This year started off looking bleak for the Giants, with hardly anyone predicting they would make finals, let alone a prelim. Yet, after some patchy early form, that's exactly what they did, becoming the dark horse for the flag that no one wanted to come up against.
Following a bottom six finish in 2022, the Giants weren't expected to be much better this year and their early season form did nothing to convince anyone otherwise. The turnaround had to be seen to be believed.
From roughly the midway point of the year, the Giants lost just three of the next 14 games, wreaking havoc on the competition as they climbed into the top eight and quickly became the team most likely to cause an upset in September.
A heartbreaking one-point loss to eventual premiers Collingwood indicates that this team could achieve great things in the coming years and season 2024 will be a tough first step towards a premiership tilt.
With what has been graded as the toughest fixture in the AFL for 2024, not to mention having to overcome any mental scars from the brutal loss to the Pies, the Giants will have the chance to show everyone if they are the real deal.
The critical re-signings of Harry Himmelberg and Finn Callaghan are a huge boost to a club that has bled too much talent over the years, while the additions of Phoenix Gothard and James Leake on draft night ensure they continue to have young talent coming through.
Here's how we think they'll be named in 2024...
4. Final 23
FB:ย Jack Buckley, Sam Taylor, Lachie Whitfield
HB: Lachie Ash, Connor Idun, Harry Perryman
C: Isaac Cumming, Tom Green, Josh Kelly
HF: Toby Bedford, Aaron Cadman, Brent Daniels
FF: Jake Riccardi, Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene
FO: Kieren Briggs, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio
I/C: Nick Haynes, Harrison Himmelberg, Finn Callaghan, Callum Brown
Sub: Xavier O'Halloran