Membership GIANTS in NRL Heartland
By Tony Salerno
Passion and support are not values that can be measured but loyalty and club memberships are the closest barometers.
Based on the numbers, the AFL now has a GIANT foothold in unfamiliar territory.
The GIANTS’ membership drive is proof Rugby League no longer dominates western Sydney, formerly Rugby League heartland.
The GWS GIANTS have increased their army of passionate supporters, to 10,489 fans, on the eve of their second season in AFL competition.
In AFL circles that number is relatively small, but in Rugby League terms it speaks volumes for the changing sporting landscape in western Sydney.
GWS have more members than both the Tigers (9546) and the Panthers (5572), two of the four western Sydney based clubs.
Despite their lacklustre season in 2012, the Parramatta Eels still edge out the GIANTS with 12,905 members.
Compared to all Rugby League teams in NSW, the GIANTS have more members than eight of the 16 teams.
The GIANTS are narrowly pipped by foundation club the Sydney Roosters who have roughly 200 more members.
The GIANTS have figures comparable to the North Queensland Cowboys with the Cowboys sitting at 9,753 members, seven hundred less than the GWS GIANTS.
Both franchises are interstate sides with their cross-town rivals, heavyweights of their respective competitions.
There is no doubt the GIANTS are growing on and off the field.
Their talent pool is loaded with names like Jeremy Cameron, Lachie Whitfield and Jonathon Patton who are all touted as future superstars.
The Sydney Swans have approximately 28,000 members which is more than any other Rugby League side.
The 2012 premiers have recorded their highest amount of members since 2006.
28,000 members is a large figure but does not come close to the 80,000-plus members of Victorian powerhouse, the Collingwood Magpies.
The Swans have always been strong but the rise of the GIANTS is swinging the pendulum towards the Sherrin in western Sydney.
NRL membership figures courtesy of the Daily Telegraph (04/03/13), Swans and GIANTS figures are courtesy of their respective websites.
