The Giants suffered a cruel finish to 2024 after a season where they were deemed genuine premiership contenders.
Two extraordinary come-from-behind wins from Sydney and Brisbane sent GWS packing in straight sets, despite dominant performances by Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan.
The Giants then lost significant cogs to their machine, watching Isaac Cumming, Nick Haynes, James Peatling, and Harry Perryman depart. The latter two remain the most notable exits, with Peatling and Perryman playing 19 and 21 games respectively in 2024.
However, the Giants were able to snag a late deal for wantaway Bomber Jake Stringer, creating a scary forward line on paper. Regardless of the lazy, unmotivated narratives surrounding Stringer, he still joins the Giants as a 40-goal-per-season player, adding on to Hogan and Toby Greene who also achieved that feat in 2024.
Players such as Leek Aleer, James Leake and Phoenix Gothard could all be pushing for more consistent selection in 2025, but the Giants' line-up will likely be a familiar sight next season.
We've assessed the Giants' squad and determined a best-23 side, analysing their depth across all three lines on the field.
Our Best 23 for 2025 series will include players unavailable for the start of the season, except for those expected to miss most or all of the season through injury or suspension.
Sam Taylor headlines a strong defensive line for the Giants. Taylor was tracking for an All-Australian honour before injury reduced his appearances to just 16 in the home and away season, and should be around the mark again in 2025. Defensive counterpart Lachie Whitfield was given a blazer however after a career-best year.
Jack Buckley had a breakout year of his own and will be a central component to the Giants' success in defence, while Lachie Ash, Connor Idun and Leek Aleer will look to accelerate their careers following the departures of Haynes and Perryman.
Harry Himmelberg's experience will no doubt be an instant inclusion to the lineup, but Joe Fonti, Wade Derksen, Jacob Wehr and Pick 19 Harrison Oliver will likely have to earn a call-up later in the season.
GWS' bull of a midfielder Tom Green will be a surefire pick in the midfield after averaging over 14.5 contested possessions and 30 disposals for a second straight season.
Finn Callaghan is primed for a breakout year as he enters his fourth season in the system after he quietly improved across all major statistical categories in 2024. Full-time minutes as an inside midfielder could see him finally explode and make his status known to the competition.
After his trade request failed to get done, Xavier O'Halloran will return as a Giant and potentially play along the wing due to his high endurance and consistent repeated efforts. He could be joined by Josh Kelly or Wehr on the opposite side of the centre square.
Veterans Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward can also make a case to get a start at the centre bounce, while draftees Oliver Hannaford and Jack Ough may have to bide their time in the VFL before cracking into the midfield.
In the ruck, there's not much doubt Kieren Briggs will command his spot, meaning Lachlan Keeffe will be the backup option yet again in 2025.
From an opposition's perspective, the forward line will be the scariest prospect when facing the Giants in 2025.
With the addition of Stringer, GWS now boasts three 40+ goalkickers (Hogan and Greene), as well as a rapidly developing former No.1 pick in Aaron Cadman and All-Australian Brent Daniels, who is arguably the best small forward in the competition.
To put the talent into perspective, Hogan led the competition for goals in 2024, Daniels led the competition for goal assists, while Greene was just three goal assists shy of becoming just the 14th player ever to kick over 30 goals and record over 30 goal assists in a single season.
Darcy Jones also made his debut in 2024 and proved to be a threatening small target, kicking 12 goals from 14 games. Jake Riccardi too had a solid season, kicking an average of 1.4 goals per game, while Toby Bedford also remains a viable option.
Youngsters Conor Stone, Phoenix Gothard, Cody Angove, Toby McMullin and Harvey Thomas will all be pressing for selection but may be squeezed out due to the abundance of talent already firmly holding their spot in the forward half. However, when an opportunity arises there will certainly be selection headaches, for all the right reasons.
FB: Leek Aleer, Sam Taylor, Lachie Ash
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Jack Buckley, Harry Himmelberg
C: Josh Kelly, Finn Callaghan, Xavier O'Halloran
HF: Toby Greene, Aaron Cadman, Brent Daniels
FF: Jake Stringer, Jesse Hogan, Jake Riccardi
FO: Kieren Briggs, Tom Green, Stephen Coniglio
I/C: Darcy Jones, Callan Ward, Connor Idun, Toby Bedford
SUB: Harvey Thomas