As we begin 2018, SEN will be dissecting each AFL club’s Best 22 leading into Round 1. We continue the series looking at how Greater Western Sydney is shaping up.
The Giants need to go one step further this season, after two straight Preliminary Final exits.
Judging by their Best 22, there is no doubt that Leon Cameron has all the tools he needs to build a premiership squad. For GWS, it’ll come down to health and the ability to work together for the common goal, and not let individual pursuits get in the way.
There is talent everywhere on this team, something we have become accustomed to from the Giants.
The names in the midfield jump off the page.
Josh Kelly can now play free of contract distractions – not that they seemed to impact him last season, Stephen Coniglio will be hoping for a clean bill of health and Dylan Shiel is one of the competition’s most brutal players at the coalface.
Tom Scully and Lachie Whitfield are running machines that add outside class and precision to the line-up, while Callan Ward and Ryan Griffen are seasoned bodies that are always ready for time in the engine room.
The main question surrounding GWS’ guts will be who replaces Shane Mumford at the ruck post.
After he showcased his potential in that role against West Coast in the semi-final, Rory Lobb should receive the first opportunity to secure rucking duties.
However, Lobb’s inconsistences have been well documented, so he needs to find a way to perform strongly on a weekly basis.
With the 24-year-old relocating in the ruck, it leaves Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton as the two key forwards, a dangerous one-two punch.
Complementing them will be Toby Greene, who many consider to be the Giants’ most important player, while Brett Deledio could be an x-factor if he remains fit.
The only hole in this forward line is who is the pressure player, a position that is becoming a necessary in the modern game.
Defensively, GWS has a nice mix of lockdown assets and offensive weapons.
Phil Davis and Aidan Corr can do a competent job at shutting down their forward counterparts, while the likes of Zac Williams, Heath Shaw and Nick Haynes provide drive and penetration off half back.
Adam Tomlinson, whose future with the club is still unknown, can do both defensive and attacking tasks.
With a loaded squad comes heightened expectations, and after missing the big dance two years in a row, it’s hard to imagine anything less than a Grand Final appearance would be marked a success for the Giants in 2018.
Best 22:
B: Aidan Corr, Phil Davis, Nick Haynes
HB: Zac Williams, Adam Tomlinson, Heath Shaw
C: Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly
HF: Lachie Whitfield, Jeremy Cameron, Tim Taranto
F: Toby Greene, Jon Patton, Matt de Boer
FOLL: Rory Lobb, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio
INT: Adam Kennedy, Ryan Griffen, Jacob Hopper, Brett Deledio