- Nov 23, 2015
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- 17,442
- AFL Club
- GWS
- Moderator
- #1,426
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-11/grit-and-glamour-drive-giants-rise
Great article. And great observations and commentary by Matt de Boer. Like many others, I said WTF? when we selected him in the 2016 draft, but now I really appreciate what he has brought to the team. He talks about Leon telling him he'd be the 27th or 28th player - I reckon he's now the 17th or 18th player. Rarely the star, but also very rarely has a bad game, he's the glue that holds the team together. Worth a read.
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BEHIND every Sebastian Vettel is a low-profile, humble mechanic that is every bit as valuable in keeping the Ferrari purring. That's where the related perception about Greater Western Sydney is often off the mark, or at least it is these days. Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel, Steve Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield, Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron are undoubtedly the Vettels of the Giants' set-up, but don't discount their on-field mechanics.
The gibes about GWS only being capable of "pretty football" and lacking the soldiers willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty look a little silly now. There is grit to go with the glamour, and perseverance to go with the pizzazz. Players like Matt de Boer, Sam Reid, Dawson Simpson, Zac Langdon, Brent Daniels, Adam Kennedy, Matt Buntine and Daniel Lloyd deserve your attention. "Your draft pick isn't a prerequisite for playing in this team," de Boer told AFL.com.au ahead of the Giants' clash with Adelaide in Canberra on Saturday night. "So that external view and what people refer to more readily compared to what we value internally is poles apart."
De Boer, in many ways and with full respect, is the chief mechanic at GWS, down to the dirt – rather than grease – on his playing top. He could have been washed up as an AFL footballer as a 26-year-old two summers ago, after falling out of favour at Fremantle, then being delisted. But Giants coach Leon Cameron saw something in de Boer despite offering him a frank assessment that he'd start as the "27th or 28th player on the list". Interesting, too, is that the former Docker once shared the perception about GWS relying solely on talent over substance. "Since I was at the club, Leon's been very transparent about what we're trying to build and achieve, and the importance of certain role players to come in and do exactly that.
Matt de Boer on his blue-collar teammates
Zac Langdon: "His work-rate is phenomenal. The small forward's job on paper is to kick goals, but we love the way he chases, tackles and harasses – and that will hold him in great stead for the next eight to 10 years."
Sam Reid: "He laughs that he's been drafted the most times out of any player, but he just puts opponents to sleep when Leon asks him to go and do a job. The way he gets the most out of himself is really quite impressive."
Dawson Simpson: "I was shattered to see him go down with injury. He's the heart and soul of this team and he must crash when he gets home, because he gives everything to the club, in terms of energy."
Daniel Lloyd: "He made a really big jump this pre-season and is having a great impact. He's as hard as nails, tackles like a man possessed and then can hit the scoreboard with his booming kicks."
Brent Daniels: "He and Zac Langdon make up our mosquito squad. He had an unfortunate start with a knee injury, but since then he's shown an ability to run people down from behind with that appetite and hunger we love."
Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy: "They've both had knee injuries, but what they've been able to do since the middle part of the year has been really infectious. They bring energy, they lock down on an opponent, they're hard as nails and they run off and create at the right time as well."
Great article. And great observations and commentary by Matt de Boer. Like many others, I said WTF? when we selected him in the 2016 draft, but now I really appreciate what he has brought to the team. He talks about Leon telling him he'd be the 27th or 28th player - I reckon he's now the 17th or 18th player. Rarely the star, but also very rarely has a bad game, he's the glue that holds the team together. Worth a read.
__________
BEHIND every Sebastian Vettel is a low-profile, humble mechanic that is every bit as valuable in keeping the Ferrari purring. That's where the related perception about Greater Western Sydney is often off the mark, or at least it is these days. Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel, Steve Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield, Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron are undoubtedly the Vettels of the Giants' set-up, but don't discount their on-field mechanics.
The gibes about GWS only being capable of "pretty football" and lacking the soldiers willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty look a little silly now. There is grit to go with the glamour, and perseverance to go with the pizzazz. Players like Matt de Boer, Sam Reid, Dawson Simpson, Zac Langdon, Brent Daniels, Adam Kennedy, Matt Buntine and Daniel Lloyd deserve your attention. "Your draft pick isn't a prerequisite for playing in this team," de Boer told AFL.com.au ahead of the Giants' clash with Adelaide in Canberra on Saturday night. "So that external view and what people refer to more readily compared to what we value internally is poles apart."
De Boer, in many ways and with full respect, is the chief mechanic at GWS, down to the dirt – rather than grease – on his playing top. He could have been washed up as an AFL footballer as a 26-year-old two summers ago, after falling out of favour at Fremantle, then being delisted. But Giants coach Leon Cameron saw something in de Boer despite offering him a frank assessment that he'd start as the "27th or 28th player on the list". Interesting, too, is that the former Docker once shared the perception about GWS relying solely on talent over substance. "Since I was at the club, Leon's been very transparent about what we're trying to build and achieve, and the importance of certain role players to come in and do exactly that.
Matt de Boer on his blue-collar teammates
Zac Langdon: "His work-rate is phenomenal. The small forward's job on paper is to kick goals, but we love the way he chases, tackles and harasses – and that will hold him in great stead for the next eight to 10 years."
Sam Reid: "He laughs that he's been drafted the most times out of any player, but he just puts opponents to sleep when Leon asks him to go and do a job. The way he gets the most out of himself is really quite impressive."
Dawson Simpson: "I was shattered to see him go down with injury. He's the heart and soul of this team and he must crash when he gets home, because he gives everything to the club, in terms of energy."
Daniel Lloyd: "He made a really big jump this pre-season and is having a great impact. He's as hard as nails, tackles like a man possessed and then can hit the scoreboard with his booming kicks."
Brent Daniels: "He and Zac Langdon make up our mosquito squad. He had an unfortunate start with a knee injury, but since then he's shown an ability to run people down from behind with that appetite and hunger we love."
Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy: "They've both had knee injuries, but what they've been able to do since the middle part of the year has been really infectious. They bring energy, they lock down on an opponent, they're hard as nails and they run off and create at the right time as well."
