SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 29: Xavier O'Halloran of the Giants celebrates with Toby Bedford of the Giants after kicking a goal during the round seven AFL match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground, on April 29, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )
GWS isn't ruling out a return to the September action for their first campaign under Adam Kingsley, with the Giants' senior coach believing finals are still on the cards for the youthful outfit.
The Giants have started the season with three wins from their opening nine matches, notching up wins over Adelaide, Hawthorn and Sydney to sit 15th on the ladder ahead of their clash with St Kilda.
The expansion franchise slumped to third last on the ladder to conclude last year before welcoming Kingsley's arrival, with their disappointing 2022 campaign succeeding a seventh-placed finish the year prior.
While the Giants have struggled to find the form Kingsley has demanded from his group, the first-year coach isn't viewing Sunday's encounter with the Saints as a match that could end their finals chances.
While noting there are numerous parameters outside of a top-eight finish the Giants are seeking to meet, Kingsley is standing firm his side isn't out of the hunt.
"I still think this season is more about just finals for us. Clearly we want to make finals and play towards finals but we have a lot of growth to do for us to become that team that we want to be," Kingsley said.
"Whether that results in finals this year or not, well, we keep our fingers crossed. I still think we can play finals, even if we don't get the result this weekend. But we've got a lot of work to do, that's where our focus lies.
"If we're able to get that right then the finals will take care of itself."
The Giants are likely to welcome back captain Toby Greene from an ankle injury that has hampered the star forward's past fortnight, while defender Isaac Cumming (calf) and ruckman Braydon Preuss (back) remain some time away from returns.
Matt Flynn has shown promise in Preuss' absence as the club's first-string ruckman, however currently fins himself in a "neck and neck" selection battle with Kieren Briggs, who is condoning to find strong form at VFL level.
The fringe tall combined with rookie Harry Rowston and key forward Wade Derksen to snap a 30-point final quarter deficit against Collingwood's VFL side over the weekend to be in consideration for a recall.
Both Briggs and Derksen find themselves in the mix for chances at AFL level, however, Kingsley has stated opportunities won't come easy.
"We don't gift away games," Kingsley said.
"Certainly (Briggs and Derksen were) really strong on the weekend and have been pretty good across the course of the season to be fair. If they maintain their form I'm sure they'll get opportunities, but they've got to fight their way in.
"We don't rotate in and out here. We'll pick on performance and adherence to our system and structures and playing your role.
"... I think that battle (between Flynn and Briggs) has become neck and neck with Briggsy's form. Flynny has been plenty pretty strong for us across the course of the season. But there's not much separating those two."
Rowston put on an exhilarating fourth quarter to show his leadership qualities as a teenager, with the GWS Academy graduate looking to return to Kingsley's plans for senior action.
His coach expressed his pleasure in Rowston's response to returning to the VFL over the past three weeks, with a spot to face St Kilda still up for grabs.
"His work rate to try and compete, get to the next contest and compete again was outstanding," Kingsley said.
"I think between him and Kieren they had something like 37 contested possessions and 25 clearances. Really strong games in the contest and around clearance for both those boys.
"Certainly put their hands up (for selection). We'll train later in the week, we have main training on Friday and we'll see what the team looks like after that."
Just two weeks out from the 2023 Mid-Season Draft - a mechanism the Giants used last year to recruit Derksen from Peel Thunder - GWS are continuing to weigh up their options for the count.
The club can open two list spots due to season-ending injuries to Adam Kennedy and Darcy Jones, and are in line to hold a top-four pick should their place on the AFL ladder remain the same.
Kingsley revealed a final call on their Mid-Season Draft plans hasn't been reached, however, the club is nearing a decision.
"There's been some discussions but we certainly haven't come to any conclusions around what we're going to do," he said.
"Those discussions will be ongoing and we'll make a decision when we need to."
The Mid-Season Draft is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31, with the Giants to play St Kilda this weekend and Geelong in Round 11 before the draft.
GWS will return to GIANTS Stadium in Round 10 to face the Saints, their first game back at home since Round 3. Sunday's match will commence at 4:40pm (AEST).