‘Don’t come back fat’: The lighthearted gibe that helped spark Kieren Briggs into action as the Giants search for finals revenge

Kieren Briggs says the Giants will be out for revenge in 2025 and the big man has some motivation from his own skipper, who threw a lighthearted jab at him at the club B&F.

A determined Kieren Briggs believes the Giants will be out for revenge in 2025, with the ruckman vowing to improve his own standards following a gibe from captain Toby Greene at the best and fairest.

Briggs played 24 matches last campaign, almost more than the 26 games he had played in the other three years of his career, combined.

The 25-year-old produced some solid patches of football as the Giants made their way to the semi-finals. However, the ruckman concedes he probably underestimated just how much work was required to take his game to the next level.

“Last year, I probably might have got a bit ahead of myself and having a good year,” Briggs said. “I probably needed a bit of a reality check.

“I feel like I’ve got that other year older, a bit more mature and ready to take that next step in my career.”

The Giants had a 44-point lead against the Lions in their semi final before eventually falling to defeat. Picture: Phil Hillyard

While he didn’t lack motivation following the Giants’ dramatic finals exit, a cheeky, public dig from skipper Toby Greene may have helped him along the way.

“Don’t come back fat, Briggsy,” Greene said during his speech at the Giants’ best-and-fairest. “That’s stiff, sorry mate.”

But took the lighthearted gibe in his stride and returned to training with renewed vigour. Even after knee surgery to help clean out the joint – and a cancelled Bali holiday – coach Adam Kingsley singled Briggs out on the first day of pre-season for coming back in “great shape”.

“It’s all fun and games,” Briggs said. “I probably did it to myself a bit last year, but we’re all good.

“I was probably just a bit more diligent with my training and eating (this time). I had to park the holiday to get the knee done. At the end of the day, a career is more important than going to Bali another time. But I felt a bit of guilt not being as fit as I probably could have been last year.

Briggs is slowly getting back on the track after minor knee surgery this off-season. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“So I really wanted to come back and repay the faith. Two years of finals burn really hurts, and I feel like the group we’ve got at the moment is a special one. Footy changes pretty quickly and you don’t always get the chance at the end of September each year.

“We’ve got probably two years of finals revenge to build up now and we know how much it sucks getting so far into a season and it all ending in the last minute to the final. We just need to find that finishing touch to win games.”

One of the first things the Giants did when they were back for pre-season was dissect the lead they blew against the Lions. It was part of an intense first week back with the players regularly training in heat that reached 35 degrees.

However, Briggs and his Giants teammates – including members of the club’s netball program – also took time out on Wednesday night to visit kids at Ronald McDonald House in Westmead.

Briggs was among many Giants to take part in the Meals From the Heat at Ronald McDonald House in Westmead. Picture: Ryan Jones/GWS GIANTS

It’s become an annual tradition for Briggs and others, helping in the kitchen and giving out presents to sick and injured children. As someone who grew up nearby in the Hills District, it also provides Briggs with extra perspective on how lucky he is to be living out his dream of being a professional athlete.

“No matter how long pre-season days are, you can always find some energy especially when the kids are giving back the same energy as well,” he said.

“Everyone just wants to give back and help out. They get to hand the presents out to kids, and it’s knowing that they’re going through so much more than we are. It’s inspirational and we look forward to going down each and every year.”

Ronald McDonald House are currently running their annual Christmas fundraising campaign, and you can find more details here.

Originally published as ‘Don’t come back fat’: The lighthearted gibe that helped spark Kieren Briggs into action as the Giants search for finals revenge