A GIANT weekend in Wagga Wagga
By Tony Salerno
The entire GWS GIANTS squad ventured to country football heartland last week, visiting 17 schools around Wagga Wagga, holding clinics and signing autographs for fans ahead of their NAB Cup game against Brisbane on Saturday night.
The visits were part of the Lend Lease Giant Community Footprint program.
The community footprint program focuses on Indigenous and young academic engagement to promote employment, education and health benefits across the state.
Hometown boy Kurt Aylett visited Wagga Wagga hospital with co-captain Callan Ward, Jonathan Giles and new recruit Stephen Gilham.
The players provided a much needed moral boost for patients, leaving them with words of encouragement and support.
The GIANTS kicked off Friday afternoon with the re-opening of the newly developed Robertson Oval.
The event marked almost two decades since the last AFL game was played in Wagga Wagga.
The $7.1 million makeover involved re-turfing the ground, renovating infrastructure and increasing the ground’s capacity to 15,000.
GIANTS coach Kevin Sheedy addressed players and supporters about sticking to their roots and adamantly stated the ground’s name would not be changed.
At the conclusion of the re-opening, the GIANTS held a short training session in front of fans before their game against the Lions on Saturday night.
Youngsters Kurt Aylett, Anthony Miles, Jacob Townsend and Mark Whiley put Sheedy’s speech into practice as they prepared to perform in front of their local loved ones.
Young gun Anthony Miles made the trip a day early to celebrate his 21st birthday with family and friends before the rest of the squad flew down.
The GIANTS were crowd favourites although the visiting Lions were still greeted with a roar.
Brisbane started strongly, booting a supergoal in the opening quarter to silence the parochial Wagga crowd.
Despite missing the jump the GIANTS bounced back with the score 20-all at the first change.
GIANTS superstar Jeremy Cameron reignited the 7,068 fans, kicking a supergoal to put the GIANTS in front.
The two sides traded goals in the third term with the GIANTS taking a one-point advantage into the last quarter.
A supergoal from Devon Smith saw the GIANTS snatch the lead but two late goals from Brisbane put them in front at the final siren.
Five goals from Brisbane forward Aaron Cornelius were enough to see the Brisbane Lions break the GIANTS’ hearts with a three-point victory.
The GIANTS will continue their NAB Cup campaign in front of their ACT fans when they face Essendon next Friday at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Click here to get your tickets as Manuka Oval hosts the first ever AFL game under lights.
