Analysis 2026 GWS Giants - Best 23, breakout player(s)

[dlanod]

You don't?

Briggs crosses the centre line to wrestle with his opponent at literally every centre bounce. That will now be a free kick against.

This rule change is going to greatly favor the high-leaping tap ruckmen and disadvantage the rucks who rely on brute strength and engaging with their opponent. First and foremost of those would be Briggs.

It'll be really interesting to see the impact on Briggs. It'll absolutely impact him because that's 90% of his ruckwork at the centre bounce - cross the line, block the opponent, use his strength to work back to the ball for the tap to avoid a free kick against. He's also one of the shorter rucks. He's definitely going to need to add more strings to his ruck bow, or improve his forward skills (since he's better around the ground) and start off forward and rotate through against second rucks behind Madden (not sure how he compares though).

 

[captainMyCaptain]

The ruck change could definitely open the door for Leek to fill the role of our 2nd ruck.

 

[Giant Pete]

The ruck change could definitely open the door for Leek to fill the role of our 2nd ruck.

Apart from centre bounce, he would get thrown around like crazy.

 

[Giant Pete]

We just don’t have a ruck who can compete in the air at those centre ‘bounce’s.
Logan smith is a bit taller and has a bit better leap, but not like a DeKoning.
It’s hard to tell how much of an advantage it will be at this stage. At least clubs have an offseason to prepare for it.

 

[Jack Richards]

Cadman
Brown
Riccardi
Gothard
Hannaford
Thomas
Rowston
Angove
Leake
McMullin
Fonti
Madden
Gru
Aleer
Angwin

Ough and Logan Smith?

 

[Giant Pete]

Ough and Logan Smith?

Yep. Them too.