Subdued GWS fans have shrugged off their grand final loss, despite carrying high hopes for a maiden AFL premiership.
A few hundred excited fans arrived in good spirits at the Giants’ live site at Sydney Olympic Park, waving their flags proudly ahead of the highly anticipated Grand Final against Richmond.
Young and old were decked out in bright orange and grey, with keen fans offered a free $12 food and drink voucher for replying to an RSVP the day before.
Applause and cheers rang out across Cathy Freeman Park as the match began at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, with a tense first quarter keeping everyone glued to the big screen.
But it didn’t take long for the Tigers to take charge, although fans remained cautiously optimistic as the third quarter began.
“They usually play well in the third, so I thought they might come back,” said 50-year-old Jennifer Edgell, from Campbelltown in Sydney’s south west.
Hopes were soon shattered and silence fell across the crowd.
By the end of the brutal third term, picnic rugs were being folded and chairs emptied as numbers in the park slowly dwindled.
Travelling up from Sutherland for the game, Caitlin Goman, 25, and partner Adrian Verzin, 24, knew there was no chance of a comeback and no point in staying to watch the now-inevitable loss.
“I don’t know if we went in with much of a chance today, we were always going to be the underdogs,” said a resigned Ms Goman, who said she was still proud of the boys.
“We gave it a crack, just couldn’t kick a goal unfortunately.”
Die-hard fans Peter Murphy and five-year-old son Jack had also travelled north, from Wollongong, and stayed until the end to show their pride for the team.
“It would have been good if they won, but they made the grand final,” Mr Murphy said, while his five-year-old son sat despondent on a picnic rug with his mum and sister.
“I think everyone here in Sydney is really proud of them for what they did.
“There’s always next year.”