Callan Ward and Phil Davis have played huge roles in making the Giants a successful club
WHEN Callan Ward and Phil Davis were dropped into the Giants captaincy roles in 2012, they were thrown into the deep end of the AFL piranha pool. NEIL CORDY looks at how they survived and thrived.
GWS
Don't miss out on the headlines from GWS. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WHEN Callan Ward and Phil Davis were dropped into the Giants captaincy roles in 2012 they were thrown into the deep end of the AFL piranha pool.
Ward had played just 60 games for the Western Bulldogs and Davis 18 for the Adelaide Crows. Not surprisingly they floundered with their inexperienced line-ups winning just three games in their first two seasons. But the wheel has turned and they now sit alongside Joel Selwood (Geelong) and Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) as the longest serving captains in the competition.
FIGHTING PIES: HOW MAGPIES FIXED A BROKEN CLUB
DERMOTT: MASON COX TO GET ANOTHER FINALS LESSON
FOR MUM: WHY IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN FOOTY FOR TRELOAR
When they lead the Giants out onto the MCG on Saturday night they will do as the equals of any skippers in the competition.
“Looking back I definitely couldn’t picture us being where we are now,” Ward told the Saturday Telegraph.
“It took a few years down the track before I realised I really wanted the captaincy.
The dream has always been to play in big finals and the number one thing is leaders have to stand up in big games. That’s what Phil and I have tried to do over the years.”
Like a lot of great partnerships, the Giants co-captains have their differences. Davis is comfortable addressing the playing group and the media and Ward is less so, a man of deeds not words.
“I’ve always said a lot of Phil’s strengths are my weaknesses but to be honest my strengths are his and he doesn’t have any weaknesses,” Ward joked.
“He has always been good at addressing the boys which I struggled with in my early years. Now I’m a lot more confident and I’ve learned from Phil in that area. I’ve also watched what other captains do. We’ve both come a long way in what our strengths are and our weaknesses.”
Davis and Ward will carry outstanding form into Saturday’s clash with the Magpies.
Last Saturday’s 49 point belting of the Swans could be the pair’s finest hour.
Davis played one of his best games ever, not only shutting out Lance Franklin but dominating him to take 10 marks and pick up 18 possessions. Ward was equally impressive in the midfield with a game-high 29 possessions including 17 contested.
On Saturday they will face different tasks against the Magpies, Davis is likely to get Brody Mihocek and Ward will go head to head with former teammate Taylor Adams in the midfield.
“The most important thing is the action and not the talking,” Ward said.
“It’s easy to talk about standing up in big games and it’s hard to do, that’s the challenge. Phil played a blinder last weekend, I knew he would before the game, he had a look in his eye that he was ready, that’s what I love abut Phil.
There are lots of guys who would dread playing on Buddy and that is understandable but Phil genuinely looks forward to it.”
The Giants have played 160 games in their short history and Ward has played in 155 of them, he is as durable as he is good. But he and his co-captain face one of their greatest challenges this week as they try to overcome an MCG hoodoo where they have won only two of their 14 matches.
“Our record at the MCG isn’t great but that’s the past and there’s nothing we can do about it,” Ward said.
“I wouldn’t say the MCG is the reason we’ve lost there, we’ve played some really good opposition there. The thing about it is, we have to make the crowd work for us.
“We have to use that to drive and feed us. I don’t read too much into what the crowd does, it doesn’t have any impact on what we do on the field. We are playing on the same patch of grass.”
Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as Callan Ward and Phil Davis have played huge roles in making the Giants a successful club
‘Positions up for grabs’: Leake keen for Giant start as Devils loom
GWS are looking towards the next generation and Tasmanian James Leake is eager to break into the side. Plus the young Giant touches on his future — with the Devils entering the AFL in 2028.
Coniglio on track for return as young Giants steal the show
Stephen Coniglio faced one of the “most difficult periods” of his career after injuring his shoulder last year, but is on track for round 1. Plus, see the latest from the GWS match simulation.