GWS not daunted by MCG crowds

INAUGURAL Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy says he would be disappointed if the Giants were overawed by an expected 90,000-strong Tiger army at the MCG on Saturday.

Ticket sale websites went into meltdown yesterday as more than 75,000 Richmond members were given the opportunity to snap up seats for the match and did so at a rate of up to 1200 a minute.

Some 95,028 fans attended the Tigers’ qualifying final against Geelong – the majority of the yellow and black persuasion – and the Richmond roar around the MCG is set to be even louder this weekend with only a few thousand Giants fans expected to travel south for the clash.

GWS has played in front of average crowds of only 20,819 this season, with the biggest attendance it has ever had for a game being 60,222 for its qualifying final clash with Sydney at ANZ Stadium last year.

But Sheedy, who also played 251 games for Richmond, said the crowd would only play a small factor in the contest and GWS had to tackle the first MCG final of its short history sooner or later.

“I can only go back to when I played. I never worried about the crowd, I just worried about the ball,” Sheedy said.

“I’d be disappointed if they were (overawed) but it will be a great experience for them.

“They’re a six-year-old club. You’ve got to start sometime in the journey, coming to the MCG.”

While GWS have won just

one of 11 matches at the MCG since their inaugural season of 2012, Richmond have made the ground a fortress this season both due to its game style and large supporter base.

The Tigers have won 10 of 12 games at the venue.

Statistics show Richmond defend the MCG better than any other team, the club conceding an average of just 67.9 points a game, which is more than 20 per cent better than the AFL average of 85 points.

Sheedy was coy when asked about his allegiance for Saturday’s match given his close ties to both clubs.

“I think I’ll wear a Collingwood scarf,” he joked.