Can the expanding number of capable youngsters push the Giants past their closest rivals the Suns and up the AFL ladder?
As is the case with fellow fledgling club Gold Coast Suns, progression is the key at Great Western Sydney in 2013.
The newest AFL club are heading into their sophomore season after picking up two wins in 2012 and an improvement on that number, no matter how slight, will be an acceptable result this year.
As much talent as there is out at Blacktown, coach Kevin Sheedy will be expecting plenty of inconsistency from his immensely gifted, yet undeveloped and inexperienced group.
There is plenty to like about GWS from a proven players viewpoint which includes skipper Callan Ward, former Melbourne ace Tom Scully, defender Phil Davis, midfielder Rhys Palmer, veterans Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan and new additions Stephen Gilham and Bret Thornton.
There is just enough experience from that group to help advance the development of the colossal list of burgeoning stars which at this point, before fully being established at AFL level, consists of the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Jonathan Patton, Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Bugg, Curtly Hampton, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Devon Smith and Adam Treloar.
Add to that a plethora of players still to debut including top draft picks Lachie Whitfield and Jonathan O’Rourke, Aidan Corr, Lachlan Plowman and Kristian Jaksch and there is enough exuberance within the Giants squad to become completely enamoured about what lies ahead.
However, it would be naïve of the experienced Sheedy and his support team led by Leon Cameron, Alan McConnell, Craig Lambert and Stephen Silvagni, to believe that results with such a young list will simply appear just because there is so much talent around.
You could go through almost all the GWS players as ones to watch in 2013 but the reality is, with the competitiveness of the AFL, the rawness of the Giants will make season 2013 a rollercoaster ride as they strive simply to bridge the gap to the Gold Coast.
Key players
Callan Ward – The captain kicked off his Giants career by winning season’s best and fairest. Hard-running midfielder who wins plenty of the ball.
Tom Scully – Much-maligned midfielder (because of his move from Melbourne) who possesses so much talent. Is almost certain to have a big year in 2013.
Toby Greene – Embarking on his second season following a standout 2012 in which he averaged over 28 disposals.
Break out potential
Shaun Edwards – The versatile Edwards, who can operate as both a forward and defender, is being tipped to have a big 2013.
Jonathan Patton – The number one draft pick from 2011 played just seven matches last year because of various injury problems but is destined to be a star.
Will Hoskin-Elliott – 10 games last season has the midfielder/forward primed to step up this year.
Promising youngsters
Lachie Whitfield – Number one draft pick is a naturally gifted on-baller with sublime skills on both sides of the body.
Jonathan O’Rourke – Taken with the second selection in the 2012 draft, O’Rourke is a classy midfielder who is expected to win plenty of the ball.
Lachlan Plowman – The athletic defender will certainly play senior footy in 2013. Possesses poise, balance and assuredness.
Key inclusions
Bret Thornton – Experienced defender from Carlton who could be used as a swing man going forward throughout 2013.
Stephen Gilham – Will bring plenty of solidity to the Giants backline after crossing from Hawthorn.
Notable departures
James McDonald – retired
Luke Power – retired
Predicted finish: 18th.
Worth a punt: Lachie Whitfield to win NAB Rising Star: $12
TW
Guest
In this article Kevin Sheedy the GWS Coach gives a reply to well known Football Commentator/Journalist Tim Lane who although based in Melbourne comes from Tassie. Tim Lane wrote an article apparently claiming that GWS will be a catastrophe along with The Suns. Sheeds as usual is upbeat however who is right. http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2013-03-15/lane-on-wrong-highway
Daryl Adair
Guest
JP, I hate to disappoint you, but the term inner west does not relate to Homebush at all. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_West#Suburbs As it happens, I live across the river in working-class Ermington: my friends in Canada Bay, Balmain and Drummoyne would have a fit if they thought the region where I resided was anything but WESTERN (not inner west) Sydney. In geographical terms it is smack in the centre of the city, only a few minutes from Parramatta - the home of the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Eels. There are plenty of good reasons for the team to both play and train at Olympic Park - and the venue can be reached by train (always important in Sydney). Only the Panthers play west of Parramatta, and it's a helluva journey for many people to get to the foot of the mountains. Olympic Park, by contrast, is very central in terms of Sydney geography but still within the Greater Western Sydney region. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Western_Sydney Note that this source includes images of Olympic Park. Touche.
TW
Guest
Swannies have over 10,000 in Melb ATM. The highest since 2006 and their Melbourne manager said the hard work they have put in since then is now paying off, although a Premiership is very handy to boost things along. I still stand by my prediction for 2014 for GWS and I clearly remember Woosha saying that at least 50 games needed under the belt for most young players to progress. They have to acquire staying power for the weekly grind.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
GWS' salary cap is much tighter than people think - and we've prioritised re-signing the good kids over signing mid-range free agents. Im sure the rest of the league would have appreciated us lowballing Cameron or Patton to free cap room for a run at, say, Chris Dawes.
jp
Guest
I wish you would stop referring to GWS giants as being based at Blacktown when they have moved out of western Sydney and have established a permanent trianing base at Homebush half thier home games are played in Canberra They only used Western Sydney to establish the club Ask Holroyd council who provided them with the only AFL only ground in melropolitian Sydney as their summer trianing base They could have developed a perminant base at Gipps road Greystanes but chose to pack up and get out of Western Sydney as fast as thay could.New name should be inner western sydney giants as they will never be based in the Greater Western Sydney area very sad
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Dylan, I'll use a specific example - Brendan Goddard. He could have been traded to GWS, getting him a million buck a tyear and St Kilda 2 concession picks to supercharge their rebuild. Instead, he left in free agency to Essendon for much less.
Stavros
Guest
Why do you write rubbish like that. I paid $150 and $230 for Suns memberships for my kids. There are very few freebies for AFL games. Kids might get one game a year, but that is just for them, the parents still have to pay.
Dylan Sargent
Roar Rookie
Why would the other teams want to trade a proven star player for the potential of a draft pick? They don't care about the overall quality of the AFL; their only focus is giving their team the best possible chance to win a premiership. Clubs were happy to trade draft picks to GWS for mini-draft players or pre-listed players because it was in the interests of improving their team. There are plenty of paths the AFL could have taken to improve the teams GC and GWS put on the field were of a higher standard. They could have prohibited trading draft picks for mini-draft players. They could stipulated that GC and GWS had to pre-list a certain number of players and retain them. They could have reduced the number of 17 year old players that GC and GWS could list. There are potential flaws with all of these options and it is obviously a difficult issue but it just goes to show that the AFL should have put more thought into it at the time.
Australian Rules
Guest
Good call. And as for complaining about the local team being "on free-to-air every week"...talk about first world problems and perspective! Tell that to rugby league fans living in Sydney!
Melbourne is the new Adelaide
Guest
No but there are a lot of Canberra members and members that sign up for just 3 games ($80). Its $430 to become a full member and secures first rights to GF ticket if GWS make it (so pretty good value!!) Aus Kick juniors received 3 free Swans games though in the general unreserved seating area and with no g'tees if games is a sell out.
TomC
Roar Guru
On your point about how it sucks for QLD fans having to watch the Suns on TV rather than more competitive teams, I must say I had the same reaction here in Canberra about the Giants at first. But I've absolutely come full circle. I love watching the Giants play, at Manuka and on TV, and I'm convinced that I'm watching some of the game's biggest stars in the making. It's a question of perspective.
TomC
Roar Guru
Fair point. But then, the only other option was to force established teams to give up more players, and that would've created a whole other set of problems.
TomC
Roar Guru
It appears to me that the number one criteron for the Giants when taking on mature age recruits is that they can pay them next to nothing. Thornton, O'Hailpin, Brogan, Power, Macdonald- no one else would've given these guys a list spot. The Giants are looking for some protection for their kids, no a future superstar. They want a future first 22 made up of top ten draft picks, not discards.
Brewski
Guest
I think they gave a 2 or 3 game pass to GCJAFL players, but AFAIAA they are not included in membership numbers.
Brendan
Guest
If Sydney have such a good record with discards from other clubs why cant GWS achieve a similar result?
Brewski
Guest
Big call, but i reckon GWS will have a bigger membership than the Swans in 10 years. Swans sitting over 30,000 ATM.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
"In this instance, the criticism shouldn’t be of the expansion teams but with the AFL. The swathes of pre-selection and draft concessions that they handed out gave the Suns and the Giants no incentive to put together competitive teams from the outset." Rubbish. The key was that none of the established teams wanted to trade good players to the expansion clubs, and good free agents needed to be overpaid to play for them.
Phelpsy
Guest
Suns at 10258 also.... Wondering how many are memberships given to every juniour Aussie rules player ... Did they do this in gws?
Macca
Guest
Dyulan not asking for criticism just not outrageous praise.
langou
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree with that Dylan