Building the Giants for the 2012 AFL season was a daunting assignment, with Aussie rules footy about as well known in Western Sydney as competitive tiddlywinks. Those tasked with building the club fought tooth and nail to capitalise on the concessions and advantages handed to them by AFL HQ.

In this eighth episode of AFL Team Builders, inaugural leaders Dale Holmes (CEO), Phil Davis (player) and Stephen Silvagni (list manager) talk through the difficulties of trying to build a footy club in a hostile environment, the recruitment of Israel Folau, the importance of the Breakfast Point set-up and more.

It’s easy to forget that Gold Coast’s formation pretty much happened by accident, but that is what took place when North Melbourne decided to stay in Victoria instead of moving to Queensland. From there, building a standalone team on the Gold Coast was too good an opportunity to pass up.

In this seventh episode of AFL Team Builders, inaugural chairman, John Witheriff, first official employee, Andrew Thomas, and two inaugural squad members - Nathan Bock and Charlie Dixon - detail the challenges Gold Coast faced in its formative years, including woeful facilities, a skeptical local community, a difficult relationship with the AFL, and even the threat of snakes at the club.

Thanks to BackChat for some of the audio used in this episode.

Already despised by their SANFL rivals, the Port Adelaide Magpies tried and failed to sneakily enter the AFL in 1991 before 'being put back in their box'. Ironically, it was Port Adelaide’s desperation to join the AFL that fast-tracked the formation of the Adelaide Crows, but it also showcased the club's bold and ruthless mentality.

In this sixth episode of AFL Team Builders, inaugural leaders Brian Cunningham (CEO), Greg Boulton (president) and Stephen Paxman (player) go through the highs, lows and controversies as Port Adelaide went about launching a standalone AFL team, built upon the foundations of 150 years of SANFL dominance.