Xavier O’Halloran on why he stayed at GWS Giants and being linked with a trade to Western Bulldogs

Xavier O’Halloran bucked the trend when he decided to spurn rival interest and remain in western Sydney. He tells LACHLAN MCKIRDY why he chose to stay despite an uncertain role.

Lachie Ash, Finn Callaghan and Xavier O'Halloran share a laugh at training.

Giants utility Xavier O’Halloran is ready to fight for his place in Adam Kingsley’s side as the club looks to put two heartbreaking finals campaigns behind them.

O’Halloran, 24, has been an important role player for GWS, and while he’s never been able to fully cement his place in the team, the 19 matches he appeared in last year were the most of his career.

In those games, he showed glimpses of brilliance, including a four-goal haul against the Hawks in Launceston. That understandably attracted interest from other clubs such as the Western Bulldogs who worked hard during the trade period to land him at Whitten Oval.

However, with other senior players at the Giants leaving, O’Halloran believes he’s well-placed to show Kingsley he is deserving of a spot in GWS’ best 23.

Xavier O'Halloran on the move at pre-season training.

“My manager was approached given the interest expressed towards me,” O’Halloran said.

“But with several boys that were moving around that had key spots in the side, and the conversations I had with Jase (McCartney) and Kingers, we were all on the same page.

“I had some really honest chats in terms of what do I need to do to get that next step of playing consistent AFL footy every week. We’ve worked out what that is and we’re constantly in communication about it.

“Given I was still contracted and there will be opportunities here, and I was still valued to play and have an impact, I was definitely keen (to stay). It’s only week two in pre-season, and they’ve been good in terms of helping me get towards that already.”

Consistency has often been the buzzword around O’Halloran, and going into his sixth year on an AFL list, it’s something he desperately craves.

A career-high four goals for Xavier O’Halloran 👏 pic.twitter.com/gw8nXloJUg

— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) June 10, 2024

The exit interviews he had with the coaching staff made that abundantly clear. But they also provided him with clear facets of his game to improve on. It’s given him the motivation required to try and find another level in his game.

“You always address things that did and didn’t go well on a personal scale,” he said. “And those things haven’t changed over the past couple of seasons.

“It’s around improving my skills and becoming a really clean one-touch player who can be damaging with those possessions. So my pre-season will look like a lot of extras around that, what I’ve been starting to do with other boys in a similar boat.

Xavier O’Halloran didn’t join the trade exodus from western Sydney.

O’Halloran says he wants to crack the Giants’ midfield.

“It’s continuously working on the fundamentals. Clean with hands below the knees and ground balls. That’s been a big focus for me already.

“I grew up playing inside midfield, and if I can put in the work over the pre-season, which I will, I want to give myself an opportunity to play in that position in the AFL side. It’s definitely exciting to know that there are some more spots up for grabs, so there will be a fair bit of healthy competition.”

O’Halloran admits there has been a bit of a different feeling around the club given the departures this off-season. Inaugural Giants such as Nick Haynes and Adam Kennedy are among those who have departed, with six new youngsters coming in the other way.

But the overwhelming focus has been finding space to feel just how uncomfortable their past two finals exits have been. And there’s confidence that if they finally put together a complete season, they can turn those results around.

Xavier O'Halloran is having a big first half with his third goal!#AFLGiantsLionspic.twitter.com/saDIw05tNX

— AFL (@AFL) April 22, 2023

“You walk into a club and have five or six moving parts in players and the club can look different,” O’Halloran said. “But nothing much has changed outside of personnel.

“On a team level, we addressed the issues we had at the back end of last year in our games and we need to rectify that so we can have a better opportunity at it next year.

“We reviewed (the loss to Brisbane) and it’s not comfortable to sit there and see it happen again. You feel the emotions of the loss. But it leaves the fire in your belly burning a bit stronger and reminds you that you want to get back there.

“We’re definitely confident and capable that we can be in that position again.”