A distinct lack of GWS finals experience will have little bearing on next weekend's all-Sydney qualifying final according to Swans coach John Longmire.
More than 60,000 fans are expected to cram into ANZ Stadium for the biggest AFL game ever seen in NSW, as the minor premiers from the eastern suburbs clash with the league's newest beast from the west of Sydney. As of Tuesday night, 16,800 tickets had already been sold.
The Swans managed one more win than GWS during the regular season, but the harbour-city rivals split the balance across two games this year – Sydney taking honours in round three before the Giants exacted their revenge nine weeks later.
Only six Giants who played in the win over North Melbourne on Saturday night have tasted AFL finals football while the Swans are embarking on a seventh straight September campaign. But Longmire doesn't expect that superior experience to be a factor.
"They've got seven or eight hardened AFL players that have been playing a long time at several AFL clubs," Longmire said. "Their younger players coming through have been playing a lot of footy, really hardened players as well and play a good brand of footy. Once the ball bounces any of those talks fall out the window straight away."
Sydney was the Giants' first ever AFL opponent when they began as a top-level league side in 2012.
That game was also played at ANZ Stadium, the margin 63points on that occasion to the Swans, who went on to win the premiership that year.
The Giants managed just two wins that season, and only one in 2013 before steadily progressing to 16 this year earning the right to compete amongst the AFL's elite.
"We knew that the Giants were coming [at] a hundred miles an hour," Longmire said. "We've been able to see the development up close, we've been able to see their younger players come through the reserves and seniors.
"We've been able to see the outstanding recruiting of senior players from other clubs that have had a lot of experience and the difference that's made to their team. It hasn't come any time sooner than what I expected. I absolutely expected the Giants to be as competitive as what they are at this point in time and they're going to be a real threat."
The game was launched at Luna Park on Tuesday, the Sydney Harbour Bridge majestically overlooking proceedings with the Opera House sparkling in the distance. That this game is being played at ANZ and not the SCG shouldn't concern the Swans who have won eight of 10 finals at that venue. Last week a deal was struck to play Swans home finals at the SCG, unless they were pitted against GWS. Sydney secured the minor premiership with a thumping win over Richmond while the Giants snuck back into fourth in defeating North Melbourne, meaning a week-one final at ANZ Stadium.
Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh said the venue switch wouldn't trouble his team. "I've played in a number of huge finals at ANZ, we can't wait to get out there," McVeigh said. "We back our system in wherever we go, wherever we play. We've very familiar with the ground; we've played out there for 10 years.
"Once we get there on Saturday and to see how many people when we do run out and the fans going crazy for both teams, that'll be something spoken about. It'll be great to see," he said.
