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There was a time last season when the Greater Western Sydney Giants were shocking the football world.
Heading into their Round 11 match with Collingwood, the Giants had a 7-3 record, were sitting just outside the top four and already had quality wins over Hawthorn and Adelaide.
Playing an exciting, up-tempo brand of football, the Giants were the surprise team of 2015, behind the excellent play of Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw and Adam Treloar – just to name a few.
Unfortunately for GWS, the fairytale start to the season had a painful finish, as multiple players fell to injury, none bigger (both literally and figuratively) than Mumford.
The 197-centimetre ruckman was enjoying a career-best year with the Giants, some even proclaiming him a legitimate Brownlow Medal contender. Heading into that aforementioned Round 11 match-up, Mumford was third in the AFL in hit-outs per game and ninth in the league in tackles, while he was intimidating opposition players with his brute force.
Then came the game against Collingwood, where Mumford injured his ankle, ending his impressive season. And the injuries kept piling up.
Phil Davis, Joel Patfull and Stephen Coniglio all missed time after that dreadful Sunday afternoon at the MCG, as the Giants limped their way to just four more victories. They finished the year with an even 11-11 record, which coincidentally was good enough for 11th on the AFL ladder.
GWS head into 2016 aiming to build on their excellent first half of the 2015 season, but will need to do so without the services of one of their premier midfielders, as Adam Treloar left the club to join the Magpies in the off-season.
However, the Giants did some recruiting of their own throughout the off-season, as they welcomed academy star Jacob Hopper and Geelong veteran Steve Johnson to the team.
Hopper comes after a stellar run in the GWS academy program, prepared to lead from the front and lift the spirits of his teammates, which is future captain material. Hopper’s boisterous style of play allows him to go in for every contested ball and make his physical presence known in the packs. He is sure to see a lot of time in the orange and grey guernsey this season.
Johnson joins GWS after his sensational career with the Cats came to an end. He not only brings leadership and premiership pedigree to the club, he is still productive on-field. Johnson averaged 20.6 disposals last season and his four-goal effort against St Kilda in Round 21 showed he still has plenty left in the tank.
Best 22
B: Matt Buntine, Aidan Corr, Joel Patfull
HB: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Nick Haynes
C: Devon Smith, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Ryan Griffen, Jonathon Patton, Steve Johnson
F: Cam McCarthy, Jeremy Cameron, Rhys Palmer
Foll: Shane Mumford, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio
INT: Toby Greene, Jacob Hopper, Adam Tomlinson, Tom Scully
MVP: Heath Shaw
After his controversial move from Collingwood to GWS a few years ago, Shaw found career-best form again in 2015, winning the Giants’ best and fairest award and making his debut in the All Australian team.
The outstanding run Shaw provided from half back allowed the Giants to kickstart many attacks into the forward line, and Shaw’s vocal leadership was also able to help guide and mentor young defenders such as Nick Haynes and Aidan Corr.
Shaw averaged 23.5 disposals last season and led the AFL in five different categories – total kicks, total rebound 50s, kicks per game, rebound 50s per game and total bounces.
Shaw was able to rejuvenate his career in 2015, expect him to keep the good vibes rolling into 2016.
Future Star: Stephen Coniglio
Coniglio’s talent and leadership qualities have never been in question, but injuries have been a frustrating part of his career to this point. The quick midfielder showed how good he can really be in 2015 though, playing 18 games and averaging 23.4 disposals, 13.1 handballs, 10.3 kicks, 5.4 tackles and 3.6 marks per game. The former number two draft pick’s season was highlighted by a 32-disposal effort in GWS’s Round 7 victory over Carlton.
Despite the long list of young talent on the Giants’ list, Coniglio’s name still shines brightest.
Make or break: Rhys Palmer
Ever since making his move to GWS in 2012, Palmer has been a bag of inconsistency, but in 2015 his play started a downward trend.
Palmer’s averages dropped to 15.1 disposals, 9.5 kicks, 5.6 handballs, 3.5 marks, 2.7 tackles and 1.3 goals per game last season, and with the Giants’ list oozing with young talent, there may not be a spot left for Palmer if he continues this poor play in 2016.
Palmer hasn’t had the goal-kicking impact the Giants thought he would when he signed, only managing 18 goals last season, and in 2016 he must pick up his game.
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