Why milestone man Nick Haynes is confident 2023 could be the Giants’ year

The Giants have won seven in a row going into Saturday night’s Sydney derby against the Swans. Confidence is sky high, and milestone man Nick Haynes is dreaming big.

Nick Haynes will become the fourth Giant to play 200 games for the club. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It was the moment Nick Haynes realised the 2023 season was on the verge of something special for the Giants.

They had just come from behind to beat the Bulldogs in Ballarat and were boarding the team bus.

The newly-signed Harry Himmelberg was in charge of the music for the trip back to Melbourne airport – “He doesn’t please everyone, but he pleases me with a bit of tech house and old school stuff so I’m happy to keep him on,” Haynes said.

Music lovers or not, the joy throughout the bus following the Giants’ seventh-straight win was palpable.

“The boys were all elated, it was just a great vibe, and everyone was pumped,” Haynes said.

“The skipper (Toby Greene), I’ve never seen him so excited in his life after kicking five in the second half.

“As a captain to have seven wins in a row, it’s massive for him and all the boys feed off that.”

Haynes was in the thick of the celebrations at training this week. Picture: Phil Hillyard

That momentum has carried into training this week as the Giants prepare for the Sydney Derby on Saturday night.

Thursday’s session celebrated three major milestones. Himmelberg’s re-signing, the Giants breaking their membership record, and the team getting around Haynes in preparation for his 200th AFL match.

The 31-year-old is one of a handful of remaining Giants from their inaugural season and is in disbelief about how much he has grown over the past decade.

“I came in as a shy boy with self-doubt about football and about myself,” Haynes reflected.

“Twelve years later, and 200 games, I think off-field this club has helped me develop into a man I can be proud of.”

Well and truly one of the most experienced heads at the Giants, Haynes is just the fourth player from the club to bring up 200 games.

However, the strength of GWS’ defence across the past two months has meant that Haynes has found himself in and out of the side, often starting as the sub.

While other players of his calibre might be frustrated with less game time, Haynes sees it as a positive that his younger teammates are up for the challenge.

The versatile defender is happy to play whatever role is required of him by Kingsley. Picture: Brett Hemmings/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“I’ve been in the backline for over 10 years now, I’m more excited to see those guys come through and play really well,” Haynes said.

“For me to play a different role means we’re doing something right down there. I feel like I’m not out of form or anything, it’s just those boys are going so well.

“If my spot is on the wing, forward or to get back in the backline, I’m just happy we’re winning, and the backs are doing really well.”

Thankfully for Haynes, he will start game 200 and it’s a moment he won’t take lightly not knowing how many milestones he has left.

He is confident his body has more footy in it, but only has one year left on his deal at the Giants. The high value of his contract also means his name is frequently thrown up around trade time.

Haynes has no intention of becoming the latest Giant to be influenced by the ‘go home factor’ while he still has one piece of unfinished business remaining: winning a flag.

And there is belief building that this could be the year it happens.

The growing confidence at the Giants has Haynes feeling the sky is the limit in 2023. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“My body is feeling great, and I feel as though I can go for a few more years,” Haynes said. “I think I’ve got at least two more years in my body.

“I don’t think there’s one [current player] I’d replace with a player that’s left. We retained the players that we want and that’s evident over the years if you look at it really closely.

“Sitting here doing this interview, it’s 23 degrees and sunny in the middle of winter. Beautiful beaches, beautiful golf course – I have no complaints about staying up here.

“When I signed a five-year deal four years ago, I said then it was great to finish as a one-club player. The thing I want most here is a premiership at the Giants.

“We spoke about it in the pre-season, what are we here for? And it was unanimous among the whole group that we were here to win a premiership. We didn’t build a three or four-year plan, we said let’s get to work now and see what happens.”

Originally published as Why milestone man Nick Haynes is confident 2023 could be the Giants’ year