Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron says it’s too early in the AFL season to judge whether the Giants have advanced past rival expansion club Gold Coast Suns.
Starting the season with wins over St Kilda and Melbourne, before losing to Sydney, seventh-placed GWS are favourites for their clash with the winless Suns at Startrack Oval in Canberra on Saturday.
Cameron remains wary of the Suns, who will once again be without dual Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett as he rehabs his troublesome shoulder. “Most judges would have said at the end of last year that the Suns are way more advanced than the Giants,” Cameron said.
“So how that can actually change in the space of three games has got me miffed.”
“They’re (the Suns) a good young side. They’ve had some injuries.”
One of those injuries is the aforementioned Ablett and the lack of the man widely considered the best in the game, means Cameron can rest a little easier.
“I’m probably happy that he’s not playing this week,” Cameron said.
“He’s such a good player – he can give you nightmares.”
Sleepless nights may become more common for AFL coaches across the board if Cameron is correct in his expectation that this AFL season is more even than any in recent memory. “The season is so brutal and the competition is so even… I wouldn’t be surprised if top spot is on 15 or 16 wins and bottom spot is probably on six, seven wins.”
Cameron also said that while finals are not on his mind right now the Giants will continue to rise up the ladder and that anything is possible.
That statement is no surprise given the ominous form of some of their young midfielders thus far. Highly-rated youngsters Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar and Lachie Whitfield have all been impressive and with the support of experienced players including co-captain Callan Ward and ex-Bulldog Ryan Griffen.
“There’s a number of our players that are on 50, 60 games now – they’re starting to get that connection,” he said.
“The more and more we play together, the progression up the ladder is obviously inevitable.
“Anything is possible. I don’t put a ceiling on our players.”
