Sport
Spotless Stadium sets a new crowd record as GWS romps home
A bumper crowd of 21,541 set a new crowd record at Spotless Stadium on Sunday as the GWS Giants beat their cross-town rivals the Sydney Swans by 42 points in the 10th Sydney Derby.
The victory on June 12 was just the second time the Giants have beaten the Sydney Swans and the large crowd at Spotless Stadium was lapping up the home team’s dominance over one of the competition’s best sides.
Defender Heath Shaw led the way – he has 25 disposals, three contested marks and seven rebounds from his defensive 50m – and picked up the Brett Kirk medal for best afield. Toby Greene was prolific with 21 touches and four goals and former Cat Stevie Johnson provided the X-Factor, with two goals.
The Giants have enjoyed a breakout season in 2016 and the young side has turned Spotless Stadium into a fortress for visiting sides. For the first time in the venue’s history it hosted a sold out event for a GWS AFL match.
The western Sydney venue has been a very happy hunting ground for the Giants in 2016. The side has played four matches at the venue and has won all four by an average margin of 58 points (that is the best part of 10 goals!).
And the monstrous wins have come against some of the AFL’s best teams and premiership hopefuls including Hawthorn (75 points), Sydney (42 points) and the Western Bulldogs (25 points). The other home victory was against fellow development team the Gold Coast SUNS, who the Giants pummelled by 91 points in Round 8.
The Giants will play four more matches at Spotless Stadium during the home and away season. The side will play Carlton in Round 14, Collingwood in Round 16 and the two WA teams, West Coast and Fremantle in Rounds 21 and 22 respectively.
While they are currently sitting in sixth position on the ladder with eight wins and four losses, the Giants have a favourable draw for the second half of the year, which will hold them in good stead for a top four finish.
Many AFL supporters are really beginning to sit up and take notice of the GWS Giants with plenty of people now giving them a serious chance to go deep into September. 
If they continue to bring in the big crowds to Spotless Stadium and win the matches they play at their home ground, they are certain to play finals for the first time in the club’s young history.
The 2016 season is wide open at the moment and the stage is set for the Giants to have a big finish. If you love your team, make sure you are in the stands at Spotless Stadium to cheer on the home side as they march towards September action.
Click here to purchase tickets for GWS Giants matches at Spotless Stadium in 2016.
GWS Fixture at Spotless Stadium
Round 14: GWS Giants v Carlton – Saturday June 25
Round 16: GWS Giants v Collingwood – Saturday July 9
Round 21: GWS Giants v West Coast – Saturday August 13
Round 22: GWS Giants v Fremantle – Saturday August 20
