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AFL Fandom in the WEST

The growing support and love of AFL across Western Sydney and the very foundations of the AFL are about culture in and of itself. Connecting with family, connecting with friends, connecting over a shared meal is a part being a follower and supporter of the AFL. You get to engage in a rhythm of life, a way in which to share and celebrate, to spend time with one another and to celebrate the highs and lows of your team. Located on the traditional land of the Dharug people, WEST visits an AFL watch party, at the Guildford hotel, to take in the experience….and you can too.


Ask any Australian what sport they support, and they will usually have an answer. Sport has been a way of life for Australians, for centuries, from weekend morning kids’ games to a stadium full of cheering crowds. It has always brought us together, a treasured and revered way of kinship, with connection and community at the heart of it all.



One sport that has always brought community together, with their values based around diversity and inclusion, is the AFL. For years, Western Sydney was without a own local club. That all changed in 2012 when the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) GIANTS were born. Suddenly, Western Sydney had its own team to cheer on. Donning the team’s jersey colours, watching the game at home, in a local pub, or live at a stadium, became a way to share the experience and celebrate together.

 

The Guildford Hotel recently announced it is the home of GWS GIANTS away games, becoming a meeting hub for the Western Sydney AFL community, and the best thing is everyone’s invited. WEST would also like to invite you to join fellow fans and supporters to watch a game and more importantly to fall in love with the experience.  The first thing you’ll notice when you walk into the Guildford Hotel, is the energy of the fans. The hotel is a sea of orange and charcoal and there’s cheering to be heard. Everyone is being greeted warmly, kids join in the fun and everyone is laughing, talking and enjoying a meal together. It feels like being at a family dinner, uniting with those you love.



The surroundings add to the atmosphere, with cosy booth seating, a vibrant, colourful mural by Sydney artist Nico Nicoson, and a restaurant section with framed artworks and lots of natural light coming through. Staff are friendly and welcoming, and the menu offers pub favourites but also Moroccan inspired dishes, paying homage to the hotel’s diverse neighbourhood. The chicken souvlaki with tzatziki and sumac dressing is definitely one to try, as well as the fun mocktails with creative side garnishes.



The AFL watch party was celebrated amongst AFL friends and the hosts of They Might Become Giants podcast. You can expect plenty of friendly conversation, team spirit, cheering and encouragement and a special feeling of togetherness. The energy of this game is community. Wherever you’re watching, it’s who you’re with, the laughter, the stories, the shared experience. It’s the joy of coming together that’s memorable.


Thanks to the expanding love and support for AFL, this same celebration is bringing people together in homes and venues across diverse communities all over Greater Western Sydney. The act of ‘breaking bread’ is a powerful ritual that unites every culture and community. There is something unique about the AFL, an intentional goal to connect communities and cultures, with food. Sport does that. It brings people from diverse backgrounds together, harmoniously.



AFL, the GWS and all the affiliated programs are becoming much more than just a game of sport. It’s something more powerful. AFL brings people together, it is a unifier, a sub-culture, a way of life. WEST was grateful to take in the experience, and wherever you are in Western Sydney, you can too.

 

Jump on in and support your local AFL team. Connect with you friends or family, share a meal and celebrate Westen Sydney wherever you are.







 
 
 

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