With injuries and departures looming large in pre-season, do GWS have the required depth to compete for the flag?
Defender Zac Williams ruptured his Achilles tendon in training last week, dealing the Giants a long-term blow for the 2018 season. Factoring in the players GWS have already lost through retirement and the trade period – such as Nathan Wilson’s return to Fremantle – their squad depth is being seriously tested.
With no Wilson or Williams, their run from defence will now hinge on Ryan Griffen and Brett Deledio – the two most injury-prone players at the club – who are both on modified training programs at this stage.
Their best 22 is no doubt one of the strongest in the league. However, while they’re well covered for key defensive stocks, Dylan Buckley, Aidan Bonar, Lachlan Tiziani, Harry Perryman, Daniel Lloyd, Sam Reid and Adam Kennedy seem to be their only options for depth.
It’s imperative that the squad is fit and ready for Round One in March. A clean bill of health for the year will be the top priority. If they can keep it that way, they’ll certainly be in contention. If a couple go down, however, the side suddenly looks very thin.
Matt De Boer, Tim Taranto, Will Setterfield, Jacob Hopper and Harrison Himmelberg are included in the best 22 already. If a couple of big names go down, it’s hard to see them really competing.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
There’s certainly been some upheaval in the off-season. Wilson sought his move back to Perth. Devon Smith, likewise, forced a move to Essendon, while Matthew Kennedy left for Carlton. Shane Mumford and Steve Johnson retired, the latter taking up an assistant coaching role at the Swans.
Now with a serious injury to Williams, the question is how far might they fall?
All big losses to the side, unfortunately. After consecutive fourth-place finishes in the past two seasons, it could definitely cause a knock-on effect, seeing them drop down the ladder. The side suddenly looks a lot younger. It might be a case of having to take a step back this season in order to reload for 2019.
That said, the group could band together in adversity and new players might arise. Or we could see greater responsibilities for aging stars Brett Deledio and Ryan Griffen.
It’s make or break for…
Heath Shaw. This is his most important season to date. If he gets back to his best, GWS look like a quality outfit again. However, he could just as easily drop off, leaving their defensive line more depleted than it already is. GWS’ 2018 fortunes are in his hands essentially.
What does the future look like?
While the Giants are no longer one of the youngest sides in the competition, they’re still stocked with young talent such as Will Setterfield, Tim Taranto, Harry Perryman, Jacob Hopper and Aidan Bonar. GWS’ future looks well placed and their current premiership window should last several years as their main stars aren’t ageing any time soon.
The next in line to retire seem to be Deledio and Griffen, and neither have been focal points as of yet.
So Roarers, where do you see the Giants finishing in 2018?
Kris
Guest
The loss of Wilson and Williams might prove a blessing in disguise. They have too many midfielders and not enough football to share around. You could easily see Whitfield and Kelly dropping into those half-back roles and being AA. That still leaves Scully, Coniglio, Ward and Shiel in the midfield and creates an opportunity to use DeBoer as a defensive mid instead of a lock down forward. Creates a spot for Setterfield / Griffin / Tomlinson on the wing. Their main problem might be that at some point they have to win a final on the MCG or Etihad and they don't get much practice there. Rd 2 v Collingwood (MG), Rd 5 v St Kilda (E), Rd 20 v Cartlon (E) and Rd 22 v Melbourne (MCG)
Paul D
Roar Guru
Oh come on, Lids is a great servant for Richmond. He sped them up by leaving and he slowed GWS down by arriving
I ate pies
Guest
Obviously crowds scare them.
I ate pies
Guest
They weren't long term servants who left for the sole purpose of chasing a premiership. Big difference. Deledio is a traitor.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Don't agree with this pro Richmond umpiring conspiracy. The Tigers belted all and deserved their flag but this year they come up against Big harry's super quick Bombers! I will concede the Doggies got the rub of the green against the Swans though in 2016!
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
Think goals may be a problem for the Giants behind their top 3, and even that trio (each of whom kicked 45 last year) can really go missing. Cameron kicked 12 goals in his last 8 games, 4 of those coming against Brisbane who would have battled to keep an AFLW team below 15 goals last year, Patton only managed 14 goals in his last 9 (4 of those against a Bulldog team with a shot backline), and Greene despite his consistency will probably cost them a flag through his temper (suspended once yet had either a reprimand or a cleared review on a number of other occasions). Behind them the next best was Johnson whose 21 goals were boosted by 6 in the semi when the Eagles had already played their GF in the ET win 7 nights previous. With Lobb probably doing the bulk of the ruckwork they'll need to find a mid/small forward quickly if the big 3 are subdued. Plus they only kicked more than 13 goals as a team once in the last 5 games they played (19 against said shot duck Eagles in the semi), when that was the figure that won all but 2 of the finals (both Adelaide Oval week 1 finals were won with 12 goal tallies).
InvisiblePJs
Roar Rookie
I think if GWS come out with an instant Bonar, a lot of sides will stop and take notice...
prince igor
Guest
Struggle to make the top 4 had their chance the last 2 seasons and blew it and it wont come around anytime soon sadly.
Aligee
Guest
Sometimes the best team on paper is not really the best team. You would think top 4
mds1970
Roar Guru
Definitely a concern. The Giants have won at the MCG just once ever, and that was in 2014. And only won once at Adelaide Oval ever. In the last few years, the Giants' home record is the best in the AFL; but they don't travel well. It is a worry for them.
Mattician6x6
Guest
I doubt he's going anywhere as well mate. Cognilio, Kelly and shiel are a scary proposition, throw scully and Whitfield on the outside and a clean bill of health for the year and that's the midfield that scares me the most.
Cat
Roar Guru
Yes Stevie J missed through suspension in 2016 and in 2017 he was cooked. The issue I see for GWS is they absolutely had to play Stevie J last year even though everyone knew he was done, yet GWS did nothing to address that glaring weakness. Their backline is also going to be weaker and slower this year. They will make the 8 but I think they are going to drop a few spots.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Isn't Cognilio good mates with Wilson? Although I'm pretty sure he's not going anywhere. Still, be handy having him running around for Freo, I reckon he could take GWS to another level if he really hits his straps and Kelly keeps going. Still yet to peak. And I think that's a big factor many could remind themselves, so many of the GWS guns have yet to hit their peak.
Mattician6x6
Guest
Cognilio can come back west any day If he wears blue and gold. Every basher of gws here is not taking into account what happened last two prelims in regards to suspension and in match injury. If I remember correctly vs wb Stevie j after a great year was suspended, ward was knocked out and someone else critical got injured. Last year it was shield and someone else I can't recall at this point. No afl team could cover that talent, very similar to freo in 2015 preliminary fyfe goes down season gone. Gws will shake it this year again as the nuts and bolts build a Ferrari engine.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I reckon most sides would be pretty happy having Cognilio, Kelly, Patton and Cameron on their books though.
1der
Guest
The Giants lack of depth may well be exposed this year. If Setterfield, Taranto, Hopper, and Himmelberg are currently in their best 22 then they will require solid contributions from Deledio and Griffin. Also need to find a couple of gems this year out of the 14 players who have a combined total of 16 games experience.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Wasn't "mongrel" the pod (just for you ihp) with the Suns?
Paul D
Roar Guru
Funny, I had a look at the article after that game, and you're nowhere to be seen. SmithHatesMaxwell was all over that article though. I guess it's nice you can actually admit you post as different people
dave
Guest
But what happened to the AFL created monster that was going to win the next 5 flags? In my opinion (wait a second while I recover from typing that)....Draft picks are way overrated. If the 1st pick went to Suns and the 15th to Hawks I'd gamble the 15th pick has just as much chance of developing into a consistent AFL player as the 1st.Yet clubs and supporters think moving up or down one spot in the draft is a major thing. FWIW(I've learnt my lesson, no more unnecessary typing for me),I think the Suns made a good choice going for Weller. Plus the Giants recent success was more to do with the players they traded in than their hoard of early draft picks.
AD
Guest
The same way Prestia, Hampson and Nankervis didn't deserve a premiership after jumping ship rather than being loyal to their old clubs? As Clint Eastwood said, "Deserve's got nothing to do with it".