GREATER Western Sydney could lose its home ground advantage at Spotless Stadium during this year's finals series – should the Giants qualify - if it faces cross-town rivals the Sydney Swans.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed on Tuesday the Giants would play on their home turf should they make the top eight and earn the right to host a final, but circumstances could change that.

McLachlan revealed that in the case of an all-Sydney final, or a clash with another club with a large supporter base, Spotless Stadium's capacity could force the match across the road to ANZ Stadium.



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GWS and the Swans both have seven wins this season and currently sit inside the top four.

The Giants' home ground has a capacity of around 24,000, but a final between the two Sydney clubs would be expected to attract in excess of 50,000 people, and McLachlan said it would make sense to move the game.

"If it was a Giants (versus) Swans prelim final I think there's a case to have that at ANZ (Stadium), certainly while it's still operating," McLachlan said.

"Their home ground is Spotless (Stadium), so with the right team playing there (against them) they would play out there.

"If it was a big enough game you could take it to ANZ and I've had discussions with the Giants about that and they agree on that."

McLachlan said he wasn't worried about the attendance at Giants' games this season, and pointed out the club's average attendances have grown again in 2016.

In three home games this year the Giants have only drawn more than 10,000 fans through the gates once, when 13,766 people turned up to see them smash Hawthorn by 75-points in round six.

Subsequent games against Gold Coast (8,308) and the Western Bulldogs (9,612) have had solid support, but McLachlan pointed out both GWS games at Manuka Oval in Canberra, against Geelong in round two (13,656) and Port Adelaide in round four (10,028), were almost sold out.

"They're really just slipping into gear now and the momentum is building," he said.

"They are one of the most exciting teams I've seen play for a number of years and now is the time I think people will actually take notice of them.

"They're on a journey, everyone knows that. They're a generational decision, but they've got a great football team.

"Go and watch them because they're going to be good for a while."



Giants and Swans players join Sydney children at the launch of Indigenous Round. Picture: AFL Media

