Why an unheralded GWS Giants backman is the most underrated in the AFL

Sydney is in big trouble this weekend with defensive general Dane Rampe missing. There are no worries at the other end with the AFL’s most unheralded defender running the show, writes Mick McGuane.

I’ve said it for a long time, but there is no more underrated player in AFL football than Nick Haynes from the GWS Giants.

What he did in tandem with fellow backman Phil Davis against Port Adelaide last week was immense, and the Giants’ defensive strength really contrasts with the massive hole that’s been left by Dane Rampe’s absence for the Swans.

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Rampe is so proficient as a last line of defender, that there is a real risk the floodgates could just open in this derby, particularly given the background between these two clubs.

Seven years ago, the derby was men versus boys, and players like Toby Greene have experienced some serious beltings at the hands of the Swans, and that becomes part of your DNA.

You don’t forget things like that if you’re a Giant.

Retribution might be too strong a word, but when you have a chance to turn it on its head, you make sure you remember those things and it inspires you to not ever experience anything like that again.

Considering the scoring power we’ve witnessed with GWS recently with the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Jeremy Finlayson, Harry Himmelberg and Toby Greene, the Swans are going to be seriously up against it on Saturday.

Rampe has generally been Sydney’s deepest defender. He’s the anchor. Who is that person going to be on Saturday? He will be sadly missed.

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At the other end of the park, there are no worries with the Giants’ key defenders.

I love Haynes’ ability to peel off an opponent and to go and help a vulnerable teammate under a high ball.

He doesn’t kill it. I just love the fact he goes for his marks.

It just steadies the tide for GWS, and Haynes does it regularly.

With no fanfare, and no fuss, he just does his job.

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Nick Haynes flies under the radar at the Giants. Picture: Phil Hillyard

He’s just one of those consummate teammates who you love to play footy with, because you know he’s going to be there, and he wants to help out.

Haynes has “team care” as a priority and he is really selfless with his approach.

He plays with great courage and intensity at the high ball.

If he enters the fray in a pack situation, generally the ball gets marked or spilt to ground because of his momentum through the flight of the footy

If Haynes was at a high-profile club out of Melbourne, we’d be singing his praises.

But he has probably been in that Sydney bubble as opposed to the Victorian bubble, where the plaudits tend to be a bit more free-flowing.

Locking up Haynes has been such a smart move by the Giants, and their roster is full of choice buys and decisions.

They’ve got Greene long term, they’ve got Tim Taranto long term, Jeremy Cameron is bedded down, and the next part of the jigsaw puzzle is to tie Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield down.

This group has a great opportunity. They’ve started the journey together – now it’d be great to finish it with a premiership, because that’s what you play footy for.