Forgotten Giant Darcy Jones has drawn Nick Watson comparisons from teammate Joe Fonti, as GWS' first-to-fourth year players return to the training track.
The playing list at Adam Kinglsey's disposal looks markedly different this pre-season, with club legends Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield and pieces of forward line furniture Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer among those to head for the exits in the recent player movement period.
Jones, 22 years of age, looms almost as a new recruit, having been unsighted for the entirety of the Giants' disappointing 2026 campaign through injury.
Fellow West Australian and close mate Joe Fonti is buoyed by the impact 'the kid with the lid' can make in 2027.
"He's a really exciting player for us," Fonti said.
"Especially this year, he's going to be a big piece for our forward line. You see what someone like (Hawthorn's) Nick Watson can do last year, I think if it hadn't had been for some of Darce's unfortunate injuries, he can produce that sort of talent level.
"He's going to be a really important piece for us this year, and he's moving well and has been training well with me back in WA, so I'm excited to see what he can produce this year."
That is some comparison, given the exemplary and historical campaign put together by Watson. The Eastern Ranges product won All-Australian selection for the first time in 2026, was awarded the Mark of the Year and was recognised as Hawthorn's best and fairest player after becoming the first player in 80 years to notch 50+ goals while standing under 170cm tall.
Fonti, Jones and fellow sandgroper Cody Angove spent periods of the off-season back home in Western Australia, with Fonti offering that the trio have fronted up for a pre-season of consequence in tip-top shape.
"It's still really early, first session in, (but) I trained with Cody (Angove) and Darcy (Jones) over the off-season, so the Perth boys came back in pretty good knick; all pretty fit. Jack Ough's moving well, that's just off the top of my head, but it should be exciting, this two-week patch with just the one-to-four (year) group."
Jones has managed 31 goals from 37 games at the top level, presenting as an important piece of conduit in the Giants' fabled 'orange tsunami' transition offence, even when not scoring goals himself.
The Giants' season gets underway with a Round 1 clash with the Adelaide Crows on March 20th.
