Prediction 2024 GWS Giants - Predicted best 22, breakout player(s), general player/team discussion & questions

[GWS Goose]

I've seen loads of footage of Jones playing through the middle.
I'm Thinkin he is pretty versatile and not necessarily pigeon holed to forward pocket.

 

[Orange crush]

I've seen loads of footage of Jones playing through the middle.
I'm Thinkin he is pretty versatile and not necessarily pigeon holed to forward pocket.

Yeah he could give us a spark Zac Butters style in the middle

 

[Giant Pete]

Yeah he could give us a spark Zac Butters style in the middle

That’s in a couple of years. He needs to build his tank and find confidence at the level.

 

[Giant Strides]

Bit of analysis from Fox Footy on the team strengths & weaknesses (love some good stats!):

Champ’s Achilles heel exposed; change that reignited Cats: Every club state of play

Champ’s Achilles heel exposed; change that reignited Cats: Every club state of play

www.foxsports.com.au

GWS GIANTS

Strength

Kings of the punish — no team makes the opposition pay more than the 6-1 Giants. They’re ranked first in points for (107.3), points from turnover (65.1) and points from defensive half (42.9) in a seriously elite profile that showcases GWS’ potent ability to run in waves.

Weakness

Despite the view that the Giants are stacked in the midfield, they’re actually ranked 16th in the competition in clearances (-3). Kieren Briggs (6.7 clearances per game, ranked ninth in the AFL) and Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

23

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

(6.1 per game, ranked 17th) lead them in that area, but there’s a significant drop off to their next best — Stephen Coniglio

3

Stephen Coniglio

Age

30

Ht

182cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.5

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

11.5

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

4.7

5star

CL

4.7

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

8.8

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.8

4star

CL

5.4

5star

D

19.2

5star

K

8.2

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.2

4star

CL

3.0

5star

(4.6, ranked 50th), who’s currently sidelined by injury.

Tactical changes from last year

Kicking short and sweet. The Giants are ranked first in short percentage in a considerable change from being the ninth-ranked team in this area last year. It’s clearly working given how devastating Adam Kingsley

Adam Kingsley

Age

49

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.9

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.4

4star

K

10.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

’s side’s scoring profile has been.

Health check

46 games lost to injury (8th-most)

 

[MelbourneGWS]

As if we didn’t have enough problems due to injuries (thank goodness for the bye next week), we have umpires regularly against us - the third most victimised in the competition:-(

the latest Free Kick Ladder below:

Note: The Free Kick Ladder will be back after Round 16 once every side has had their mid-season bye.

The 2024 Free Kick Ladder - Round 11

The latest numbers.

www.sen.com.au

 

[Orange crush]

Who would have thought our midfield would be Green, Finn, Peatling, Muff XoH and Wehr

 

[Giant Pete]

Who would have thought our midfield would be Green, Finn, Peatling, Muff XoH and Wehr

Not sold on Wehr.

 

[Giant Pete]

Who would have thought our midfield would be Green, Finn, Peatling, Muff XoH and Wehr

Peatling was good. Just what our midfield needs.

 

[Capital hawk]

Peatling was good. Just what our midfield needs.

Agree. Watched the replay last night and his attack on the ball was impressive. Angwin was also good and is another hard runner both ways and tackle at the end of the game was ferocious. Finn's second and third quarter were excellent his ability to move through congestion and then hit a lateral handball to a team mate in space opens up the game.

 

[GWS Goose]

Agree. Watched the replay last night and his attack on the ball was impressive. Angwin was also good and is another hard runner both ways and tackle at the end of the game was ferocious. Finn's second and third quarter were excellent his ability to move through congestion and then hit a lateral handball to a team mate in space opens up the game.

Agree with all of that .
Peatling is hard at it has excellent agility. His not overly clean and misses targets a bit is his weakness. Everyone has weaknesses.
XOH is similar. I think he fumbles less but takes worse options. Bedford isn't as hard at it but runs super well and adds heaps of defensive pressure.
He misses a lot of targets by hand and foot.
The thing is, all 3 of them have clear strengths, and each being energy and something similar to the team., however with all 3 of them on the field together they can breakdown the tsunami by missing what they should make
Playing all 3 is an issue imo

 

[Orange crush]

Agree with all of that .
Peatling is hard at it has excellent agility. His not overly clean and misses targets a bit is his weakness. Everyone has weaknesses.
XOH is similar. I think he fumbles less but takes worse options. Bedford isn't as hard at it but runs super well and adds heaps of defensive pressure.
He misses a lot of targets by hand and foot.
The thing is, all 3 of them have clear strengths, and each being energy and something similar to the team., however with all 3 of them on the field together they can breakdown the tsunami by missing what they should make
Playing all 3 is an issue imo

I’d rather Kelly and Cogs …. But we don’t have that luxury

 

[GWS Goose]

I’d rather Kelly and Cogs …. But we don’t have that luxury

Absolutely .
I think Bedford's spot may be in danger .
Not for now as Gothard probably not ready, but looking like he'll be very valuable, lose a bit at work rate, but much more skill from what I've seen.

 

[Orange Agent]

I don't want to see Bedford in the centre square again. It hasn't worked, he was the best pressure fwd in the competition last year, that's the role he knows, makes our talls better. I think they were looking for a Rankine type and hes not that player. Peatling has gone past Ward for a centre spot, just have to persist with him. Same with Finn, he has everything, just keep on playing him there and backing him, could be Judd good with his breakaway speed and has a big enough body for it. Cadman has stopped attacking marking contests like he was preseason and early rounds, it's likely a balancing act to get his confidence back, whether it's VFL or persisting with seniors only coaches would know, if there's VFL this week it might be a good time.

 

[Giant Strides]

Cadman has stopped attacking marking contests like he was preseason and early rounds, it's likely a balancing act to get his confidence back, whether it's VFL or persisting with seniors only coaches would know, if there's VFL this week it might be a good time.

The VFL team has a bye this weekend too.

 

[Giant Gutsache]

Would love to see Callum Brown evolve to playing 20-40% midfield time. Scary X factor. His ongoing development has been a credit to both him and the club.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

As some have posted Callum Brown has been not been the same since the McCartin suspension. Also seems our VFL coach after last week’s game thought Stone, Wehr, Angwin and Leake were closer to AFL selection. Hope Brown finds his confidence and pre-suspension form, as he is a potent forward.

The Limavady man was in career-best form earlier this season after starting the new campaign like an express train when he booted a bag of five goals against reigning premiers Collingwood in the opening round of the season in March.

But after serving a three-match suspension for an ugly bump on Sydney Swans defender Tom McCartin

30

Tom Mccartin

Age

24

Ht

194cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.3

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.7

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

129.5

2star

D

7.2

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.8

2star

M

3.2

3star

T

0.8

1star

MG

87.4

2star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

168.0

3star

in May, Brown returned from “the toughest period of my career” to find himself no longer a first-choice in the Giants forward line after several below-par performances.

Irish AFL round-up: Callum Brown faces a mountain to climb to get back into GWS Giants team

Former Derry minor Callum Brown was dropped from the Greater Western Sydney Giants side last week when they face Carlton in Blacktown

www.irishnews.com

 

[MelbourneGWS]

A profile piece on Ward in the AFL website. His contract expires this year, and hopefully there is mutual agreement on another extension.

Kick more goals."

Ward might be 34 now, but the message has finally got through. A recent move to the wing has revitalised the Giants' spiritual leader, has taught him a few new tricks, left him with a few less bruises, and given him a few more rewards.

The veteran has now kicked multiple goals in four consecutive matches, the best return over a month-long stretch throughout his storied 17-year career, and has helped to inspire a dramatic turnaround in Greater Western Sydney's form.

'What am I doing?': Why this Giant lost motivation, and how he found it again

Callan Ward opens up on the lows of the 2022 season and how a positional shift has helped him achieve a long-held goal

www.afl.com.au

 

[Giant Strides]

Better than ever: Your club's most improved player

We take a look at the footballers who have gone to a new level in 2024

www.afl.com.au

Jesse Hogan​

Fitness and form issues have often bedevilled Hogan since his brilliant debut season at AFL level way back in 2015, but he's now found consistency at the Giants and both he and the club are reaping significant rewards. Four goals against Gold Coast last weekend have lifted the 29-year-old to second in the Coleman Medal with 49 goals – equal to his career-best tally recorded last year with five more matches. He's also ranked No.3 in the AFL for contested marks and No.1 for marks inside 50. After a lean patch from rounds 12-17, where he managed seven goals in five games, Hogan has bagged 13 majors in the past three to spearhead a three-game winning run. A first 50-goal season and potentially a maiden Coleman Medal beckon, almost a decade after those achievements seemed mere formalities. - Michael Rogers

 

[Giant Strides]

The guy I would have at #2 on our improved list would be Connor Idun

39

Connor Idun

Age

24

Ht

193cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

74.0

1star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

74.0

1star

. He's been building the last 2 years, but I reckon this year has been his best yet. Career-high disposals and marks; has played on both tall and medium opponents; good disposal efficiency.

An outstanding selection at #61, and kudos to the team for seeing his potential late in that draft.

 

[Giant Strides]

In the same vein as the afl.com.au article, Kane Cornes having some nice words to say about Jesse Hogan

23

Jesse Hogan

Age

29

Ht

196cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.3

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

0.0

1star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

(starts at about the 35 sec mark of this clip):

 

[Battlepants]

The guy I would have at #2 on our improved list would be Connor Idun. He's been building the last 2 years, but I reckon this year has been his best yet. Career-high disposals and marks; has played on both tall and medium opponents; good disposal efficiency.

An outstanding selection at #61, and kudos to the team for seeing his potential late in that draft.

Idun is amazing, definitely one of my favourite players and doesn't get nearly enough recognition for all the work he puts in.

He was also by far one of our best players during last year's finals campaign. Absolutely killed it in those matches.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

A ranking of rucks so far this season, with efficiency defined as Hitouts To Advantage per Ruck Contest - Briggs is in the lower half of the ranking

The AFL's most efficient ruckmen of 2024 revealed

Some of this year’s leading big men could shape the finals race. Here’s why👇

www.zerohanger.com

 

[Orange crush]

A ranking of rucks so far this season, with efficiency defined as Hitouts To Advantage per Ruck Contest - Briggs is in the lower half of the ranking

The AFL's most efficient ruckmen of 2024 revealed

Some of this year’s leading big men could shape the finals race. Here’s why👇

www.zerohanger.com

Yeah but he's 5th in the comp for clearances .... add that in and he'd be near the top along with Xerri

 

[Giant Strides]

Yeah but he's 5th in the comp for clearances .... add that in and he'd be near the top along with Xerri

Indeed. He's not connecting with his mids, but doing the job himself. And tackling well too. 28th on that stat, just behind Tom Green.

 

[Orange crush]

Indeed. He's not connecting with his mids, but doing the job himself. And tackling well too. 28th on that stat, just behind Tom Green.

Taking a single stat with which to judge a player is fraught