Tom Bugg on original GWS Giants’ role in club’s AFL grand final dream
Tommy Bugg takes enormous pride in being Giant 001 but one of the club’s originals insists endless numbers with orange and charcoal running through their veins played a big part in the grand final dream.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tommy Bugg takes enormous pride in being Giant 001.
And even though he won’t get to run through the club’s first ever orange and charcoal banner on Grand Final day, Bugg will get the same goosebumps he experienced as a member of the inaugural GWS team that faced the Swans in the club’s AFL debut on March 24 2012.
“I think the feeling will be overwhelming,” Bugg said.
Replay the 2019 Toyota AFL Grand Final in full on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
“This whole week, every time I’ve talked to mates about it I’ve been getting goosebumps.”
Bugg is one of the Greater Western Sydney “originals” but reckons every one of the 98 players to have so far represented the Giants at AFL level will have ownership of today’s Grand Final dream.
“There’s this real sense of ownership,” Bugg told The Saturday Telegraph. “We started off as a club laughed at by many, criticised. It’ll never work.
“But there is a genuine bond for anyone that’s been involved in the club. From players to staff, coaches and family. It’s such a family club, it always has been.”
Of the 11 GWS originals that remain on the club’s list, only seven players — Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Phil Davis, Sam Reid, Adam Kennedy, Nick Haynes and Adam Tomlinson — will complete the incredible journey that began in uncharted territory for the AFL and has taken them to what promises to be an epic showdown on the MCG against Richmond.
For the numerous others who played their part in the early days who will be present in the stands it’s their day as much as the 22 pulling on the guernsey.
Bugg was one of the many “skinny teenagers” — in his words — assembled by a club building from scratch and played 65 games and kicked 16 goals before moving on to Melbourne and then Carlton and then retiring to focus full-time on business — he is the co-founder and CEO of ZOOZ Group.
But he remains a Giant at heart and has accepted an invitation from CEO Dave Matthews to become the inaugural chairman of the club’s Past Players Association.
“When I first chatted with Dave about the role, he actually said ‘do you realise you’re number 001 for the club?’. So, yeah, pretty rapt my surname starts with ‘B’,” he laughed.
Bugg believes one of the main reasons the Giants find themselves in the Grand Final is the culture the club established from day one.
“What really laid those foundations was how much the club went over and above in the early years to support the family members. When myself, Toby Greene, Steve Coniglio, these type of guys, played in the first couple of years the parents were just accommodated in any way possible. Getting everyone there and around each other.
Bugg believes pal Toby Greene will play a key role.
It’s a far cry from when they used to play against each other for their respective schools.
Teammates at the Giants, Bugg says that it wasn’t always that way.
“He played for Wesley College, I played for Caulfield Grammar and I think we played three or four times throughout our schooling career. We had fights every single game,” he laughs.
“Toby is such an important player. Not only for the Giants but I just think for the AFL in general. Great to watch, great for entertainment but he’s also a class player.”
Greene, Giant number 008, has also taken a moment to reflect on the early days.
“We’ve come a long way since me and Jez (Cameron) living next door to each other in Breakfast Point,” he said. “It’s been an amazing journey. To play in a grand final with some of the boys you’ve grown up with is an amazing experience.”
INAUGURAL GIANTS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Tommy Bugg: was traded to Melbourne in 2016 then played for Carlton and retired due to business interests.
Jeremy Cameron: This season, the first Coleman medallist in GWS history.
Stephen Coniglio: Injured star who selflessly ruled himself out of the grand final.
Chad Cornes: Now an assistant coach at Port Adelaide after filling a similar role at GWS.
Phil Davis: Co-captain and defensive linchpin.
Israel Folau: Was sacked by Rugby Australia in May. Vying to return to international rugby league with Tonga.
Jon Giles: Finished his AFL career with West Coast in 2017 and is working as a project engineer.
Toby Greene: The fiery forward-cum-midfielder is still with the Giants.
Curtly Hampton: Traded to Adelaide before the 2016 season and retired last year. He and partner Emma recently welcomed a daughter.
J ack Hombsch: Spent one year with GWS, traded to Port Adelaide — played 89 games — has just finished his debut season with Gold Coast.
Will Hoskin-Elliott: The No.4 draft pick from 2011 played 52 games for GWS, switched to Collingwood for season 2017, has 79 goals in three seasonsfor the Magpies.
Adam Kennedy: The small defender will be a key part of the grand final.
James McDonald: A playing assistant coach at GWS in 2012, pursued a career in agribusiness. Coached VAFA club Old Xaverians in 2017-2018.
Tim Mohr: The key defender plucked from the VFL was with GWS until the end of 2018 when he crossed to Hawthorn via the rookie draft.
Rhys Palmer: The Rising Star winner moved to Carlton, now hoping to return to football via the WAFL while recovering from a horror motorcyclecrash this year.
Dylan Shiel: Essendon parted with two first-round picks to land the on-baller on a six-year deal last year. GWS nabbed Jye Caldwell with the early pick they acquired last year.
Devon Smith: Traded to the Bombers at the end of 2017 and won their best and fairest last season.
Adam Tomlinson: One of the inaugural Giants still at the club, although expected to seek a trade to Melbourne after the grand final.
Jacob Townsend: Richmond premiership bolter was bought for his midfield grunt in a deal for pick 70 but won’t be in grand final team.
Dom Tyson: The inside midfielder was traded to Melbourne in 2013 in a deal that netted GWS pick No.2, used to nab Josh Kelly.
Callan Ward: The GWS co-captain returned from injury in round four, only to go down with an ACL tear.
Nathan Wilson: Played 77 games in six seasons, left at the end of 2017 to join Fremantle.
Other 2012 GWS debuts:
Luke Power: Round 2
Adam Treloar: Round 3
Sam Reid: Round 5
Setanta O’hAilpin: Round 6
Taylor Adams: Round 5
Josh Bruce: Round 5
Dean Brogan: Round 9
Nick Haynes: Round 10
Sam Frost: Round 17