List Mgmt. 2024 GWS Giants List Management - Academy, Free Agent, Trade & Draft

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Losing tough seasoned players in their mid twenties like Perryman and Cumming sets the club right back and is very disappointing for the club and supporters. Draft picks won't help the team next year.

We lost Bruhn, Hill, Hop and Taranto and played multiple finals in both seasons since.
 
Assuming the Pies are offering more than what Power was offering, Perryman's contract is surely worth more than 850k/yr by now right? Off vibes that should net us band one, but who knows what's going on with the secret herbs and spices of FA compensation.
 
So best and fairest tomorrow night so suspect we will either get an announcement that Peatling is staying on the night. Or in a few days Peating will request a trade.
Half the night will be farewell speeches 😂
 
Half the night will be farewell speeches 😂

I Love Lucy Sigh GIF by Paramount+
 
Assuming the Pies are offering more than what Power was offering, Perryman's contract is surely worth more than 850k/yr by now right? Off vibes that should net us band one, but who knows what's going on with the secret herbs and spices of FA compensation.
Estimate of $900k required for band 1, and he might be just short ...
 

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Assuming the Pies are offering more than what Power was offering, Perryman's contract is surely worth more than 850k/yr by now right? Off vibes that should net us band one, but who knows what's going on with the secret herbs and spices of FA compensation.

There wont be a huge difference between band 1 and 2. Depending on what Bris do with their pick, it gets eaten by Ashcroft at present. Could be 4 picks.
 
It makes you wonder how much we're gonna need to pay Callaghan and Green.

850-900k for Perryman?
Perryman is in a similar situation to McKay last year where he is pretty much the best / one of the only good free agents on the market so there's a bit of a bidding war. Plus, free agents attract a lot more money as well as they don't cost any draft picks
 
Perryman is in a similar situation to McKay last year where he is pretty much the best / one of the only good free agents on the market so there's a bit of a bidding war. Plus, free agents attract a lot more money as well as they don't cost any draft picks
Exactly.

And the two clubs who fought the bidding war - Pies & Port - are clubs who don't have much in the way of first round picks this year.
 
There wont be a huge difference between band 1 and 2. Depending on what Bris do with their pick, it gets eaten by Ashcroft at present. Could be 4 picks.
Brisbane will sell their pick to get extra points, so it will still be there, for another club.

There is potentially an opportunity for us - with respect to one of the picks from Gold Coast (pick #12), West Coast (pick #13, from Hawthorn in the Barrass trade) & Brisbane (pick #18) - to move earlier in the draft if we want to focus on a better quality player.

For example, if we were to get band 1 for Pez, band 2 for Cumming, and a second round pick for Peatling, we could potentially work something like #14, #15, #21, #30 & #37 (our original 2nd round pick pushed back by FA compo picks) into #12, #14 and some later picks ... allowing those northern clubs to sell their new picks for even more points.
 
The rise of James Peatling: From VFL player and super sub to in-demand AFL trade target

Lachlan McKirdy

01 October 2024

News Sport Network

He’s the kid from north-western Sydney who has quickly become the most in-demand player this AFL trade period.

It’s been a rapid rise to fame for James Peatling, the Giants’ Academy product who became an integral part of their best 23 by the end of 2024.

However, off-contract after this season, the 24-year-old reportedly has seven clubs in the competition chasing after his services.

While GWS are still considered the frontrunners, Adelaide, Collingwood, Melbourne, St Kilda, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs all have interest in the talented midfielder.

So, what attributes has Peatling shown this year to grab the attention of so many clubs? And why is it so important for the Giants that they hang onto another one of their homegrown talents?

MIDFIELDER BY TRADE

Peatling made 19 appearances for the Giants in 2024, with seven of those as the sub. He built a reputation early in the season for his ability to quickly have an impact, however, it’s important to note his development throughout the season.


Position BreakdownRounds 2-15Round 17 Onwards
Centre Bounce Attendance rate34%49%
Defence1%3%
Wing31%3%
Midfield63%70%
Forward5%24%
Centre Bounce Attendances Round 17 OnwardsTotals
Tom Green240
Toby Bedford208
James Peatling144
Finn Callaghan112
Stephen Coniglio95
Josh Kelly35
Toby Greene26
Brent Daniels25


A strong performance against the Swans in round 8 wasn’t enough to keep his place and he spent the next two months bouncing in and out of the team. However, when he appeared in the VFL he looked far too good for that level, averaging 30 disposals, five tackles and two goals a game.

He returned to play every match for Adam Kingsley’s team from round 17 onwards, while earning his place in the starting side by round 19 against the Suns. What he brought to the table was unquestionable effort and immense pressure around the ball. He also finally displayed the consistency that Kingsley had been hoping to see from him.

Peatling registered a career-high 28 disposals in the win against Melbourne, on top of 11 tackles and eight clearances. His work rate was regularly praised by Kingsley as the Giants put together a strong run to end the year.

Importantly, he has been rewarded for finally taking his midfield opportunities with both hands. Before round 15 he only attended approximately a third of the Giants’ centre bounces. From round 17 onwards, he was at nearly half of them and had the third-highest attendance rate of any Giant.

His late-season averages also match that of a quality midfielder growing in confidence thanks to the experience he was gaining.

How Peatling grew into Giant midfield

CLUTCH MOMENTS

There’s nothing like a few headline-grabbing moments to put your value through the roof in a contract year. And Peatling did exactly that this season.

Firstly, it started in the Giants’ dramatic one-point win over St Kilda in Canberra.

After coming on as the sub, he produced a sensational mark in the final minute of the game, saving the result for GWS and handing them an important home victory.

Then during his best-on-ground showing against the Dees, Peatling made a crucial tackle inside the final minute to stop one last Melbourne attack.

It’s a quality that Kingsley’s side were crying out for this year, especially in the two finals where they were unable to hold onto a lead. It’s a good sign for Peatling that he’s shown he can stand up in the biggest moments so early in his career.

LOCKDOWN ABILITY

If not for Joe Daniher’s late heroics, Peatling likely would have been the star of the show during the Giants’ semi-final against the Lions.

Their disappointing defeat after being 44 points up has been well scrutinised, but Peatling was one of the main reasons they were in that position to start with.

Sent to play a defensive role on All-Australian Dayne Zorko, Peatling kicked two goals with his first two touches of the game. The pressure he applied to Zorko also saw the former Brisbane captain at fault for multiple Giants goals.

A study of that game, particularly the first three-quarters, highlights Peatling’s versatility not just as an on-ball midfielder, but in playing a role for Kingsley.

WANTS TO STAY

Ahead of the finals, Peatling made it very clear to this masthead that his priority was to stay at the Giants. “Coming through the junior ranks, and being from Sydney as well, I’d love to stay here,” he said.

He also spoke extensively about the belief he gained from earning a spot in the midfield.

If you had assessed his prospects in June, you would have understood his desire to move to another club for opportunities. However, by the end of the season, he was entrenched in the best 23 and regularly appeared at centre bounces.

Peatling from Rd17 onwards (per 100 mins)

StatisticRound 17 Onwards
Disposals17.0
Contested Possessions9.4
Clearances4.9
Tackles8.2


“I feel like when I play my best football, I can be in this midfield,” he said.

The key to his decision is two-fold. Firstly, what does his role look like in 2025? If it’s anything like the end of this season, Kingsley should be able to assure him of a position in the midfield which should be a tick.

But then there is the length of the contract and compensation. Initial reports suggested the Giants had tabled a three-year deal, but with Isaac Cumming and Harry Perryman both confirmed to be on their way out, there is probably scope to up that offer.

While the Giants have a few other players they’re renegotiating with, Peatling has to be priority number one. Not only because of the level of interest across the competition which indicates his talent, but for the fact he is a local kid that represents what the club wants to become.

If Peatling can become a star of this Giants midfield going forward, it has the potential to spark the dreams of other kids in Western Sydney to play Aussie rules at the highest level. It’s a win-win for a club that needs every victory in the region it can get.
 

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