Season Preview: Greater Western Sydney

2020 Recap The Giants were a shell of their former selves in 2020. The hub life didn't agree with them or some of their key players and they saw their usual free flowing, high-scoring game style come to a screeching halt. They became hard to watch, the ball movement was slow and stagnant and they didn't look to have a successful plan B. [caption id="attachment_62877" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Harry Perryman of the Giants handballs during the round 6 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Metricon Stadium on July 12, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)[/caption] The Giants didn't get a clear run with injuries- which has become routine for them now. They will be hoping for more continuity in their best 22 this year and hope their star power is strong enough to rise them up the ladder again. Off-season moves Ins: Jesse Hogan (Fremantle), Braydon Preuss (Melbourne), Tanner Bruhn (Draft), Ryan Angwin (Draft), Cameron Fleeton (Draft). Outs: Sam Jacobs (Retired), Heath Shaw (Retired), Tom Sheridan (Retired), Zac Williams (Carlton), Aidan Corr (North Melbourne), Zac Langdon (West Coast), Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Jye Caldwell (Essendon), Jackson Hately (Adelaide). [caption id="attachment_79917" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 05: Braydon Preuss of the Giants trains during a Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL training session at Tom Wills Oval on February 05, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)[/caption] Grade: D Hard to pay the Giants too many compliments when they lost Jeremy Cameron, Zac Williams and youngsters like Jye Caldwell and Jackson Hately. They didn't have much they could do to keep Cameron and Williams, who left via free agency while Hately left via the pre-season draft - but they're still gone and haven't really been replaced. Hogan coming through the door is a risk, while Preuss looks like he will be a perfect fit into the ruck slot, but will now have to bide his time following shoulder surgery. Defining Period The opening stages of the season for the Giants will be massive. They need to start well to keep the belief alive amongst supporters, their first four games are also against teams that will be in or around that crucial 8th spot. They open their season against the Saints before they travel to WA to take on the Dockers and finish off their opening month against Melbourne and Collingwood. [caption id="attachment_35052" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Toby Greene of the Giants celebrates kicking a goal during the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Collingwood Magpies at GIANTS Stadium on July 20, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos via Getty Images )[/caption] They can be no worse then 2-2 out of this period and will be hoping to use that opening month as a springboard into their season. Best 22 B: Sam Taylor, Phil Davis, Adam Kennedy HB: Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes, Lachie Ash C: Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper, Harry Perryman HF: Harry Himmelberg, Jake Riccardi, Matt de Boer F: Toby Greene, Jeremy Finlayson, Brent Daniels FOLL: Braydon Preuss, Stephen Coniglio, Tim Taranto I/C: Jesse Hogan, Tom Green, Callan Ward, Daniel Lloyd There have been significant changes to the way the Giants will look in 2021 with a lot of responsibility falling on the young shoulders of Jake Riccardi after the departure of Cameron. [caption id="attachment_59447" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 29: Jake Riccardi of the Giants celebrates a goal with Stephen Coniglio during the round 14 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Optus Stadium on August 29, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)[/caption] There is still star power across the board for the Giants though which makes them an enigma for the season, their midfield is spoilt for stars and they bat deep in their rotation. But there's no doubt there are questions around their forward set-up Strengths and Weaknesses The Giants still have genuine star power, just look at the names in their best 22. Coniglio, Whitfield, Kelly, Green, Hopper and Taranto just to name a few. You'd think that those players would be enough to get the Giants over the line in a few key games when they need a touch of individual brilliance in the engine room. [caption id="attachment_35145" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Stephen Coniglio (left) and Lachie Whitfield of the Giants look dejected after a loss during the 2018 AFL round 23 match between the Melbourne Demons and the GWS Giants at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 26, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] They fell down last year going forward and with Cameron now gone it's hard to see how that gets any easier. Looks like their key scoring option will be left to the impressive yet young Jake Ricciardi should incumbent pairing Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson fail to fire. Prediction 12th It's hard to count out this Giants side with all their star power but after watching them last year it is hard to see them improving enough to play finals. [caption id="attachment_29118" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 27: Josh Kelly of the Giants celebrates after the round 6 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground on April 27, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)[/caption] They will need their forward line to click into gear early if they're any chance of finding themselves in the September action and need to have their ball movement flowing to make the job for their forward line that much easier.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	SYD	1	1	0	4	191.3
2	GC	1	1	0	4	181.2
3	GWS	1	1	0	4	128.4
4	COLL	1	1	0	4	118.2
5	WB	1	1	0	4	104.7
6	CARL	2	1	1	4	70.9
7	BL	1	0	1	0	95.5
8	RICH	1	0	1	0	94.7
9	STK	1	0	1	0	84.6
10	HAW	1	0	1	0	77.9

Season Preview: Greater Western Sydney

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