The List Manager: Jon Ralph runs the rule over GWS’ current group, its future and everything in between
If GWS’ late-season charge didn’t strike fear into every AFL rival, taking one look at the club’s potential growth will. From breakouts to contracts, Jon Ralph analyses the Giants’ list.
Greater Western Sydney’s late-season charge should strike fear into the hearts of every AFL rival.
A team that was 17 points up against Collingwood in the preliminary final is absolutely stacked with talent in the right age demographic and will only get better with another summer learning Adam Kingsley’s coaching style.
As the Giants poured on five straight goals in the preliminary final, Kingsley’s mob were achieving the impossible – making the Pies look second-rate.
Ultimately, the Pies held on, as Toby Greene’s checkside kick refused to bend and was marked on the line by Steele Sidebottom late in the game.
But from the moment the club’s game plan clicked against Geelong in round 11 – swarming forward-50 tackles, lock the ball in, defend with your life – the Giants were a force to be reckoned with.
From 3-7, they went 11-4, losing only to the Pies by a point in the prelim, Richmond by six points, Sydney (11 points) and Port Adelaide (51 points, the only real blemish).
TRADE PERIOD
Rating: 5/10
The Giants basically did nothing given their strong list, with back-up ruck Matt Flynn going to West Coast for pick 40 as compensation.
They were keen on Elliott Himmelberg but Adelaide didn’t release him, so they instead re-signed Lachie Keeffe.
They also had some interest in Port Adelaide’s Orazio Fantasia as a rookie but he instead signed a two-year deal at Carlton.
Nick Haynes had very few suitors given the size of his back-ended deal – up to $1.3 million next year – and he was happy to stay.
No point giving up picks and cash for depth players, so in all it was an extremely quiet trade period.
LIST HOLES
What a glorious collection of talent Adam Kingsley has at his talent.
Not only does this list have high-end A-grade talent, it has depth.
The forward line has the game’s most dangerous forward in Toby Greene, then key talls Jake Riccardi, and Jesse Hogan plus elite pressure forwards Toby Bedford (5.1 tackles a game) and Brent Daniels (26 goals, 3.3 tackles).
Plus last year’s No.1 overall pick Aaron Cadman, who will be given all the time in the world to mature, and the eye-catching Cal Brown (19 goals, 75 score involvements)
The back line is stunning – footy’s best stopper in Sam Taylor, the underrated Jack Buckley, breakout defender Connor Idun AND interceptor Harry Himmelberg.
Idun will go to the next level in 2024 as a defender who can play on anyone and is impeccably clean with his rebounding and foot skills (he was rated elite for kicking and one-on-one contests in 2023).
Then stopper Harry Perryman (rated the 104th best player in the comp this year) plus two of footy’s best rebounding half backs in Lachie Ash and Lachie Whitfield.
They are at least on par with the Dan Rioli-Jayden Short combo, with the Isaac Quaynor-Nick Daicos to be broken up with the Daicos’ midfield move.
The midfield is blue-chip – clearance beast Tom Green, in-form pair Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly, and the silky left-footer Finn Callaghan, already dubbed ‘Baby Bont’.
Add in the emergence of ruck star Kieren Briggs and there are few teams who beat GWS on paper.
DRAFT STRATEGY
GWS will take three or four picks and then take a rookie selection or hold a list spot over for a summer-train on player.
With picks 7, 16, 43, 59, 77, 79 and 95 the Giants are in the luxurious position of having no list holes so will just scan the draft for elite talent.
By their selection Harley Reid (WC), Jed Walter (GC), Colby McKercher, Zane Duursma (NM), Dan Curtin (maybe Hawks), Nick Watson (maybe Dogs) and Ryley Sanders (maybe Demons) will probably be off the board.
It means the likes of 193cm tall Nate Caddy, 198cm key back Connor O’Sullivan, hard-running mid Caleb Windsor and 187cm goalkicking utility James Leake will be available.
They don’t need a key back so scratch O’Sullivan but, with 28-year-old Hogan’s body temperamental, Caddy would appeal and Windsor or Leake would build midfield depth.
Finding an elite kid at pick 16 will be more challenging, but they will continue to build list depth with another top-25 pick.
By the time the Giants add two more early selections, they will have picked eight kids in the top 25 of the draft in three seasons after Callaghan (pick 3), Leek Aleer (15) in 2021 and Cadman (pick 1), inside mid Harry Rowston (pick 16), small forward Darcy Jones (pick 21) and medium forward Max Gruzewksi (pick 22) in 2022.
WHO’S UNDER THE PUMP
Riccardi had an excellent season (35 goals, although two one-goal finals) and ignored interest from Hawthorn, but second-year forward Cadman will try to pinch his spot with fellow marking Max Gruzewski impressive in his debut year in the VFL.
TRADE TARGETS
Adelaide key tall Elliott Himmelberg becomes a free agent this year so is expected to replace Keeffe on the GWS list in 2025.
It’s early days – Cadman could emerge quickly and take that spot – and the Giants are hopeful Hogan has 3-4 more years of quality football in him, but the key forward spot is the one area that could need bolstering.
Haynes’ back-ended deal expires but he’s invested and no longer a cap impediment for 2025.
The issue is more about whether he can get games in this stacked backline and might want to move somewhere to actually play.
His 2024 salary of up to $1.3 million includes $600,000-$700,000 of money deferred from previous contracts that allowed the Giants to keep the list together in the premiership window.
So, while it’s a huge figure for a single season, it’s money owed to him and the Giants are well aware of his loyalty in deferring money.
TRADE BAIT
Cadman remains unsigned but has told GWS he’s keen to stay, so they will hope to strike a new two-year deal over summer or in the first six rounds of 2024.
Harry Perryman is a free agent and while he’s not a star, the 2024 free agency market is already thin so mid-tier free agents might draw some appeal.
188cm general defender Isaac Cumming is also a free agent and a no-fuss member of the backline who played 20 games in a preliminary final year.
PREMIERSHIP WINDOW
The Giants are aware they are in the sweet spot with Greene 30, Coniglio 30 in December and Kelly 29 in February.
So they will hope to snare one in the next 3-4 years while working hard behind the scenes to ensure that trio have successors to keep the window open long-term.
2023 TOP 100 IN AFL PLAYER RANKINGS AND A 2024 BOLTER
Tom Green (13th), Briggs (20th), Greene (25th), Taylor (48th), Daniels (71st), Buckley (75th), Perryman (104th). Can Briggs be footy’s best ruckman by this time next year?
CAP SPACE
GWS has so often hit trade period $1m-$2 million over the salary cap, forced to consider bold trades to get back inside the TPP (total player payments).
The Giants are in a reasonable spot with stars like Taylor signed to 2025 and no other back-ended deals when Haynes’ deal expires.
Callaghan and Ash’s deals expire in 2025 – and both could be out-and-out stars by then but the Giants have their house in order from a cap perspective.
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