Sydney set for Battle of the Bridge

Callan Ward and Kieren Jack at Glebe Point to promote the local derby "Battle of the Bridge" Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE AFL's newest crosstown rivalry - between Sydney's Swans and Giants - will be known as the Battle of the Bridge.

No, not that bridge, the Anzac Bridge, the major route between the CBD and the city's west. But regardless of the Giants' rise, Swans co-captain Kieren Jack firmly believes that all of Sydney still belongs to the Swans.

"This talk of the 'Battle of the Bridge' I don't really buy into it we see ourselves as Sydney's team," Jack said.

"I went to school in Castle Hill and there's plenty of people west of there who all go for the Swans. We've got supporters everywhere. We want to maintain that.

"We've got a pretty good stranglehold on Sydney and want to maintain that."

The branding is another piece of genius from Giants coach Kevin Sheedy who maintained the Swans had no claim on the city's west.

"He can't have all of Sydney, I won't let him," Sheedy said. "You don't get too greedy you get indigestion. A Swan is a duck with a stretched neck."

Jack's comments are sure to add further spice to the round one match which already has some feeling after James McDonald broke the jaw of Swans youngster Luke Parker in last year's season opener. McDonald was suspended for two weeks and Parker missed three weeks with the injury. Sheedy said the match also recognises the Anzac legacy.

"Along with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Anzac Bridge has become a powerful landmark in Sydney but also pays respect to those who served this country," Sheedy said. "We want this to be big event for the people of Sydney and there is no bigger event in sport than a local derby.

"We think this will become one of the great rivalries in Australian sport."

The Giants beat the Swans for the first time in last month's NAB Cup.

"They didn't have a full team in but they still had about 10 premiership players in," co captain Callan Ward said. "It was a big deal for us. I believe we can (beat them),"

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