Sydney Swans, GWS Giants put differences aside to throw gauntlet down to league heartlands
Fierce rivals on the field, Swans and Giants players put their differences aside for the biggest junior blitz Sydney has seen with players on the frontline in traditional league heartlands.
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They’re the most bitter of rivals on the field, but even the Swans and Giants were able to find a middle ground in one of the biggest junior blitzes Sydney has seen.
The two NSW clubs came together for Local Footy Week with all listed players spread across 19 different venues, tackling league heartlands in the process.
Maroubra Saints junior Errol Gulden was on hand at a packed Heffron Park, with South Sydney’s $25m Centre of Excellence lingering in the background.
The star midfielder said the growth in the region from when he was a junior through to now has been immeasurable.
“Most of my time playing footy here there was one team per age group,” Gulden said.
“I know now that there’s several teams in pretty much every single age group. There’s a lot more girls playing footy now which is awesome.
“AFL NSW/ACT have done a great job of development and introducing footy to schools. It doesn’t mean that all the kids here are going to play footy, I know that most play multiple sports.
“I think that’s the most important things for kids this age is to play as many different sports as they can, and it’s good to see so many numbers down here and footy growing in NSW.”
Saints Auskick coordinates Karl Schubert said the club is seeing first-hand families making the move after giving the sport a try.
“This part of Sydney and most of Sydney is league heartland. NSW is predominantly a league state,” he said.
“More and more we’re seeing whether it’s families looking for something different or just looking to expand their horizons.
“They’re coming and finding the club and loving it. We’ve had families who’ve turned up from league and after about two or three years they’ve decided they’ll give league away.
“When we hear that from families that just reinforces that we’re doing the right thing.
“It’s horses for courses. There’s nothing wrong with league and we work closely with the local touch association. The next challenge isn’t growing numbers but potentially finding space to accommodate those numbers.”
Dane Rampe of the Swans and GWS’s Harry Himmelberg were part of a joint effort at Concord that also saw superstar Toby Greene on hand to mingle with the kids.
Wedged between Sydney Olympic Park and Leichhardt Oval, the pair believed the success of the Sydney clubs has played a role in the tide turning.
“It’s reassuring to know that the game is in a good state at the grassroots level and that everyone is having fun. There’s a lot of numbers here and I guess that’s a testament to the AFL and the work they’ve done here,” Rampe said.
“It’s not about the rivalry today, it’s about seeing the kids and the smiles on their faces so it’s not really that weird at all. It’s all worth it when you see, on the base level of what footy’s all about, kids just going out and having fun with their mates.
“I think the grassroots level is crucial, because it generates interest in families and they want to watch the clubs playing against another top team and I think that’s where it generates participation.”
Himmelberg said the days of junior players not knowing about Aussie rules are over.
“The first few times I did this, the kids would ask ‘how many tries have you scored?’. But the fact I don’t get asked that as much anymore just shows the shift of how many kids are playing AFL as juniors now compared to when I first went to a footy club,” he said.
“I think just being here and showing kids that there is a pathway for the sport, there’s two teams right in their backyard. Also with the two teams performing so well at the moment, first and second on the ladder, can’t be understated.”
Pennant Hills junior James Peatling made the short trip to Baulkham Hills along with Kieren Briggs, recounting the changing sentiment in an area dominated by league and union.
“Growing up around the area and going to school here it was dominated by rugby union and league,” Peatling said.
“Towards the end of my schooling AFL was driven really hard through their programs. It definitely is becoming a dominant sport, especially in primary schools which is great to see.
“If we can be here and they can see us it’s good, it gives them something to look forward to.”
Currently the Swans and Giants occupy the top two spots on the ladder and are set to collide in a huge local derby on May 4.
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