GWS Giants: 2019 fixtures, preview, list changes, every player and odds

The concept of a ‘premiership window’ has never seemed more real than in the case of the Giants, and as every year passes the chances to take advantage of draft concessions fade and a future more akin to Gold Coast’s comes into view.

Preliminary final failures in 2016 and 2017 turned into a semi-final fizzer in 2018, followed by the loss of Dylan Shiel, Rory Lobb, Tom Scully and Will Setterfield in the trade period, leaving the list looking weaker and the future looking bleaker.

But how bad was GWS’s 2018? The Giants were devastated by injuries yet still finished top six, smashing arch-rivals Sydney in the first week of September before falling two goals short of eventual grand finalists Collingwood on the MCG.

Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Zach Williams and Josh Kelly were just some of the players that missed big chunks of the season, and with a bit of luck owed on the injury front surely things could turn around for a title shot in 2019.

Surely.

List changes

In

Jye Caldwell (Bendigo Pioneers), Jackson Hately (Central District), Xavier O’Halloran (Western Jets), Ian Hill (Perth), Kieren Briggs (GWS Academy), Connor Idun (Geelong Falcons)

Out

Rory Lobb, Tom Scully, Will Setterfield, Dylan Shiel, Tim Mohr, Lachlan Tiziani, Ryan Griffen

Best Brownlow chances

Josh Kelly $16, Stephen Coniglio $51, Callan Ward $51, Lachie Whitfield $51

After missing seven games through the 2018 home-and-away season Kelly was never going to threaten on Brownlow night, but he was sixth the previous year and, given a healthy run next campaign, will be every chance to salute.

What a start for Josh Kelly! #AFLGiantsTigers pic.twitter.com/0Miy9xqyRn

— AFL (@AFL) July 14, 2018

Coniglio, on the other hand, had an outstanding season that saw him at the top of many media awards, yet the classy midfielder failed to catch the eye of the umpires, finishing on just 11 votes despite averaging 28 disposals and over a goal a game.

Co-captain Ward always polls but hasn’t threatened since a top-10 finish in 2015, however, Whitfield could be worth a plunge after a breakout season that saw him take out the club best and fairest award and be named All Australian for the first time.

Players to watch

Jeremy Cameron, Jacob Hopper

The importance of Cameron to the Giants is hard to overestimate. When he kicks goals the side tends to win, and with the failure of Jon Patton to fire up forward, Cameron has become the focal point of the GWS attack. Missing Toby Greene at his feet in 2018 didn’t help, and if the pair can stay injury - and controversy – free in 2019 the Giants’ flag fortunes will well and truly rise. But that’s a pretty big ‘if’.

Lions defender Harris Andrews has been taken off on a stretcher after this collision with Jeremy Cameron. #AFLLionsGiants pic.twitter.com/ubWZgH8qzR

— AFL (@AFL) June 23, 2018

Depth of talent has never been a problem in GWS’s short history, but Dylan Shiel’s departure will test the strength of the list. However, the emergence of Hopper has been largely unnoticed and the 21-year-old looks ready to step up. His early-career numbers are tracking in a similar fashion to Josh Kelly’s and, on the cusp of his fourth season, Hopper’s ripe to explode. Coach Leon Cameron will be hoping he does.

A last chance to watch?

Heath Shaw, Josh Kelly

Shaw hasn’t slowed down yet, but his composure and quality of ball use dropped off in 2018, suggesting that even if his 33-year-old body is still up to the challenge, maybe his head and heart aren’t. No doubt the 2010 Collingwood premiership player will want to have one more tilt at the title, but it’s hard to see Shaw going on past 2019.

There’s no doubt Kelly will be playing football for years to come, but will this be his last season in orange? North Melbourne has made no secret of the fact it’s still pursuing the star midfielder and will once again be throwing huge dollars his way. That Kelly only extended his contract to the end of 2019 suggests he’s very much on the market. 

GWS Giants’ 2019 list

We strapped a GoPro on Adam Tomlinson to take you along for the ride as our senior players completed their 2km Time Trial on their first day back.

(We spliced in some footage from stationary cameras to ward off any motion sickness!)#BeGIANT pic.twitter.com/Et1dds0X6X

— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) December 3, 2018

GWS Giants’ 2019 Fixture 

Games played on

Thursday: 1
Friday: 1
Saturday: 11
Sunday: 8

Teams played twice

Hawthorn, Richmond, Essendon, Sydney, Gold Coast

Thor drops the hammer on the Swans 🔨

Lovely finish from Harry Himmelberg.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/zWCdg8QdpV

— AFL (@AFL) September 8, 2018

2019 Preview and premiership odds

Player departures and a slip backwards in 2018 are reflected in the Giants’ flag odds of $14, eighth in the competition despite top-six finishes in the past three years.

Is a feeling of ‘now or never’ being optimistic and is it more the case that the horse has already bolted?

There may be nothing new at GWS in 2019, but it’s hard to write off a side that boasts so many quality players, especially as the clock ticks on possible success.

For all the stars that have already left, it’s the questionable futures of those still there but coming out of contract that could set the fire under this group to achieve something now, while they still can. 

Don’t write off the Giants just yet, and if the list is looking fit and healthy come March then expect GWS to be at the pointy end from the outset.