Emerging GWS youngster Aaron Cadman looks set for a big 2025 after an impressive second season. Photo: AFL MEDIA

GWS
2024 record: 15 wins, 10 losses (5th)

THE INS
Jake Stringer (Essendon), Oliver Hannaford (GWV Rebels), Harrison Oliver (Sandringham Dragons), Cody Angove (Claremont), Jack Ough (GWV Rebels), Logan Smith (Queanbeyan), Josaia Delana (East Coast Eagles)

THE OUTS
Nick Haynes (Carlton), James Peatling (Adelaide), Harry Perryman (Collingwood), Isaac Cumming (Adelaide), Adam Kennedy (retired), Braydon Preuss (delisted), Cooper Hamilton (delisted)

THE STRENGTHS
Captain Toby Greene might have had a down year last season, but he still kicked 44 goals and was fifth in the AFL for goal assists. The three-time All-Australian remains such an important part of their push for an elusive maiden flag. At his best he is the best small forward in the AFL and if he can produce a 50-goal season this year, GWS will be well on its way. Greene is the centrepiece of a formidable forward line which also features Jesse Hogan, who is not only one of the great comeback stories of recent history, but is fresh from a career-best season which saw him boot 77 goals and win his first Coleman Medal, best-and-fairest and All-Australian blazer. Hogan’s memorable 2024 campaign also saw him top the league for both contested marks and marks inside 50. If Greene is the No.1 small forward in the competition, his teammate Brent Daniels isn’t far behind him, as he finished first in the league for goal assists, and they’ve also added dynamic goalkicker Jake Stringer from the Bombers. Throw in Jake Riccardi and the emerging Aaron Cadman, and it’s clear that opposition backlines will have their work cut out most weeks. The Giants are already the second-best team for both marks inside 50 and goals per inside 50 after having the No.7 offence last year, and there’s no reason to suggest they won’t be as potent again in those departments this season. In the midfield, Tom Green has joined the ranks of the elite in the last two seasons, and in 2024 no player racked up more disposals than him, and only Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli registered more contested possessions. Green will again be joined by the likes of Josh Kelly, Finn Callaghan, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Bedford and Callan Ward to form an ominous on-ball brigade. Despite ranking first for disposals, GWS were also second for tackles, which is an exceptional reflection of their work ethic. Down back, GWS has arguably the best key defender in Sam Taylor and Lachie Whitfield just keeps on keeping on, finishing third in the league for touches last season. Hogan and Taylor were the main reasons why the Giants were the No.1 contested mark side in 2024. When the Giants get on a roll, they’re hard to stop, as they recorded separate five-game and seven-game winning streaks last year which powered them to another finals series. With the sixth-youngest and fifth-least experienced playing list, they look set to be around the mark for quite some time to come.

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THE WEAKNESSES
The past summer would’ve been particularly excruciating for the Giants, given the manner in which they exited last year’s finals series. Making a straight-sets departure is bad enough, but to give up leads of 28 points and 44 points against Sydney and Brisbane respectively is downright soul destroying, and atoning for those massive chokes this year will be one of their biggest challenges. With the ninth-best defence, they can definitely improve in that area as was shown in their two finals when the Swans and Lions scored freely late in the game to not only get back into the contest but win. The Giants’ midfield does a lot right, but being second-last for clearances is not good enough and if they manage to lift themselves from 14th for inside 50s, imagine how much deadlier they’ll be in attack with the aforementioned forward line they now have at their disposal. They have a great ruckman in Kieren Briggs, but he wouldn’t be satisfied with this side coming in 10th for hitouts. The Giants have plenty of top-end talent, but they do look as though they are a bit light on for depth and they are going to be seriously tested in the opening rounds with Green (calf), Hogan (thumb) and Stringer (hamstring) all unavailable as well as Riccardi, Toby McMullin and Harvey Thomas who were suspended for their involvement in the club’s controversial post-season dress-ups event last year. The departures of Nick Haynes (Carlton), James Peatling (Adelaide), Harry Perryman (Collingwood) and Isaac Cumming (Adelaide) will be keenly felt early on.

ONE TO WATCH
After a slow start to life in the AFL, Cadman showed some great signs in his second season last year, finishing third in the club’s goalkicking (30) and booting three majors in a strong performance in the qualifying final against Sydney. That game more than any other would’ve made the former No.1 pick feel like he belongs at the level and should provide him a springboard for even greater things this year.

UNDER THE PUMP
Fourth-year defender Leek Aleer is proving to be an enigma. The former first-round pick has managed just 12 senior games, but in just his seventh outing last year, he looked like he had arrived after producing some match-winning plays against the Cats at Kardinia Park. However, he was dropped five games later, never to be seen again. With the likes of Taylor, Jack Buckley and Harrison Himmelberg in his way, Aleer has a massive job ahead of himself to break his way into the side as a key backman. If he fails to do so in the final year of his contract, he may be looking for opportunities elsewhere in October.

BEST 23
B: Connor Idun, Sam Taylor, Jack Buckley
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Harrison Himmelberg, Lachie Ash
C: Josh Kelly, Tom Green, Finn Callaghan
HF: Jake Stringer, Aaron Cadman, Brent Daniels
F: Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Jake Riccardi
R: Kieren Briggs, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Bedford
Inter: Callan Ward, Xavier O’Halloran, Darcy Jones, Harvey Thomas, Toby McMullin
Emerg: Callum Brown, Lachie Keeffe, Leek Aleer

With so many personnel issues already, the Giants’ side will look very different to the above line-up on Sunday against Collingwood, but if they get near full health this season, their best team looks very dangerous, and certainly one that could challenge for top-four honours again.

*all team stat rankings mentioned are based on differentials, not totals (apart from overall offence and defence).