Greater Western Sydney has marketing genius Kevin Sheedy and the best teenagers in the land in its corner. But it is difficult to build a case for the Giants winning one game in their first season in the AFL.
Some said the same about Gold Coast last season, but the Suns boasted Gary Ablett Jr, still rated by some as the pre-eminent player in the competition, along with former Brisbane Lions best and fairest winner Michael Rischitelli, ex-Hawthorn premiership defender Campbell Brown, Nathan Bock and Jarrod Harbrow.
While the Giants’ move to install three-time premiership player Luke Power as one of their three inaugural captains is a good one, it exposes the lack of depth in their ranks.
Power was told to retire by the Lions last season – a side also occupying a spot in the lower reaches of the ladder.
Phil Davis and Callan Ward will also hold the leadership baton in the Giants’ first year. Both are up-and-coming players who have their best football ahead of them.
But they won’t find their best this year. In three years they should be firing on all cylinders along with several of their teammates.
Not this year, though. It is a development year for the Giants, and should be seen as nothing more.
And what of Tom Scully? Can he shake his much-publicised knee problems to become a genuine star of the competition? The fact GWS did not hand its star recruit the captaincy is worrying.
Gold Coast’s ready-made recruits entered their new club with a big reputation in the top ranks.
The Giants’ experienced players either haven’t established themselves yet, or are over the hill.
It is why I fear they will be chewed up several times this season. Their fans will have to get used to three-figure thumpings as players like Power, Chad Cornes, Dean Brogan and James McDonald – four players past their best – are looked upon to lead the team on field.
McDonald might be a fantasy football bargain buy, but he was playing local footy in the Victoria Amateur Football Association last season and might battle a bit this year given there will be expectations on him, as a senior member of the side, to perform strongly.
If the veterans don’t perform, the pressure will then build on the Giants’ enviable stable of first-year players.
Sheedy’s Giants will make everyone stand up and take notice in three seasons.
For the moment, though, the list has more holes than any of their 17 AFL rivals.
mds1970
Roar Guru
No :-)
Veni, Vedi, Sherrin Calcitravi
Guest
Based upon other teams, 3 game memberships (the smallest package available) make up less than 5% of total. Who would bother (unless o/s or interstate) putting yourself behind the team as a member without the intention of attending games.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Lachlan, GWS already picked the eyes out of what was supposed to be Gold Coast's draft by making sure Cameron, Shiel and Hampton never got into it.
Lachlan
Roar Guru
They showed they have a good full-field press and for a very young and unexperienced side they aren't afraid to go in hard and they're pressure was very good in the NAB Cup. I keep telling myself they'll win a game, they'll be competitive and they won't be any worse than the Gold Coast last year, but deep down, who will they beat? every team at the bottom of the ladder has got better. They will be competiutive but for how long? and they don't have as many and as good uncontracted players as the gold coast had and the gold coast's draft had a lot more depth than last years, in saying that this years draft will be phenomenal
db swannie
Guest
Yep was going to say that...By raving on in the media with stupidity or outlandish ideas,or showing his lack of knowledge of Sydney's layout,to saying he had never heard of Hindy,is Marketing genius,then Ivan Milat is a wonderful travel agent. His weird quotesmight get a chuckle in Victoria..Up north he puts more people off side then he wins over..
cos789
Guest
How many are 1 game memberships? How many are in Melbourne? Canberra? Sydney? That 6000 figure is creative. The first 10 years for this club will be extremely difficult. If the AFL has the stomach to see it through, thats when talk of success will be had.
Jaceman
Guest
Who knows?? but obviously they will struggle some days..
Phil
Guest
We have a simple, effective game plan, some of the league's best coaches to implement it, a majority of our starting 18 as AFL experienced players, including former first round draft picks, All-Australians, Rising Stars, multiple premiership players, International Rules representatives, mature age VFL and SANFL stars such as Giles, Clifton and Mohr, experienced stars from other sports, such as Folau and O'Hailpin, and of course some of the most talented and promising young players from all across Australia.
cos789
Guest
Greater Western Sydney has marketing genius Kevin Sheedy Stopped reading there. Sheedy is a loony.
stabpass
Guest
They will get flogged on quite a few occasions, but on the upside membership has gone past the 6,000 barrier. They seem to be really working their NSW zone, which they need to do, to up membership and find some rough diamonds in players.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
For the record, I dont think GWS, much as I love em, can sustain that level of pressure for 20 straight quarters.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
GWS are probably missing the top end class that Gold Coast brought into their team, but the flip side is that they appear to have bigger and stronger bodies than the Gold Coast, so I give GWS a reasonable chance of equalling the Suns' three wins from last year. No point in making bolder predictions than that because ultimately, it will also depend on opportunity knocking, and let's be honest, last year, opportunity knocked three times for the Suns, and they grabbed their three wins. 1. Port led by 40 pts mid way through the third term, and then completely faded, but had a chance to still win it after the siren - from that point, they also went missing for the remainder of the season. 2. The suns also copped to fairly hopeless teams in an even more hopeless mood when they met the Suns.
Adrian
Guest
Not convinced the Giants will spend any time in the 8 this year, but I think that the tough, competitive style they seem to be playing means they won't get blown out as often as expected, and I have no doubt they will find a few wins over the course of the season. There are enough sides in the AFL which throw in inconsistent performances that the Giants should get lucky and find a few teams having a bad day; relentless pressure and enthusiasm is always a recipe for an upset.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
This is an article by someone who clearly didnt see the first-round NAB cup games. Players - unmentioned by this article - that did fine in that included Phil Davis, Tim Mohr, Jonathon Giles, Stephen Conigilio and Stephen Clifton. Oh, and Stam ... if we play like we did in round one of the NAB Cup for the first twenty quarters of the season, the Giants will be battered, bruised and with players possibly cooked for the season. They will also be sitting at the bottom end of the top eight.
stam
Roar Rookie
Fair call, it's going to be a very tough year for GWS. If they play like they did in rd 1 of nab cup they will be battered and bruised by round 5