In 2008 the AFL announced it would be introducing two new teams, on the Gold Coast and in Sydney. In the first episode of this five-part series exploring the creation of the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS, find out why the league decided to expand in the middle of a global financial crisis, why they decided to move into western Sydney, what resistance was met from other clubs and why no-one gave up on the chase for Tony Shepherd as the new club’s first chairman.  

Episode features: 
Andrew Demetriou, former AFL chief executive officer
Dale Holmes, original GIANTS chief executive officer
David Matthews, current GIANTS chief executive officer
Tony Shepherd, inaugural and current GIANTS chairman  

In 2008 the AFL announced it would be introducing two new teams, on the Gold Coast and in Sydney. In the first episode of this five-part series exploring the creation of the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS, find out why the league decided to expand in the middle of a global financial crisis, why they decided to move into western Sydney, what resistance was met from other clubs and why no-one gave up on the chase for Tony Shepherd as the new club&rsquo;s first chairman.&nbsp;&nbsp; Episode features:&nbsp; Andrew Demetriou, former AFL chief executive officer Dale Holmes, original GIANTS chief executive officer David Matthews, current GIANTS chief executive officer Tony Shepherd, inaugural and current GIANTS chairman &nbsp;

This is the story of the creation of the GIANTS. Over a 12 month period in the club's 10th year, award winning journalist and GIANTS recruiter Emma Quayle spoke to key figures in the rise of the GIANTS. The five-part series covers expansion, Team GWS, operation 'Get Sheedy', the team, the name, the colours, the song and the identity. The series features Andrew Demetriou, Dale Holmes, David Matthews, Graeme Allan, Stephen Silvagni, Mark Williams and current and past players.

This is the story of the creation of the GIANTS. Over a 12 month period in the club's 10th year, award winning journalist and GIANTS recruiter Emma Quayle spoke to key figures in the rise of the GIANTS. The five-part series covers expansion, Team GWS, operation 'Get Sheedy', the team, the name, the colours, the song and the identity. The series features Andrew Demetriou, Dale Holmes, David Matthews, Graeme Allan, Stephen Silvagni, Mark Williams and current and past players.

Here Come the GIANTS

There's a big big sound on GIANTS Radio. Check out all the latest offerings including One-Eyed GIANTS, Trade Talk. the Rewatchables and Team Talkback.

There's a big big sound on GIANTS Radio. Check out all the latest offerings including One-Eyed GIANTS, Trade Talk. the Rewatchables and Team Talkback.

GIANTS Radio

Get all the latest news and features directly from the club's official podcast account.

The latest series features award-winning journalist Emma Quayle sitting down with key players for 'Becoming GIANT'.

You can also catch up on The Rewatchables as the team re-lived famous victories from years past during the AFL Shutdown.

In the earlier series 'The Originals' and 'The Leaders', football fans get to hear stories that have never been told before, from the players and staff that have been at the club since its foundation in 2010.

GIANTS Podcasts

Episode 1: Expansion: Why the AFL moved into western Sydney

GIANTS recruiter and award-winning journalist Emma Quayle sits down with GIANTS recruit Toby Bedford.

GIANTS recruiter and award-winning journalist Emma Quayle sits down with GIANTS recruit Toby Bedford.

Becoming GIANT - Toby Bedford

It sounds like the fun stuff, but there were a lot of people to keep happy when the new club was choosing its name, colours and guernsey design. Meanwhile, a decision to set the club up like a US college campus played a huge part in creating its culture and building a lasting bond between the players, as the crucial hunt for a permanent home base began. 

Episode features:  
Graeme Allan, GIANTS’ first head of football  
Dale Holmes, original GIANTS chief executive officer
Mel Lambert, who headed up the club’s welfare program with husband Craig  
Andrew Demetriou, former AFL chief executive officer
David Matthews, current GIANTS chief executive officer
Phil Davis, original GIANTS recruit and inaugural co-captain  
Tom Scully, former GIANTS player  
Luke Power, former GIANTs player and inaugural co-captain  

It sounds like the fun stuff, but there were a lot of people to keep happy when the new club was choosing its name, colours and guernsey design. Meanwhile, a decision to set the club up like a US college campus played a huge part in creating its culture and building a lasting bond between the players, as the crucial hunt for a permanent home base began. Episode features: &nbsp; Graeme Allan, GIANTS&rsquo; first head of football &nbsp; Dale Holmes, original GIANTS chief executive officer Mel Lambert, who headed up the club&rsquo;s welfare program with husband Craig &nbsp; Andrew Demetriou, former AFL chief executive officer David Matthews, current GIANTS chief executive officer Phil Davis, original GIANTS recruit and inaugural co-captain &nbsp; Tom Scully, former GIANTS player &nbsp; Luke Power, former GIANTs player and inaugural co-captain &nbsp;

Episode 5: The GIANTS: The name, the colours, the song, the identity

Who would you target if you were building an AFL list from scratch and had big contract offers to throw around? Clubs expected the GIANTS to come after their older, established stars like expansion teams had in the past, but they had other ideas. They had their eye on long-term success from the start, even if it would make for a tough first few seasons.  

Episode features:  
Graeme Allan, GIANTS’ first head of football  
Stephen Silvagni, GIANTS’ original list manager  
Phil Davis, original GIANTS recruit and inaugural co-captain  
Callan Ward, original GIANTS recruit and inaugural co-captain  
Dale Holmes, original GIANTS chief executive officer 
Tom Scully, former GIANTS player and original signing  
Luke Power, former GIANTS player and inaugural co-captain  

Who would you target if you were building an AFL list from scratch and had big contract offers to throw around? Clubs expected the GIANTS to come after their older, established stars like expansion teams had in the past, but they had other ideas. They had their eye on long-term success from the start, even if it would make for a tough first few seasons.&nbsp;&nbsp; Episode features: &nbsp; Graeme Allan, GIANTS&rsquo; first head of football &nbsp; Stephen Silvagni, GIANTS&rsquo; original list manager &nbsp; Phil Davis, original GIANTS recruit and inaugural co-captain &nbsp; Callan Ward, original GIANTS recruit and inaugural co-captain &nbsp; Dale Holmes, original GIANTS chief executive officer&nbsp; Tom Scully, former GIANTS player and original signing &nbsp; Luke Power, former GIANTS player and inaugural co-captain &nbsp;

Episode 1: Expansion: Why the AFL moved into western Sydney

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