AFL is growing in Sydney with the success of the Swans, Giants and introduction of GWS’s AFLW team

AFL in New South Wales is flying high with the Swans and Giants dominating on-field and that has been matched by record TV ratings, memberships and crowd numbers.

AFL is enjoying huge growth in New South Wales. Picture: Gregg Porteous

AFL in New South Wales is flying high.

Last season the Sydney Swans were swept away by a wave of Western Bulldogs emotion in the Grand Final, while Greater Western Sydney fell agonisingly short in the preliminary final in just their fifth season.

But 2017 brings plenty of expectation for both Sydney clubs. The Giants are $5 favourites to win the flag with the TAB and the Swans are the third most fancied at $7.50.

The stunning on-field performances were matched by record TV ratings, memberships and crowd numbers.

Until 2016 aggregate attendances hadn’t broken the 500,000 mark but last year the turnstiles spun like a top with 640,000 people showing up at the 27 games in NSW and the ACT.

The academies of both clubs are producing elite local talent which was on show on Grand Final day where Isaac Heeney (Newcastle), Callum Mills (Mosman) and Sam Naismith (Gunnadah) brought NSW numbers in the Swans team to six alongside then co-captains Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh and All-Australian defender Dane Rampe.

Lance Franklin has been huge for the promotion of AFL in Sydney. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It’s a world away from when Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham arrived in Sydney in 1988 and the Swans were in their sixth season in the harbour city and battling to establish a foothold.

“When the Swans came to Sydney they were absolutely nowhere,” Pridham told The Sunday Telegraph.

“They were a transplanted team not materially different to when the NRL put the Rams in Adelaide. It takes time, you can’t build passion and intergenerational support in two or three seasons it’s a long process.”

Pridham witnessed the departures of three top three draft picks Darren Gaspar (pick No.1, 1993), Anthony Rocca (pick No.2, 1994) and Shannon Grant (pick No.3, 1994) all within the space of two years to Melbourne clubs.

He is convinced growing the game in NSW has helped reduce the go-home factor which plagued the Swans in the early days.

“We’ve worked towards developing the game in NSW with the AFL,” Pridham said.

“Getting it into schools and building the love of the game is vital. The effect is kids start playing and it’s a numbers game and the better chance of finding players who can play. The effect is you see the Kieren Jacks, the Mills, the Heeneys, the Rampes, the Naismiths and the McVeighs.

Jacob Hopper joined GWS via the club’s academy and had an immediate impact in his first year, playing in the preliminary final loss to the Bulldogs. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“In an ideal world you’d have an over representation of NSW players. When you look at WA, SA and Victorian clubs the majority of players are from their home states.

“The northern clubs haven’t been able to do it because the players haven’t been there. If all else is equal you remove the go home factor.”

The Giants have no less than 27 former players on other team’s lists after nine trades in the off-season.

GWS chairman Tony Shepherd believes it will take decades for his team to build real success.

“It could take us 20 years to get there,” Shepherd said.

“We might do it sooner than 20 years but it will take a long time to put down permanent roots and continued on field success is paramount. The AFL has invested significantly in community football and it’s having a real effect.

“We have some advantages, the AFL is established here, we have on field success which is vital in the Sydney market and thirdly the academies are critical.”

Isaac Heeney is a home grown Sydney star. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Giants academy has developed plenty of talent from the Riverina but none from Western Sydney or Canberra (following the departure of Jack Steele to St Kilda).

Shepherd believes the elite talent from the area will eventually come but for the moment the academies are helping Aussie rules at the grassroots

“It’s not just the ones who play AFL,” Shepherd said.

“We are getting thousands of others who are trained at the elite level who go back into the community and strengthen AFL across the board.

“This is a far deeper strategy than when the Swans were established. The Swans were hung out to dry. The first 10 years were partially wasted but when the code got serious about it then the Swans really started to have success.”

STATE OF GROWTH

— Sydney Swans membership up 15.7%

— GWS Giants membership up 13.6%

— 2016 NSW/ACT AFL players: 237,549 up (10.4%)

- 2016 NSW/ACT Auskick players: 61,037 (up 18.24%)

- 2016 NSW/ACT AFL 9s players: 7347 (up 12.2%)

- 2016 NSW/ACT female players: 85,919 (up 23%)

Originally published as AFL is growing in Sydney with the success of the Swans, Giants and introduction of GWS’s AFLW team