GWS made it to the Grand Final last year and went on a late run to qualify for Finals the year before. Why is that? There’s a been a lot of talk this pre-season around GWS regarding the roles of their guns in this season coming; 2020. Not just on here, but on the Twitter too. I reckon there might be a little more to it.
I believe GWS have been rotating their squad, like Pep Guardiola does with my beloved Manchester City, in order to remain fresh and thus peak … at the pointy end of the season. I’ve been equally fascinated and frustrated by their approach for a couple of years now. Yes, they have their share of injuries like everyone else, but maybe they approach these obstacles in a different way to most. It seems they give them every chance to recover fully and even ‘rest’ them for a longer period in order to have them peaking come Finals. It can start earlier, a bit like Richmond, if there remains a lot of work to do to make the four or 8 come post-byes. A time to assess.
Having gone deeper than ever before in 2019, reaching the GF for the first time in their short history, I am even more circumspect for season 2020.
I started writing this piece late last week, but …
Just today (28/02/2020) alone, the controversial things you might have read:
Callan WARD will play 50:50 HB and MID … You’re dreaming , their defensive structure is awesome.
Stephen CONIGLIO will play 50:50 MID/FWD … he was appointed captain for a reason … sure but he’s a better FWD than MID and look at their depth!
Lachie WHITFIELD will play 50:50 wing and HB … No he won’t, he’ll play 50:50 HFF and wing
Zac WILLIAMS will play HB and get MID minutes when others are injured … nah, they’re gonna give Lachie ASH a run at HB and his inside/outside play in finals made him a standout!
Toby GREENE will play HF/F and a bit like Zac, will get MID minutes when injuries occur or when needed … yeah but if he was at any other club, he’d be 100% inside. Bull.
Josh KELLY has had his first full pre-season in years and will play 22games and average 130 … No, he’ll play 50:50 inside and outside … yeah but he scores well in both roles … doesn’t matter, he’ll miss too many games
Tim TARANTO will play 50:50 MID/FWD … rubbish, he’s the one they see as their best insider going forward … who are you, the expert?!?
They want to give Lachie ASH a run off HB … No they don’t, they never give rookies a decent run.
They want to give Jye CALDWELL a proper run in 2020 … I heard it was Jackson HATELY!!
And that is just today … we haven’t even mentioned the likes of Hopper, Haynes, Cameron, Langdon (on a comeback) or Sauce! And the club have consistently given us nothing since HULC (hate you …) took the reins.
I recall a lot of talk throughout last year here on SCT (including myself) about how so many of us swore we would never go near GWS players again and yet here we are on the eve of the 2020 season discussing plenty of them. Both premos and rookies. All seems forgotten regarding the pain and angst caused in the thick of it last year. But I remember. Like it was yesterday!
There is no doubt that the kicker to this, is that they are the best SuperCoach scoring side in the comp, bar none. It is by a significant margin and this is why we are attracted to them. Well, that’s what it is for me. Whether statistically or subconsciously. We all know how good they are.
So, what do we do?
Let’s have a quick squizz at their potential 22 in SC format for 2020:
They have SO much depth and there is no room again for CUMMING and LLOYD, or the new ready-made recruit Tom GREEN in the above, though he will probably nudge HATELY out.
And so with TARANTO now injured (we will likely hear nothing as to how serious it is, or how long he’ll be out), the fun’s begun already in 2020! What we do know is that whatever they do tell us, can’t be 100% trusted!
ROOKIES
Buckenara yesterday (re: Tom GREEN): “I think he’ll play nearly every game this year.” We’ve also been filtered news that Lachie ASH will be given a run off HB, but can we trust this ‘news’? Remember Jackson HATELY last year. Personally I never owned him, but I do remember all the hoohah! Their likely playing rookies this year are both premium-priced and for that commitment you want rock solid JS (job security). Should we believe them?! It’d be great to know EXACTLY how long Taranto is gonna be out for so we could make a more informed decision, but what and when will they tell us?! Despite their huge scoring potential, if there are other decent rookies available on those lines, I’ll probably be inclined to stay away.
PREMOS
Zac WILLIAMS apparently is with the rehab group (achilles tendonitis). This close to Rd1, I probably won’t start him now. It depends how bad it is, but that can be several months and you cannot fix it if you run on it 🙁
Josh KELLY has had his first full pre-season in years and looked great the other night. Moving freely. If you’re going to start him though, you need a back up plan.
Lachie WHITFIELD had a year fraught with injury last year and an ankle reco four days after the GF! Still, they wouldn’t have risked him in the bush fire relief game if there were any doubts. Again, if you’re going to start him, you need a back-up plan.
Callan WARD is still a couple of weeks away apparently.
SUMMARY
Do the Williams and Taranto injuries open up the opportunities for GREEN and ASH? Until we know how serious those two injuries are, we can’t be certain.
KELLY and WHITFIELD are both locks for me, but I do acknowledge the risk, so won’t be taking any others. I will build in back-up plans once we know the rookie numbers.
So what does everyone else think? Stay away so you can sleep well at night? Dive in and enjoy the rollercoaster? Would be interested to hear the differing opinions on this.
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So many decent options with less risk around Kelly, so not feeling the need to take that risk. But Whitfield is so far ahead of other forwards, it’s probably a bigger risk to not take him.
If I wasn’t risking Whitfield, I would think about the Kelly risk. Having both in my team seems a little too much.
Having said that, if Gawn wasn’t right for round 1 and I was using a stepping stone to get to him, Kelly would be it. Take Kelly’s scores until he gets injured, then trade to Gawn. If Kelly is still going strong and the time is right to change to Gawn, you might still do it to avoid the looming larger risk. Then give yourself a pat on the back for getting all Kelly’s points without the risk.
The Giants and Freo player roles are very hard to fathom going into round 1.
Surely GWS want to get away to a big start to the season and put away the Cats and Bulldogs at home in the first three rounds before focusing on the block of games against Tigers, Pies and Eagles rounds 7-10.
Think they will settle their side down first 12 rounds hoping to be at least 9-3 before fronting up to the Tigers and Bulldogs for a second time in the following 2 games.
Bugger, Williams was my D1.
Back to the drawing board!
Sorry, good article. I think your summary highlights that GWS needs an overhaul of their fitness regime.
@Thommo, mine too. Straight swap to Laird. Same bye, no Doedee and pocket $26k.
I started with Laird and changed to Williams for upside but you are right, Laird is a good option given how durable he is.
Gidday AS, I always plan to have my team full premo by the end of the bye rds
Gws bye is rd14 therefore any GWS ” KEEPER” I feels needs to be in my starting squad.
Currently will start Kelly & any relevant rookies. Whitfield is a problem, decisions, decisions? Great articles, keep them coming.
Thoughts on Cognilio? Was dominating before going down last year?
Set to play 50/50 MID/FWD. Looks elsewhere for starting MID premos, Steve
Source: https://www.afl.com.au/news/375952/giant-midfield-puzzle-why-a-gun-onballer-will-spend-more-time-forward
Have to agree with GD. While he’ll probably score well even in that split role, I’m thinking he’ll be our top-picked F1 next year if he has a full-season.
Was he though??… maybe take a closer look.
Thanks AS
GWS do keep their cards close to their chests.
Whitfield is the only GWS Premo in my side.
My back up, is not starting Dusty.
Whitt goes down early, straight to Dusty. No waiting out a week here or there to see if he’s right. If he misses he is Dusty 😉
There both major forward Shields, so you pretty much have to own one right?
Tom Greene and Lachlan Ash are currently at M7 and D5.
How do they fit in the round one team ?
Ash may get a game early,( Williams out ? ) but the dreaded HATEly seems miles ahead of Tom Green, when it comes to replacing Taranto in the Midfield. He is placeholder for now. ( ok I like the way it looks in my Bye planning )
We can only hope these guys somehow get a go, and there’s enough other Rookies named round one.
Once again, thanks a heap for all the awesome content.
Oh by the way…..
Who’s your F2 ?
That is my EXACT thinking with Whitfield. Hopefully he doesn’t have to become Dusty and I can straight trade Dan BUTLER to him on his bye 😉
My F2 is currently Dawson or Macpherson or Acres or Brayshaw or … I really don’t know. Acres would have scored 145+ with his average DE on the weekend. He’ll be very good for you I reckon. That said, I’ve been super-impressed with Bradley (went to the first Marsh Game vHAW).
Thanks for the welcome feedback mate. Appreciated.
I like Acres too.
I thought Brayshaw looked slick ,but I’m just not sold he is big enough just yet. ( Watch for a late season flourish perhaps) Acres looked right at home, he is just the sort of big bodied Midfielder we need to help out at centre bounce. “IF” Fyfe does spend more time forward “Maybe” theres more mid time for Acres?
I’m not sure he will make Keeper status but if gets enough wing / mid time early he may just establish himself in there. Worse case he makes a handy stepping stone to Dusty. (Same Bye)
I’m really not sure I will start him, but I feel his mid time is probably a bit more secure than a Petraccca / Wingard type.
Until we know more, he is most certainly on my radar for that F2/3 spot.
Thanks again mate.
Keep up the great work. 🙂
The nice thing about Acres is that he scores pretty well where ever he plays, HB, Wing & obviously when in the middle, I’m more worried about his injury history but Dev Smith & Jack Steven are in the same boat too.
Where is this Williams news coming from?
It’s all over the Twitter. Originally, it was news.com’s man up there whose name escapes me. Will get back to you on that, but was a so-called legit journo. Whatever that means nowadays. Always seem to be chasing the exclusive without checking the facts first …
Great write up – lots to ponder….
Can you tell I’m over-thinking it?!
Will take a few days off after the Marsh and refer back to my premo picks and notes from the end of last year.
So confused right now 🙂
Good write up, AS. Sparked some interesting conversation.
For me, I’m going Whitfield, J. Kelly and whichever rookies are in line for games.
Worth remembering how soft the Giant’s first 6 rounds are: Cats, Dees, Dogs, Dons, Swans and Suns.
Think the Dees might surprise them. The Suns will be spent by Rd6 … 5-1? Or 4-2?
Think it’s crazy to be starting Greene at F2?
Yes
TU- D ROBERTON & J WORREL
TD-L ASH & H YOUNG
Love the write up! Question for AS;
You mentioned Kelly & Whitfield being 2 risks and you won’t be taking others.
Does that mean you are going to stay away from other ‘risks’ or players coming back from injuries, such as Docherty ?
Won’t be taking risks with other Premo picks, ie have played an ace. 20+games the last three years. The quality rookie numbers will dictate how many underpriced players I will HAVE to pick to complete my team.
Taranto now missing half the year with a shoulder injury
Hi All saints, you summed it up perfectly. GWS has the talent. But the individual roles and secrecy about positions and injuries makes me really suspiscious of any news that comes from there.
Truth is they are trying to win a flag and attrack crowd/supporters , but we have SC to play. For that reason Kelly is the only one in and out of my team.
Whitfield will do great but he is injury prone. He is just one of these guns who always picks up something or comes off second best in every 50/50 contest.
You may say all his last 3 injuries are unrelated: Appendix, ankles, broken collarbone but my gut feel still feels something else will go wrong. For this reason, I rather trust an Oliver with Two shoulders injury to give me 22 games…
It is probably just me but I am not convinced he will give me 22 games, so since he is not my lock in captain, I rather have a good night sleep and save a trade. Besides with the $600k I can pick up 2 of : Smith, Motlop, Steven etc…
I know he is the hardest outside runner, was an all Australian in 2018, had a great run in 2019, has very high ownership and not owing him will probably burn me , but Now with the full GWS team back, I am still to convince myself that he has shaken his ankles issues or another mysterious issue. (I reserve the right to change my mind last minute, sorry about the rambling)
Let me know if you agree/disagree.