What happened in the off season for the GWS Giants? Firstly, the marketing tool, sorry coach, Kevin Sheedy has departed and Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin did a backflip by going to the Swans.
They also renamed their home ground Giants Stadium. Now, it’s time to take this footy club seriously.
If Leon Cameron is the coach, can I call them the Kings of Leon instead of the Giants? KOL maybe?
Will their 2014 season be footy on fire? (Apologies)
I for one am looking forward to seeing this guy coach.
Cameron has assisted at three clubs; first at his beloved Western Bulldogs-where he also played 172 games, then Hawthorn and finally moving to GWS to assist Kevin Sheedy for the 2013 season.
To keep on track with fellow newbie’s the Gold Coast Suns, the KOLs (stuff it, I’m calling them that) will need eight wins to get the nod of approval from opposing football states.
After two seasons together, the KOLS will be hoping this year will be the year they take their training wheels off.
I’m going to spare you of the stats from past seasons, as they don’t justify the fact that these boys are still that, boys.
Of the debutants from Round 1 in 2012, Toby Greene, Adam Treloar and Devon Smith have played the most games for the club-at only 38 each!
It has been necessary for the club to add experience to its youthful list. In doing so, the KOLS coup recruits for 2014 will be premiership players Shane Mumford and Heath Shaw.
Mumford is an excellent tap ruckman, a big body and will aid his midfielders in clearances around the ground and follow up work.
Shaw will be interesting to watch; his time at Collingwood ended like a lot of Frankston’s Education programs, with a lot of yelling and not much participation. Eventually it had to end.
In Shaw they have a larrikin an original rat pack member from his Collingwood days, maybe his most valuable contribution to this side will be what he does behind the scenes.
I still think it’s a great signing for the club.
Callan Ward and Tom Scully were pillars of consistency throughout the year, averaging 23 and 18 votes respectively.
But the time has come where they need help and these two will do just that.
The midfield depth will be better served as Stephen Coniglio, Adam Treloar and the smooth moving Lachie Whitfield get more miles in the legs.
Add in what some are calling a future Brownlow medallist in No.2 draft pick Josh Kelly and you have the makings of a pretty special midfield.
Tom Boyd, Patton and Jeremy Cameron – if backed by enough midfield supply, could be the most exciting three way forward line-up in the history of the game.
(I know they’re kids, Patton is injured, and they may be too top heavy, but work with me)
They also become candidates in my top-20 best nicknames list. We have the General (Patton), T-Bo (Boyd) after the NFL player and Kid (Cameron) because he’s got the same surname as the coach, which means he could be his kid?
Ok this one needs work, or they all do…
The KOLS have very winnable games from rounds 2-4.
They play Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs and could walk away 3-1 after the first four games.
The backline needs some stability and was where a lot of 2013’s blowout defeats came from.
Is Tim Mohr versatile enough to go with the big guns?
Can Phil Davis get over his back injuries and hold his own against top line forwards? Are the kids like Curtly Hampton, Sam Frost and Lachie Plowman ready to take the next steps in their careers?
Judging this team can feel like your picking on children and maybe we just have to let them grow a little more before we do so.
GWS to finish 16th on the ladder? Hey crazier things have been said, like the first time somebody bought up the idea of basing an AFL club in Western Sydney.
Lad-View Prediction: 16th
Individual Predictions
Best and Fairest: Callan Ward
Goal Kicking Award: Jeremy Cameron
Most Improved: Anyone who plays one game
Thing Most looking Forward To Seeing In 2014: T-Bo, sorry Tom Boyd
In the Hot Seat For 2014: I’m not into picking on kids remember?
Novelty Blog Award: Kings of Leon becoming a real headline someday….
CLAYTON BEASY
Roar Rookie
Thanks LX! Sorry about the late reply, I did send it along with this one but it hasn't come on yet. I have contacted the site and hope to hear more soon, in the mean time, I will hopefully have 15 up by tomorrow!
mds1970
Roar Guru
We'll probably get more of an indication of where the Giants are at tomorrow. St Kilda's the sort of opponent they should be looking to win against.
LX
Guest
Nice read (again) but what happened to 17th?
andyincanberra
Guest
The swans haven't had an impressive pre-season, but watching the GWS the other day, their 2nd and 3rd year players showed a poise and awareness that has been lacking in past 2 years, along with a physical presence that can only come from a decent off-season.
Winston
Guest
I didn't watch the Swans last week, but watched some of the match last night, and they resembled nothing like their normal team. Fumbles fumbles and more fumbles, handballing to the ground or behind a teammate, plus half the team that played in the last 2 weeks won't be there come round 1. I wouldn't take anything from these pre-season matches.
andyincanberra
Guest
In their match against the Swans last week, whilst beaten, they didn't look out of their depth like 2012 and 2013. Expect a far more competitive side this year.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Nice, light-hearted preview for the GWS Giants there. You could pretty much call the Giants the Kings of Leon this year if they can make rapid improvement this year; the Suns' third year, in which they won eight matches, must serve as a lesson and inspiration. Despite finishing last in 2013, I still think GWS were a much better side than Melbourne during the year; unlike Melbourne, who were barely competitive week in, week out, GWS took it right up to their opponents but it's those final quarter blues that they'll have to overcome if they are to win more matches in 2014. A good example was when they were 19 points up against the Dees at three-quarter-time, only for Mark Neeld's men to unleash with a 12 goal final quarter. At least though, the Giants got their win over Melbourne last year and that's what counts. Get ready for big things from the Giants, but I don't expect them to finish any higher than 15th.