What’s the Buzz: Why has Sydney refused to embrace the GWS Giants

WHAT’S THE BUZZ II: The GWS Giants are a brilliant young sporting outfit, they’re even AFL premiership favourites. So why is Sydney refusing to embrace them?

Heath Shaw and Callan Ward high five fans after beating the Western Bulldogs.

IT is the brilliant young sporting outfit that Sydney refuses to embrace.

The GWS Giants may have emerged as genuine AFL premiership contenders after just six years in the competition, but very few fans care.

We’re always bagging league about poor crowds and TV ratings yet the AFL escapes the blowtorch and proper scrutiny in Sydney over their $120 million investment in the Giants.

Their free-to-air television ratings in Sydney are embarrassingly bad.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ I: Cheap tickets and $3 meat pies

WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Saint, Sinner and Shoosh

GWS Giants are struggling for TV ratings.

Kids shows like Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam and Giggle and Hoot have all doubled GWS match ratings in the past fortnight. They’ve also been smashed by old movies The First Wives Club and Back to The Future III.

The GWS v Melbourne game averaged only 16,000 viewers a fortnight ago. Peppa Pig had 53,000. Last week’s Fremantle game drew 25,000.

Their average home crowd this year at Spotless Stadium is just 11,200.

This despite the AFL investing more than $120m in GWS in their six seasons in the comp and even more in grassroots football in Sydney’s west.

GWS Giants Phil Davis and Western Bulldogs Jack Redpath face-off. Pic: Michael Klein

Surely this lack of support will put an end to ludicrous suggestions that ANZ Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park should be kept in a circular shape to accommodate the Giants.

Especially when they can’t even half fill Spotless Stadium next door.

A rectangular field will bring rugby league, soccer and rugby union fans much closer to the action when the ground undergoes a $700m renovation in 2019.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan is quick to defend the franchise.

“The Sydney market is clearly a long term play,” he said.

“They’ve got over 21,000 members.

“Since they’ve been introduced the Swans’ membership has doubled as well because it’s stimulated the market.

“I think Sydney will eventually get behind them. They’ve only been winning a lot of games for the last two years.

“They are growing year on year and we always knew it was a hard market.

“Also, participation in the area has doubled. We’re comfortable with where they are at.”