The Sydney Swans and GWS will play for the White Ribbon Trophy in the inaugural Sydney Derby at ANZ Stadium on Saturday March 24.

The announcement was made at this morning’s press conference at Luna Park - overlooking the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House - by White Ribbon chairman Andrew O’Keefe along with the Swans’ Adam Goodes and John Longmire and GWS’ Luke Power and Kevin Sheedy.

White Ribbon is an organisation that is working to prevent the most common and pervasive form of male violence - that towards women. One in three Australian women over the age of 15 has reported experiencing physical or sexual violence at some time in their lives.

The AFL and White Ribbon have had a long partnership which has primarily focused on working with players and teams to raise awareness for men’s violence against women.

With the winning team to receive the White Ribbon Trophy in each Sydney Derby, this is a significant development the Swans, GWS and AFL are taking to stamp out violence against women.

Swans co-captain and White Ribbon ambassador Adam Goodes said he’s delighted the trophy has been named after such an important organisation.

“I am delighted that we will be playing for the White Ribbon Trophy every time we play GWS because it is so important that we get the message out there that violence against women is unacceptable,” Goodes said.

“Men play such a key role in helping to stop violence against women because men can speak out and step in when women aren’t being treated properly.

“The reason I got on board with White Ribbon is that I’ve seen how much domestic violence can play a real negative role in the community and to be involved and to stand up and take the oath and really encourage Aboriginal males as well a non-indigenous males to participate is something really important."  

GWS co-captain Luke Power said that he felt this was an important organisation for both clubs and the AFL to be working closely with.

“As a husband and father of a young daughter this is a cause that is very dear to me. I know that I speak on behalf of all of my teammates and everyone involved with the Giants when I say how proud we are to be playing for the White Ribbon Trophy.”

With Luna Park and the Harbour Bridge as a backdrop, Goodes said he hoped the stand-alone game generates enormous interest in the code in Sydney.

"It's going to be a stand-alone game and all eyes will be watching on Saturday night," he said.

"Hopefully all the people of Sydney will get behind it and we'll get a great crowd out there."

Most expect the Swans to swat aside their young rivals, but Goodes insists they have done considerable research into the GWS line-up.

"We had a look at their team in a team meeting last night and on our computer systems every player is on there with some video footage," he said.

"My job as a leader of our football club is to make sure the guys are preparing like they would for any other football match.

"If I see something that tells me otherwise, then we'll put a stop to that straight away.

"The importance of this game, whether it's GWS, Gold Coast or Geelong the reigning premiers, is we have to go out there and show the AFL community that the Swans mean business this year."

The Swans have spent considerable time studying the Giants, who will be stocked with young, untested talent.

Longmire singled out two prodigies his team will have to contain, before confidently declaring his faith in his youngsters.

Young Swans such as Luke Parker, Gary Rohan, Alex Johnson and Lewis Jetta are expected to take another step forward in 2012.

"[Will] Hoskin-Elliott, Jeremy Cameron, they've got a lot of young talent," Longmire said.

"But we think we've got a bit of young talent too, just quietly."

Sheedy had a tongue-in-cheek response when asked who could match up on Goodes.

"We're going to put the raging bull Israel Folau right on him," he said.

"We're going to let him out."

(from left) GWS coach Kevin Sheedy, Sydney Swans coach John Longmire, GWS co-captain Luke Power, Sydney Swans co-captain Adam Goodes, White Ribbon chairman Andrew O'Keefe, and the White Ribbon Trophy