Club
Manly-Warringah
Key players
The Giants boast a deep list. Pettersson, Stroud, Koch, Johnston, Thurgarland, Benbow (returning from injury) & Brassil to name a few. Then you throw in reigning Phelan Medallist Tyrone Armitage, Rod Podbury Medal winner Lachlan Kilpatrick and three time Marston Medal winner (Club Best & Fairest) Anthony Robertson. Add in the new genuine Tier 2 recruits Brain, Weir, Fowler and second year Lynch and it makes for impressive reading. Its hard to split some of these but Connor Pettersson is a real key this year. He is in the country for a full season unlike 2013 and will have to play a real leadership role with Armitage likely to be unavailable early in the season. He may well have been relatively unknown last year but Harrison Koch was a standout down back for the Wolves (now Giants) last year and was rewarded with selection in the AFL Sydney Team of the Year. He will take a key opposition forward each week so his impact is vital. Anthony Robertson was a revelation in 2013. Highly rated by the club, he slipped under the radar for the first half of the season, to his oppositions detriment, by being a ball magnet and kicking an amazing 40 goals in the year playing the majority of the time in the middle. Another who most Premier Division opponents may have missed was David Stroud. His run off the halfback sets the Giants up and will be pivotal to the sides success as the side try and go back to back.
Star on the Rise
It is becoming a common theme that the predicted top sides have an abundance of youth and Manly-Warringah continue this trend. Their Grand Final side featured a number of Under 18 eligible players while a large chunk of the team are under 21. Lachlan Kilpatrick stamped his authority in the Grand Final with a Best on Ground performance and is one to watch. Callum Johnston was a Rising Star nominee last year and is a star in the making while Tom McCaffrey, Jack Parker and Jordan Rowland (BOG) all starred in Manly’s Under 18 flag last year. Coach Leigh Brain must be licking his lips in anticipation for what the next few years hold.
Strengths
While the Giants have stars all round the ground, the sides biggest asset is their teamwork and will to win. This trait is one every other side envies and is a major cog in the clubs success in the past decade. Even in last years Grand Final, with the Wolves 9 points down at the 15 minute mark of the final term and the Demons seemingly having all the momentum, somehow the side dragged themselves back to claim a famous, history making victory.
Outside of these strengths, the side are extremely well drilled under Leigh Brain who somehow year after year gets more and more out of the group. They are committed side who play for their coach and each other.
There is no doubt that if stats were kept, Manly-Warringah would have more pressure acts than any other in the competition. Cutting down the time opposition players have with the ball leads to turnovers and they are able to create their own scoreboard pressure.
Apart from all of the above the Giants have a well balanced side who have played plenty of football together and in what may surprise many, are a very young list still.
Weaknesses
It is very difficult to find a weakness in the Manly-Warringah side. Its a long bow, but if anything its probably a lack of a big dominant full or centre half forward. Hayden Washington is developing nicely and did kick 40 goals last season but a big bodied partner in crime would prove a huge asset. Club Best & Fairest Anthony Robertson also kicked 40 goals from the middle in 2013 which is an amazing feat but backing that number up this year will be difficult. A similar style player to that of former player David Kovacevic would be a scary thought for opposition defences.
While their ruckmen performed admirably in 2013 they were key position players who rucked so a genuine ruckmen wouldn’t hurt either.
Season defining month
You can probably argue that Manly-Warringah are a lock for finals in 2014 so picking a season defining month is a bit pointless however we will get a great gauge on their form in the opening month of the season. They kick off their premiership defence with an away game to the side that got the closest to them at the back end of 2013, St George (draw in the second last game of the home and away season). They follow this blockbuster with the Round 2 ‘Match of the Week’ when they raise their Premiership flag at Weldon Oval against runners-up Pennant Hills. If this game is half that of the Grand Final a ripping contest is ensured. Things get no easier in Week 3 of the competition as they take on North Shore in the 2nd instalment of the Bendigo Bank Cup (Battle of the Spit), this time away at Gore Hill Oval. This will be Manly’s first Premier Division match at the venue and the Bombers will be out for some serious revenge following last years result. The opening month gets rounded out by a trip across to Bondi to take on another arch-rival UTS at Waverley Oval. Its UTS Bats Ladies Day so a big crowd will be on hand and with no love lost between the clubs a physical, willing contest is ensured. If any of these four sides can lower the Giants flag they could well assume competition favouritism from the reigning Premiers.
Notable Transfers
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INS
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Name
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Surname
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Association From
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Club From
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Dermot
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Flanagan
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Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)
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Old Geelong
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Phillip
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Prior
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Ovens & Murray Football League
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North Albury Football Club
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Jordan
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Weir
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AFL Sydney
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Sydney University
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Michael
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Atkinson
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AFL Sydney
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UTS Bats
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Zach
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Bray
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AFL Sydney
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North Shore Bombers
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Jackson
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Pola-Smith
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AFL Sydney
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Sydney University
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Brayden
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Fowler
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Gippsland League
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Warragul Football Netball Club
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James
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Brain
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South Australia National Football League (SANFL)
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Port Adelaide
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Tom
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Pastro
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AFL Sydney
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UNSW/ES Bulldogs
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Blake
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Rudkin
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AFLSC Seniors
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Wollongong Bulldogs AFC
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Predicted finish – 2nd
2013 was a fairytale, no one can argue against that. We are the first to admit the side far exceeded our expectations (we predicted them this time last year to finish 11th with up to half a dozen wins at most), but while the Manly supporters have all come out of the woodwork now, even the staunchest supporter predicted a tough 2013 season prior to Round 1 last year. Last year they flew under the radar, most waiting for their bubble to burst. It didn’t! This year they become the hunted. The question is how will they cope with this pressure. If history tells us anything, they will thrive on it and go up another level. They have really had no player losses at all following their flag but have added even more depth and talent to their side, most notably Jordan Weir from the Sydney Swans reserves / Sydney Uni, Brayden Fowler from VFL side Casey Scorpions and James Brain direct from the SANFL. Its an ominous sign for opposition clubs looking to knock the Giants off their perch. A finals lock and a huge show to go back to back.
Last Modified on 24/03/2014 12:28
