The hunger and desperation for a historic first AFL flag resides deep with GWS foundation player Phil Davis, as he prepares to join a select group at the competition’s youngest club.
If he lines up against North Melbourne next Sunday, the 29-year-old key defender is set to become only the third player in Giants history to play 150 games for the club.
He will join two other foundation players in midfielder Callan Ward and key forward Jeremy Cameron.
Playing across three different lines the trio have been linchpins of the club.
They’ve been pivotal figures as GWS grew from a club that won just three games across their first two seasons and copped 12 triple-digit pastings in their first three campaigns, to contesting finals in each of the last four years.
Two preliminary final losses and a grand final thrashing by Richmond last year have left GWS still searching for that first flag.
“I’m still hungry, I’m desperate to be a part of the ultimate success,” Davis told AAP.
“We got close last year and that’s only fuelled the fire more and I think I’ve got a fair few years left in me to chase that dream.”
Many pundits believe this could be the year and Davis feels GWS has the right mix to make it happen.
No longer one of the youngest and least experienced clubs, they have nine players who have tallied over 100 games for the club, and that doesn’t include veteran ruckmen Sam Jacobs and Shane Mumford and midfielder Matt de Boer.
Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto and Harry Himmelberg won’t reach the 100 game landmark this year but they are all established players.
Last year’s first-round draft picks Lachie Ash and Tom Green add to an already stacked roster that gives Davis confidence the club has the strength to sustain a title tilt.
“I think our top end talent is right up there with the best in the comp but also our depth,” Davis said.
“There’s a huge amount of confidence that we’ve got a lot of good players that can play well at AFL level.
“Young blokes like Lachie Ash and Tom Green have added to that depth and these guys are putting their hand up straight away.”
Davis played 18 games with Adelaide before moving across to GWS, who he co-captained for their first eight seasons.
“There’s no doubt when I started in Adelaide I thought I’d be an Adelaide Crows player for my whole career. That was the goal and I wanted to play lots of football there,” Davis said.
“My career took a bit of a turn coming up to Sydney and it’s been a terrific experience for me.”
