What’s on at the GIANTS?

Patton off the leash

Injury prevented last year’s No.1 NAB AFL Draft pick Jonathon Patton from showing what he could do in 2012, but Greater Western Sydney expects the teenaged key forward to turn heads next season.

Amid reports the Giants are prepared to trade draft picks in an attempt to snare Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett, in Patton they have a potentially dominant spearhead who barely got going last season.

Knee surgery in Sweden in January meant the Eastern Ranges product had little to no pre-season and didn’t turn out for the Giants until round 12.

GWS admits he was never right physically for AFL level in 2012, yet the club felt it was important for his state of mind to give him a taste of senior football.

“He’s up and going now and a good pre-season under Jon Patton, I think people are going to be really surprised with what he brings to us,” said GWS head of sports science John Quinn.

Having fully recovered from his knee issue, shoulder surgery ended Patton’s season after round 19.

Nearing full fitness, the club is now working on a very specific skill set with the 197cm, 102kg Giant.

“It’s about getting his body right and about him understanding his own body better and learning how to move better,” Quinn said.

GIANTS and Saints to light up Manuka

Night-time AFL is poised to make a spectacular debut in Canberra when the GWS GIANTS play St Kilda in April for what will be the first premiership fixture under the new Manuka Oval lights.

In a leap forward for the sport in the capital, the GIANTS will take on the Saints in a twilight match in round three next year.

The AFL will issue next year’s draw later this month.

But it is understood that after more than a decade as an AFL venue, the GIANTS-Saints contest on April 13 at 4.40pm will be the first time a premiership match has been played at night in Canberra.

GWS GIANTS chief executive David Matthews hoped for a bumper crowd.

”We are very excited about playing the first game under lights at Manuka Oval,” Matthews said.

”It is a first for the AFL in Canberra and another first for the GIANTS.

”Canberra was the scene of our first win this year and we expect we will get a big crowd along to what will be an historic occasion for the nation’s capital.”

Giant Giles signs for three years

The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have announced that ruckman Jonathan Giles has signed a new three year contract with the club.

Giles, 24, played 20 games in his debut AFL season in 2012 and kicked 18 goals, including three in the club’s inaugural win against the Gold Coast Suns in Canberra.

General Manager Football Graeme Allan said Giles had been an important player for the GIANTS in their debut season and would play a key role in the coming years as a ruckman and forward.

“Jonathan had an excellent debut year and we are very happy that he along with a number of other players have made a long term commitment to the GIANTS,” Allan said.

Giles, who was the club’s leading vote winner in the Brownlow Medal and finished fifth in the inaugural Kevin Sheedy Medal, said he was looking forward to being part of a successful GIANTS team in the years to come.

“After waiting a long time to get an opportunity to play AFL football, I really enjoyed my first year at the GIANTS. There’s no doubt there’s a lot of terrific young talent at the club and it has a really exciting future,” he said.

To get all the latest GIANTS news, head to gwsgiants.com.au