The Sydney Swans will face the GWS Giants at Optus Stadium on Thursday night in Sydney Derby XIX.
It is the youngest rivalry in the AFL but is already one of the fiercest with the two sides taking part in some classic matches since their inaugural meeting on March 24, 2012.
Some 38,203 fans attended the first Sydney Derby at ANZ Stadium in a historic game that was the Giants’ first game for AFL premiership points.
John Longmire and Kevin Sheedy were the coaches for Sydney Derby I back in 2012, with Longmire coaching Sydney in all of the 18 Sydney Derbies competed so far.
GWS coach Leon Cameron took over from Sheedy and has coached the side in the last 14 Sydney Derbies.
There will be a number of new faces taking part in their first Sydney Derby on Thursday night, with five debutants for the Swans already this season.
Injured co-captain Josh Kennedy, the only player to have played in every Sydney Derby so far and a dual Brett Kirk Medallist, will miss Thursday night’s match as he recovers from a knee injury.
The Brett Kirk Medal is awarded to the player judged best on ground in the Sydney Derby.
Kirk was born and raised in New South Wales playing his junior football for North Albury. The former Swans captain went on to have a decorated career spanning 241 matches including the 2005 premiership.
Another former Sydney Swans captain, Kieren Jack, has won more Brett Kirk Medals than any other player – awarded the medal on three occasions – followed by Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin and Callan Ward who have all won two each.
Sydney Derby XIX will be the first one to be played outside of Sydney given the unique circumstances surrounding the 2020 AFL Season.
It will be the fourth venue the contest has been played at with the other three being the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Showgrounds and ANZ Stadium.
