"A lot of distaste": Davis on GWS/Sydney rivalry and how Giants shook 'little brother' tag

While Gold Coast haven't been able to shake the little brother tag against Brisbane, it's a different story in the Harbour City as the Giants have been able to compete and knock off their cross-town rivals in big games.

Davis reflected on the moment that things turned in their 'Battle of the Bridge' rivalry in 2014 and spoke about how they became a genuine rival of the Swans early on in their time as an AFL club.

"No, we were very fortunate that we had a big win (to shake the little brother tag), I think it was in the fifth derby (in Round 1, 2014)," Davis said on SEN Whateley.

"They trounced us early, the first four average losing margins I think was 80 or 90 points.

"They were ruthless, and I think from the Giants' perspective, we've always admired and respected Sydney.

"Their finals record in the last 25 years is outstanding, they missed the finals maybe three times in that period, so there was always a lot of respect.

"But we got that win in 2014 and then all of a sudden it became competitive and then we were able to win the 2016 Qualifying Final. It was a home final for Sydney and that was sort of the moment I think that it became a relatively even battle from then on.

"The Giants have gone 3-0 in finals against Sydney … we were able to win big games against them and that's probably what Gold Coast haven't been able to do (against Brisbane)."

While Davis respected the Swans, that doesn't mean he liked them as tensions boiled between the two clubs and sets of players in the city.

The former defender says there was genuine distaste between the two clubs which still exists to this day.

"Just because I respected them it didn't mean I liked them," Davis said.

"There was something that (I knew 15 or 20 Swans players) but there was a lot of distaste (between the players).

"The Swans were an interesting one because when they were beating us, they were comprehensive in what they were doing.

"They were verbal, and these things just add up. Then it's just a small town and it just builds it.

"Then you start hearing the backdrop of what (clubs are saying) … the backroom politics that go on too, when that starts to get fed through and you hear what they're trying to do to undermine your whole club, it adds another layer.

"When you realise that you're threatening their territory, that's when you know you've landed.

"For us, when we started to win big games, they were trying to undermine what we were trying to grow in Sydney and that's when you knew.

"Then on the field, you respect them, but there's a few players up in Sydney that I think there was a lot of distaste between the two."

Saturday's 'Battle of the Bridge' is set for 1:45pm (AEST) at the SCG.

The Swans and Giants enter the game second and third on the ladder respectively with 6-1 win-loss records to their names.