It isn't no secret that when people evaluate the success of the 17th and 18th expansion sides in the AFL, they look at the Suns and Giants. If we are being regarded to as a success, the football community compares us with how the GWS Giants are tracking down south.
PART 1
STADIUM
Both Stadiums were redeveloped for both clubs first season in the AFL. The Suns play out at Metricon Stadium which is a 15 minute drive from the Surfers Paradise. It is widely known as one of the best boutique stadiums in the competition. Holding 25,000, Metricon Stadium is ran by the Suns. This means that the club get full access to the venue whenever the like. Apart from playing the first few home games at the Gabba, and occasional matches in Perth, Cairns, Townsville, and Brisbane along the way, as a whole the club gets to play/train whenever the like at the venue. GWS on the other hand play out of GIANTS Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. The Showgrounds holds 23,500 and is 25 minute drive away from Sydney's CBD. The Olympic Park region though is known as being in a spot that is a pain hence most people won't bother travelling out there unless they really have to or feel a great passion to support the Giants.
Verdict: SUNS win
FACILITIES
The Giants began based out of Blacktown ISP where they had good facilities. In 2013, they moved into their new state of the art facilities at Tom Wills Oval just down the road from Spotless Stadium. In only their second year in the competition, the club was in state of the art facilities. The suns on the other hand began in portables out the back of Carrara Stadium. The club had to wait until 2017 to move into their new state of the art facilities which it arguably better facilities than what the GWS Giants have. The club got the new facilities off the back of the Commonwealth Games coming to town in 2018, The Suns had to wait until their seventh season vs the GWS Giants only waiting until their second season.
Verdict: GWS win
PATHWAY INTO THE AFL
The NEAFL wasn't launched until 2011 so the Suns like the GWS Giants began in the TAC U18 Cup. The Suns though were required to play in the Victorian Football League in 2010 prior to entering the competition. The GWS Giants played in the NEAFL however played in the 2011 Nab Cup pre season competition whereas the Gold Coast Suns didn't get this same opportunity in 2010.
Verdict: GWS win
CROWDS
Despite not showing a whole heap of success on the field, the Suns have still beaten GWS with home crowds at Metricon Stadium over GIANTS Stadium. The only exceptions was in 2016 when the GWS were a kick away from a Grand Final and in 2019 when the Giants made the Grand Final AND the Suns claimed the wooden spoon. 18,000 average at Metricon Stadium in the SUNS first season whilst only 8,000 average crowd attended matches at GIANTS Stadium for the GWS Giants in 2012.
Verdict: SUNS win
COMMUNITY
The Suns have made community a major focus. They are actively involved in many community programs including the Homeless sleep out at Metricon, food delivery services, and involvement with the clubs on the Gold Coast. In 2019, all AFLQ Gold Coast Juniors Grand Finals were held at Metricon Stadium and the club has held a long running partnership with the Southport Sharks playing an AFLW match there every year amongst other benefits. GWS is big on diversity and multiculturalism which suits the western Sydney region. I would say that the Suns have better connections with the community. A quote from someone who liked in 'Giants Territory'- "I live out in Giants territory and no one gives a f**k about them. Where I live, you won't find much Giants gear. We are not too far from Blacktown. People don't give a sh*t". On the Gold Coast, I feel that the whole coast in behind the club. Last year when I went up to the Gold Coast for the Q-Clash and I had heaps of people wishing us luck on the way in on the tram and when we were returning home to the hotel the same- they were interested in how the Suns were going!
Verdict: SUNS win
THE CROSS CODE RECRUITS
The Suns recruited Karmichael Hunt while the GWS Giants recruited Israel Folau. Folau only played a single season for the GWS Giants playing 13 games and kicking 2 goals before returning to Rugby. Since then though, he has been the subject to controversy. Hunt however was a far more successful cross code recruit playing 44 games from 2011-2014 kicking six goals including the match winner goal after the siren in 2012 against the Richmond Tigers in Cairns.
Verdict: SUNS win
PART 1
STADIUM
Both Stadiums were redeveloped for both clubs first season in the AFL. The Suns play out at Metricon Stadium which is a 15 minute drive from the Surfers Paradise. It is widely known as one of the best boutique stadiums in the competition. Holding 25,000, Metricon Stadium is ran by the Suns. This means that the club get full access to the venue whenever the like. Apart from playing the first few home games at the Gabba, and occasional matches in Perth, Cairns, Townsville, and Brisbane along the way, as a whole the club gets to play/train whenever the like at the venue. GWS on the other hand play out of GIANTS Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. The Showgrounds holds 23,500 and is 25 minute drive away from Sydney's CBD. The Olympic Park region though is known as being in a spot that is a pain hence most people won't bother travelling out there unless they really have to or feel a great passion to support the Giants.
Verdict: SUNS win
FACILITIES
The Giants began based out of Blacktown ISP where they had good facilities. In 2013, they moved into their new state of the art facilities at Tom Wills Oval just down the road from Spotless Stadium. In only their second year in the competition, the club was in state of the art facilities. The suns on the other hand began in portables out the back of Carrara Stadium. The club had to wait until 2017 to move into their new state of the art facilities which it arguably better facilities than what the GWS Giants have. The club got the new facilities off the back of the Commonwealth Games coming to town in 2018, The Suns had to wait until their seventh season vs the GWS Giants only waiting until their second season.
Verdict: GWS win
PATHWAY INTO THE AFL
The NEAFL wasn't launched until 2011 so the Suns like the GWS Giants began in the TAC U18 Cup. The Suns though were required to play in the Victorian Football League in 2010 prior to entering the competition. The GWS Giants played in the NEAFL however played in the 2011 Nab Cup pre season competition whereas the Gold Coast Suns didn't get this same opportunity in 2010.
Verdict: GWS win
CROWDS
| Metricon Stadium Attendance | Metricon Stadium Average | GIANTS Stadium Attendance | GIANTS Stadium Average | |
| 2011 | 145,333 (8) | 18,167 | ||
| 2012 | 150,100 (11) | 13,645 | 48,703 (6) | 8,117 |
| 2013 | 152,980 (11) | 13,907 | 57,969 (7) | 8,281 |
| 2014 | 177,017 (11) | 16,092 | 76,868 (8) | 9,609 |
| 2015 | 135,966 (11) | 12,361 | 88,256 (8) | 11,032 |
| 2016 | 127,168 (11) | 11,561 | 97,006 (8) | 12,126 |
| 2017 | 140,174 (10) | 14,017 | 107,645 (8) | 13,456 |
| 2018 | 95,154 (7) | 13,593 | 95,988 (8) | 11,999 |
| 2019 | 118,344 (10) | 11,834 | 99,291 (8) | 12,411 |
Verdict: SUNS win
COMMUNITY
The Suns have made community a major focus. They are actively involved in many community programs including the Homeless sleep out at Metricon, food delivery services, and involvement with the clubs on the Gold Coast. In 2019, all AFLQ Gold Coast Juniors Grand Finals were held at Metricon Stadium and the club has held a long running partnership with the Southport Sharks playing an AFLW match there every year amongst other benefits. GWS is big on diversity and multiculturalism which suits the western Sydney region. I would say that the Suns have better connections with the community. A quote from someone who liked in 'Giants Territory'- "I live out in Giants territory and no one gives a f**k about them. Where I live, you won't find much Giants gear. We are not too far from Blacktown. People don't give a sh*t". On the Gold Coast, I feel that the whole coast in behind the club. Last year when I went up to the Gold Coast for the Q-Clash and I had heaps of people wishing us luck on the way in on the tram and when we were returning home to the hotel the same- they were interested in how the Suns were going!
Verdict: SUNS win
THE CROSS CODE RECRUITS
The Suns recruited Karmichael Hunt while the GWS Giants recruited Israel Folau. Folau only played a single season for the GWS Giants playing 13 games and kicking 2 goals before returning to Rugby. Since then though, he has been the subject to controversy. Hunt however was a far more successful cross code recruit playing 44 games from 2011-2014 kicking six goals including the match winner goal after the siren in 2012 against the Richmond Tigers in Cairns.
Verdict: SUNS win
