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As Greater Western Sydney prepare for their first away clash of the AFL season, midfielder Rhys Palmer is taking heart from the fact North Melbourne will effectively be doing the same when they host in Hobart.
The Kangaroos will play their first home game at Bellerive on Sunday, with president James Brayshaw this week spruiking the long-term benefits rather than the $1 million per season the deal will net them.
And while the club attempts to generate fans in the south of Tasmania, the fact remains North will be travelling away from their supporter base on the weekend.
“It’ll be good to venture out to a new stadium. I think it’ll give us a bit of an advantage as well,” Palmer said on Thursday.
“We’re not playing at Etihad Stadium where the Kangaroos probably would have liked to play in front of their fans.
“Both of the teams are (going to be) outside our comfort zones.”
Palmer was one of his side’s best in their 63-point loss to Sydney in the season opener.
The Giants’ maiden performance won plaudits, but Palmer knows it’s a platform his side must build on.
The 23-year-old said the Giants had been working hard to improve their delivery to the forward line and better a modest tally of 5.7 (37) against the Swans.
“Obviously there were a few things we were happy with, but definitely a lot of things that we weren’t happy with,” the 2008 Rising Star said.
“The inside-50s and just giving our forwards an opportunity to kick some goals.
“With our ball movement, (we have to be) taking it through the middle. We probably went a bit too wide against the Swans.”
The return of co-captain Luke Power and former No.1 draft pick Tom Scully will help that cause, while Palmer suspects the Hobart clash will also be more prone to free-flowing football.
“The Sydney Swans play a difficult brand of style, where they like to get a lot of stoppages and numbers around the ball,” he said.
“(The) Kangaroos are a lot different to that. So they’re going to give us more opportunity and we’re looking to capitalise on that.
“… We have three or four meetings to look at vision from the opposition. This time we’ve had two weeks to do it, so we’re well aware of what the Kangaroos like to do.
“We know who to shut down and how they like to play their footy.”
Power, Scully and ex-Port Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan were included in an extended squad for Sunday’s game.
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