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The Giants can beat the Swans in 2014

Roar Pro
11th December, 2013
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Roar Pro
11th December, 2013
20

This year GWS Giants won a total of 18 quarters, the equivalent to four-and-a-half games.

They led Essendon at Etihad Stadium by 21 points at half-time before losing by 39, then led Collingwood by 16 points halfway through their MCG clash before succumbing by 50 points and were level against Geelong 28 minutes into the third term before losing by 59 points.

These kids are improving and will be starting to look like a senior AFL team come 2014.

Before going looking ahead we need to look at where the Giants fall apart in games. Of course the obvious reason is the age and match fitness.

Most of the boys will start the new season next year after completing three or more pre-seasons, with it said that it takes three pre-seasons to make a good AFL player.

These young Giants will come out next year more ready and more prepared then they ever have been. They will look to make a statement and show everyone that they are not a joke.

The second biggest shortfall for GWS is their ability to win in the ruck and clear the ball.

Whenever a team scores against the Giants the ball goes back for the bounce at which point the Giants lose the ruck and then see the ball cleared straight back up to their defending 50.

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Here the opposition usually finds an easy path through our young defence and slots another one through.

The ball goes back to the center again we all get to watch the same thing happen again and again until they manage to get a win in the ruck.

As much as I like Giles, he is not on the same level as some of the other great ruckman like Nic Naitanui, Sam Jacobs, Dean Cox and new GWS recruit Shane Mumford.

Being able to learn off Mumford will do a world of good for Giles, and Mumford will make a world of change for the Giants.

They will start to win those centre bounces and the midfield will be able to start clearing the ball up front to not just Jeremy Cameron but also a back from injury Jonathan Patton and soon-to-be-star Tom Boyd.

Teams had a bit of trouble with the third runner-up for the Coleman Medal last year and as soon as his potential was realised he found himself being tagged for a lot of matches. Next year there will be many more scoring options.

GWS has also beefed up their defence with additions of premiership winning defenders Josh Hunt and Heath Shaw. These stars, along with an already talented back line featuring Davis Hampton and Tim Mohr will be harder for teams to get past.

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Throw in an up and coming midfield that boasts players such as Stepehn Coniglio, Toby Greene, Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully, Callan Ward and the soon-to-debut Jed Lamb and Josh Kelly, the Giants will become a much more efficient team.

As a very optimistic fan I know there will be many more big losses but I suspect they will be far and few between in 2014.

And as for the Round 1 Sydney clash, I can see the Giants really pushing the Swans. Maybe even beating them. I’m hopeful and will be putting some coin on the underdogs to win.

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