Analysis 2025 GWS Giants - Predicted best 22, breakout player(s), general player/team discussion & questions

[Ichabod Noodle]

Connor Idun … dependable assets,

Connor Idun a “dependable asset”?

So underrated.

 

[Battlepants]

I'm expecting a career best year from XOH this season. I was watching a few games from last year recently and his effort and physicality are great. Just let's himself down with disposal and decision making too often.

Peatling and Cumming leaving plus Ward getting a year older gives him a big opportunity to play either inside mid or wing, both of which are positions he can play.

He'll have everything to play for in this contract year too. Either to try and get an extension or push his price up from other teams.

 

[Giant Strides]

Connor Idun a “dependable asset”?

So underrated.

Yes, I agree 100%.

 

[Giant Pete]

I’d take our backline over anyone’s.

 

[GWS Goose]

Zerohanger, continuing their ranking of the three lines of each team, has ranked the GWS backline as #6 this season.

Every AFL team's backline ranked: Part 3

We’ve determined the best defence in the AFL.

www.zerohanger.com

The Giants have a strong trio of defenders which will hold them in good stead in 2025. Lachie Whitfield, Jack Buckley and Sam Taylor each have All-Australian potential to their own merit, with the former earning a blazer last year. Whitfield averaged career-best figures from the backline in 2025, averaging 30 disposals per game for the first time, while also recording 5.8 rebound 50s per game. Buckley and Taylor are cutthroat deterrents in the defensive arc, averaging 2.4 and 3.3 intercept marks per game respectively, as well as 6.3 and 5.6 spoils per game each.

Lachie Ash, Leek Aleer, Harrison Himmelberg and Connor Idun are all dependable assets, with Idun and Ash averaging the best defensive one-on-one contest win-loss ratios at the club, while Aleer averages over five spoils from his 12 matches at AFL level, and is poised for a breakout season. Himmelberg can be utilised as a swingman and has shown his aerial prowess in clutch moments before, highlighting his influence is crucial to the Giants' defence.

However, despite the assortment of top-tier talent, the Giants' backline was not the wall of defence they seemed on paper last year. The Giants ranked ninth for points conceded, and their inability to stop surging opposition was ultimately their downfall in the finals series.

It's important to note that a five-week period without Sam Taylor significantly impacted GWS' stinginess last year though, conceding an extra five points per game (86.8) than their season average between Rounds 15 to 19. Remove the outlier performance in Round 19 against Gold Coast, who the Giants restricted to 50 points, and GWS conceded 96 points per game in that period, about 15 points greater than their season average.

With a healthy backline, GWS will be one of the better defences in the competition, but they are evidently heavily reliant on their stars. Yet, GWS are predicted to bounce back from their faulty finish to 2024, and with a fit, star-studded group in defence, the Giants should mould into one of the finer defensive teams in 2025.

I feel we are bit better than that.

 

[Giant Strides]

I feel we are bit better than that.

Yes, I would opine that there's some underrating of the defence, both as individuals and as a whole. However, it's difficult to overturn the perception that they underperformed in the two finals last year. With the lead(s) we held, the defence should have been able to repel enough attacks for GWS to win.

Still, a bunch of teams rated above us got nowhere near as far as we did, so are we truly the 6th best defence?

 

[Orange crush]

Yes, I would opine that there's some underrating of the defence, both as individuals and as a whole. However, it's difficult to overturn the perception that they underperformed in the two finals last year. With the lead(s) we held, the defence should have been able to repel enough attacks for GWS to win.

Still, a bunch of teams rated above us got nowhere near as far as we did, so are we truly the 6th best defence?

I think a lot has to do with team philosophy…. I imagine st Kilda are highly rated but only because they flood much harder than other teams

 

[Keystone agony]

Youd imagine 2 spots for Ward Rowston Leake, McMullim and XOH all battling it out

And a good chance the 3rd is the sub or Gothard

 

[Giant Strides]

Youd imagine 2 spots for Ward Rowston Leake, McMullim and XOH all battling it out

And a good chance the 3rd is the sub or Gothard

Hmm, that's about right.

Just note though that McMullin is out for the first 2 games (giving the others first chance to stake a spot), and Cogs may well not be quite ready for opening round, so there might only be one who misses out initially.

 

[PaythePerryman]

Definitely feel like that wing spot (Cumming) is available.
Ward played some wing last year...
But I think you could add Angwin, Angove (probs not just yet) to that list...XO being the most likely.

If Cogs doesn't get up I'd say we are looking at Rowston or Leake as clearance players.

For me Thomas is replaced by Gothard
Riccardi by Stringer
Perryman by Stone

 

[Orange crush]

Definitely feel like that wing spot (Cumming) is available.
Ward played some wing last year...
But I think you could add Angwin, Angove (probs not just yet) to that list...XO being the most likely.

If Cogs doesn't get up I'd say we are looking at Rowston or Leake as clearance players.

For me Thomas is replaced by Gothard
Riccardi by Stringer
Perryman by Stone

Doubting Thomas?

 

[PaythePerryman]

Doubting Thomas?

He's suspended for the first 2 is all. I think he comes straight back in after that, his pressure and inside 50 accuracy are fantastic. Good test at AFL level for Gothard though.

 

[GWS Goose]

Youd imagine 2 spots for Ward Rowston Leake, McMullim and XOH all battling it out

And a good chance the 3rd is the sub or Gothard

There maybe some positional shifting with one of those playing in Perryman's role

 

[PaythePerryman]

There maybe some positional shifting with one of those playing in Perryman's role

True.
Leake has been training as a mid though and I haven't seen any reports of Ward in the half back role.
From what I've seen it looks like Wehr is being trialed there with Stone

 

[Orange crush]

True.
Leake has been training as a mid though and I haven't seen any reports of Ward in the half back role.
From what I've seen it looks like Wehr is being trialed there with Stone

Ward said last year he was revitalized playing wing …. Doubt he shifts to half back

 

[PaythePerryman]

Ward said last year he was revitalized playing wing …. Doubt he shifts to half back

I reckon that's probably right. Stones pace and size is good for playing the role. I really want it to work for him this year. But as that defensively minded small defender he's gonna have some very tough opponents this year.

 

[Battlepants]

True.
Leake has been training as a mid though and I haven't seen any reports of Ward in the half back role.
From what I've seen it looks like Wehr is being trialed there with Stone

Is Fonti a chance for that role too? He looked really good in the glimpses that we saw of him last year.

 

[PaythePerryman]

Is Fonti a chance for that role too? He looked really good in the glimpses that we saw of him last year.

Yeah I think he's a chance but I think he's great at attacking like Ash and Whitfield but maybe not so effective as a defender. So if Ash or Whitfield were out ...I can see him getting a run but not sure he's as defense first minded as Stone, Leake or Wehr.

 

[Giant Pete]

Fonti is a better defensively player than I think people are giving him credit for from what I’ve seen

 

[Giant Pete]

Sounds to me like Rowston will play round 0. Is super lean according to Green. His clearance work is elite.

 

[PaythePerryman]

Fonti is a better defensively player than I think people are giving him credit for from what I’ve seen

Complete opposite of what I've seen/heard but I guess we will find out.
I definitely think it'll be a major focus for him this year though.

 

[Giant Pete]

What have you heard?

 

[PaythePerryman]

What have you heard?

That.

 

[Giant Pete]

That.

Cheers

 

[Orange crush]

3 years of young talent all gunning for a start …. I haven’t been so excited since my 3rd wedding