Autopsy 2017 Season

[Bokonon_]

Delist/retire: Johnson (gone), Mohr, Griffen?, Patfull(gone), Mzungu, Downie (gone)

50% already confirmed. Mzungu's WAFL club, Perth Demons confident he is on his way back. Mohr I have heard nothing about.

But as you say we are entitled to our opinions

The article about Mzungu actually said " if he's no longer required by the Giants". I think there's a rookie spot. I get it's most likely going to be a mentor and leader role in the NEAFL though. He's cheap and very professional in his training standards, with loads of hard experience.
If he preferred to play WAFL rather than chance his arm with us he would not have come. He may have changed his mind but that remains to be seen.

Leon was talking about playing Mohr in the semi in his pre match presser, that could change when looking at next year though. It indicates he's not out out of contention for a spot to me.

 

[Giant Strides]

I would think that Combaning is not too far off the mark (and he did qualify his trade list, the others were effectively his opinion) - 3 of the 6 retire/delist are already confirmed, Mzungu has had rumblings (he's done his job for us this year, primarily in leadership to the NEAFL team & first grade emergency player). Several of us have discussed Griffen, but I think with his 2017 season ruined and a contract for 2018, he will go around again. Mohr is still contracted for a year, so I can see him staying for one more (unless there's an agreement for delist & rookie him, but then only if we think we can get an adequate replacement player in the draft, which personally I think is unlikely). If not this year, I'd see those remaining 3 ending next year, though.

I'd disagree outright on Finlayson as he was re-contracted during this year, but the others have all had rumblings. So, not entirely likely, but close.

The main points I agree with would be around the coaching staff - and that could be GWS' Achilles Heel in being too loyal to the staff we have. I liked the revelation behind Richmond's revival this year - playing to their strengths and main position & rejigging their coaching assistant roster - and think that we need to do something similar to ensure we are getting 100% out of our lineup. (Although of course injuries meant that we couldn't get our ideal lineup on the field for most of the year, which hurt us at finals time.)

It does mean that the drafting this year needs to be precise and unsentimental. If Powell, Shipley & Spargo (ex-Academy) players are assessed by the club as not the right players for us (whereas a lot of us amateurs think they are), then we need to not draft them and get the right players (position, attitude, capability etc) for us - the problem being the lack of early draft picks, hence ability to find quality players in the second round. But that is where all recruiting teams earn their plaudits, and ours needs to step up to the mark this year.

At the moment, we hold 2 second round picks and 2 fourth round picks in what is seen as a relatively poor and shallow draft pool. So getting value for any departures is key for me - without adequate return we could end up with a net negative in the trade/draft period. Personally, I don't see value in trading out Smith & Matt Kennedy, but Smith likely goes due to TPP. I puzzle over why Matt Kennedy seems to be on the outer - unless the club sees Hopper and Setterfield as the better long-term midfield option, in which case Matt becomes trade bait - but I sure as hell hope they get decent value for him rather than burn him for a 30-year old with a couple of years left.

 

[Sime11]

I think we need to have honest conversations with Shaw, Griffin Mummy & Deledio telling that we wont be renewing them after next year. While it would be an idea to get rid of some of them now, we don't want to make rash decisions especially as we have been to back to back prelim's. as others have suggested, we need to keep consistency & stability at the club. Surely we wont have another injury run next year like we did this year. that's just cruel.

I really hope the boys have a good look at themselves and try & stay grounded next year, I think we bought into the hype (myself included) that we would roll everyone this year. really there wasn't that many that we did roll this year, but the gutsy come from behind wins are exactly what we need. the boys need to keep hungry and keep pushing during next season to make September again, on paper our squad is up there with the best but we need to show our hunger to win matches.

this season is definitely a tick and we will be the better for it. Bring on 2018!!!!

 

[Giant Strides]

Note that Deledio was signed for 3 years, so contracted until 2019. The remainder are up end of next year. Can't see GWS cutting anyone early as I presume we still carry their cost in that last year.

 

[Gigantic]

If there's one thing I hope Leon has learnt it's that he doesn't owe any of the senior players anything. I'm afraid he'll want to reward guys like Mumford and Shaw with a grand final (and hopefully a premiership) after all they've given to us though, and he is entitled to do so, so long as their form warrants selection. Especially since he was willing to go nearly so far for Stevie who only served us for a fraction of what Mumford and Shaw has.

 

[Giant Strides]

Yes, that's my fear. Loyalty is great, but need to weigh up the cost. Greater good needs to be considered.

 

[Gigantor]

This was a really tough year in terms of injuries, all the way through, so to finish in the top 4 and make the prelim is a huge effort. Richmond were too good the other day, too efficient, up for it the whole 120 min, we just couldn't go with them the whole way.

Positives:
- we clearly have the basis to remain top 4 and go one better next season;
- Kelly, Patton and Scully are now the elite players we hoped they would be (in terms of their respective roles);
- Toby is as mentally tough as they come; and
- Haynes is just getting better and better.

Food for thought:
- I'm not sure Lobby was ready to be number one ruck, but now that he's had some time in the role, augers well for next year;
- if mummy is going to start getting less game time, someone else needs to bring the muscle;
- we might need to work out a way to get Toby more involved in the game a la Dusty; and
- when the chain of handballs are working, we're unstoppable, but if the radar is off, or the touch isn't there, we really give up goals.

 

[HumanMeatball]

Don't think you have a brownlow thread but who polls most team votes.

Shiel or ward

 

[Giant Strides]

Don't think you have a brownlow thread but who polls most team votes.

Shiel or ward

Not much point when Dusty's got it in the bag!

For mine, probably Ward is second behind Josh Kelly & Shiel is third.

 

[Bokonon_]

Don't think you have a brownlow thread but who polls most team votes.

Shiel or ward

Ward has always been our top vote getter. Could well be Shiel this year. Wards been roped into a lot of the grunt defensive work in the clearances this year, padticularly in the absence of Cogs but also Griffen.

 

[HumanMeatball]

Not much point when Dusty's got it in the bag!

For mine, probably Ward is second behind Josh Kelly & Shiel is third.

Nah wanted to know for most team votes as it excludes Kelly

 

[sydney_gws]

I think the best approach to the off-season is too back existing players to improve, so just take our draft picks and don't trade in mature players unless a bargain appears.

 

[remember54]

The AFL's season review of the Giants: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-26/season-review-gws

In a nutshell
The Giants rebounded from a terrible season opener to win nine of the next 10 games, but won just one of the next six as key injuries took a toll. They recovered again, but a disappointing finals series will make it a long summer.

What we said in the pre-season
We tipped the Giants to make the season's biggest match but they fell one game short for the second year running. We nailed Josh Kelly as a surprise All Australian, but while teammate Dylan Shiel joined him alongside Sydney's Lance Franklin, the predicted NSW domination wasn't quite there.

What worked
The Giants were ranked first for clearances and stoppages, and second for centre clearances, so their midfield unit led by Callan Ward, Kelly and Shiel continued to be one of their great strengths. The GWS defence was also solid and ranked fifth in the AFL during the regular season.

What failed
Quarter-long lapses and some lazy work when the opposition had the footy cost them massively, especially late in the year. The Giants coughed up second spot on the ladder in round 23 against Geelong when they gave up six goals to one in the third term, and it cost them home-ground advantage in the finals. They did the same against Adelaide (five goals to none, second term), and Richmond (six goals to one, third term) in big finals, and it ended their season.

Overall rating: B
Did well to overcome a shocking injury list but didn't take a step further than 2016.

The coach
Leon Cameron faced plenty of challenges with player availability, but managed to steer his team to another top four finish. Has a fantastic relationship with his players and is an outstanding representative of the club. May have stuck with his tall forward line for too long, but has great faith in his players.

The leaders
Ward and Phil Davis continued to enhance their standing as strong co-captains with consistent on-field performances, and backed it up with off-field leadership. Deputy Stephen Coniglio was also a constant driver of the group despite his injury worries, while Kelly and Shiel also stepped up their responsibility.

MVP
Josh Kelly: Led the team for disposals (29.5), tackles (6.5) and inside 50s (five) per game and added 19 goals in a breakout season, making a smooth transition from winger to midfielder.

Surprise packet
Harry Himmelberg: Had to work hard to win a spot in the senior side but impressed as a defensive forward during the last six games of the season, and finished with four goals in the losing preliminary final.

Get excited
Tim Taranto: A mid-season ankle injury came at a shocking time for the tough draftee, who was starting to have a real impact across half-forward. Showed a cool head in his two finals.

Disappointment
Ryan Griffen: The veteran wasn't seen at senior level after round three following two separate serious ankle injuries. Made a valiant attempt to get back for the finals, but was never a chance.

Best win
Round 10: GWS 14.14 (98) d West Coast 14.6 (90) at Domain Stadium
The Giants made history with their first ever win over the Eagles, and thanks to starring roles from Toby Greene, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly and Shane Mumford, the visitors secured a massive four points.

Low point
Long-term injuries for Stephen Coniglio (ankle, twice), Ryan Griffen (ankle, twice), Nick Haynes (hamstring), Jacob Hopper (back, ankle, finger), Brett Deledio (calf), and season-ending knee reconstructions for Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy made life difficult for most of the year. Losing Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) and Shane Mumford (foot) during the finals didn't help.

The big questions

Has Nathan Wilson played his last game for the Giants?
The speedy defender is contracted next year but with a child on the way, he's likely to seek and be granted a trade back to WA to play with Fremantle.

Is Brett Deledio the man to replace Steve Johnson?
The Giants lose an on-field coach with Johnson's retirement, but if he can have an incident-free pre-season, a fit Deledio looms as the man to step up his leadership.

Who will be the club's number one ruckman in round one next year?
Shane Mumford has had a mortgage on the position but his body is starting to show signs of wear and tear, so Rory Lobb and Dawson Simpson will put plenty of pressure on over summer.

Season in a song
Déjà vu – Katy Perry

Premiership window
Wide open: All the pieces are there – they just need to make some tweaks to bring them all together.

Who's done?
Retirements: Steve Johnson bows out after 293 games, three premierships, a Norm Smith Medal, some silly suspensions, and one hell of a highlights package.
Delistings: TBC
Unsigned free agents: Nil

How should they approach trade and draft period?
The Giants need to keep adding young talent to the list and can add valuable draft picks/players if Wilson, Devon Smith and Matt Kennedy search for more opportunities elsewhere. A small forward with speed and tackle pressure could also be handy.

Early call for 2018
Just like last year, the Giants should be aiming to go one better and make the Grand Final, and should they get some luck that should be the bare minimum.

 

[Bokonon_]

The AFL's season review of the Giants: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-26/season-review-gws

Belongs in the media thread.

 

[remember54]

Belongs in the media thread.

Added it over there - will keep the article here too in case people want to discuss it in relation to our season performance

 

[Colonial]

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[The Drug]

Time to revisit my predictions for 2017:
Beat Collingwood? Check.
Beat West Coast? Double check.
Beat "the living-daylights" out of the Bulldogs? First was too close for comfort. Second was solid, but I don't know if it was full proportionate retribution for last year's prelim. By "beat the daylights" I was thinking like 10-12+ goals. Whatever, two wins from two, not ideal but sufficient.
Win the grand final? No, unfortunately. I blame all the injuries in the mid-season.
Finish with over 150 percent? Fell short again, but we certainly have the potential. Injuries' fault once again.

Best game: Round 21 vs Bulldogs.
Worst game: Round 19 vs Freo. Yes, we won, but it looked like an easy chance to regroup during the mid-season slump. Looked like losing all game, like our guys just didn't care and had to make a last-gasp charge to salvage what should have been a straight-forward victory. I haven't seen a more demoralizing win than that.

 

[Colonial]

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-07/fans-season-verdict-giants-rue-limp-finish

For what its worth.

All 3 are muggs but there is 1 or 2 things of value.



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[Determinant]

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-07/fans-season-verdict-giants-rue-limp-finish

For what its worth.

All 3 are muggs but there is 1 or 2 things of value.



Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Does your comment relate to the linked article mate? I'm not seeing it.

 

[Bokonon_]

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-07/fans-season-verdict-giants-rue-limp-finish

For what its worth.

All 3 are muggs but there is 1 or 2 things of value.



Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I think it depends who you survey in our supporter group.

To me we overachieved last year when the goal was to play finals for the first time. When we were a goal away from a GF it's easy to think it'll happen next year.
Older wiser heads get that it's not that simple but those less experienced fall for the hype.

I dont think it matters which sport you follow, in this case NRL, Rugby, Soccer or Netball are the same. There are a lot of competing clubs all desperately scheming ways to win, and you tend to see your clubs prospects most clearly.

Bottom line I think the survey results are too negative about the club. I note with some concern we are equal favourites with Crows with Sportsbet for next year, so the hype will apparently be there again. Just something to deal with I fear.

Hopefully the fact we were a notch short of the best teams this year in the Tigers and the Crows, will drive the guys in the off season.

 

[Colonial]

Does your comment relate to the linked article mate? I'm not seeing it.

Theres video at the top

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[Determinant]

Theres video at the top

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Cheers mate, I had seen that elsewhere, I didn't let the page load long enough before scrolling to note that image was a video not a picture.

FWIW as soon as flog #3 told me who the other two flogs were I closed the video down.

 

[Colonial]

Cheers mate, I had seen that elsewhere, I didn't let the page load long enough before scrolling to note that image was a video not a picture.

FWIW as soon as flog #3 told me who the other two flogs were I closed the video down.

Im a glutten, we know this, so watched it.

Passion is supposedly bad leadership.
We have terrible depth(even though we came to within 1 game of the GF)
And
Our season is a 6.5. Fmd

In a nutshell. Theres more. But im enjoying Bathurst.

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[Determinant]

Im a glutten, we know this, so watched it.

Passion is supposedly bad leadership.
We have terrible depth(even though we came to within 1 game of the GF)
And
Our season is a 6.5. Fmd

In a nutshell. Theres more. But im enjoying Bathurst.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Me too

I don't get the terrible depth line, with one of the worst injury affected seasons that I can recall any team having we finished 4th, yep sounds like poor depth for sure, clueless flogs

 

[Colonial]

Me too

I don't get the terrible depth line, with one of the worst injury affected seasons that I can recall any team having we finished 4th, yep sounds like poor depth for sure, clueless flogs

Yep.

Imagine the outcry if we had won the GF. They would of banned us from trading and the draft the backwards sods.

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