GWS star Tom Green backs Tigers’ plan to sell home game to SCG

Code Sports reported on Monday that GWS could be involved in an additional match at the SCG next season, with Richmond exploring the possibility of selling one of their home games to Sydney.

The discussions are only preliminary, and could face a major roadblock from cross-town rivals, the Sydney Swans, who have pointed to the exclusivity agreement in their use of the SCG with Venues NSW.

However, the Giants are on a charm offensive and are hopeful that a focus on expanding Aussie rules in NSW could help get the deal over the line.

“If that’s something Richmond is looking to do, I think that’s a really good step because I also think it helps grow the game,” midfielder Tom Green said.

“We constantly talk about growing the game, and a big Victorian club like that looking to play a game up here in Sydney is a real step forward, and it’s really good on their behalf.

“But I also think that given how much we travel and the difficulties we face with that, not having our home ground up and running because of the Easter Show at certain points, it’s great if there’s an opportunity for another game we don’t have to travel away from Sydney.”

There’s a recognition from Green that the Giants need to find ways to be more visible to their home crowds during the start of the year.

Between March and May most years, GWS have spent up to eight weeks out of Sydney due to the Easter Show, taking home games to Canberra and playing a large chunk of their interstate games.

But it also isn’t a Giants-only problem. Sydney has regularly been the city most starved of AFL matches, with 29 days between games in the state in 2024 and five weeks separating games at the SCG earlier this season.

“We are away for so long, and so having that opportunity to just be in Sydney again, to be visible in the market more. When we’re away for a huge chunk in a row, is really important,” Green said.

“I think it’s great, and if that’s something that can happen next year, I think it really should, and I’d look forward to it happening.”

Although an additional game in Sydney will be valuable for the Giants, Green is adamant that it can’t come at the expense of an opportunity to play at the MCG. He hopes that if the Tigers do sell a home game, it will be their one Marvel Stadium match.

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“I don’t see why we couldn’t make both work, to be honest,” Green said. “We’ve played one game on the MCG this year, and the reality is you have to win a grand final on that, so we’re not given a great opportunity to be able to play on that ground.

The Giants will work with Richmond and the AFL to explore multiple options for the match, including the potential use of Accor Stadium.

However, it’s clear that the preference is the SCG, and although it is further from the Giants’ Western Sydney home, there is a belief it would be a more attractive option for both travelling Richmond fans and neutral footy fans in Sydney.