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Greater Western Sydney chief executive Dave Matthews has fired the first shot in the AFL club’s battle to retain their young talent, re-signing five players until the end of 2015.
Dylan Shiel, Tom Bugg, Adam Tomlinson, Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy all agreed on terms to stay with the competition newcomers for the next three seasons.
While all the talk is about GWS trying to lure star recruits to Sydney, the club will soon become the hunted when rivals swarm to sign up their prized talent on initial two-year draftee contracts.
Matthews is confident others are poised to follow Thursday’s quintet.
“We have got a number of discussions progressing at the moment and we hope to have further announcements in the coming week,” Matthews said.
“It’s an absolute priority for us to secure the ongoing commitment of the young talent that we have.”
It’s testament to the club’s welfare department that Shiel – a 19-year-old former Carlton supporter who studied at Caulfield Grammar, the same school Chris Judd attended – already feels like western Sydney is home.
“Our investment in welfare has been significant. Breakfast Point has been a great strategy, but the staff in and around the football department and the club have given these young players and their families great comfort.”
Shiel, who was pre-listed by the club in 2010, suggested he wanted to be a one-club player.
“(Giants’ sports science guru) John Quinn told me it takes about two years to get used to a new home,” Shiel said.
“It definitely takes time, but this feels like home for me.
“(Friends in Melbourne) like to stir me up a little bit, but I’ve told them I’m very happy here and I plan to be a Giant for life.”
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said his club would continue to rotate draftees in and out of the team – to keep them fresh and spread experience evenly.
“We’re trying to give players as many games as possible. We feel it will be great for their confidence and their belief,” Sheedy said.
“We want 80 to 90 per cent of the list to get a game or more this year. That’s a pretty good start … whereas maybe if they were at another club, they might not have even played a game.”
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