The Oxford Dictionary describes the word ‘rivalry’ as meaning “competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field”.

Asked to put the word into a sentence, the on-line dictionary suggests “a rivalry is the state or two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship.“

And if those in charge of this information source were Sydney-based this week and had a little imagination they would include a Swans logo and a Giants logo.

Why? Because it’s rivalry week in the Harbour City as the two AFL clubs prepare for their 20th meeting, Sydney Derby XX at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.

It is a rivalry that began in 2012, Round one when the Swans handed the Giants a 63-point loss in their very first match, a stand-alone fixture to open the season.

It is a night Swans wingman Harry Cunningham remembers fondly, he capped a meteoric rise when he made his AFL debut 102 days after joining the club via pick number 93 in the Rookie Draft.

It was the then 18-year-old’s only game of the season as the Swans won 14.16 (100) to 5.7 (37) to open coach John Longmire’s second season at the helm, but he will forever have a place in the history of the Sydney Derby.

So too will teammates Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Sam Reid and possibly ex-teammate Shane Mumford, who were also members of the Swans’ first derby side and set to play in Sydney Derby XX.

Kennedy will play his 19th derby, Parker his 18th and Reid and Cunningham their 14th. Mumford is in line for his 15th and his 11th against the Swans.

Mumford, now the Giants ruck coach and a member of their side last weekend, is the only player to have worn the colors of both clubs in a Sydney derby. He was among the Brownlow Medal votes in Sydney Derby I, picking up one vote for 11 possessions, one goal, 35 hit-outs and four tackles.

Kennedy, set to play his 262nd game and his 250th game for the Swans on Saturday, was judged best afield in the first derby for his 27 possessions and two goals, while Kieren Jack (30 possessions, one goal) collected two votes.

Of the Swans’ first derby side, Dan Hannebery (St Kilda) and Gary Rohan (Geelong) are the only others still in the AFL.

With captain Stephen Coniglio, ex-captain Phil Davis and Adam Kennedy injured, the Giants are likely to field two members of their first side, stand-in captain Toby Greene and ex-captain Callan Ward.

As many as six Swans are set to play their first derby on Saturday as the club looks to extend its 12-7 head-to–head rivalry. Logan McDonald, Braeden Campbell, Errol Gulden, Chad Warner, Justin McInerney and Tom Hickey will have their first taste of a Sydney Derby.

Hickey played twice in the Western Derby for West Coast against Fremantle after he missed the chance to play for the Gold Coast against Brisbane in the QClash earlier in his career.

Josh Kennedy has won the Brett Kirk Medal on two occasions and will play in his 19th Sydney Derby on Saturday after playing in the first Sydney Derby in 2012.

 

DERBY STARS

Multiple winners of the Brett Kirk Medal: Kieren Jack won it in each of the first three years. Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin and Luke Parker (the winner last year when the derby was played in Perth), also have two along with GWS’ Callan Ward. Franklin and Ward shared it in 2017.

Other winners of the Kirk Medal: Nick Malceski, Dan Hanneberry and Callum Mills won the medal for the Swans, and Heath Shaw, Shane Mumford, Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper for GWS. The medal was not awarded when the teams met in a final in 2016 and 2018.

Most Brownlow Medal votes in Sydney derbies: Josh Kennedy (14) and Lance Franklin (13) have dominated medal votes in the derby from Shane Mumford (8), Luke Parker (7), Kieren Jack (7) and Callan Ward (6).

 

DERBY ODDITIES

Only player to play for both clubs? Shane Mumford: he played in the first four for the Swans and has played 10 for the Giants.

Also played for both Sydney clubs but not in a derby? Jed Lamb.

Brothers to play against each other in a derby? Rhyce and Heath Shaw, three times.

Brothers to play together in a derby?  Kieran and Brandon Jack, three times.

Two players of the same name to play for the two Sydney AFL clubs? Sam Reid. The Swans’ Sam Reid has played in 13 derbies and the Giants’ Sam Reid has played six. They have played against each other in four derbies.

OLDEST & YOUNGEST PLAYERS IN A DERBY

The oldest and youngest players in a derby for both clubs were all in the first derby in 2012. For the Swans it was Adam Goodes (35 years 227 days) and Harry Cunningham (18 years 109 days). And for the Giants it was James McDonald (35 years 269 days) and Stephen Coniglio (18 years 100 days).

 

DERBY MILESTONES

AFL Debut in a Derby: Syd: Harry Cunningham (2012), Dane Rampe (2013), James Rose (2015), Lewis Melican (2017), Zac Foot (2020). GWS: Tomas Bugg, Jeremy Cameron, Stephen Coniglio, Israel Folau, Jonathan Giles, Toby Greene, Curtly Hampton, Jack Hombsch, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Adam Kennedy, Tim Mohr, Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith, Adam Tomlinson, Jacob Townsend, Dom Tyson, Nathan Wilson (2012), Lachie Plowman, Lachie Whitfield (2013), Jono O’Rourke (2013), Connor Idun (2019), Tom Hutchesson (2020).

Derby Milestones: Stephen Gilham (GWS) – 100th AFL game (2013), Craig Bird (Syd) – 100th game (2013), Isaac Heeney (Syd) – 50th game (2017), Aiden Corr (GWS) – 50th game (2017), Josh Kelly (GWS) – 100th game (2018), Jackson Thurlow (Syd) – 50th AFL game (2019), Jacob Hopper (GWS) - 50th game (2019), Ollie Florent (Syd) – 50th game (2019).

Harry Cunningham made his debut in the first Sydney Derby and is the youngest player to play in a derby at 18 years 109 days.

 

AGGREGATE DERBY RECORDS.

Most Games: Josh Kennedy (Syd) 18, Luke Parker (Syd) 17, Callan Ward (GWS) 17, Kieren Jack (Syd) 16, Lachie Whitfield (GWS) 16, Phil Davis (GWS) 16, Jeremy Cameron (GWS) 16, Dane Rampe (Syd) 15, Heath Grundy (Syd) 15, Dan Hannebery (Syd) 15, Dylan Shiel (GWS) 15.

Most Possessions: Josh Kennedy (Syd) 487, Callan Ward (GWS) 409, Luke Parker (Syd) 375, Dan Hanneberry Syd) 363, Lachie Whitfield (GWS) 351, Kieren Jack (Syd) 343, Jake Lloyd (Syd) 341, Stephen Coniglio (GWS) 332, Jarrad McVeigh (Syd) 329, Dylan Shiel (GWS) 324.

Most Goals: Jeremy Cameron (GWS) 33, Lance Franklin (Syd) 31, Toby Greene (GWS) 22, Josh Kennedy (Syd) 16, Kieren Jack (Syd) 16, Jon Patton (GWS) 16, Ben McGlynn (Syd) 14, Tom Papley (Syd) 14, Stephen Coniglio (GWS) 13, Kurt Tippett (Syd) 13.

 

SINGLE-GAME STATISTICAL LEADERS IN A DERBY – EACH CLUB

Most Possessions: Syd - 37 - Jarrad McVeigh (2012), GWS -  37 - Lachie Whitfield (2015).

30-Possession Games: Syd: Dan Hanneberry (4), Jarrad McVeigh (3), Kieren Jack (3), Luke Parker (3), Josh Kennedy (2), Jake Lloyd (2), Ryan O’Keefe (1), Nick Malceski (1); GWS: Callan Ward (2), Toby Greene (2), Dylan Shiel (2), Tim Taranto (2), Josh Kelly (2), Adam Treloar (1), Lachie Whitfield (1), Devon Smith (1), Heath Shaw (1), Jacob Hopper (1), Zac Williams (1).

Most Goals: Syd: 5 - Lance Franklin (3), 4 - Kurt Tippett (1), Isaac Heeney (1), Lance Franklin (1). GWS: 4 – Jeremy Cameron (2), Toby Greene (2).

DERBY RESULTS

1 – Rd 1 2012 – Swans 14-16 (100) d Giants 5-7 (37) by 63 points at Stadium Australia
2 – Rd 14 2012 – Swans 19-18 (132) d Giants 5-8 (38) by 94 points at Stadium Australia
3 – Rd 1 2013 – Swans 16-10 (106) d Giants 11-10 (76) by 30 points at Stadium Australia
4 – Rd 16 2013 – Swans 24-27 (171) d Giants 5-12 (42) by 129 points at SCG
5 – Rd 1 2014 – Giants 15-9 (109) d Swans 9-13 (67) by 32 points at Sydney Showgrounds
6 – Rd 15 2014 – Swans 15-16 (106) d Giants 8-12 (60) by 46 points at SCG.
7 – Rd 3 2015 – Swans 16-15 (111) d Giants 12-8 (90) by 21 points at SCG
8 – Rd 21 2015 – Swans 20-13 (133) d Giants 6-8 (44) by 89 points at Sydney Showgrounds
9 – Rd 3 2016 – Swans 14-9 (83) d Giants 10-8 (68) by 25 points at SCG
10 – Rd 12 2016 – Giants 15-15 (105) d Swans 9-9 (63) by 42 points at Sydney Showgrounds
11 – Qual Final 2016 – Giants 12-19 (91) d Swans 7-13 (55) by 36 points at Stadium Australia
12 – Rd 5 2017 – Giants 15-15 (105) d Swans 9-9 (63) by 42 points at SCG
13 – Rd 17 2017 – Swans 14-12 (96) d Giants 12-11 (83) by 13 points at Sydney Showgrounds
14 – Rd 3 2018 – Swans 16-7 (103) d Giants 12-15 (87) by 16 points at SCG
15 – Rd 22 2018 – Swans 11.14 (80) d Giants 8-12 (60) by 20 points at Sydney Showgrounds.
16 – Elim Final 2018 – Giants 10-19 (79) d Swans 4-6 (30) by 49 points at SCG
17 – Rd 6 2019 – Giants 18-12 (120) d Swans 12-7 (79) by 41 points at SCG
18 – Rd 20 2019 – Giants 12-11 (83) d Swans 12-9 (81) by 2 points at Sydney Showgrounds
19 – Rd 12 2020 – Swans 10-6 (66) d Giants 3-7 (25) by 41 points at Perth Stadium.

RESULTS BY VENUES

SCG: Swans 5, Giants 3.
Sydney Showgrounds: Swans 3, Giants 3.
Stadium Australia: Swans 3, Giants 1.
Perth Stadium: Swans 1, Giants 0.