GWS coach Leon Cameron reveals three areas the Giants need to improve

GWS coach Leon Cameron gives an exclusive insight into the areas the Giants need to fix if they are to turnaround their form and win their first premiership.

Dylan Shiel after the Giants’ win over Fremantle. Picture: AAP

GREATER Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron has challenged his players to improve by 20 per cent if they want to challenge for the premiership.

The Giants put a horror month behind them with an unconvincing win over Fremantle at home on Saturday.

While Cameron was happy to bank the four points that kept the Giants’ top-four plans on track, he has given an exclusive insight into the areas they need to fix if they are to win their first premiership.

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The Giants have had the worst run of injuries of any club this year but Cameron says that’s no excuse, and warned they simply can’t rely on players coming back from injury to change their on-field fortunes.

“Every club goes through injuries and regardless of whether you have your best 22 on the field, we have to make sure we’re up for the fight, ready to roll and looking to improve,” Cameron said.

“We’re going through a patch over the last four weeks which we need to come out of. It won’t be easy because we play tough opposition, starting with Melbourne this week.”

Cameron has a three-part plan to achieve the turnaround in form they need.

1. TACKLING

“We have to become better tacklers,” Cameron said.

“We have to pin arms a lot better than we are doing. Good teams are breaking though our tackles.

“We have tackled OK but we are middle of the road and sit around ninth and 10th in the comp.

“If you want 20 per cent improvement, that’s the first area we need to work on. It’s not just about numbers, it’s the ability to stop the ­opposition.”

Adam Tomlinson is well tackled during the win against Fremantle. Picture: AAP

2. BALL MOVEMENT

“Our ball movement is critical and the fundamentals of kicking and handballing are hurting us.

“We aren’t making good decisions in moving the ball quickly. Credit the opposition because everyone is trying to slow their opponents down like we are. Defence is a lot better and we need to move the ball in a more fluent way.

“It’s easier said than done because if you are too bold, like we were against the Swans, we gave up 75 points in turnovers in the back half trying to be bold and force the issue when it wasn’t there. If you are a little more conservative, at times that goes down to 30 points.”

Nick Haynes attempts to spoil Nat Fyfe. Picture: Getty Images

3. OVERALL CONFIDENCE

“The overall lack of confidence is leading to errors across the ground. We aren’t nailing completed pieces of play. We have some issues but we aren’t on our own.

“Adelaide are a game above us but will be working on things they need to improve and they had a flat spot in the middle of the year.

“With four rounds to go, we’ve only got five losses and have 11 wins. The Adelaide loss was the only bad loss and that was the first game of the year.

“It’s the inconsistency of tackling, ball movement and confidence fluctuations of players down in form. Seventeen other clubs have similar problems.”