Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron has put playing in next year’s AFL finals squarely on the agenda for his improving Giants.
And he remains hopeful gun out-of-contract youngster Adam Treloar will remain at the club to help achieve that goal.
GWS finished the season on something of a sour note, going down to Melbourne by 26 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday but Cameron said it wouldn’t detract from the gains made in their fourth year in the competition.
“The main message is that we’ve improved from six to 11 wins, which we’re pleased with,” he said.
“(But) we’re clearly not good enough to make (the finals) this year and I’ve said on the record that over the next two years we need to be playing in the finals – this year’s gone and next year is one of those two years.
“We know we’ve dealt with some key injuries and some young kids have got opportunities but now we want people to fight for their spots.
“Games that were given away early two or three years ago – that won’t happen any more – it’s time to fight for your spot and with that competition lifts and hopefully performances.
“We deserve to finish 11th because we’ve worked probably 25 per cent harder than last year but to get to sixth, seventh or eighth we’ve got to work another 25 per cent harder next year.”
After adding experienced hands like Heath Shaw, Ryan Griffen and Shane Mumford over the past two years, Cameron says the need to seek out older players during the coming free agency and trade periods isn’t as great.
Treloar put in yet another eye-catching display right under the noses of the big Victorian clubs reportedly making big-money plays to lure the gifted 22-year-old back to his home state.
Cameron expects to know Treloar’s intentions in the next fortnight.
“He’d love to stay at our footy club but he’s got a big decision to make,” he said.
“Some big clubs around Australia are after his services – we are as well. He’s been a very good player for us this year but time will tell.
“We’re really hopeful still. We love him as a player, he’s a good man with great values and hopefully we can convince him to stay.”
