GWS Giant Callan Ward says there will be no squad screening of 2019 Grand Final defeat, sights fixed on next season
The 2019 Grand Final tape is set to sit in the draw unwatched with the Giants’ sights fixed firmly on next season. And a line in the sand has been drawn at their gruelling pre-season camp.
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The Giants have firmly drawn a line in the sand on the Sunshine Coast with the 2019 Grand Final tape destined to gather dust in a drawer.
Former co-captain Callan Ward revealed there has been no squad screening of the demolition by Richmond and nor was there likely to be.
That’s not to say it hasn’t been discussed but the midfielder says the new Stephen Coniglio-led regime is simply focused on the road ahead.
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And as the players were put through their paces on Noosa beach yesterday, Ward was hopeful that proof of that future focus would be forthcoming with two new members of the ‘Giants for life’ club.
GWS headed north buoyed by Lachie Whitfield’s decision to pen a new seven-year deal and Ward is hopeful Jeremy Cameron and Zac Williams will also opt to see out their careers in orange and charcoal.
They would join a growing list of stars happy to pen ‘career’ deals with the club.
Coniglio agreed a seven-year deal back in August. Josh Kelly’s current two-year contract has an option in his favour to extend anywhere up to a decade while Ward himself penned a five-year deal in 2016.
And while both have yet to announce their intentions, Ward won’t be surprised if Cameron and Williams opt to join the ‘lifers’ club at the Giants.
“I think it’s something that myself, Phil (Davis), everyone at the club should be really proud of (players committing long-term),” Ward told The Saturday Telegraph.
“I think we’ve created a culture where the players really want to play for the club and really want to come to work every day. Winning and playing in finals and grand finals obviously helps but they love the teammates they play with, the coaches who coach them and really appreciate what they’ve got here.
“And we’re at a club where people want to learn, want to get better, want to grow.
“I’ve talked about creating a culture that the guys want to be a part of. I’ve got no doubt that Jezza (Cameron) and Zac (Williams) and these guys that are out of contract at the end of 2020 have bought into the culture. (They) love this footy club and are fully invested into it.”
Ward says the grand final disappointment has been discussed but they haven’t watched the thrashing by Richmond again as a team.
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“We’ve sat down and spoken a bit about different parts of it,” he said. “We didn’t perform the way we wanted to. We’ve probably addressed it in the way we wanted to.”
Now, it’s all about starting afresh with a new skipper and Ward has no doubt Coniglio will deliver.
“Cogs is ready,” Ward said. “He recognises when you need to be hard on someone and when you need to be positive and pump them up. He’s really good at giving and taking feedback as well. A leader who will go out and do it but drive others to do it as well.
“He’s a very honest guy. I don’t think he’s going to lose friends if he gives people harsh feedback. I’ve got no doubt he’s got that hard edge about him.”
Ward is yet to resume full training but remains hopeful of a round one return after seeing his 2019 campaign all but wiped out by an ACL injury.
“I’m slowly increasing my training load,” he said. “It’s still my goal to play in round one but at the same time I just want to get back as safely and quickly as I can.”
Originally published as GWS Giant Callan Ward says there will be no squad screening of 2019 Grand Final defeat, sights fixed on next season