Their team suffered a nightmarish trouncing in their first AFL grand final appearance, but GWS Giants fans radiated pride and smiles the day after the game.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Giants were held to 3.7, their lowest score ever, as a rampant Richmond steamrolled them by 89 points at the MCG on Saturday.
A few hundred GWS supporter attended Sunday's fan day at Giants headquarters, on Sunday afternoon, when they were addressed by CEO Dave Matthews, coach Leon Cameron and co-captain Phil Davis.
"It's tough, but I think they are doing it tougher than us so you've got to be brave for them," said Paula Stroeher, a GWS cheer squad member, who has only ever missed one Giants game.
"How can you not be excited with what's in the future in front of us?"
Another GWS cheer squad member, Mark Costello, witnessed close up the raw emotion of the players in the aftermath of Saturday's game.
"I saw a few of them in the changing rooms room afterwards and there wasn't a clear eye, they were visibly upset," Costello said.
"I hope they can use that that. They don't want to be in that position ever again, and use that anger and that upset to motivate them for the next time."
GWS fans made up close to 10 per cent of a total attendance of just over 100,000.
"We've never seen that many Giants fans in a interstate game before so it was really something to behold," Costello said.
Asked if he felt intimidated by being so heavily outnumbered by opposing fans Costello said: "Only after the final siren, we almost got crushed by the wild waves ... they were fine, their supporters.
"Unfortunately hearing the Tigerland song sung by about 95,00 people it's going to take a bit if time to clear that out of my head!"
Perth-based GWS member Clint Johnson travelled to Melbourne for the game and on to Sydney for the fans' day.
Asked if reaching the grand final was the payoff for long serving fans like himself who had to endure a couple of years of heavy losses at the start of the club's existence Johnson said: "I wouldn't call this the payoff yet, the payoff is coming but it's good to see the club come so far so quickly.
"They've set themselves up in a great spot. To come from sixth this year and make a grand final was shooting overs in my opinion."
Australian Associated Press
