Opinion
Since the expansion teams have entered the competition, people have been sceptical about their legitimacy. In the decade that both teams have been in the league, wasted opportunities is the first thing that comes to mind (yes, GWS made a grand final but look at what happened).
Several quality players have departed both expansion clubs, and gone on to have successful careers. A total of eight flags, six All-Australians and nine Best and Fairests have been accumulated by the departing players. It’s stats like those that make you question what would happen if Gold Coast and GWS retained these players?
Obviously, players left their respective expansion club for a particular reason but let’s imagine that none of those parameters were present. No home sickness cases, no chasing success, no list management farces. So, for this to work, there are a couple of things to consider:
– All drafted players by either Gold Coast or GWS will have their future outgoing trades reverted (e.g. Adam Treloar to Collingwood)
– Pick swaps will not be included
– Free Agent moved involving players leaving these clubs will be voided
– If picks are swapped, the players who were originally picked will still be selected, regardless of the club
It goes without saying, GWS obliterated Gold Coast in their club start-up, which makes it all the more bittersweet when it hasn’t amounted to anything.
Wasted finals opportunities, an abundance of key players leaving the club, GWS could have constituted a dynasty.
Jeremy Cameron requesting to move home was a dagger in the hearts of Giants fans, but, it was the likes of Jack Steele, Taylor Adams and Adam Treloar who have tested the club’s depth with their departures.
Jeremy Cameron as a Giant (Robert Cianflone/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Those three players could have become members of what would be the best midfield rotation in the league. Whilst Jeremy Cameron could have headlined a formidable forward trio. Here’s a look at what would have been a scary GWS outfit.
B: Idun Davis Cumming
HB: Williams Himmelberg Haynes
FO: Preuss Steele Adams
C: Treloar Green Perryman
HF: Coniglio Cameron Kelly
F: Bruce McKay Greene
INT: Whitfield Hopper Neal-Bullen Flynn
Zac Williams moved to Carlton as a free agent meaning there is nothing to revert. The Josh Bruce and Alex Neal-Bullen trades didn’t warrant much, hence not affecting this scenario.
Alongside the Josh Bruce trade in 2013, another asset of the club departed in Pies midfielder Taylor Adams. Unlike the Bruce trade, Adams was swapped for arguably one of the greatest Giants players – Heath Shaw. Although the Giants benefited immensely with Heath Shaw in their corner, this trade has to be reverted under these stipulations.
The trade which had the biggest ramifications for GWS was a trade that seemed to be harmless in hindsight. GWS sent Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips, Lachie Plowman and Liam Sumner, as well as pick 8 to Carlton, for picks 28, 77 and a future first.
Whilst GWS gave up four players, it was their top 10 pick that caused the most heartache. The Blues used pick 8 to select reigning Coleman Medallist Harry McKay. With B-tier key forwards in Hogan and Riccardi, the Giants would have McKay in their line-up in a heartbeat.
If this trade was reversed, Treloar would also find his way back to western Sydney. Pick 28 from the first deal was on-traded to Collingwood, linking them both together.
A few sliding doors moments came about in this trade. Jarrod Berry was picked with the first-round pick Carlton traded to GWS. Sam Weideman could have been a third-generation Pies player but instead the pick used on him was involved in the Treloar trade. Fremantle had the McCluggage pick, which the Giants swapped with Brisbane for the Taranto pick.
Just as agonising as missing out on Harry McKay, Jack Steele departed the club at the end of 2016, hauling in a future second that was used on Brent Daniels.
The Jeremy Cameron trade could also add salt to the wound, putting pressure on the two Giants players picked to put together illustrious careers (the third selection in the deal was traded to Adelaide). Conor Stone and Ryan Angwin have played a combined seven games since being drafted.
Despite Will Hoskin-Elliott and Dylan Shiel not being selected in the best 22, their trades provide a different landscape for the competition. Firstly, the Hoskin-Elliott deal included the initial departures of Devon Smith and Matthew Kennedy eventually.
Collingwood also first owned the pick used on Noah Balta, which was a member of the trading merry go-round. The Bulldogs possessed the Sam Taylor pick, so too Essendon with Tom De Koning, whilst Richmond had the Zac Bailey pick on their doorstep, but opted for the Balta selection instead.
Dylan Shiel’s move to Victoria shifted a few magnets for many teams. Jye Caldwell could have originally been a Bombers player if Shiel stayed put. Caleb Serong’s selection was exchanged for that of Kosi Pickett and Trent Rivers. Elsewhere, Lachie Ash could have been a Crow, McAsey a Saint, and Deven Robertson a Blue.
Dylan Shiel. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Looking back at this assembled team, I still don’t think they would have upstaged a strong Tigers outfit in 2019. Haynes would have been at his intercepting best but with no Sam Taylor, Tomlinson would have the tough task of taking Jack Riewoldt.
The midfield group could challenge the Tigers, but Richmond’s experience in big games would have stood up under pressure. Although Jeremy Cameron had a spectacular season in 2019, Harry McKay hadn’t realised his full potential just yet, meaning this Giants forward line would have performed similarly. Regardless of what could’ve happened three years ago, this team would be a serious threat.
Harry Himmelberg might have moved to defence earlier given their lack of key defenders. This could have seen them contend at least last year, if not in 2020.
The emergence of Steele and McKay would have turned this team nuclear. Luckily for the other 17 clubs, this team didn’t stick, but for the Giants fans, this is what has gone begging.
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