Inspired by doubters and Gold Coast’s first year display, Greater Western Sydney recruit Rhys Palmer can’t wait for the AFL season to get underway so he and his new team-mates can show what they’re all about.
Even more than the Suns in 2011, many feel the Giants should prepare for a season of heavy defeats in their first year of AFL football with so many rookies in their ranks.
But Palmer, who joined the Giants from Fremantle at the end of last season, says no-one inside the club is being as pessimistic as their knockers.
“We’ve heard a lot of things from the media and outside people saying we don’t have a chance,” Palmer told reporters at the club’s official team photo shoot on Wednesday.
“That spurs us on a little bit more to get out there and show our stuff, to not be embarrassed by anyone. We’ve got to take it up to a lot of sides.”
Palmer said the club should be motivated by the Suns’ impressive AFL debut campaign, where the Gold Coast club picked up three wins and plenty of respect among their peers.
“They came in last year in sort of the same situation we have,” he said.
“It gives us some guidelines but obviously we want to improve on what they’ve done and keep working hard.
“It’s about our business on the field. Just little things like being hard at the footy, hard at the contest. If we pride ourselves on that it’s going to lead to where we’re going to finish.”
Giants assistant coach Mark Williams said his previous experiences with Brisbane and Port Adelaide had shown him how a fledgling AFL club can establish itself in the competition.
“I was lucky enough to be at Brisbane when it first started and we all know how well they progressed,” Williams said.
“I think we won six, seven and eight in the first three years and Brisbane then became the powerhouse of the AFL after 10 or 12 years. It’s an opportunity for us.
“We know that we won’t get everyone on board but those who get on board will be really happy they did so from the start.”
GWS begin their NAB Cup campaign at Blacktown Oval next Saturday when the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood head to Sydney’s west, while the club’s first AFL match is against local rivals Sydney at ANZ Stadium on March 24.
And Williams is quietly confident although he’s realistic enough to know there will be some tough days ahead.
“There’s no doubt it’ll take us a little bit of time to get everything together,” he said.
“There’ll be some ups and downs in it all but they’re moving along in the right direction.
“What you get from young players and young people these days, they’re very resilient. Within a smashing of a game you’ll still find some good things and some things that are exactly what we’re looking for.
“They’ll understand we’re disappointed with any poor result but at the same time we’re fully focused on where we’re going.”
