The GWS Giants are always relevant from a Fantasy and SuperCoach point of view, with Tom Green leading the way while there’s a few hidden gems to monitor this pre-season.
Fixture
As a northern club, GWS play Opening Round and as a result they’ve got a Round 2 bye which makes them tough to own early. That Round 2 bye, however, is alongside only 1 other club which softens the blow. Their mid-season bye is Round 16, the last of the 5 bye rounds which is a positive.
Squad Changes
Ins
Cody Angove (No.24 draft pick), Josaia Delana (Category B rookie), Oliver Hannaford (No.18 draft pick), Harry Oliver (No.19 draft pick), Jack Ough (No.36 draft pick), Logan Smith (No.71 draft pick, Academy), Jake Stringer (trade, Essendon)
Outs
Isaac Cumming (free agent, Adelaide), Cooper Hamilton (delisted), Nick Haynes (free agent, Carlton), Adam Kennedy (retired), James Peatling (trade, Adelaide), Harry Perryman (free agent, Collingwood), Braydon Preuss (delisted)
Snapshot
The Giants have lost a few players from their best 22, headlined by half-back Isaac Cumming and utilities Harry Perryman and James Peatling. Peatling was on the fringes of the best 22, but had some standout games when given mid time in 2024, attending 42% CBAs leaving a void to fill. The departure of all 3 leaves spots open.
Long-term Giants Nick Haynes and Adam Kennedy have also moved on, along with injury-prone ruck Braydon Preuss who didn’t get on the park last year.
Jake Stringer is the major inclusion, adding an X-factor to their forward options. They added 3 rookies inside the top 25 in the 2024 Draft, with Under-18 All-Australian dashing defender Harry Oliver probably the pick of the bunch.
Injury returns
Mids Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly only played 13 and 15 games respectively in 2024 due to injuries, so there’s upside in both of them.
Mainstays
Raging bull Tom Green is among the contenders to be a top 8 midfielder in 2025, so he’s one to consider. Lachie Whitfield returned to his best in 2024 and as a premium defender will be in plenty of teams. Whitfield led GWS’ kick-ins last year, bolstering his numbers, helped by the now-departed Cumming only playing 4 games.
Room for improvement
Conor Stone is a name slated to step into Perryman’s vacated role after winning the Giants’ B&F in the VFL last year. He’s only played 13 games since being drafted in 2020, including 4 in 2024, but the 22-year-old is fully fit this pre-season and currently priced at a basement level as a forward.
Rookies
Harry Oliver is a hard-running defender who could come into their backline. But it’s Tasmanian utility James Leake who is drawing attention, having been in the GWS system for 12 months after going pick 17 in 2023. He could fill a few roles.
Coach Adam Kingsley flagged exciting small forward Phoenix Gothard in late January as someone who’s impressed in pre-season, having been taken with pick 12 in the 2023 Draft.
