Phil Davis column: Opportunites arise for new-look GWS Giants in 2018 AFL season
THE 2018 Giants will look a lot different to last year’s line-up.Shane Mumford and Steve Johnson have retired and we’ve already lost Zac Williams and Will Setterfield to injury, Phil Davis writes.
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THE 2018 Giants will look a lot different to last year’s line-up.
Shane Mumford and Steve Johnson have retired, Devon Smith and Nathan Wilson have changed clubs and we’ve already lost Zac Williams and Will Setterfield to injury.
As big as these losses are, they also represent opportunities right across the ground.
Not having “Mummy’’ is something we would prefer not to have faced.
Shane gave this club more than anyone could have expected in his four years as a player.
He was enormous and you don’t see that sort of impact on and off the field very often over such a short time.
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He was in the top three ruckmen in the AFL over that period and I don’t think we can really replace him — that would be unrealistic.
But what we do have are players who bring different things.
Rory Lobb is 206cm, very athletic and a great forward as well. Dawson Simpson has played some great footy over the last two years and Matt Flynn has improved dramatically this pre-season.
Competition is a great source of improvement and whoever’s playing best at the time will get their chance.
Zac and Nathan are both very hard to replace but what we have are some very good young players who are ready to step up.
Lachie Whitfield has played down back in the two matches we’ve played so far and looks a natural. Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and Jeremy Finlayson are all capable of playing at the AFL level and are ready to step up.
We’ve also got Brett Deledio and Ryan Griffen who are ready to come back again this year. It’s similar to Shane’s situation — we have lots of options to fill the roles Zac and Nathan performed in the backline.
With the small forwards who are replacing Steve and Devon, I think we will have a different look.
Zac Landon looks to be a really exciting prospect. Lachie Tiziani did well against Collingwood and knows where the goals are. Brent Daniels is another who has explosive speed and can read the play well.
There is also pressure for spots in the key back roles.
Tim Mohr is back and playing well, Lachie Keefe has come to us from Collingwood and is doing well and Jeremy Finlayson has shown some real dash playing in pre-season. Aiden Corr is another player who is in the mix for these positions.
The great thing about all these changes is there is competition for all spots. The retirements, departures and injuries create opportunities and you have to play well. It’s a great sign for the club and the healthiest thing you can have.