The Giants have lost their lustre. The sparkling sports car that drove off the AFL production line is now dented and scratched from consecutive preliminary final defeats.
Despite their much heralded spread of pure talent and class, they have never quite gelled into the smooth-operating super-team expected of them. While Geelong and Hawthorn of past years combined sublime footballing ability with a steadfast team approach, it seems at times GWS too often rely upon individual brilliance.
It’s easy to say injuries and player retention have hurt the Giants, but that could be said of several teams in any given season. The loss of Shane Mumford and Steve Johnson, coupled with the impending retirements of experienced hands Heath Shaw, Brett Deledio and Ryan Griffen mean it is time for the much-touted core of youngsters to take ownership of the team.
The football world is no longer in awe of the Giants and their seemingly limitless potential and that is a good thing. For the Giants to take the next step, they need to develop an uncompromising ‘us against them’ mindset and roll up their sleeves to compliment their undeniably glistening skills.
The past two premiers have shown that a hardened, committed and tenacious team can overpower star power, and Leon Cameron will have surely taken note of this. He will be pencilling in players that do and don’t offer the unfashionable sacrificial team acts, those that lift their heads when other drop them.
That many are beginning to write the Giants off as all flash and no bang should burn at their sense of pride. Respect is a word highly bandied around among sporting circles. Those blessed with natural ability are universally admired, while within inner-circles, those that are dogged and hungry and leave nothing to chance, are the ones who are respected.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Luke Hodge and Joel Selwood are two who combine footballing nous, with an insatiable hunger. There is no reason why more members of the Giants stylish outfit can’t join Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio as gritty players willing to give their all to turn a game.
This isn’t to say that the Giant’s free-flowing and entertaining gameplay is their downfall, more that they need an alternative option when the opposition is on top.
It was evident against Carlton in Round 12 that the playing group had run onto the ground expecting to win. In a competition that is becoming more even and competitive, wins, as well as percentage have become worth their weight in gold – just ask Melbourne.
If more players had embraced the Joel Selwood mindset and taken the responsibility upon themselves to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, would the Giants’ back to back draws have ended differently?
It’s easy to talk hypothetically, however it is evident that when a game hangs in the balance, teammates look for a spark. It’s clear to see teams walk taller and crash in harder when they are inspired by their mate’s heroics. It sets the standards and prompts others to do the same.
Too much is being left to too few at the Giants, and until they develop the necessary premiership mindset, questions of ‘what if?’ hang heavily over their heads. The old adage “a champion team will always beat a team of champions” has never rung truer.
If this undoubtedly talented team collectively buys in and decides to take the sports car off-roading, the rest of the competition is in for a rude awakening.
justif01
Guest
I think that a few things are apparent here. They obviously can't keep all of their high end players due to the salary cap and not everyone would get a game either due to their depth up until now. They did offer Smith a new contract for two years at 500k a year I believe but the Bombers obviously offered a longer deal. With Wilson he was only contracted for this year and no doubt the Dockers offered him some decent coin as well. Kennedy was probably more workman like compared to some of the other high picks so would struggle to get a game with a healthy list. Johnson and Mumford were cooked at the end so had to retire. Their top 15 or 16 players are probably amongst, if not the best in the league but the problem comes with the next group of 10 plus depth outside of that group if injuries bite again. That's where the improvement has to come from. Basically It's Taranto, Hopper, Himmelberg, Setterfield, Perryman and Bonar that have to step up now for the Giants to take the next step. If Deledio, Griffen, Adam Kennedy, Buntine and eventually Williams can all come back from injuries and play consistently then the task will be made a bit easier, but time will tell.
Khan
Roar Rookie
Harry is spot on. GWS generally have no soul or passion and neither do 98% of their supporters. Opposition supporters are often louder than the home GWS crowds which I find astonishing. The comparison to a club like Richmond is night and day. I watched pretty much all of their games last season and did not see 5 consecutive minutes where everyone gave their all. The last 2 premierships have been won by passionate teams who would do anything for each other, and GWS will be knocked out of the finals yet again by the next one of those they come up against
Cat
Roar Guru
Neither are getting paid millions ... another drive by poster who doesn't let the truth get in the way of his sook.
Art Vandelay
Guest
Of the three contenders Richmond put to the sword in last season’s finals, I thought GWS did best. Especially given the most one-sided crowd support ratio in living memory. Geelong & Adelaide didn’t have that excuse. They simply capitulated.
Eaglerock
Guest
The Giants will narrowly miss out the eight and will be the only team who played finals in 2017 that will miss in 2018 who will be replaced by the demons. Keefe could be good. Dylan Buckley will be lucky if he survives the year. Don't be surprised is the eagles make a play for Coniglio. He is in the right age bracket for the eagles anfd would make them a top 4 side in 2019. Also expect the saints to play for Tomlinson. Giants will bounce back in 2019.
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
So they could spend millions on Danger and the return of the prodigal son of God......
Redb
Roar Guru
much like yourself on AFL tabs. Why bother?
Redb
Roar Guru
I wouldn't write them off just yet. They are thereabouts to make two prelims in a row including a very narrow loss to the Doggies in 2016.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Blimey Cat talk about overrating Stevie J's time at GWS! If he was still that good why did the Cats kick him out bloke?
Kris
Guest
When you decide that a certain top-4 finish for a 3rd season in a row is somehow underacheiving ... you are setting the bar pretty high.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
The 2016 Flag was the one they should have won but good on the Doggies for pinching it. The problem with these new franchise teams is they have no soul. The problem with GWS is, they have a lacklustre coach.
I ate pies
Guest
Is "here come the giants" their catch phrase? I hope it isn't, because it's very lame.
Nic M
Roar Rookie
The Giants will definitely be around the mark again and could well win the premiership, whether they can cover the losses of Mumford, Williams, Wilson and Stevie J will be interesting to see!
Nic M
Roar Rookie
I agree top 4 and top 2 is likely and they'll again be around the mark. The losses of Wilson and Williams will put a lot of pressure on Shaw, who looks to be showing signs of his age.
Nic M
Roar Rookie
Well said! I have no doubts the Giants will be top four, possibly even top two and in strong contention for the premiership, however there are question marks over how they respond to the injuries and retirements to crucial players throughout all positions. Thanks for your feedback!
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Lots of people don't want them to succeed and me too when they are playing North but writing them off as talented but selfish players seems a bit hopeful. They are a gigantic chance.
Cat
Roar Guru
GWS will slip this year – but still play finals. They are not going to disappear either. They do need to stop replacing players at or nearing the 50-100 game mark with raw talent though if they ever want any consistency. They will keep bringing in high draft picks but even the best kids take a few years of footy to become consistent. GWS also needs to actually address their issues. In 2016 they lost their prelim final largely because Stevie J did something stupid and was suspended yet again. They lost 2017 prelim final largely because they had no one to replace Stevie J even though all and sundry knew he was cooked. Stevie J retired and they still have no one to play the role. The player most likely to be able to fill the role, Devon Smith, requested a trade and ended up at Essendon and still GWS ignored the glaring need. Defensively GWS lost Wilson and Shaw is on borrowed time. His stats, across the board, were markedly down last year and he looks to be losing pace, which is his bread and butter. Where's the rebound and run out of defensive going to come? For all the talk about how often Mumford was injured, he did manage 21 games for GWS last year and was still very much a team barometer. 802 HO and 119 tackles (2nd most at GWS) for the season is a lot to replace. If he played well the entire team lifted around him. Who is going to lift GWS now? How will Lobb go playing as the #1 ruck, and if he gets injured who is next? Dawson Simpson? Should I begin laughing now? Scully and Davis are wonderful players but can they actually lead without Mummy, Johnson and a fading Shaw to do it for them? Johnson (18 games), Smith (16 games), Mumford (21 games), Wilson (24 games) is a decent chunk of leadership and experience to replace. The names bandied about as replacements for them are almost all raw. Shear talent will get GWS over the line a lot of weeks, but I expect a lot of inconsistency as yet another group of high draft picks struggle with consistency.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Write us off at your peril. Here Come The Giants!! !!!
tim
Guest
I generally rate the articles on the roar. Not this one. If the giants learn to protect and defend a bit better then they are going to be very hard to beat.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Disagree entirely with the premise of the article. They will have learnt enormously from the last two seasons and I expect them to finish top four again this year, possibly top two which should enable them to go at two home finals. The talent will gel, don't worry about that and wiser heads will ensure it. Don't be too quick to write them off.