The losses continue to mount for Greater Western Sydney, but veteran AFL coach Kevin Sheedy insists he will stick by his youngsters.
The Giants fell to 0-12 for the year after a 75-point defeat at home by Port Adelaide on Sunday.
Sheedy floated the idea of mid-season player transfers and warned against the Giants panicking and going for the wrong player.
He thought the side GWS put out on Sunday may have been the least experienced of his lengthy AFL coaching career, but he said he was committed to sticking with the youngsters through the second half of the season.
“I’m not going to back off picking the young side that I’m going to play because that’s going to be the future of this club,” Sheedy said.
“If there’s an older experienced player that might be ok, and I think there’s going to be a talented player that’s going to play 100 games for this club, I’m really going to look at the (potential) 100-game player and see if he’s going to be any good.”
Sheedy backed the free agency concept and wanted to see the player transfer concept expanded.
“The movement of players even internally inside a year could be looked at eventually, because there will be players playing at a club knowing full well they are not going to get a game for a year,” Sheedy said.
“I think player managers and players should really look at it. We did use to have a mid-season draft or a trading period.
“I never thought that was any major problem.”
While Lance Franklin’s name continues to be mentioned as a potential Giants target, Sheedy emphasised the importance of recruiting the right player.
“Just don’t panic and get the wrong ones and I think sometimes that’s what clubs do,” Sheedy said.
“I’ve seen clubs grab at straws and not really get it right and you probably saw that with Brisbane and (Brendan) Fevola.”
Sheedy said linking with GWS had been a wonderful learning experience and one of the most enjoyable parts of his life, despite the regular losses.
“I’ve lost well over 200 games before I even arrived (at GWS), so I understand about losing,” Sheedy said.
“Don’t panic because you’re worried about the scoreboard.
“It takes a long time to build an AFL club and you’ve got to get it right.”
