On Saturday night in Blacktown, another piece will fall into place for the AFL’s Greater Western Sydney puzzle. The Giants will compete against another club for the first time in 2012.
There’ll be supergoals and 20-minute halves, but the semblance of an AFL match when they tackle Collingwood and Western Bulldogs.
When the ball is bounced on the weekend, the stand-alone start to GWS’s inaugural season will be just five weeks away.
While much is falling into place for the March 24 game against Sydney, coach Kevin Sheedy understands there’s still a major sense of the unknown for many – both outside and inside the club.
Israel Folau will be most scrutinised, but he’s one of 12 in the Giants’ 34-man squad who have never played in the AFL’s pre-season competition.
Sheedy wants to use the next four weeks to find out as much as possible about the rawest of his charges.
“We’ll play (all) 34 (on Saturday night),” Sheedy said after GWS’s training run on Friday.
“Not all of our senior players are going to play … and that’s good.
“It gives (ruckmen) Tom Downie and Andrew Phillips a run, an opportunity because Dean Brogan’s out.
“We’ll be finding out whether Jeremy Cameron is going to be very good, excellent or a superstar – or Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar and Steve (Coniglio) .. all those boys.
“I just want to play all the kids – as many as I can.”
Sheedy’s expectations for the weekend were upbeat.
“I think we’ll actually play pretty well. We’re going to annoy people.
“(The pre-season competition is about) confidence for these young players and you never know. We might sing the (team) song tomorrow night.”
Steve Coniglio suspected a few of the club’s lesser lights would shine in their first hit-out.
“There’s going to be players that are going to pop out of nowhere, and I think that’s the most exciting thing,” Coniglio said.
“Nobody really knows a lot about our players but, over the next few weeks, we’ll soon find out.”
With Jonathon Patton, No.1 pick of last year’s draft, still recovering from knee surgery, No.2 selection Coniglio will capture a lot more interest.
The talented midfielder, who played in the WAFL with Swan Districts in 2010-11, feels no pressure.
He’s aware of the low expectations of pundits and bookmakers – who don’t expect GWS to win a single game this year – but says the young squad is happy to use it as motivation.
“We’re not going to go into the game tomorrow night and not want to win the game,” he said.
“I think that’s the key with the young players that we have – we don’t really like losing.
“The odds for us this year aren’t that good, but I think that incites those young players to really put our name forward and take this team forward for the next couple of years.”
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Obvious troll is obvious.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Look, GWS have not one, but TWO premiership coaches - one of whom is right up there with recent coaching legends. They have the Fullback of the Century - who was also a handy forward. They've done something incredibly smart IMO and bought in experienced guys like Power and Mcdonald to act as onfield coaches. anyone who thought GWS staff didnt know what they were doing needs their head examined. Good games, both of the. GWS supporters should be proud of the way they played tonight. Cant wait to see them at full strength.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
lol capacity is only 10k so 18k is completely out of the question
mds1970
Roar Guru
7,086. Not brilliant, but it's something to build on.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I was at the ground. No way in hell there were 18000 at the ground. You might be able to get to 8000, if you engaged in some creative counting.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Back from the game. Throat sore. Very happy with the boys. They ran, they tackled, they hassled, they blocked kicks and they contested the footy. Izzy did OK. He was making leads and demanding accountability. In the Collingwood game, he created space well. Note that Cameron has been pushed back to be a big marking body in the backline. Gutsy but good call by Sheeds to rest Luke Power, Rhys Palmer, Callan Ward, Tom Scully, James McDonald and Chad Cornes against Collingwood.
JAZZ
Guest
heard 18,000 were at the ground - new record. If this keeps up the GWS will get easy 35,000 to mot games
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Pies missing 13 or 22 apparently lol. But GWS missing 6 or 7 of their top talent too. Decent hitout, the signs are looking good. Quiet night for Izzy.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
very exciting finish, GWS had the chance again to set up the goal at the death knell, but couldn't manage it, pies win by 3 pts, pies have gone in with a very young team, but still a good effort by GWS Shae McNamara, the American basketballer talking with Izzy at the end there, telling him he'll get used to it with time
The Cattery
Roar Guru
one min to go, GWS still down by 3 pts
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Izzy unsighted in this game, he's pretty much at the edge of the screen anytime the camera is on the ball, can't get anywhere near it, even at NAB cup level, the game is looking too fast for him
The Cattery
Roar Guru
miracle goal from the boundary puts pies back in front, 4 min to go
The Cattery
Roar Guru
GWS has just pulled two back to hit the front against pies, 5 min to go
yewonk
Guest
was nt a bad crowd there.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
this game and next weeks brisbane v melbourne game are on the foxtel blackout list which applies to fox on tbox and xbox. Will still be available on foxtel and AFL live (mobile)
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
yes lets all get our tin foil hats out
Aware
Guest
Aw. The AFL can contrive any result they want. Who's watching them?
yewonk
Guest
i thought you could watch nab on t box? does anyone know.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
very costly free giving away a 'double' goal in right in front. Cost Giants the game. At this point, Doggies fans can't read too much into it, but, for the Giants - lots of encouragement. That and a club song that makes me want to go and play Tetris.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Not a bad result. Not what they wanted but respectable.