Former Giant Brett Deledio has backed his former club to go the extra mile and take out their maiden premiership cup after falling agonisingly short again in 2024.
GWS have contended up the top of the table for close to a decade, albeit with occasional dips outside the eight in 2020 and 2022, but have yet to claim their first-ever flag since joining the competition in 2012.
The Giants were on the cusp of playing in the penultimate week of September twice in last year's finals series, but bowed out in straight sets after choking substantial three-quarter-time leads to Sydney and Brisbane.
Despite a small exodus of ready-made talent, Deledio, who played at the Giants for three seasons between 2017 and 2019, believes that his former team are still positioned strongly list-wise to contend again in 2025.
"I've probably got the Giants as my favourite at the moment," Deledio said at the Carlton Draft launch, announcing he and recently retired Cat Tom Hawkins will be drafted to play at a local club during the year.
"I thought they were really close, and probably, arguably, should have been in the grand final last year.
"Obviously, I've got a connection up there, but it's building really nicely. They've got talent right across the board."
Deledio commented on Brisbane, Carlton and Collingwood's chance, but also claimed Melbourne could be a sneaky surprise packet in 2025, predicting the club to be at "the pointy end" with the best in September.
The Demons placed top four in three consecutive seasons, one of which resulted in a drought-breaking premiership, however, off-field controversies regarding their star talents, as well as injuries and interrupted pre-seasons, hindered Melbourne's performances on-field in 2024.
Falling to 14th last year, predictions for the Demons in 2025 are varied on whether their star-studded list can push past 18 months of distractions and drama.
Deledio has asserted a bold positive take on the club, believing a healthy Christian Petracca and a resurgent year of form for Oliver alongside skipper Max Gawn will see Melbourne ascend the ladder back into finals territory.
"Brisbane will be up there again, I think. Sneakily, I think that the 'Dees' are going to be okay," Deledio said.
"I think they're set up really well. (If) they get two of their three best players back and humming in Petracca and Oliver, along with Max Gawn, they'll be right there at the pointy end.
"It's a bit all at once for Carlton and Collingwood. I think they're probably chips-all-in, and those games would be great fun to go and watch that's for sure."
Deledio was not so optimistic on Richmond's upcoming season, proposing it best to not pay attention to the win-loss record in 2025, as the Tigers look set to blood and develop their enormous draft crop and overall youthful list.
"It's going to be a challenging year I imagine," Deledio said.
"I'm not so much judging it on wins and losses, more so on the progression and the development of those young players. They're an incredibly young list.
"They've got some older players we'd love to see back on the park in Dion Prestia and Tommy Lynch. If we can get them out there consistently, it'll make a big difference.
"But, we've also got four or five blokes coming back off a knee (injury). It'll be a challenging year, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of excitement, and the fans won't not turn up just because of that."
The Giants' ambitions for their maiden flag get underway when they host Collingwood in Opening Round, while Richmond's first match comes in their traditional Thursday night timeslot in Round 1 against Carlton.
