Riverina AFL fans get ready for AFL and AFLW matches between GWS Giants and Richmond Tigers in Wagga
Wagga will be a sea of orange, yellow and black this weekend as a rematch between the 2019 grand finalists is set to bring in thousands of fans to the city.
The Wagga News
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Wagga News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- How mum’s tough love helped create a Giant
- Young woman killed in crash had ‘heart of gold’
- Riverina receives ‘first of a kind’ boost for melanoma patients
Riverina AFL fans are gearing up for a massive weekend of elite-level football as the most anticipated pre-season match between last season’s grand finalists GWS Giants and Richmond will be played at Robertson Oval this Sunday.
In a major win for Wagga, both clubs’ AFLW teams will also play at the same venue on Saturday, set to attract thousands of supporters to the city.
Among those keen for the games to roll around is Wagga man Terry Anning, who said the highest level of football being played in the region meant a lot.
“To bring two class teams to Wagga means the city can host big events,” he said.
Mr Anning said fellow “residents need to make the most of these games” to support the code not only at the elite level but also at the grassroots.
He said he hoped there would also be visitors who would inject a much-needed boost to local businesses.
The Sydney Swans fan said he would be going to the games this weekend to support the Giants, saying they were the “next best thing”.
“Looking forward to seeing the back line of GWS — they’re pretty good,” he said.
The games come after Wagga Council and AFL NSW/ACT partnered to bring the teams to the region.
The last AFL match played in Wagga was a pre-season fixture between Collingwood and North Melbourne at Robertson Oval in March 2016.
Mayor Greg Conkey said the double header was “huge” for the city and the region.
“Riverina sports fans of all codes will recognise the importance of being able to host these two elite clubs in a regional city”, Cr Conkey said.
Across Wagga, the council has installed flags of various GWS Giants players while the 2019 AFL Premiership Cup is on tour across the Riverina.
The last time the cup was in the region was back in 2005 when the Swans were premiers.
Marc Geppert, regional manager for southern NSW AFL, said the promotions leading up to the games were positive.
“It's great, I can't remember there being so much content around a game,” he said.
“Not only have we got a double header with the women's game and the men's game, but we've also got the premiership cup and open training sessions where people can watch the stars train.
“It's fantastic for the region and a big thing for us as a code … and to see the passion of supporters from both camps,” he said.
Similarly, Rebecca McGowan, talent and events manager for AFL NSW/ACT, said “people have been a bit blown away that the cup is here”.
“It's not very often that it comes out of that glass cabinet, and not to regional areas,” she said.
The council agreed at a meeting last September to negotiate with AFL NSW/ACT around a two-year community partnership.
The partnership discussions also include the NSW AFL Hall of Fame dinner being hosted in the city in 2021, facility development, multicultural programs and talent carnivals.
The AFLW game begins at 5.10pm on Saturday and the AFL game begins at 12.40pm on Sunday.