GWS Giants can’t resist cheeky dig at fallen AFL premiers Collingwood

Prior to the Giants’ defeat against the Western Bulldogs in a huge clash in Ballarat, another AFL club was firmly on GWS’ mind.

The GWS banner ahead of the Bulldogs match. Photo: Fox Sports

GWS lost to the Western Bulldogs 14.14 (98) to 9.7 (61) in a huge, finals-shaping clash in Ballarat, but another AFL club was firmly in the Giants’ thoughts on Sunday.

Barring an all-time thrashing for Carlton against St Kilda later on Sunday, reigning premier Collingwood’s 2024 campaign has come to an end.

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While the Pies overcame Melbourne by 46 points on Friday night, their 12 wins, nine losses and two draws from their 23 matches has them sitting ninth midway through the final round of the season.

And the Giants couldn’t resist a little dig at the Pies, one of the club’s the expansion side has enjoyed a growing rivalry with in recent years.

“Sorry this is unnecessary but we had to do it,” the Giants’ official X account wrote in a post, signing it off with a kiss symbol.

The GWS banner ahead of the Bulldogs match. Photo: Fox Sports

Sunday is a huge clash for both teams. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The post was accompanied by the club’s banner for round 24 against the Dogs, which read: “Both destined for September, with eyes on the prize, we’ll see you soon, we won’t see the pies.”

The banner wasn’t necessarily accurate prior to the game as while the Giants were assured of September action, a loss could have meant the Dogs missed out on the finals.

But they put that concern to bed with an impressive 37-point triumph over GWS.

Still, it was a curious approach from the GWS supporter group ahead of a match that would shape the Giants’ hopes of a first premiership in their short history.

Chasing a club-record eighth consecutive win, the Giants could have sewn up second place on the ladder and a home qualifying final if they overcame the Dogs in the regional setting.

They fell short and fell to fourth on the ladder and a banner taking a shot at Collingwood was an interesting tactic.

While the Swans and the Bulldogs are the Giants’ biggest rivals to date, the heat has been brewing from some of their battles with the Pies.

The Pies took the victory in last year’s preliminary final against GWS. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

GWS stunned Collingwood by four points in a classic preliminary final back in 2019 that led to its first ever grand final appearance, resulting in an 89-point belting against Richmond.

The teams also met in another prelim last season, with the Pies winning that battle by a single point and claiming the flag over Brisbane the following week.

Overall the ledger sits at nine wins for Collingwood and seven for the Giants, who lost their first five match-ups with the Pies from their first tussle in 2012.

There have been a number of reactions to the GWS banner from fans of both clubs on social media, some clever, some predictable.

“Least we know what this feels like,” replied a Collingwood fan, along with a photo of Nick Daicos holding the premiership cup aloft.

“Lol, so thin skinned,” was a reply to that comment.

“How’d the prelim go for ya,” asked another Pies fan, referencing last year’s final.

The Giants do have some fans in Ballarat. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“Stop trying to make the rivalry happen, it’s cringe,” suggested another.

Other fans were enjoying the shot fired across the Collingwood bow.

“Yeah but you know we love unnecessary digs at the pies,” was one comment.

“Fish in a barrel, this one,” offered another.

“Gee, I hope no one’s feelings were hurt,” came another reply. “Nah, I do, just kidding.”

There was also some spice between the Giants and Dogs’ social media teams on Sunday.

After GWS posted a photo on X showing a raft of Bulldogs employees and asking how many people they need to run their Twitter account, the Dogs replied: “Same amount of people you have here supporting you today.”

Woof.

While the Pies will be planning their Mad Monday and off-season trip, the Giants took a two-goal lead with the breeze into quarter-time of their showdown with the Dogs.

The Bulldogs hit back hard in the second quarter, however, building a 17-point lead heading into half-time.

Luke Beveridge’s side then proved too strong the rest of the way as it locked up its own place in September.

Originally published as GWS Giants can’t resist cheeky dig at fallen AFL premiers Collingwood