AFL's Bulldogs farewell son of the west

Daniel Giansiracusa will line up for the Western Bulldogs for the final time on Sunday against GWS Giants.

Western Bulldogs Daniel Giansiracusa

Daniel Giansiracusa will line up for the Western Bulldogs for the final time against GWS Giants. (AAP)

When Western Bulldogs host the GWS Giants at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, expect the eyes of the footy world to be elsewhere.

With finals around the corner, this battle of 14th against 16th does little to whet the appetite.

Even the VFL meeting of neighbours Footscray and Williamstown at Whitten Oval earlier in the day could lay claim to more interest.

But the most anticlimactic of finishes to a home and away season has deep significance to the Bulldogs, and specifically Daniel Giansiracusa.

The Bulldogs' favourite son of the West, Williamstown-raised Giansiracusa plays his 265th and final game on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a celebrated career.

Rohan Smith played alongside "Gia" in his first game at Football Park in 2001 and now as an assistant coach, will see him out.

"He was such an outstanding young gentleman who came into the club, just so intent on learning from day one," he said.

"Fifteen years later Gia still loves it and coming in every day."

Giansiracusa will join the Bulldogs' back-room staff next year, which Smith is delighted with.

"His footy knowledge is outstanding, he's a great communicator, he sees the game so well," he said.

"He's been one of the champions of our club and one I'm really pleased to have known him right through."

The Bulldogs have never lost to the Giants but Smith anticipates both a tough game and a growing rivalry with the club.

"We're both not playing finals but we're not focused on this year, it's about the next couple of years," he said.

"They've had a lot of young kids coming through like us, we're heading in the right direction and they are too, we could become big rivals over the next few years."

The match also gives Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney a chance to finish the home and away season with eight wins, the same as last season.

Smith said the win was more important for momentum rather than a win-loss ratio.

"If we finish the season on the right note it makes it a whole lot better going into pre-season but I don't think it's the be-all and end-all," he said.

Lining up against Gia will be dual premiership-winner Josh Hunt for his last game.

Hunt won two flags with Geelong before a final season with the developing Giants.


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