GWS star Lachie Whitfield says the Giants do their social media banter better than any other AFL club, backing in the antagonistic, English Premier League-like approach that has fired up cross-town rivals Sydney.
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The Giants drew the ire of Swans chief executive Tom Harley, who said GWS mocking a video from Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney was "low-brow".
After being ruled out of Brownlow Medal contention following a failed bid to overturn a one-match ban for striking, Heeney expressed how disappointed he was via a video posted to Sydney's social media channels.
GWS, who often cause a stir for poking fun at their rivals on social media, then posted a parody video of captain Toby Greene - who has a chequered history at the tribunal - apologising for receiving a fine during the same weekend.
"I did see the Giants video and I'm not going to give it any air, but (I thought it was) pretty low-brow," Harley told SEN radio.
"Isaac is a champion of our club and a champion of the game, and talks about growing the game ... a bloke from Newcastle brought up on rugby league, I wouldn't have done it."
Preferring to stay away from the off-field banter, Whitfield backed his club and said it was a show of healthy rivalry between the teams.
"I don't like giving extra ammo, especially to the Swans who have (had the wood) over us this year, but look, the media want more from us," the dashing defender said on Tuesday.
"They want to see our personalities more, and I think we do it better than any other club with our social media side.
"If you look to international sports, America, English Premier League and all that, they're very active on all that sort of stuff. It's good that we're following it.
"The off-field stuff is great. Whatever it is, if it's Liverpool versus Everton, us versus the Swans, or the New York teams going at each other, there's got to be a sense of rivalry that's off-field."
During the off-season, GWS traded barbs with Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox, who called the Giants' home ground a "showground for livestock".
After a gritty 24-point win over Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, the Giants return home on Saturday for a clash with Gold Coast, who remain winless on the road this season.
Australian Associated Press
