This year started off looking bleak for the Giants, with hardly anyone predicting they would make finals, let alone a prelim. Yet, after some patchy early form, that's exactly what they did, becoming the dark horse for the flag that no one wanted to come up against.
Following a bottom six finish in 2022, the Giants weren't expected to be much better this year and their early season form did nothing to convince anyone otherwise. The turnaround had to be seen to be believed.
From roughly the midway point of the year, the Giants lost just three of the next 14 games, wreaking havoc on the competition as they climbed into the top eight and quickly became the team most likely to cause an upset in September.
A heartbreaking one-point loss to eventual premiers Collingwood indicates that this team could achieve great things in the coming years and season 2024 will be a tough first step towards a premiership tilt.
With what has been graded as the toughest fixture in the AFL for 2024, not to mention having to overcome any mental scars from the brutal loss to the Pies, the Giants will have the chance to show everyone if they are the real deal.
The critical re-signings of Harry Himmelberg and Finn Callaghan are a huge boost to a club that has bled too much talent over the years, while the additions of Phoenix Gothard and James Leake on draft night ensure they continue to have young talent coming through.
Here's how we think they'll be named in 2024...
1. Defenders
Jack Buckley and Sam Taylor pick themselves as they are arguably both in the top 10 key defenders in the entire competition. They were incredibly dependable this year as the Giants caught fire in the second half of the season.
The Giants are also blessed to still have veteran Nick Haynes as a tall defensive option down back to complement Buckley and Taylor, which also eases the pressure on Connor Idun.
To put it mildly, their key back stocks are the envy of the competition even with the retirement of Phil Davis.
With the talls boasting so much depth, their run and transition out of defence becomes even more crucial and it's here the Giants are also quite blessed to have elite running power.
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Between Lachie Whitefield and Lachie Ash, there is plenty of dash and pace out of this backline while Harry Perryman's elusiveness and sound decision-making in possession complements this group nicely.
Throw in Himmelberg's ability to play down back and Xavier O'Halloran's running prowess as a possible impact sub and there is plenty to like about how they will look down back in 2024.
