greene celebrates with team mates after kicking a goal during the round two AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Gold Coast Suns on April 1.

Next Saturday the Giants head to Canberra to take on Port Adelaide and if you’re watching that game you’ll many of the same faces, who will have made the trip down the Hume.

Mind you the way Port Adelaide supporters live and breath for their team it’s a fair bet their cheer squad will be just as vocal and colourful.

The Dell’Orefice’s will definitely be there and also at as many other games as they can manage. “Won’t be at all of them but [we] will try,” said Mr Dell’Orefice.

Davis backs Josh Kelly

But when it comes to round five against the Swans at the SCG, there’s no maybe about if these diehards will be in attendance.

Apart from Hobart which has none and Melbourne which has more than enough, the AFL now has two team in each state capital.

And in those cities it’s the hometown derby which gets rivalries pumped up.

For Giants fans a win at the SCG against the Sydney Swans is top of the wishlist. Picture: Toby Zerna

Sydney’s no different, and for the Giants and their fans the fact that they’ve never beaten the Swans at the SCG means it’s the game they’re waiting for, and hoping this year’s the one when the club’s next milestone is reached. “We’ve never won there. Always been beaten by the Swans,” Mr Dell’Orefice said.