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Who should the GWS Giants target?

Roar Guru
5th August, 2011
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Roar Guru
5th August, 2011
7
1274 Reads

Phil Davis is the first domino to fall. Now we can expect more names between now and grand final day to be revealed by Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Clubs looking unlikely or unable to play finals are more likely to lose players in this time, and it’s just a matter of time before another high profile player marches west.

So just for the sake of intrigue, I thought I’d take a stab at selecting these players, including some near certainties, some smokies, and a couple from left field.

Of course not everyone will agree with me, and there’s no doubt my crystal ball isn’t as sharp as it could be – in fact, it’s not even in HD and needs rabbit ears – but this is only meant to be a bit of fun.

Starting with the certainties: Phil Davis at centre half back, Alipate Carlile at full back, and Brett Deledio, Callum Ward and Rhys Palmer in the midfield.

With these selections, GWS, a la Gold Coast Suns, have prepared themselves from the backline forward, with promising ex-Power and SANFL ruckman Jonathon Giles as a staple in the middle and up forward.

Of course the big smokey in the mix is still Tom Scully. It’s hard to get a read with Scully, and one shouldn’t compare his case with Ablett, who had already gone as far as he could with his current club. Scully can be a 300 gamer, captain and premiership player – and he can do all of those things at Melbourne or the Giants.

The only two factors worth considering are: is it worth him moving from Melbourne to Blacktown? And will $900,000 a season over five years be enough?

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But now that the hunt for Taylor Walker appears to be over for the short-term, who are the Giants going to rely on for goals?

Israel Folau is looming as a real chance to hold down a key forward role, once he gets a better feel for the game and improves his marking.

Already he has revealed that he is a dead eye dick, but he’s still learning, and might find a year of being monstered by the best defenders in the comp either too disheartening or too dangerous on a frame still adjusting to the specifics of a new code.

I say, why not get Brendan Fevola?

Throw your stones if you must, but I can’t see the issue in getting the Fev for one year, maybe two, if he’s up for it.

Put all the strain and burden on him at full forward, and free up your young talls to play in the pocket or on the flanks to prepare them for the main job. All Fev needs to do is hold down a spot, not dominate in a season where no one expects anything from his club.

The other real left field call I would make is Andrew Lovett.

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It now sounds like I want the Giants to be a recycling plant for disgraced players, but looking at the issue purely objectively, the team needs older, harder and more experienced bodies to help bear the burden.

With the Giants having an extra year to get uncontracted players, why not throw in a one year contract to some of these blokes? Treat them for what they are, as gap fillers and coaching aids.

Imagine the lessons a newly reformed Fev can teach some young kids on everything from gambling to alcohol use?

Even if the man isn’t a born mentor, every young player knows his journey and how silly he’s been, and seeing a man reformed, keen to play footy and moving on from his past, could do more then any lecture given from an outsider to the club.

Likewise Lovett’s extremely close call in the court system serves as another unspoken reminder to young players just how serious the ramifications of their actions could be.

On top of this, the pair knows how to play footy. Again, the youngsters can just learn by watching.

And if I am completely wrong on all counts, the Giants only have them on one year contracts any way so when Taylor Walker and Scott Pendlebury or Dale Thomas become available, they can be thanked for their service, sworn in as inaugural club members, and either retire after having a chance at redemption or go on to another club having proven second chances do exist in footy.

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