Starved Sydney AFL fans won’t have to wait long to see their sides in action, with the Giants and Swans to meet in a blockbuster Sydney Derby in round one 2022.

It will be the first AFL match in Sydney since round 14 2021, after both NSW sides were forced to leave their home state due to COVID-19 in June.

The Giants will host the Swans at Accor Stadium (formerly Stadium Australia) on Saturday 19 March at 5.10pm.

It’s the first time GWS have hosted their cross-town rivals with no restrictions since 2019, and with a capacity of 83,500, Accor Stadium should be chock-full with both the Giants’ orange and Sydney’s red and white.

After the Giants prevailed in a thrilling one point win over Sydney in this year’s elimination final, GWS star Jacob Hopper says he can’t wait to reignite the rivalry.

“We’re super excited,” Hopper said. 

“We often play really exciting games against each other and it’s always a great crowd with plenty of members and plenty of fans and supporters. We get super pumped for it, and I think we play some of our best footy against each other.  

“It’s a special rivalry between our two clubs. We feel like we’re creating history every time we step out on the field for a Sydney Derby, us still being pretty new and the Swans having that deep history.  
 
“We both love playing against each other and I think that shows, so we’re pumped to be facing off against the Swans straight off the cuff.”  

While it’s a Giants home match, the Swans are expected to have many fans in attendance and forward Will Hayward said he’s keen to put on a show and avenge last year’s devastating finals exit.

“It was a devastating way to end the year but to have the opportunity to play them again Round 1 is something we are really excited about,” Hayward said.

“It dwelled in my head a bit particularly through the Finals when the footy was still on, there was a lot of ‘what if’ thinking. We’ve got a point to prove. It’s something that would have dwelled in a lot of the boys minds over the off-season and it’s about using that as fuel to come back bigger and better and that’s we’ll hopefully show in Round 1.

“Ever since I have been at the Swans each year the rivalry gets a bit more fierce and we’re making our own history. Each year there might be something new to make you hungrier to beat them the next time so I’m really looking forward to it.

“I can’t wait. It’s been a long time since we played in Sydney with fans, we’ve missed them and hopefully we can put on a show for them.”

The Giants will be without superstar forward Toby Greene after he was suspended for six weeks in that elimination final for deliberately bumping an umpire.

The AFL season will kick off on Wednesday night, 16 March with a grand final rematch between the Demons and Bulldogs at the MCG.

It’s a slight change to the usual season opener of Carlton and Richmond which will now be the second match of the season on Thursday night, 17 March.

AFL Round One Fixture 2022

Wednesday, March 16
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT, Seven

Thursday, March 17
Carlton v Richmond, MCG, 7.25pm AEDT, Seven

Friday, March 18
St Kilda v Collingwood, Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEDT, Seven

Saturday, March 19
Geelong v Essendon, MCG, 2.10pm AEDT, Fox
Greater Western Sydney v Sydney, Accor Stadium, 5.10pm AEDT, Fox
Brisbane v Port Adelaide, Gabba, 7.10pm AEST, Seven

Sunday, March 20
Hawthorn v North Melbourne, MCG, 1.10pm AEDT, Fox
Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 3.40pm ACDT, Fox
West Coast v Gold Coast, Optus Stadium, 4.40pm AWST, Fox