Redfern set for a GIANT year

The Wagga Wagga-bred forward will be hoping to lead by example and push for a berth in the senior team as the season progresses.

Picked up by the GWS GIANTS in the 2012 rookie draft, Redfern was one of the first players to graduate from the western Sydney club’s Slater & Gordon Academy.

Speaking at the launch of the AFL’s second-tier competition, held on Wednesday in Sydney’s Walsh Bay, UWS GIANTS coach Brett Hand said competition for places would be fierce.

“There’s obviously a fair bit more competition for spots in the AFL team, last year there were players that were not getting games, but who played more games than they might have at other clubs, so competition for spots will be quite heavy this season.”

“There’ll be guys playing twos who think they should be playing ones, so it’s probably more of a management issue with attitudes of young players that think they should be playing in the AFL.”

Hand also said the structures in place at the club would help players such as Redfern make the transition from reserve grade to senior football.

“We’re big on being a one-club environmentat the moment so whether they’re playing AFL or NEAFL it will be the same structure and exactly the same routines that they’ll go through.”

The UWS Giants will begin their season against the Swans Reserves on Saturday March 30 as a curtain raiser to the clash between cross-town rivals the QBE Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS.

PHOTO COURTESY NEWS.COM.AU