Tom Green explains how GWS has won over fans in Canberra

GWS has faced a battle on several fronts to win over fans in western Sydney. Tom Green reveals how the club’s efforts in Australia’s capital have brought a new fan base to the orange tsunami.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – JULY 23: Giants players celebrate victory during the round 19 AFL match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Gold Coast Suns at Manuka Oval, on July 23, 2023, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Canberra local Tom Green is adamant the pathway to success for the Giants is to keep a foot in both NSW and the ACT going forward.

The Giants’ presence in the nation’s capital continues to grow as they took part in a series of school visits and community clinics this week in Canberra.

Players from the men’s side visited more than 25 schools and are expected to interact with up to 3000 local and junior footballers from around the territory across three days.

While the club is adamant that Western Sydney will always be their main home, striking a balance between both venues has been a priority. And Green believes that the Giants’ long-term commitment to the ACT is already paying dividends.

Tom Green hopes the Giants investment in his hometown continues long into the future. Picture: GWS Giants

“Rugby union has traditionally been probably the biggest sport in the area,” Green said.

“But I think even in my years that I was here, I noticed a shift sort of away from the traditional codes to AFL.

“We’ve got 5000 members in Canberra which is a fantastic amount. It’s only going to continue to grow … that’s an important demographic that I think we need to continue to consolidate.

“Canberra is Giants territory. We absolutely love coming down here, we get a fantastic crowd and a great turnout every time we come down here.

“It’s something that we need to continue balancing because it is such a great home venue.”

The Giants clearly have a receptive audience anytime they come to town.

Each of their three AFL matches at Manuka Oval last year surpassed 10,000 fans while the club is confident it will exceed last season’s record of more than 6000 members from the ACT.

Part of what makes Canberra so appealing for the Giants is the fact that it is a strong expat community. Many locals come from more footy-strong states like Victoria which makes the cut-through arguably easier than Western Sydney.

The Giants regularly draw big crowds in Canberra and have become the city’s adopted second team. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It’s also a part of the long-term commitment from the club to continue growing out their fanbase.

While they could be investing in purely growing their Western Sydney base, the Giants are locked in until the end of 2032 to take five games a year to Canberra — one pre-season match, three AFL fixtures and one AFLW game.

“It is an important part of our strategy,” GWS chairman Tim Reed said.

“As a new club, you start at zero. You have to win your first fan and then your second fan and then your third fan.

“The bigger the market that you’re tapping into, the more rapidly you grow. And so for us, Canberra has been a big part of that growth.”

The Giants wanted to recognise the support they receive from the ACT by bringing one of their most important regular season games to the territory.

For just the second time in the history, the Giants will play on Anzac Day with a blockbuster night game scheduled against the Lions at Manuka Oval on what is one of the biggest days in the footy calendar.

Their continued presence in the territory has also helped stimulate the growth of local footy with Auskick registrations up 15 per cent in 2024, and overall community numbers trending towards record levels.

The Giants are hopeful of turning Canberra into a fortress long-term. Picture: Brett Hemmings/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Green hopes that the Giants can play a role in growing those participation numbers even further by turning around their Manuka Oval fortunes.

Their win against the Suns in round 19 last season was their first at the venue since 2019. Between 2016 and 2018, they went on a nine-game winning streak at the ground and they hope those good times can return.

“It is something we need to build back into a bit of a fortress,” Green said. “We’ve let it slip over the past couple of years, but it’s a priority for us in building back up.

“Community camps down here and clinics and schools are things that help build that [positivity], because I think they contribute to kids saying …‘Let’s go along to games’ and all of a sudden Manuka has a fantastic crowd.

“It helps lift the momentum and your support from your crowd and your members cannot be understated. That energy it gives you that lift it can give you out there on the field.”