GWS Giants top 10 prospect Ethan Matthews has lifted the lid on his growth throughout 2026.
The AFL Academy member improved himself from a prospect with a wide draft range to a near top 10 certainty in a matter of months before his season was cut short by a foot injury.
The time on the sidelines allowed the 186cm midfielder to add size to his frame as he eyes a long-term spot in an AFL midfield after a 35-disposal and 11-clearance National Championships opener for the Allies. A stirring Talent League season from Matthews also helped skyrocket his stocks.
“It's coming in and building that confidence (which was important),” Matthews told Zero Hanger.
“It's always been there but having some slower games and not impacting the way I could and then this year coming in with the belief in myself, and I think I did that really well and once you impact in the first it's really easy to back yourself in for the rest and keep going.”
After playing off halfback last year, Matthews was given midfield opportunity in 2026 and sees that as his best position long-term.
Tom Green leads the Giants brigade of young midfielders, though missed the season with an ACL rupture and there are question marks abut his future as he enters a contract year.
Finn Callaghan is another young midfielder on the rise, second-year player Jack Ough showed promise after biding his time in the VFL, while 22-year-old Harry Rowston also got midfield opportunity this year.
“I'd like to think I'm quite a skilful player and able to use my run that way,” Matthews said.
“I tried to prove this year I'm quite an impactful player in the contest and on the outside. I think my versatility and footy IQ helps me. Knowing where to go and running patterns can impact a game.
“Moving from halfback into the midfield in the last 12 months, it has been working on my footwork and midfield stoppage craft, working with (coach) Tadhg Kennelly - he's been great.
“I've got a longer stride so just trying to shorten my steps in the contest and use my body well in there being a lighter frame coming in and being able to impact that way…Ultimately I would like to see myself as a midfielder (long-term), I think that's where I play my best footy.”
The club sought to have Matthews listed outside of bidding rules, which have again been tightened this year, but was unsuccessful.
Matthews indicated his preference is GWS, but he is open to go anywhere. The Giants have positioned themselves to have sufficient assets to not only get Matthews, but also another top 25 talent.
Accounting for the 10 per cent discount the club will get for missing finals, the Giants could match a bid as high as Pick 3; though a bid is more likely to come in the second half of the top 10.
“I've been with them since 12 and coming through more so in development programs and then you come through academy programs where it starts to be more full on,” he said.
“They've accelerated being able to train with the U18s program and at the Giants' facilities. It's driven standards and a bit more acceleration others might have early so it's been great.”
Noted as an excellent metres-gained transition midfielder with clean skills and great endurance and athletic base, Matthews is a raw frame but showed positive gains in his contested footy throughout 2026.
Matthews spent three weeks with the Giants' AFL program in pre-season, including attending their camp in Wollongong after a 2025 season where he played five VFL games and had an Allies outing as a bottom-ager.
“I learnt off Finn Callaghan the most, he's been really great to me and taught me how to live the life as an AFL player and been welcoming,” Matthews said.
“Harvey Thomas and Ryan Angwin have been great to me as wingers, coming in I might start on the wing so those two have been great helping me positionally and how to run patterns.”
