Greater Western Sydney have quickly responded to The West Australian’s support of their finals campaign, keeping the friendly feud between the club and the paper alive.

The back page of today’s The West was blazed in orange after premier Roger Cook declared the state should get behind GWS this September with Fremantle’s horror final month leaving Western Australians with no homegrown options.

“It’s a shame my Dockers aren’t in the finals race this year but I’d encourage every footy fan across the State to get behind West Aussie players who still have the opportunity to make it to the last Saturday in September,” he told The West Australian.

“If I had to choose, I’m backing GWS, their spiritual leader Stephen Coniglio is a proud West Australian.”

While the Giants have appealed for WA support before, such as in last year’s semifinal against Collingwood, they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to jab back after their WA stars were dubbed “traitors” earlier this season.

It’s the latest shot in a good-natured feud with The West as the Giants will now look to have the ultimate last laugh as they eye a deep run into September currently sitting as the $6 third favourite to lift the cup.

They will advance to the preliminary final if they defeat Sydney in the qualifying final on Saturday. If the Swans prevail, the Giants will face the winner of Brisbane’s elimination final clash with Carlton.

There’s still plenty of WA talent in action across the league despite the lack of Eagles or Dockers with Hawthorn the only side not to have a Sandgroper on their list.

After Northam product Bobby Hill took out Norm Smith last season Cook said he hoped more homegrown talent would be on show come the last weekend of September.

“It’s great to see so many AFL clubs have such a strong WA flavour and who knows, we might see a West Australian take out the Norm Smith again this year.”