GREATER Western Sydney has heard every bit of criticism thrown at the club since it was founded.
Manufactured by the AFL.
A fake club with no history or soul.
A money pit that will never work in rugby league heartland.
Yes, the Giants have heard it all, they just haven't bothered to give it their attention, and rightly so.
The Giants were too busy building the club and its culture, and next Saturday, they're a 50-50 chance to walk off the MCG as premiers for season 2019.
GWS chairman Tony Shepherd has been one of the Giants' loudest voices over the journey, picking fights with rival clubs who looked down on his club, standing up to anybody who dared take cheap shots at the League's youngest franchise.
He's seen the lows of 100-point beltings, so you can understand his immense pride at witnessing Saturday's epic preliminary final win over Collingwood.
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"Have a look at the spirit (the players showed) out there," Shepherd said after the four-point triumph.
"Players came in like Lachie Keeffe and played their hearts out and made that game happen.
"That’s not artificial, Lachie didn’t come out of the AFL Academy system.
"That’s a great club, a club with true spirit and truly a spirit that the other 17 clubs aspire to (have).
"It proves that all that work was worthwhile.
You work hard, and you sometimes wonder, are we going to make it? - Tony Shepherd
"This shows that we were right. We can make it and we have made it.
"This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.
"We started (the club) nine years ago and we've had lots of injuries, lots of setbacks.
"This win shows we are there, we have arrived.
"To make our first Grand Final after eight years is a remarkable achievement, a truly remarkable achievement.
"We’re a young club in foreign territory (up in Sydney) and what we’ve achieved in that short time is something I’m so proud of."
Shepherd's only rival as the Giants' No.1 spokesperson has been GWS chief executive Dave Matthews.
He witnessed the tense last few minutes of the win with the suspended Toby Greene, injured teammates Stephen Coniglio and Brett Deledio, and travelling emergencies Isaac Cumming, Tommy Sheridan, Zac Langdon and Matt Buntine.
"It feels amazing," Matthews said.
"The best moment was at the end of the game when our players went down to the cheer squad, and above the cheer squad was three tiers of Giants fans.
"It's not easy to make your way down (from Sydney) and pay for the flights, accommodation and tickets.
"To see the passion of our fans that were here was a real thrill for us. We're delighted.
I hope that everybody savours the fact that we've made it and enjoys the week. - Dave Matthews
"I think Leon (Cameron) has got the players very, very focused.
"The players and the coaches move onto next week very quickly but for the fans and everybody else, I just hope they soak it up."
