Demetriou has Giant plans for GWS to be 'a very big club' Winning solves everything: Swans coach John Longmire (centre) addresses his players on Tuesday at the SCG. Andrew Demetriou says the AFL will do "whatever it takes" to make Greater Western Sydney a success story and believes the new boys can become a "very big football club." The AFL has committed nearly $85 million over six years until 2016 as the Giants find their feet but such is the importance of the club to the future of the competition Demetriou said the league would be prepared to tip more funds in if required. Demetriou did not say what numbers the Giants would have to reach by 2016 in terms of membership and attendances to satisfy the league but has big dreams for the club. "If they start winning games, get supporters on board and be patient they will be a big club": Andrew Demetriou. "I think of the two expansion clubs the Gold Coast will be a successful small club and the Giants have the potential to be a very big football club because of the catchment area," Demetriou said. If they start winning games, get supporters on board and be patient they will be a big club - much bigger than we imagine. They have a very large catchment area but they have to win. With already 11,500 members, the Giants have exceeded the AFL's expectations and closing in on their goal of 12,500 this year. The club has set itself the aim of averaging just over 9000 fans per game at Skoda Stadium this year, up from 1000 from from 8117 in their inaugural season. Longer term, by 2016 they want to average in excess of 20,000 per home game and have a membership of around 20,000 to 25,000. The club is also aiming in the next couple of years to sell out their home games at Manuka Oval, which has a capacity of 13,550. Our benchmarks with a 25,000-seat stadium [Skoda] - how quickly can we get a sellout? How quickly can we get to 20,000 members? They're the important things for us," GWS chief David Matthews said. Cross-town rivals the Swans have passed 33,000 members for the first time. The reigning premiers are aiming to reach 37,000 later this year but have designs on breaking the 40,000 mark in coming seasons. The Swans said they were better placed to capitalise on their premiership last year than they were in 2005-06 when they came tantalisingly close to back-to-back flags. "The reality is if you don't play as well not as many come to watch you play - that's the cold hard reality of sport," said Swans chief Andrew Ireland. The Swans are also confident of selling out their blockbuster Friday night showdown with Geelong next week. "If you can fill your stadium, membership becomes important because it might be the only way you actually get in to watch games," Ireland said. Both the Swans and the Giants would support any move to start the premiership season earlier next year. The AFL is considering pushing forward the start of the 2014 season by two or three weeks in order to compete with the NRL, Super Rugby and the A-League. One scenario could see the opening two rounds of the season split over a fortnight due to the unavailability of the MCG, the SCG and the Gabba, which are under the control of cricket until late March each summer. That means the Swans and Giants, who would play on alternate weekends, would have to play at either ANZ Stadium or Skoda Stadium. The Swans want to see a 24-game season and a shortened NAB Cup competition.