AFL News

The 10 best players GWS have let go in their history

Look away now Giants fans!

Published by
Sam Martin

A list so stacked with talent and a multitude of young Victorians, it's tough to retain all of them.

GWS have been no stranger to that concept over the years, and have had to deal with a range of exits - some of whom have gone on to bigger and better things after seeking greener pastures elsewhere.

Here are the 10 best players that GWS have lost since their introduction into the competition.

Tom Boyd

The number one draft pick requested a trade from the Giants after his first year at the club in 2014, joining the Bulldogs on a seven-year deal.

The 23-year-old well and truly came of age in the 2016 finals series, in particular the Grand Final. Boyd was instrumental in bringing the Bulldogs their second ever premiership, with a memorable final quarter goal sealing the deal.

Had the Giants - who came agonisingly close to a Grand Final birth - held onto Boyd, then there's a good chance that their fortunes would have been completely different.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 21: Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron presents number one draft pick Thomas Boyd with the GWS guernsey during the 2013 NAB AFL Draft on November 21, 2013 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Rory Lobb

Quality ruckmen aren't easy to come by, and GWS undoubtedly would have hoped to have the service of Rory Lobb for a number of years to come.

Unfortunately it wasn't to be, as Lobb requested a trade at the end of the 2018 season and returned to his native Western Australia.

The Giants have the short-term luxury of Shane Mumford making a comeback, but that surely isn't to be for too long, and Lobb's absence is likely to be felt in the coming years.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Rory Lobb of the Giants celebrates kicking a goal during the round 23 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 26, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Jack Steele

Originally a GWS academy player, Steele could only manage the 17 games in his two seasons with the Giants, and eventually sought a trade at the end of the 2016 season.

The 23-year-old has shown the Giants what they're missing out on, showing his grunt and pressure within the Saints midfield and amassing impressive numbers as well.

Steele came third in the Trevor Barker voting last year.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: Jack Steele of the Giants kicks during the round 17 AFL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at The Gabba on July 17, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Will Hoskin-Elliott

By the time Will Hoskin-Elliott had decided to seek a trade to Collingwood, the 25-year-old had already firmly established himself at the Giants, playing 52 games and showing the club what he's capable of.

Fast forward to his time at Collingwood and Hoskin-Elliott has well and truly rubbed it in to Giants fans across the country. The livewire was a focal point in the Magpies forward line last year, kicking 42 goals and being a constant presence as the Pies' soared towards a Grand Final birth.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 04: Will Hoskin-Elliott of the Giants kicks a goal during the 2016 AFL NAB Challenge match between the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Drummoyne Oval on March 4, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Nathan Wilson

Similar to Lobb, Wilson was also born and bred in WA and after six seasons at the Giants, the 26-year-old decided a return home was necessary.

Wilson's dash and ball use out of the Giant's defensive 50 was pivotal, and his absence was sorely missed as soon as the trade back to Fremantle was set in stone.

Wilson played 77 games with the Giants and featured heavily in their 2016 and 2017 finals series'.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 20: Nathan Wilson of the Giants remonstrates with the goal umpire after the shot on goal from Shai Bolton of the Tigers was touched during the round nine AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Richmond Tigers at Spotless Stadium on May 20, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Josh Bruce

Bruce had played 14 games for the Giants over the course of two years and had hardly established himself, and so a trade to St Kilda beckoned for the 26-year-old.

Fast forward to 2015 and Bruce had become one of the biggest forward threats in the game. In just his second season at the Saints, Bruce was able to notch up 50 goals, following that up with efforts of 38 and 36 respectively in the coming seasons.

The Giants undoubtedly would have wondered what could've been, and the image of Bruce lining up alongside Jeremy Cameron and co. in the Western Sydney forward line would have been a sore sight for Giants fans.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 04: Josh Bruce of the Giants runs with the ball during the round six AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Etihad Stadium on May 4, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

 

Devon Smith

Smith was yet another victim of the Giants' elite midfield which was stacked with talent. Wanting to predominantly play in the midfield, Smith was left with no choice but to ply his trade in the forward line for the majority of his tenure in Western Sydney.

When Smith could no longer make the best 22 in 2017, it became obvious to Smith that a move was necessary, with Essendon deciding to back in the 26-year-old to thrive in the midfield.

Smith paid the Bombers back in spades, becoming a tackling machine for the Dons over the course of the 2018 season, with his constant pressure acts and in & under work being a massive factor in Essendon's impressive run home in the second half of the season.

His debut year at the Tullamarine culminated in winning the Crichton Medal, Essendon's best and fairest award.

A bitter pill to swallow for the Giants.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Devon Smith of the Giants rins with the ball during the round five AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Etihad Stadium on April 24, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)


Dylan Shiel

The 2017 All-Australian was involved in a highly-publicised trade to Essendon at the end of last year, in a deal that was only made official in the closing minutes of the 2018 trade period.

The Giants have had a star-studded midfield over the years, and losing any player of Shiel's calibre is certainly less than ideal for the clubs premiership prospects.

The 26-year-old played 135 for the Giants from 2012 to 2018.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 04: Dylan Shiel of the Giants celebrates a goal during the 2016 AFL Round 11 match between the Geelong Cats and the GWS Giants at Simonds Stadium on June 4, 2016 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Taylor Adams

Now in his sixth season at Collingwood, Taylor Adams has been a mainstay within the Magpies best 22, showing what he would have been capable of producing at the Giants had the 25-year-old decided to stay at GWS.

Predominantly plying his trade in the midfield, Adams has been an impressive addition to the Pies outfit ever since he arrived. The Geelong local amasses large numbers, averaging over 29 disposals in 2017 and over 26 in 2018.

Adams has had an injury-interrupted 2019 campaign so far, but is sure to cause headaches when he returns to the fold.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Taylor Adams of the Giants looks upfield during the round seven AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Adelaide Crows at Skoda Stadium on May 12, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

 

Adam Treloar

It's hard to look past anyone other than gun midfielder Adam Treloar to take out the top spot.

Ever since his arrival at the end of 2015, Treloar has been one of Collingwood's most important players.

The 26-year-old's run and carry and explosive impact around the contests has been pivotal in the Magpies resurgence over the last couple of years, and is sure to be one of the Pies' most significant names going forward as they strive to win this years premiership.

Having finished runner-up in the best and fairest in 2015, Treloar had his best season to date when he decided to leave the Giants, leaving a gaping hole in the Giants midfield and making them rue his absence ever since.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Adam Treloar of the Giants looks upfield during the round 23 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Etihad Stadium on September 6, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Published by
Sam Martin