#41 Nick Madden (GWS Academy selection, 2022 Rookie Draft)

[Giant Strides]

Position: Ruck
Height: 204cm
Weight: 112kg
D.O.B: 17-05-2004
Clubs: GWS Academy, NSW-ACT, Allies

SNAPSHOT: “A physically imposing ruck with ample craft who plays within his limits, but can also hit the scoreboard.”

STRENGTHS:

• Contested work
• Follow-up
• Ruck craft
• Size
• Strength

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Speed
• Versatility

Madden's game mostly revolves around his ability to impose himself at the ruck contest, setting somewhat of a tone for his team at the source. Particularly against those in his age bracket, the 18-year-old is near-impossible to match physically and would likely have made a few opponents think twice when fighting for possession. The bigman averaged 24.8 hitouts in the NAB League and 16 during the National Championships, while also finding a groove for 27 in his second and final VFL outing. Hardly wavering in that department from game to game, he has proven to be a reliable ruck who simply gets his hand to the ball.

Away from the contest, Madden holds his own but plays within his limits. He doesn't mind getting his hands dirty on the follow-up and works into to the right spots around the ground. In particular, he stations well behind the ball when his side attacks and can help lock it in with aerial contests.

Handballing is usually Madden's MO, though he could certainly become more expansive by foot. His kick efficiency in Allies colours sat at 33 per cent, even if he only went by foot 21 per cent of the time. Part of that is where he finds the ball and his contested acumen, with many kicks being clearances and evened out by the neatness of his hands.

In the way of further improvement, athleticism is arguably the key area for Madden to grow. He clocked up a 3.28-second 20m sprint time at the National Combine, which is indicative of the way he plays. His strengths lie on the inside, but building that running power will allow him to become more impactful and versatile.

Nicholas Madden Draft Profile

Giants Academy ruck Nick Madden is a physically imposing prospect with ample craft and plenty of room to improve.

central.rookieme.com

 

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[Giant Strides]

Re-signed for 2 years (until 2026):





The GIANTS have locked away a pair of promising rookies with ruckman Nick Madden and exciting medium forward Nathan Wardius both penning new deals.

Both selected as Category B rookies over the past 18 months, the new deals will see Madden remain a GIANT until at least the end of 2026 and Wardius through until the end of 2025.

A GIANTS Academy product recruited by the club in the 2022 Rookie Draft, Madden is a hulking 204cm ruckman who has spent the last 18 months developing under the guidance of ruck coach Shane Mumford

41

Shane Mumford

Age

39

Ht

198cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.9

3star

K

3.0

1star

HB

8.0

5star

CL

3.0

4star

HO

29.9

5star

D

7.3

2star

K

1.3

1star

HB

6.0

3star

CL

2.3

4star

HO

18.5

5star

D

6.2

2star

K

1.6

1star

HB

4.6

4star

HO

12.4

5star

alongside teammate Kieren Briggs and Braydon Preuss

11

Braydon Preuss

Age

30

Ht

207cm

Wt

118kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.1

2star

K

6.1

2star

HB

3.1

3star

CL

1.9

4star

HO

20.9

5star

No current season stats available

D

9.8

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.4

4star

CL

2.4

5star

HO

26.2

5star

.
Hailing from Osborne in New South Wales’ Riverina region, the 19-year-old is an ultra-competitive ruckman who has impressive skills and ruck craft for a player of his age. Madden is considered a long-term prospect for the club who, on the back of his hard work and potential, has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension.

GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney

Jason Mccartney

Age

51

Ht

191cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

3.5

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

No current season stats available

D

10.0

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

0.6

3star

, is thrilled to re-sign the talented teenage duo. “We are really excited to extend the contracts of Nick and Nathan,” he said. “We have a really exciting crop of young talent at the club, and we see the pair as players who can make an impact at senior level in the future so it’s great to have them both locked away. Nick has made great progression since his arrival at the club, and we believe he has the physical traits and the skills required to make it at this level. Having both of these boys recommit is exciting for the club as we enter what we hope is a really successful period of time for the GIANTS.”

 

[Giant Strides]

Madden Gets His Moment

Promising young ruck Nick Madden will make his AFL debut this weekend.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

The GIANTS will unearth promising young ruck Nick Madden for his long-awaited AFL debut in Saturday’s clash with the Power in Canberra.

A product of the GIANTS Academy, Madden was recruited as a raw but promising young ruckman in the 2022 Rookie Draft following strong performances for the GIANTS Academy and the Allies in the National Championships.

Hailing from Osborne in New South Wales’ Riverina region, Madden has continued to develop strongly at the GIANTS under the guidance of ruck coach Shane Mumford

41

Shane Mumford

Age

39

Ht

198cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.9

3star

K

3.0

1star

HB

8.0

5star

CL

3.0

4star

HO

29.9

5star

D

7.3

2star

K

1.3

1star

HB

6.0

3star

CL

2.3

4star

HO

18.5

5star

D

6.2

2star

K

1.6

1star

HB

4.6

4star

HO

12.4

5star

.

Standing at an imposing 204cm, the 21-year-old has great ruck craft, is a strong contested mark, finds the footy at a high rate for a ruckman, and moves well around the ground for a man of his size.

Madden has been rewarded with his maiden AFL selection off the back of some brilliant form in the VFL, with the Riverina product averaging 19.9 disposals, 33.1 hitouts, 6.2 clearances, 3.7 marks (1.2 contested), and three tackles per game across nine VFL matches so far this season.

Saturday's debut caps off a great tale of perseverance from Madden who has toiled away in the club’s VFL side for two-and-a-half years while overcoming a pair of lengthy foot and ankle injuries.

 

[Giant Strides]

'I felt like I belonged': Giant's journey from 'chubby kid' to the big time

Nick Madden had to bide his time in the VFL, but grabbed his opportunity with both hands in his AFL debut last weekend

www.afl.com.au

THERE'S a moment at the end of Nick Madden's debut announcement video at Greater Western Sydney where you can see the enormity of the achievement hitting him. After all the usual hoopla and carry-on from teammates and a quick speech, the hulking ruck lets out a deep breath before his eyes seemingly well up, just a touch. It is then when it all looks to have dawned on the 21-year-old.

His journey from the tiny town of Osborne in the New South Wales Riverina region as a self-proclaimed chubby kid, all the way through to the big time. An injury to Keiren Briggs opened up a spot and after a strong season in the VFL, Madden was given his moment against Port Adelaide in Canberra. After nearly three years of toiling away and trying to shape up – literally - as a rookie list pick, he finally had his chance.

"It was sort of 50-50 that afternoon, I didn't know if I was going to play or not but once it got read out, I was pretty proud. I got pretty emotional because it meant a fair bit," Madden told AFL.com.au this week. "Growing up, I was sort of a chubby kid, so I had to work pretty hard to get into some decent shape to play. I had a couple of injuries along the way also which set me back a fair bit. Coming in (to the AFL system), I thought I'll look a bit similar (fitness wise). But to be honest, I was not in any way. That first pre-season was a lot of hard work, and it was good to figure out what hard work actually was. I've come a long way with the help of Mel our dietitian. I've sent her a lot of photos of my food. It's been good getting my head around all that stuff."

Crucially, when his big moment came, Madden took his chance. The team performance in the loss to Port may have been another source of frustration this season for the Giants but their new ponytailed ruck looked the part. He finished with 26 hitouts and 15 touches from just 60 per cent of game time and was one of the Giants' few positives from a disappointing outing. "I definitely knew I was playing AFL and not VFL by the end of the first quarter. But I felt like I belonged, so it was good," Madden said.

more in the story

 

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