Quick Glance at 2011: What went wrong, what went right?
The AFL’s newest expansion team stands to be the biggest and most interesting risk that the league has taken in some time.
Greater Western Sydney (GWS) coach Kevin Sheedy can take both positives and negatives out of their year leading into their AFL debut.
They competed gallantly in the North East Australian Football League last year, winning 12 out of their 18 appearances. It was a good start for the club, even though the NEAFL is not the strongest of competitions.
Realistically the Giants would have benefited more from a stint in the VFL. While they wouldn’t have been as competitive, playing in a better competition could have helped to better prepare the side for the AFL.
But, the biggest concern for Sheedy this season is his side’s lack of experience. Besides the 36 listed players who are yet to play an AFL game, the club’s player recruitment from other clubs could have been better.
Of the ten players snatched from other clubs – or out of retirement – the Giants boast three players who have played under 50 games, three between 51 and 100, one in the 101-200 games range and three players with over 200 games experience.
The job of players from other clubs is ostensibly to help prepare the first year players for competition, to help mentor each of them. But with only four players with over 100 games under their belt, mentoring youngsters could become a seemingly hopeless task.
Key Player/s:
The million dollar man from Melbourne was the number one draft pick in 2009. He has the ability to be one of – if not the – premier midfielder in the entire competition. If Tom Scully can continue to rack-up a copious amount of possessions and use his poise to send the ball forward towards GWS forwards, then he will be well on his way to becoming an elite AFL player.
Jonathon Patton was the Giants first selection in the 2011 national draft following a more than impressive season in the TAC Cup competition – playing for Eastern Rangers. The 18-year-old from Rowville Victoria is a colossal presence on any field, standing at 197cm and 102kg.
There are big things expected from this young man, who has already been compared to the likes of Brisbane Lions champion Jonathan Brown. Sheedy will be hopeful that in 2012 Patton can show signs of his capabilities by taking the contested marks that are expected of him.
3 Most important games and why?
Round 1 vs. Sydney:
Their debut clash has to be the most important game of the year. Not only is it the club’s debut, it is their first Sydney derby clash. The two teams will be playing for the White Ribbon Trophy on Saturday night and GWS needs to try not to be overwhelmed by the occasion, but rather just concentrate on being competitive. If they can be competitive early in the year it can become an important habit.
Round 7 vs. Gold Coast:
The battle of the baby franchises could prove to be an intriguing one, especially after GWS managed to clinch a win over the Suns in the NAB Cup. Both teams will be desperate to prove that they are the best new-face in the competition.
Round 13 vs. Melbourne
A clash against a middle-of-the-range competitor may not seem like one of their most important clashes of the season, but this match will be the Giants first trip to the MCG. The pinnacle of football, where the majority of players in the squad will have dreamt about playing here, and today a number of them will realize this dream. It’s a chance to strut their stuff on the AFL’s greatest stadium.
What to expect in 2012:
Expect to see a number of beltings, which sadly GWS will be on the receiving side. The Giants should ostensibly show glimpses of promise in patches of games, and these glimpses will become more frequent as the season wears on.
Some, like Matt Rendell, have touted GWS to be ‘deplorable’ and go winless in season 2012, but that seems a bit unrealistic. The Giants will surely be able to pinch a game at some point during the season. If the Giants could be competitive more often than not, that would be more than a pass mark. If they could manage three wins like Gold Coast did last season, then they would be pretty happy with themselves.
Ladder Prediction: 15-18
Jake D’Amato is a third year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe, and is part of the upstart editorial team. Follow him on Twitter @jdamato32
