Adam Tomlinson ends go-home trade rumours, commits future to GWS Giants

TALENTED defender Adam Tomlinson has ended speculation he would depart GWS at the end of the season by committing his future to the Giants.

Adam Tomlinson at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Tim Hunter

TALENTED defender Adam Tomlinson has ended speculation he would join teammate Caleb Marchbank in the GWS departure lounge by committing his future to the Giants.

Tomlinson has been in and out of the team for much of his five years at GWS, sparking concerns he would seek a move back to Melbourne.

But the 23-year-old has found top form late in the season to stake his spot for the Giants historic first final against the Swans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

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“I’m definitely staying here,” Tomlinson told The Daily Telegraph.

“The club has shown a lot of faith in me by keeping me here last year. I had a rocky start to the year but it’s worked out.”

Injuries and form have restricted Tomlinson to just 65 games in his five seasons at the club. But in a boost for the Giants, he has played in the last eight games and will take on a key defensive role against Sydney on Saturday.

Adam Tomlinson on the last line of defence. Picture: Michael Klein

The 23-year-old revealed heart-to-heart discussions with coach Leon Cameron have worked wonders.

“Leon and I have had some very open and honest conversations,” Tomlinson said.

I’m definitely staying here ... the club has shown a lot of faith.

Adam Tomlinson

“I’ve had to work very hard and it’s made me appreciate what I’ve done in the last eight weeks. I’m grateful to be here. We’re about to play finals and hopefully go a fair way in. If I’m playing finals here it’s worth it.”

Tomlinson is one of 13 Giants foundation players who will line up against the Swans on Saturday afternoon.

He was also part of the first GWS team that took on Sydney at ANZ Stadium in round one, 2012. The 63-point defeat was a relatively close contest in a horror start in the AFL.

“I remember clearly a game in the first season when we lost by 162 points to Hawthorn,” Tomlinson said.

Adam Tomlinson in action against Geelong.

“Then there were games in the next couple of years when Josh Kennedy kicked 10 goals against us one week and Tom Lynch from Adelaide kicked 10 the next week.

“We’ve had some down times in the first three years. Last year was different but the way we’ve played this year has been phenomenal especially the boys who started out at Blacktown and at the Rooty Hill RSL when we trained in a public gym.

“Now we’re in a state-of-the-art facility and our football quality has followed suit.”

The key defender also revealed GWS treated their round 23 match against North Melbourne as a full dress rehearsal for finals football.

“I can tell you I’ve never felt more excited to play a footy match than last weekend against North Melbourne,” Tomlinson said.

“We treated it like a final and when we play the Swans on Saturday at ANZ Stadium it will be 10 times better. It means a lot to all the boys but for those of us who were here at the start it and know how hard we had to work it will be massive for us.”

Tomlinson said he expected to spend some time marking Lance Franklin as shares the key defender role with Phil Davis.

“Phil and I take the two opposition talls and chop and change with each other,” Tomlinson said.

“Playing with Phil gives me a lot of confidence, he’ll help me out and I’ll help him out. I lived with Phil for three year and we’ve always got on well and I’ve learned a lot from him as well.”