VFL GWS VFL 2024

[Giant Strides]

Seeing some players being signed to Giants for the VFL team in 2024, we'd better start a thread to collect those signings!

Thanks to captainMyCaptain for his eagle eyesight.

 

[kickthething]

Did Hamilton get injured too? Didn’t see him at all in the second half.

I don’t think so….just. one of those days…

 

[Giant Strides]

X Marks the Spot for Cripps

VFL coach Wayne Cripps has hailed the red-hot performance of an AFL-listed GIANT in the club’s loss to Frankston on Saturday.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

VFL coach Wayne Cripps is taking the silver lining from Saturday’s 14-point loss to Frankston on Saturday, singing the praises of hard-nosed midfielder Xavier O’Halloran following his best-on-ground display in another strong VFL outing.

Doing his best to will the GIANTS over the line against the Dolphins on Saturday, O’Halloran finished with 31 touches, 11 clearances, 11 tackles and a goal in what was the 23-year-old's second consecutive game at VFL level after featuring in each of the GIANTS’ opening eight AFL matches.

“Our focus is on teaching guys our system or hopefully getting some guys into pretty good form and I think we’ve been able to do that,” Cripps said. “’X’ [O’Halloran] was outstanding on Saturday. He showed great leadership and great attitude and effort all day. He had 11 clearances and 11 tackles, and he led the way with the pressure he was able to put on and then when he got the ball, his run and his drive from contest really stood out. It’s been good to see ‘X’ come back [to VFL level] and have a big couple of weeks and get his hands on the ball. He leads the way with his defensive pressure and his drive from contest, so I’m really happy from that point of view.”

While O’Halloran shone, it was a gloomy affair for the GIANTS in Blacktown on Saturday as inaccuracy and wastefulness going forward saw them fall short to the Dolphins in wet and slippery conditions. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t capitalise on our work,” Cripps said of the two-goal loss. “We definitely had enough [inside-50] entries but we just went in a little bit scrappy. We didn’t play our method or system ahead of the ball and we didn’t kick straight which doesn’t help.”

The second wet-weather game in as many weeks following a rainy clash with the Swans the week prior, Cripps said his side needs to better adjust to different conditions.

AFL-listed GIANTS:

9. Ryan Angwin

20 disposals, four tackles, four marks

“We had him down back this week and he spent four quarters there which was good for his development and learning some of his defensive craft. He led the way for us with loose-ball gets and possession-gains which is a great sign for a small back.”

10. Jacob Wehr

20 disposals, five marks, four tackles, one goal

“He was really good. He competed hard all day, running up and down the wing all day - both offensively and defensively. His tackle pressure and his contest work were at a high level.”

21. Leek Aleer (subbed out with concussion early in second term)

Four disposals, two marks

“Unfortunately, we lost Leek early to concussion. He started the game off really well. He took a nice intercept mark and had a couple of big spoils and was looking really good but unfortunately, we lost him.”

24. Harry Rowston

23 disposals, one goal, 10 tackles, five clearances

“He’s building each week. He’s consistently finding a lot of the ball now. He’s still working on certain parts of his game defensively but he’s getting better and better at that each week and he’s slowly starting to put it all together.”

25. Lachlan Keeffe

25

Lachlan Keeffe

Age

34

Ht

204cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.5

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.2

2star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.0

1star

D

8.4

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

2.6

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

0.8

3star

G

0.8

4star

Seven disposals, three marks, three tackles

“He was good. He took a couple of nice contested marks. He competed really hard all day. He did some really nice follow-up things at ground level. It was tough conditions for the big boys but as always, he gave 100 per cent.”

29. Phoenix Gothard

13 disposals, one goal, eight tackles

“Phoenix was probably the shining light out of the small forwards. A lot of our small forwards struggled to put pressure on, but he ended up with eight tackles and worked his way into the game. He also kicked a nice goal and had some really good moments.”

31. Toby McMullin

26 disposals, seven clearances

“He was good - he had the most contested possessions on the ground. We really want him to work on his contest and his step in pressure and I thought he did those to a really high level. It was probably the best game he’s played as a midfielder so far this year.”

33. Xavier O’Halloran

31 disposals, 11 clearances, 11 tackles, one goal

“’X’ was outstanding. He showed great leadership and great attitude and effort all day.

He had 11 clearances and 11 tackles and he led the way with the pressure he was able to put on and then when he got the ball, his run and his drive from contest really stood out.”

34. Josh Fahey

36 disposals, four tackles

“As always ‘Fahesy’ gave us really good drive from the back half. He used the ball really well considering the conditions and he probably adjusted to the conditions better than most on the day. He’s making much better defensive decisions as well and starting to put together some good football.”

35. Max Gruzewski

Eight disposals, one goal

“He competed hard and also spent a little bit of time as a relief ruck which was a great experience for him to build on that craft. It wasn’t a big day, but he just had to bring the ball to ground and he was able to do that.”

37. Joe Fonti

10 disposals, seven tackles

“Joe has become really consistent for a first-year player, he just doesn’t play bad games. He’s really starting to have a focus on the defensive side of his game which is really starting to show. And as always, every time he gets the ball, he is looking to take the game on which is becoming a week-by-week trait that we are seeing.”

41. Nick Madden

18 disposals, 13 clearances, 53 hit-outs, three tackles

“He’s another one that’s starting to build together a really good body of work. He’s joining in around the ground on offence and defence and consistently getting his hands on the ball. And he’s a big presence at stoppage. He’s worked really hard on his craft and his game and its starting to show.”

43. Cooper Hamilton

Three disposals, seven tackles

“’Coop’ had a really good defensive day. He had seven tackles and a lot of smothers. He did all the scrappy, hard things for us. He didn’t get much of a lick of the ice cream from a possession point of view, but he works as hard as anyone on the ground, and we value defence.”

45. Wade Derksen

18 disposals, four marks

“’Derk’ was good. He’s starting to make some really good aerial decisions and he’s becoming really consistent in that area. He’s another that’s becoming a lot more consistent in his game.”

 

[Orange Agent]

53 hit outs!!! Must be tempting to get him a senior game in.

Fahey is hard to ignore, especially when Ash is such a butcher and not a great defender.

 

[kickthething]

53 hit outs!!! Must be tempting to get him a senior game in.

Fahey is hard to ignore, especially when Ash is such a butcher and not a great defender.

Fahey had about 17 kick ins in that stat……jokes aside, he is a thumping kick and must be very close to call up.

 

[Giant Strides]

Fahey had about 17 kick ins in that stat……jokes aside, he is a thumping kick and must be very close to call up.

He should now, with the news that Ash is sidelined for 6 weeks with an injury.

 

[Giant Strides]

kickthething , what are your honest thoughts on Nick Madden's progress? Seems to be killing it at VFL level, but he's still very young.

 

[sydney_gws]

53 hit outs!!! Must be tempting to get him a senior game in.

Fahey is hard to ignore, especially when Ash is such a butcher and not a great defender.

Perhaps we can try Josh Kelly at left back.

 

[Colonial]

Perhaps we can try Josh Kelly at left back.

Kelly isn’t playing for a while.

 

[GWS Goose]

53 hit outs!!! Must be tempting to get him a senior game in.

Fahey is hard to ignore, especially when Ash is such a butcher and not a great defender.

At the thing today they said that he is progressing really, really well but whether at 19 he is ready at AFL is unknown (it was clear they thought not yet)
Seemed stoked with his development

 

[GWS Goose]

Interesting to see what they do here, I suspect they just bring XOH in for Kelly.
Fahey seems the most like for like replacement. Peatling and a reshuffle also an option

 

[kickthething]

kickthething , what are your honest thoughts on Nick Madden's progress? Seems to be killing it at VFL level, but he's still very young.

Watching almost ever game this year, he was in form from round 1 when he rucked against Rory Lobb for portions of that game, probably the Canberra game was his quiet game. 3 of his last 4 he has been a good all round Ruckman. Hit outs, disposals, tackles a bit of everything. zI feel like he gives away a few too many ruck frees, maybe that’s a recent memory….he is better than say a Samson Ryan ( sure, not saying a lot but Ryan has played at the level, ) and he is better placed than McAndrew at the Swans. If Pruess body keeps letting him down he surely will come in to consideration for a run,

He works, and don’t forget that North game he ran solo for the game when Pruess injured himself in warm up, and owned North on his own, hat one game was enough for most to say this guy is on the up..

Young ruckman but I reckon has the attributes, he follows up and his competitiveness is high which is pretty good attribute for a ruckman.

 

[kickthething]

Interesting to see what they do here, I suspect they just bring XOH in for Kelly.
Fahey seems the most like for like replacement. Peatling and a reshuffle also an option

I didn’t realise Fahey was 19, bloody hell. XO for competitiveness alone should come in.

 

[Giant Strides]

Peatling Headlines Three VFL Changes

James Peatling and a former AFL-listed Swan headline the changes for Saturday’s clash with Footscray in Blacktown.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

The GIANTS have made three changes for their round eight VFL clash with Footscray in Blacktown on Saturday.

Midfielder James Peatling headlines the inclusions alongside Marc Sheather and Billy Clark.

Peatling will make his first VFL appearance of the year after featuring in six AFL games this season, including five straight from rounds 4-8 before being omitted and named as the travelling emergency for last week’s AFL clash with the Bombers at Marvel Stadium.

Tough inside midfielder Sheather also returns to the VFL this week after serving a four-match suspension for rough conduct in round three against Sandringham. Meanwhile Clark has been recalled for just his second game of the year following his appearance in the GIANTS’ round four win over Werribee.

The trio come into the side in place of three AFL-listed GIANTS, with Xavier O’Halloran and Jacob Wehr rewarded for their strong VFL performances with AFL selection this week, while Leek Aleer is in concussion protocols following a head knock suffered in last week’s VFL game against Frankston.

The VFL side will consist of 12 AFL-listed players for the clash with Footscray.

Looking to rebound from their first back-to-back losses of the year, the 3-3 GIANTS will host the Bulldogs at 11:05am on Saturday at Blacktown International SportsPark.

VFL Round 8

GIANTS v Footscray
Saturday, May 18 at 11:05am
Blacktown International SportsPark | Darug Country

Team:

FB: Ethan Williams, Ryan Hebron, Jackson Bowne
HB: Josh Fahey, Lachlan Keeffe

25

Lachlan Keeffe

Age

34

Ht

204cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.5

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.2

2star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.0

1star

D

8.4

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

2.6

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

0.8

3star

G

0.8

4star

, Joe Fonti
C: Cooper Hamilton, Marc Sheather, Ryan Angwin
HF: Nicholas Quigg, Matt Harms, Toby McMullin
FF: Phoenix Gothard, Max Gruzewski, Wade Derksen
RR: Nick Madden, Harry Rowston, James Peatling

Interchange: Taine Moraschi, Giorgio Varagiannis, Daniel Gauci, Josh Smith, Billy Clark

Ins: James Peatling, Marc Sheather, Billy Clark

Out: Xavier O’Halloran (AFL), Jacob Wehr (AFL), Leek Aleer (concussion protocols)

 

[Drummond]

Peatling just kicked a brilliant goal, his second. Team high 16 disposals.

 

[Drummond]

Huge breeze, Giants down by 17 at 3/4, but given the way they played that quarter, I’m backing them to come home with the wind. Kicked 4 goals that quarter against the breeze. Really good tacking the standout of that quarter.

Madden been great, Peatling excellent. McMullin is an intriguing one, does some really impressive things, and sometimes some really poor things. Guess he’s young and developing. Rowston and Gothard had good moments. Keefe some really strong grabs.

 

[Drummond]

Gruzewski huge contested mark, first of the fourth.

Gothard is so quick, such great acceleration. Edit; Gothard just cost them a goal. Terrible fumble and handball to opposition.

 

[Drummond]

Well, 4 goals against in 7 minutes and it’s over. Midfield smashed so far in the 4th, just can’t get hands on the ball. I can see why Fahey didn’t come in, defensively he doesn’t really seem too interested.

 

[Drummond]

Heads dropped so quickly in the last it was unbelievable. Midfield smashed. Killed on the rebound; Footscray transition was so effective. Gothard kicked one on the full from 45 out, pretty poor. He had a nightmare last quarter really.

Fahey went running past a teammate for a handball receive and fumbled the ball out of bounds, summed up his day. Interesting that he wasn’t even named an emergency, maybe that speaks about where he’s at. Looked disinterested and lazy.

 

[Giant Strides]

Fulltime score: Footscray 16.13.109 d GWS 9.10.64

As Drummond said, we just crashed out in the last quarter.

 

[sydney_gws]

Fulltime score: Footscray 16.13.109 d GWS 9.10.64

As Drummond said, we just crashed out in the last quarter.

Hopefully not an omen for AFL game.
Did they have many AFL listed players.

 

[Giant Strides]

Hopefully not an omen for AFL game.
Did they have many AFL listed players.

From looking at their team, I'd say a similar number to us - around the dozen mark.

Disappointing ... it's similar to how we lost round 1 against the same opponents, in the game at 3/4 time but gave up 6 goals in a row to lose.

And similar to how the first grade team has been overrun in games this year. Are we just not fit enough? Or is it a hunger problem?

 

[kickthething]

From looking at their team, I'd say a similar number to us - around the dozen mark.

Disappointing ... it's similar to how we lost round 1 against the same opponents, in the game at 3/4 time but gave up 6 goals in a row to lose.

And similar to how the first grade team has been overrun in games this year. Are we just not fit enough? Or is it a hunger problem?

was nearly a cc of rnd 1. some players were down. 12 listed players, Dogs had 13. Decision making and some played overusing the pill. We were just so uncompetitive in the midfield for about 10 minutes in the fourth and it was the game. we did look a little lazy early on ana it was the theme.

Peatling looked good Royston solid McMullin OK but thought he butchered it a bit, Maden better in the third but overall not at this best.

Alot just banging the ball onto the boot without allot of thought, forward entries were ordinary.

A 40 pt lots that really was one that got away

 

[Orange Agent]

Is Fahey's game indicative of his prior games or is it possibly a bit of sulking over non-selection?

 

[kickthething]

Is Fahey's game indicative of his prior games or is it possibly a bit of sulking over non-selection?

He got shifted to the wing which seemed to impact, his disposals are high due to his kicking in which of course didn’t happen on the weekend. He was just flat I reckon, the club match report was kind.

 

[Sancho411]

He got shifted to the wing which seemed to impact, his disposals are high due to his kicking in which of course didn’t happen on the weekend. He was just flat I reckon, the club match report was kind.

I recall a Kingsley presser at the start of the season where he said Fahey was next if anything happened to Whitfield or Ash. Considering he’s been solid in reserves i assume he is on the outer. We’ll happily take him at the Bombers!