# Sydney Derby (AFL)

The Sydney Derby, formerly and unofficially called the Battle of the Bridge or the Battle of Sydney, is an Australian rules football local derby match between the two Sydney-based Australian Football League (AFL) clubs, the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants. As of the finals series of the 2024 AFL season, the head-to-head score is in favour of the Sydney Swans with 19 wins to 10; the teams have also met four times in finals matches, with Greater Western Sydney winning three finals to Sydney's one.
The match's former nickname, The Battle of the Bridge, was suggested by GWS's inaugural coach Kevin Sheedy. The bridge in question is the Anzac Bridge which connects Eastern and Western Sydney, not the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, which connects North Sydney to the city part of Sydney.

## History

The first Sydney Derby was held on 24 March 2012, serving as the Giants' first AFL premiership match in its inaugural season and the opening match of the 2012 season. Fielding a very young and inexperienced team, the Giants only won three games in their first two years in the competition and failed to win any derby games.
The Giants won their first derby in the opening clash of 2014. Later that year, The Daily Telegraph noted there was "genuine dislike off the field" between the clubs. Over the subsequent years, the Giants progressively moved up the AFL ladder and got closer to the Swans, who were premiership contenders during this time. The opening derby of 2015 attracted a crowd of over 30,000, the since the first derby. With both teams vying for a top-four spot at the end of the season, Derby X in 2016 was described as a blockbuster. In the lead up to the game, The Daily Telegraph published an article analysing the rivalry. Though noting that Sydney's surprise recruitment of Lance Franklin created some animosity between the clubs, the article went on to say, "What the rivalry needs is a flash point. ... Something to make it clear that when the Swans and Giants meet there is real feeling. Not the slightly awkward yet mutually respectful détente that currently exists." After the game, the paper declared that an altercation between Steve Johnson and Lance Franklin "was the moment of sporting theatre that inspired a rivalry to truly ignite". It was the first AFL game at Sydney Showground Stadium to be declared a sell-out.
The first finals series match between the teams was on 10 September 2016, when the Swans hosted the Giants in the 1st qualifying final of the 2016 season. The Giants defeated the Swans by 36 points, an historic victory considering it was the Giants' first win in a finals series match and was played before a record derby crowd of 60,222. The two teams met again in a finals match in the 2018 second elimination final. The Giants registered their biggest-ever victory over the Swans, winning by 49 points in front of a crowd of 40,350.
In August 2020, the two teams contested a Sydney Derby at Optus Stadium in Perth, due to concerns over a second wave of coronavirus cases in Sydney, while Sydney's outbreak in July 2021 saw that month's fixture moved first to Mars Stadium in Ballarat, then to Metricon Stadium following a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.
The two teams met in a Sydney Derby final for the third time in 2021, with that match taking place at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania. In front of a crowd of 8,635, the Giants defeated the Swans by 1 point, the narrowest winning margin in the derby's history.

## Venues

The two venues usually used for the Sydney Derby are the Sydney Cricket Ground for Swans home games and Sydney Showground Stadium for Giants home games. The first three Sydney Derbies and the 2016 finals series derby were held at Stadium Australia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, three Sydney Derbies were played at neutral grounds: Optus Stadium in Perth, Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast, University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.
* Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney Swans)
* Sydney Showground Stadium (GWS Giants)
* Stadium Australia

## Results

| | Year | Date | Rd | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Score | Ground | Crowd | Result/Winner | M | H2H |
| I | 2012 | 24/03 | 1 | Greater Western Sydney | 5.7 (37) | Sydney | 14.16 (100) | Stadium Australia | 38,203 | Sydney | 63 | +1 |
| II | 2012 | 30/06 | 14 | Sydney | 19.18 (132) | Greater Western Sydney | 5.8 (38) | Stadium Australia | 22,565 | Sydney | 94 | +2 |
| III | 2013 | 30/03 | 1 | Greater Western Sydney | 11.10 (76) | Sydney | 16.10 (106) | Stadium Australia | 23,690 | Sydney | 30 | +3 |
| IV | 2013 | 14/07 | 16 | Sydney | 24.27 (171) | Greater Western Sydney | 5.12 (42) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 21,757 | Sydney | 129 | +4 |
| V | 2014 | 15/03 | 1 | Greater Western Sydney | 15.9 (99) | Sydney | 9.13 (67) | Sydney Showground Stadium | 17,102 | Greater Western Sydney | 32 | +3 |
| VI | 2014 | 28/06 | 15 | Sydney | 15.16 (106) | Greater Western Sydney | 8.12 (60) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 27,778 | Sydney | 46 | +4 |
| VII | 2015 | 18/04 | 3 | Sydney | 16.15 (111) | Greater Western Sydney | 12.18 (90) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 31,966 | Sydney | 21 | +5 |
| VIII | 2015 | 22/08 | 21 | Greater Western Sydney | 6.8 (44) | Sydney | 20.13 (133) | Sydney Showground Stadium | 19,507 | Sydney | 89 | +6 |
| IX | 2016 | 09/04 | 3 | Sydney | 14.9 (93) | Greater Western Sydney | 10.8 (68) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 37,045 | Sydney | 25 | +7 |
| X | 2016 | 12/06 | 12 | Greater Western Sydney | 15.15 (105) | Sydney | 9.9 (63) | Sydney Showground Stadium | 21,541 | Greater Western Sydney | 42 | +6 |
| XI | 2016 | 10/09 | QF | Sydney | 7.13 (55) | Greater Western Sydney | 12.19 (91) | Stadium Australia | 60,222 | Greater Western Sydney | 36 | +5 |
| XII | 2017 | 22/04 | 5 | Sydney | 9.9 (63) | Greater Western Sydney | 15.15 (105) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 34,824 | Greater Western Sydney | 42 | +4 |
| XIII | 2017 | 15/07 | 17 | Greater Western Sydney | 12.11 (83) | Sydney | 14.12 (96) | Sydney Showground Stadium | 21,924 | Sydney | 13 | +5 |
| XIV | 2018 | 07/04 | 3 | Sydney | 16.7 (103) | Greater Western Sydney | 12.15 (87) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 34,711 | Sydney | 16 | +6 |
| XV | 2018 | 18/08 | 22 | Greater Western Sydney | 8.12 (60) | Sydney | 11.14 (80) | Sydney Showground Stadium | 21,433 | Sydney | 20 | +7 |
| XVI | 2018 | 08/09 | EF | Sydney | 4.6 (30) | Greater Western Sydney | 10.19 (79) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 40,350 | Greater Western Sydney | 49 | +6 |
| XVII | 2019 | 27/04 | 6 | Sydney | 12.7 (79) | Greater Western Sydney | 18.12 (120) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 29,780 | Greater Western Sydney | 41 | +5 |
| XVIII | 2019 | 03/08 | 20 | Greater Western Sydney | 12.11 (83) | Sydney | 12.9 (81) | Sydney Showground Stadium | 16,116 | Greater Western Sydney | 2 | +4 |
| XIX | 2020 | 13/08 | 12 | Sydney | 10.6 (66) | Greater Western Sydney | 3.7 (25) | Perth Stadium | 6,464 | Sydney | 41 | +5 |
| XX | 2021 | 17/04 | 5 | Sydney | 10.9 (69) | Greater Western Sydney | 9.17 (71) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 33,541 | Greater Western Sydney | 2 | +4 |
| XXI | 2021 | 18/07 | 18 | Greater Western Sydney | 11.6 (72) | Sydney | 15.8 (98) | Carrara Stadium | 2,374 | Sydney | 26 | +5 |
| XXII | 2021 | 28/08 | EF | Sydney | 10.13 (73) | Greater Western Sydney | 11.8 (74) | York Park | 8,635 | Greater Western Sydney | 1 | +4 |
| XXIII | 2022 | 19/03 | 1 | Greater Western Sydney | 13.14 (92) | Sydney | 17.10 (112) | Stadium Australia | 25,572 | Sydney | 20 | +5 |
| XXIV | 2022 | 30/07 | 20 | Sydney | 17.10 (112) | Greater Western Sydney | 5.9 (39) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 31,916 | Sydney | 73 | +6 |
| XXV | 2023 | 29/04 | 7 | Sydney | 16.10 (106) | Greater Western Sydney | 17.5 (107) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 31,615 | Greater Western Sydney | 1 | +5 |
| XXVI | 2023 | 05/08 | 21 | Greater Western Sydney | 12.13 (85) | Sydney | 15.6 (96) | Sydney Showground Stadium | 19,332 | Sydney | 11 | +6 |
| XXVII | 2024 | 04/05 | 8 | Sydney | 14.14 (98) | Greater Western Sydney | 10.9 (69) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 40,337 | Sydney | 29 | +7 |
| XXVIII | 2024 | 22/06 | 15 | Greater Western Sydney | 11.9 (75) | Sydney | 15.12 (102) | Sydney Showground Stadium | 19,751 | Sydney | 27 | +8 |
| XXIX | 2024 | 07/09 | QF | Sydney | 13.10 (88) | Greater Western Sydney | 12.10 (82) | Sydney Cricket Ground | 43,189 | Sydney | 6 | +9 |
Source: Click here
$^a$ Crowds impacted by COVID-19

## Brett Kirk Medal

The Brett Kirk Medal is awarded to the player deemed to be the best player on the ground after the match. It is named after Sydney Swans AFL premiership player Brett Kirk, who was born and raised in country New South Wales and played junior football for North Albury. Players highlighted in green are current players for either club.
| Year | Match | Medalist | Team |
| 2012 | I | Josh Kennedy | Sydney |
| 2012 | II | Kieren Jack | Sydney |
| 2013 | III | Kieren Jack (2) | Sydney |
| 2013 | IV | Nick Malceski | Sydney |
| 2014 | V | Callan Ward | Greater Western Sydney |
| 2014 | VI | Kieren Jack (3) | Sydney |
| 2015 | VII | Dan Hannebery | Sydney |
| 2015 | VIII | Josh Kennedy (2) | Sydney |
| 2016 | IX | Luke Parker | Sydney |
| 2016 | X | Heath Shaw | Greater Western Sydney |
| 2017 | XII | Shane Mumford | Greater Western Sydney |
| 2017 | XIII | Lance Franklin | Sydney |
| 2017 | XIII | Callan Ward (2) | Greater Western Sydney |
| 2018 | XIV | Callum Mills | Sydney |
| 2018 | XV | Lance Franklin (2) | Sydney |
| 2019 | XVII | Tim Taranto | Greater Western Sydney |
| 2019 | XVIII | Jacob Hopper | Greater Western Sydney |
| 2020 | XIX | Luke Parker (2) | Sydney |
| 2021 | XX | Lance Franklin (3) | Sydney |
| 2021 | XXI | Luke Parker (3) | Sydney |
| 2022 | XXIII | Luke Parker (4) | Sydney |
| 2022 | XXIV | Luke Parker (5) | Sydney |
| 2023 | XXV | Toby Greene | Greater Western Sydney |
| 2023 | XXVI | Errol Gulden | Sydney |
| 2024 | XXVII | Errol Gulden (2) | Sydney |
| 2024 | XXVIII | Errol Gulden (3) | Sydney |
NOTE: No medal was awarded in Sydney Derby XI, Sydney Derby XVI, Sydney Derby XXII or Sydney Derby XXIX due to those matches being finals matches.

### Most wins

| Number | Player | Team | Matches |
| 5 | Luke Parker | Sydney | IX (2016) XIX (2020) XXI (2021) XXII, XXIV (2022) |
| 3 | Lance Franklin | Sydney | XIII (2017) XV (2018) XX (2021) |
| 3 | Kieran Jack | Sydney | II (2012) III (2013) VI (2014) |
| 3 | Errol Gulden | Sydney | XXVI (2023) XXVII, XXVIII (2024) |

## Statistics

Below are listed statistics from the Sydney Derby only.

### Team statistics
#### Highest scores

| Club | Round | Goals | Behinds | Total |
| Sydney | 2013, Round 16 | 24 | 27 | 171 |
| Sydney | 2015, Round 21 | 20 | 13 | 133 |
| Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 19 | 18 | 132 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2019, Round 6 | 18 | 12 | 120 |
| Sydney | 2022, Round 20 | 17 | 10 | 112 |

#### Lowest scores

| Club | Round | Goals | Behinds | Total |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2020, Round 12 | 3 | 7 | 25 |
| Sydney | 2018, Elimination Final | 4 | 6 | 30 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2012, Round 1 | 5 | 7 | 37 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 5 | 8 | 38 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2022, Round 20 | 5 | 9 | 39 |

#### Biggest wins

| Club | Round | Winning score | Losing score | Margin |
| Sydney | 2013, Round 16 | 24.27 (171) | 5.12 (42) | 129 |
| Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 19.18 (132) | 5.8 (38) | 94 |
| Sydney | 2015, Round 21 | 20.13 (133) | 6.8 (44) | 89 |
| Sydney | 2022, Round 20 | 17.10 (112) | 5.9 (39) | 73 |
| Sydney | 2012, Round 1 | 14.16 (100) | 5.7 (37) | 63 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2018, Elimination Final | 10.19 (79) | 4.6 (30) | 49 |

#### Smallest wins

| Club | Round | Winning score | Losing score | Margin |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2023, Round 7 | 17.5 (107) | 16.10 (106) | 1 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2021, Elimination Final | 11.8 (74) | 10.13 (73) | 1 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2019, Round 20 | 12.11 (83) | 12.9 (81) | 2 |
| Greater Western Sydney | 2021, Round 5 | 9.17 (71) | 10.9 (69) | 2 |
| Sydney | 2024, Qualifying Final | 13.10 (88) | 12.10 (82) | 6 |
| Sydney | 2023, Round 21 | 15.6 (96) | 12.13 (85) | 11 |

### Player statistics

Players highlighted in green are still on AFL lists for either Sydney or Greater Western Sydney. Updated to the end of 2024.

#### Scores in one game

| Player | Club | Date | Goals | Behinds |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 2015, Round 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 2018, Round 22 | 5 | 4 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 2014, Round 15 | 5 | 3 |
| Kurt Tippett | Sydney | 2015, Round 21 | 5 | 3 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney | 2022, Round 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 2021, Round 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Jeremy Cameron | Greater Western Sydney | 2016, Qualifying Final | 4 | 4 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 2017, Round 17 | 4 | 4 |

#### Goal total

| Player | Club | Goals | Behinds | Accuracy | Games | Goals/Game |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 50 | 32 | 61.0% | 17 | 2.94 |
| Toby Greene | Greater Western Sydney | 36 | 28 | 56.3% | 21 | 1.71 |
| Jeremy Cameron | Greater Western Sydney | 33 | 23 | 58.2% | 16 | 2.13 |
| Tom Papley | Sydney | 27 | 16 | 62.8% | 18 | 1.50 |
| Isaac Heeney | Sydney | 25 | 14 | 64.1% | 20 | 1.25 |

#### Disposals in one game

| Player | Club | Date | Disposals |
| Errol Gulden | Sydney | 2024, Round 15 | 41 |
| Tom Green | Greater Western Sydney | 2023, Round 21 | 38 |
| Jarrad McVeigh | Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 37 |
| Lachie Whitfield | Greater Western Sydney | 2015, Round 3 | 37 |
| Ryan O'Keefe | Sydney | 2012, Round 14 | 36 |
| Jarrad McVeigh | Sydney | 2013, Round 16 | 35 |
| Dan Hannebery | Sydney | 2015, Round 3 | 35 |
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney | 2015, Round 21 | 35 |
| Tom Green | Greater Western Sydney | 2024, Round 15 | 35 |

#### Derbies played

| Player | Club | Games |
| Callan Ward | Greater Western Sydney | 25 |
| Luke Parker | Sydney | 24 |
| Lachie Whitfield | Greater Western Sydney | 23 |
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney | 22 |
| Jake Lloyd | Sydney | 22 |
| Toby Greene | Greater Western Sydney | 21 |
| Josh Kelly | Greater Western Sydney | 21 |
| Dane Rampe | Sydney | 21 |
| Nick Haynes | Greater Western Sydney | 20 |
| Isaac Heeney | Sydney | 20 |
| Harry Cunningham | Sydney | 20 |
| Stephen Coniglio | Greater Western Sydney | 19 |

#### Brownlow votes

Brownlow Votes as of the end of the 2023 AFL season.
| Player | Club | Votes | H&A | Average |
| Luke Parker | Sydney | 19 | 24 | 0.79 |
| Josh Kennedy | Sydney | 16 | 22 | 0.73 |
| Lance Franklin | Sydney | 15 | 17 | 0.88 |
| Shane Mumford | Greater Western Sydney & Sydney | 8 | 16 | 0.5 |
| Kieran Jack | Sydney | 7 | 16 | 0.44 |

### Coach statistics

Coaches highlighted in green are the current head coach for either Sydney or Greater Western Sydney.
| Coach | Club | Years | Total | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| John Longmire | Sydney | 2012–2024 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 70.83% |
| Adam Kingsley | Greater Western Sydney | 2023– | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20.00% |
| Leon Cameron | Greater Western Sydney | 2014–2022 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 46.66% |
| Kevin Sheedy | Greater Western Sydney | 2012–2013 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0.00% |
| Mark McVeigh | Greater Western Sydney | 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% |

## Other Sydney Derbies
### Pre-season

Like both the "Western Derby" and the "Showdown", pre-season matches do not count towards the overall Sydney Derby results and statistics. However, The first ever match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans occurred during the 2011 pre-season. To date GWS and Sydney have played 10 pre-season fixtures including annually from 2013 to 2021.
| Year | Date | Round | Home team | Away team | Score | Winner | Venue |
| 2011 | 19 February 2011 | 1 | Greater Western Sydney | Sydney | 4-83 | Sydney | Blacktown ISP Oval |
| 2013 | 24 February 2013 | 1 | Greater Western Sydney | Sydney | 52-28 | GWS | Blacktown ISP Oval |
| 2014 | 20 February 2014 | 2 | Greater Western Sydney | Sydney | 75-115 | Sydney | Manuka Oval |
| 2015 | 22 March 2015 | 4 | Greater Western Sydney | Sydney | 67-73 | Sydney | Manuka Oval |
| 2016 | 4 March 2016 | 3 | Sydney | Greater Western Sydney | 60-94 | GWS | Drummoyne Oval |
| 2017 | 3 March 2017 | 3 | Greater Western Sydney | Sydney | 42-54 | Sydney | Blacktown ISP Oval |
| 2018 | 9 March 2018 | 3 | Sydney | Greater Western Sydney | 82-71 | Sydney | Blacktown ISP Oval |
| 2019 | 2 March 2019 | 1 | Greater Western Sydney | Sydney | 81-59 | GWS | Blacktown ISP Oval |
| 2020 | 29 February 2020 | 2 | Greater Western Sydney | Sydney | 121-27 | GWS | Blacktown ISP Oval |
| 2021 | 7 March 2021 | 1 | Greater Western Sydney | Sydney | 114-86 | GWS | Sydney Showground Stadium |

### AFL Women's results

| Year | Date | Round | Home team | Away team | Score | Winner | Venue | Attendance |
| S7 (2022) | 10 September 2022 | 3 | Sydney | Greater Western Sydney | 18 - 65 | GWS | SCG | 4,223 |
| 2023 | 3 September 2023 | 1 | Sydney | Greater Western Sydney | 51 - 46 | Sydney | North Sydney Oval | 5,474 |