The AFL’s first expansion club is as flat as a Tom Brady Hail Mary, but their second expansion effort out of Western Sydney is quickly finding wind in their sails.
The Greater Western Sydney Giants – do we really need the ‘Greater’ in GWS by the way, they’re a footy club not a council – had the biggest win of their youthful existence this past Saturday, taking down the reigning premiers quite impressively.
Sure, the Hawks had their two most unsociable missing in Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis (who incidentally both hail from Colac and Warrnambool respectively – there must be something in the water down in Victoria’s Western Districts, Jonathon Brown and Stephen Milne are also alumni of the area).
Take also into account that the Norm Smith Medallist Brian Lake and prized recruit James Frawley did not dress for the fixture and it was, let’s be pedantic, a Hawthorn not at their absolute best.
Then again, if one is to look also to the talent not in the Giants selected side, which this column will get to, it could be argued the missing names from each team and their importance to their respective sides could arguably offset one another, the win is indeed most definitely meritorious.
That being said, there is rhetoric in the media that the Hawks were off so therefore the door was ajar for the Giants to win – when winning would not have been possible besides.
Utter poppycock.
Unlike their colleagues of the solar variety somewhere just north of Coolangatta, the Giants have assembled their initial cast just right and with the numerous free hits, luxuries and concessions they have been granted the very real threat of prompt, embryonic success always loomed large.
For the rest of the already-established competition, the notion of orange and charcoal lingering into in September has now truly arrived.
By no means has it arrived categorically as of May 2015, the ebbs and flows of what is still a darn young team will indeed occur.
However, instead of constantly reviewing the drawing board and sticking to a priority of development over premiership points, the Giants are now in the ‘ironing out the creases’ stage. Their young draft picks are starting to rack up Brownlow votes and what’s totally frightening is they’ve got so many emerging who will be polling as such.
Dylan Shiel would be leading the Brownlow Medal as this point of the season if it wasn’t for that freak Nat Fyfe out of Fremantle. He is playing as dominantly as any midfielder in the game, has sustained his form long enough to now to show true validation being considered A-grade. While his signature is being chased by many a Victorian club, one feels the opportunity for success and the money he could command would be just as enticing sticking where he already is.
Throw in the likes of Callan Ward, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Toby Greene, Devon Smith, the much improved Tom Scully, Stephen Coniglio and Adam Treloar and the on-ball brigade is scary deep. The staggering element to the Giants midfield is those names listed are purely who took to the field Saturday, they have Jarrod Pickett, Paul Ahern, Josh Kelly and Jack Steele all bursting with promise to try and squeeze their way in.
Their issue is not being up to scratch nor being ready, there simply isn’t room!
All the players mentioned so far are priority selections or first round picks so their pedigree as potential elite AFL footballers is unquestionable. Many, many All-Australian selections will eventually bestow the mantlepieces of these young men’s parents’ homes and in all likelihood that pattern will commence as early as this season.
Shane Mumford is playing like a colossus and is still only 28, trading away Tom Boyd brought in the seasoned but oh-so-good Ryan Griffen, he too is 28. Heath Shaw is a year older but is such a wonderful fit along with the 30-year-old acquisition in Joel Patfull and Phil Davis provides strong leadership down back at just 24.
Jeremy Cameron is arguably the best tall forward in the comp, Jonathon Patton is arguably a better talent and once fit will terrify backline coaches scratching their heads on just how to curtail him and Cameron McCarthy looks a real player, he arguably could become the most potent third foil in the league.
All the ingredients are there and unlike those rascals north of the border who seemingly enjoy taking shots on goal as much as taking shots at the bar, it’s all going beautifully to script.
Scalps like Hawthorn this year and Sydney last year are not just possible but soon-to-be habitual.
Shiel and Treloar among others are off contract this year. If they do decide to pursue new pastures they will be doing so via trade and the Giants will reap the benefit of their prized young talent’s soaring value in the returns they would subsequently receive.
However, while some will leave and thus further polish the makeup of their best side in the players such trades will bring in, the current language from those with expiring contracts is about seeing it through, they are genuinely excited about what is on the horizon and justifiably so.
The win over Hawthorn goes to prove that the final pieces of the GWS puzzle are falling into place. The current side is near good enough with the talent at hand to naturally and organically win a final within a year or two at the latest, and start regularly featuring in late September as early as the following year.
But again, push comes to shove, some of their surplus of midfielders are traded out for more developed pieces that does nothing to diminish their outlook, if anything it fast tracks that future a little, unbelievably.
These Giants are no longer coming, they are here. Climb up the beanstalk in a few years, there will be an orange and charcoal Giant counting premiership cups.
Mick
Guest
We're in the expanded VFL comp now - surely no one can say we have a truly national comp!
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Actually, University were admitted just before Richmond. They didn't last long, but they remain philosophical about their demise. Sorry.
XI
Roar Guru
You are correct. The first AFL expansion club was Adelaide. Then Fremantle and Port joined. So if you're only counting clubs since the AFL became the AFL, then Gold Coast and GWS are expansion club numbers 4 and 5.
Otto Gross
Guest
If I was running them, I would have just West Sydney and either a simple hoop design or vertical stripes. Maybe change the colours to blue and black. Orange and grey is too similar to Balmain/Wests Tigers so you want to be original. Lose the Canberra business too as it seems to be like the league is hedging their bets on where the team will end up.
Otto Gross
Guest
First expansion club was actually Richmond in 1908. It expanded from 9 clubs to 12 in 1925 with North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Footscray joining up. Eventually in 1987, West Coast Eagles and Brisbane Bears were admitted. There were even more clubs admitted after this, but you get the idea.
Martin
Guest
Funny how in the space of one week a team that was smashed by the Eagles then defeats the Hawks. They embarrassed themselves in front of royalty with their second lowest score in Perth. Perhaps they slacked off so they could save their energy for Hawthorn.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I don't know, I think these up and down cycles are all part of a developing team.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Mumford is extremely important to Giants. How ruck's if he doesn't now? It used to be Patton/Giles one is injured the other gone. I genuinely don't know their other option anymore
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Considering the Swans have made the finals in 16 out of the last 19 years, I'm not sure what you're basing your assumption that their window will be closing anytime soon...
XI
Roar Guru
I think there are a few differences between Gold Coast and GWS. Gold Coast didn't beat someone of the calibre of Hawthorn last year. And the Suns game plan was mostly get it to Gary, the closest player that's that important to the Giants is Mumford or Cameron. Ruckmen aren't as important as midfielders and there are plenty of good midfielders at GWS, and Cameron has had several quiet games this year and other forwards such as McCarthy and Smith have kicked the goals instead.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Haha, good spot. Although to be fair, Glenn Mitchell penned that article on the Suns, not Leigh. You could mount a case that if Mumford goes down the Giants will find themselves in a similar sort of mire that the Ablettless Suns did, although from what we have seen the culture and work ethic at the Giants is nowhere near as rancid as it is at the Suns. I think they’re still better placed, but I’ll be keen to see how this season turns for them. Would be a great learning experience for them to make the 8 and play an elimination final, even if they lose it.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I love Spotless. Really friendly stadium and not as many places to get drunk - therefore - less drunk morons are the footy as well as the fact it is promoted as a more family friendly club.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Of course. Like the State of Origin articles :) Welcome to The Roar ;)
Sensible
Guest
Deja vu. What short memories people have. I am not saying that GWS aren't a good team or are going to be a good team but the same things were being said about the Gold Coast last year. http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/05/09/gold-coast-suns-finals-bound/ After 7 rounds the GC were 5-2 last year after beating North by 43 points. They had a similar percentage to what the Giants have this year. Similar results. Again, I am not saying the same will happen to GWS as what has happened to the GC but it does feel like deja vu reading the same articles every year.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I don't think you'll get people swapping clubs but will get people going to both like Melbourne footy nuts who will go to games of other teams just for fun. As a North Melbourne following Sydneysider, I've seen more GWS games than Swans since they came in. The GWS ground is a brilliant place to watch footy too.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Once a Swans fan always a Swans fan. I like watching them succeed and play games though, especially when the Swans play away. No way could i barrack for them over the Swans though. Wanting a team to do well is different to actually going for them.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I'm going to go with close to none. Swans fans like going to the SCG to watch games, and they don't like travelling outside the eastern suburbs. So long as the Swans are competitive they'll still draw crowds, even if they're not out and out flag contenders.
WhereIsGene
Guest
Its going to be very interesting to see how many Swans fans jump ship to GWS once Sydney's flag window closes and the Giants' opens a few years from now.
Franko
Guest
Didn't they expand the VFL at that time...??
Jeremy Ansell
Roar Rookie
Mumford is 28 and has a history of knee problems so probably won't go too far into his 30's. I don't see it as being a hard sell. Tell them you might have to wait 2-3 years just getting games as an injury replacement before coming in as the first choice in what looks to be a premiership contending club. I haven't really looked too hard around to see what's available, just giving some examples but a Currie type from North Melbourne could get there pretty cheap. Perhaps Gorringe even though he's probably more injury prone than Mummy and Gold Coast would want overs for what he's worth being a top 10 pick, but these are the types I would consider. I may be missing something but the earliest pick I can see GWS drafted a ruckman is at 29 for Lobb in 2013 so they're missing that early to mid 20 year old who's ready to start being considered for selection. To be fair though, it may not matter as it's been arguably 3 rookies who have been the best rucks in the last 10 years. As for Giles, he's probably regretting his choices now, Bombers are finals contenders but he's behind Bellchambers at the moment who's not exactly tearing up games.