Sydney and GWS have taken aim at the AFL for diminishing the Sydney derby by scheduling the Friday night game to clash with Geelong’s bumper game against the Western Bulldogs.
The first bounce between the Cats and Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium is at 7.20pm AEST, and the Swans and Giants get started at the SCG just 30 minutes later.
The cross-town rivals are both dumbfounded by the decision which effectively downgrades what the Sydneysiders believe should be a showcase match.
“There have been some good games over the last few years especially so it’s a bit frustrating,” said GWS defender Lachie Ash.
“We sort of don’t get that spot to ourselves in a big game.
“I think the town of Sydney or the city of Sydney gets right behind it, it’s normally a packed out game, great atmosphere.
“It’d be great to have it on the main stage. I think we deserve that.”
Despite a crucial grudge match coming up, both teams were united in their stance on feeling confused and disrespected by the AFL.
“It’s disappointing,” said Sydney defender Nick Blakey.
“If you watch the games and the way that both teams go about it, two competitive teams at the top of their game and in the most competitive sporting market in the world. So it doesn’t make much sense.
“In future hopefully it can be a standalone fixture.
“It’s a strange one that — I don’t know when there’s last been two games on Friday night and why they’ve decided to do it now.”
It will be the first time this season that there has been a clash of fixtures for Friday night footy.
The AFL’s puzzling scheduling move contradicts the league’s push to build momentum in the northern states through initiatives like Opening Round.
The Swans kicked off their season with two games at the SCG, but since then haven’t played at home.
Now after a month on the road, this long stretch of away games could be detrimental to the local promotion of the game in Sydney.
“It’s been strange that we haven’t played there (SCG) for a bit,” said Blakey.
“There’s no better place for us to play than out here in front of our fans and hopefully it’s another packed-out game.”
Growing the game in NSW is an ongoing objective for the AFL, but the Giants’ and Swans’ discontent with the schedule comes just days after the poor state of junior participation in Western Sydney was put under the spotlight.
The league’s chief operating officer Tom Harley last week conceded Sydney is a difficult sporting market to crack.
“On one hand, certainly not blind to the challenges, but there actually is growth year-on-year,” Harley said.
