After losing a host of senior players during the trade and free agency period, the Giants were able to exit the player movement window with a significantly better draft hand that should help them for the long haul.
GWS are one of two clubs with at least three bits of the apple in the first round of the draft, holding selects 15, 16 and 21 to be one of the better-placed teams for night one of the count.
Their off-season exodus has opened certain list needs that could be addressed via the draft this year, while a number of Academy prospects will also come into consideration for the Giants.
Here's our draft preview for GWS ahead of an exciting period for the New South Wales side.
Draft Hand
Picks: 15, 16, 21, 37, 56, 74
A pair of free agency compensation picks have significantly strengthened the Giants' draft hand for this month's intake, placing them with the most first-round picks outside of Richmond's riches.
Their trio of top 25 picks will give them access to a strong crop of draft talent on the opening night of the count and also afford them the ability to trade up the order if they want to.
Their later selections will be valuable also, with the Giants tied to several Academy prospects who could fetch rival bids on the draft's second night.
List Needs
Retainable Talent:ย The Giants haven't hidden from the fact they look at certain prospects differently, with the AFL's youngest club needing the insurance the top players they pick will want to remain in Sydney's west for the long haul. It's a mantra that saw them move up the order two years ago to draft Aaron Cadman, with country Victorian kids often piquing the interest of the Giants' list and recruitment team.
Defensive Run:ย The trade and free agency windows saw the Giants' backline gutted, with Isaac Cumming, Harry Perryman and Nick Haynes all departing for opportunities elsewhere. They still have Lachie Ash and Lachie Whitfield on their books, but with the latter already passed the age of 30, some more dashing half-backs could be of interest to the Giants.
Midfield Depth:ย GWS have often been known for their star-studded midfield ensemble, which will still be an asset in 2024. But the club has been able to top-up their midfield group with early picks most years, and 2025 is proving to be a gold mine for leading midfield talent. Using at least one of their first-round picks on a midfielder is likely to occur, with GWS hoping a leading name slides to their opening selection.
Potential Targets
Jobe Shanahan: The leading New South Wales prospect is sure to entice the Giants, with Shanahan rising up draft boards in the second half of the season thanks to his promising three-game run with Essendon's VFL outfit. He kicked 11 goals in that run, adding to a strong campaign with the Bendigo Pioneers where he was able to flex his strong marking ability. Vic Country tall forwards Jack Whitlock and Jonty Faull are other names for the Giants to consider in the first round of the draft.
Xavier Lindsay: The 2024 Morrish Medal winner, with Lindsay having an enjoyable year with the Gippsland Power, Vic Country and the AFL Academy. A similar player to Essendon's Zach Merrett with his damaging inside-outside ability as a midfielder, averaging 22.7 disposals, 6.7 marks, 5.0 inside 50s, 4.3 clearances, 6.3 score involvements and 5.0 tackles per game at the U18s championships. Can also slot into a half-back role to start his career, offering speed and a nice left foot.
Logan Smith:ย The Giants' best Academy prospect from their 2024 crop, with Smith also one of the leading ruck prospects in this year's pool. The hard-working 204cm teenager had a strong run with the Allies at the National Championships this year. His most impressive stint might've been his seven games with the Giants' VFL side, with Smith averaging 22.9 hitouts (5.4 hitouts to advantage) while putting up strong clearance and score involvement numbers. Fellow Academy pair Josaia Delana and Cooper Bell will also be in the mix.
