Callan Ward, Phil Davis named GWS Giants co-captains for 2018, Matt de Boer promoted to leadership group
DISCARDED Fremantle Docker Matt de Boer is the surprise promotion in the GWS Giants leadership group.
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DISCARDED Fremantle Docker Matt de Boer is the surprise promotion in the Giants leadership group.
The 27-year-old comes into the downsized group which will again see Phil Davis and Callan Ward as co-captains.
Superstar in the making Josh Kelly joins Stephen Coniglio as a vice-captain while Heath Shaw and Dylan Shiel move out of the group.
De Boer was delisted by Fremantle at the end of the 2015 season after playing 138 games but only four in his final year.
He also had the challenge of starting his time as a Giant with a series of hamstring injuries.
“Starting off with three hamstring injuries at a new club is never easy,” de Boer said.
“I still tried to lead and drive standards wherever I could in the meeting room and build relationships with players as well. Then I got fit and was able to play a role for the team.”
De Boer paid tribute to his former Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich, who had a continuing influence on his AFL career.
“Matthew Pavlich taught me excellence is a habit,” de Boer said.
“He said you need to attack everything you do on the field and off the field, whether it’s at university or with family and friends. It’s about doing everything to be excellent.
“I’ve tried to make the most of every opportunity.”
“I taught myself early to never rule anything out
“When I was playing at Peel I never dropped my bundle and did the best I could, we won the WAFL premiership which was something special. The opportunity to come to the Giants was something I jumped at.”
Shiel made the request to step away from the leadership group to concentrate more on his personal performance.
“Importantly, Dylan was voted into the leadership group,” Giants Football manager Wayne Campbell said.
“But decided that while he wanted to focus on his leadership he felt that was better done outside the glare of the leadership group.”
Originally published as Callan Ward, Phil Davis named GWS Giants co-captains for 2018, Matt de Boer promoted to leadership group
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