GWS aren’t declaring themselves Sydney’s premier AFL side yet, even if they look certain to finish a record amount of points above their cross-town rival.
With four rounds remaining, the Giants are a whopping ten places and 20 points above the Sydney Swans, heading into Saturday’s derby clash.
On the only occasion in their eight previous seasons GWS finished above Sydney, it was by two places and four points in 2017.
“Are we the team to beat in NSW, I don’t know,” GWS co-captain and key defender Phil Davis said on Monday.
“At the moment we do sit higher on the ladder, but is it permanently going to be like that? No it’s not.
“There’s no doubt we’re looking forward to the challenge this week because we know their brand of footy stacks up anytime of the year.
“Like most derbies around the country, the ladder doesn’t come into it too much.”
GWS are on track to make the finals for a fourth straight year, while Sydney are set to miss out for the first time in ten seasons.
“Its obviously new territory for myself and some of the other older boys and not playing finals is obviously flattening,” said Sydney co-captain Luke Parker, who has played finals in each of his first nine years at the club.
“We want to win on the weekend and for the rest of the year.
“You want to continue to win and know you can match it with some of the best in the competition and no doubt the Giants are right up there this year.”
Davis was looking for GWS to establish the same kind of perennial consistency enjoyed by Sydney before this year.
“They have been the yardstick for a long time in NSW football, we’re trying to make some inroads there in building the game, but also trying to become a super competitive side,” Davis said.
“Luke (Parker) has never missed finals his whole career and that’s the sort of landmark we’re trying to provide in western Sydney.”
Giants’ coach Leon Cameron wasn’t talking up his fifth-placed side’s chances of winning a coveted top four spot, though all four of their remaining games are against teams currently outside the top eight.
On Saturday at Giants Stadium, GWS will look to equal their modest season-best victory streak of three.
“To be a top four team you’ve got to win three of four in a row and we haven’t done that yet consistently.'” Cameron said.