Tom Scully had a career-best season in 2016 but GIANTS midfield coach Lenny Hayes is tipping the wingman to have an even bigger year in 2017.

Hayes – who recently moved from GIANTS team defensive coach to midfield coach – believes the hard running winger hasn’t put a foot wrong this preseason.

“Early indications are he’s going to have a pretty good year, he’s a professional, trains hard and came back in great condition,” Hayes said. 

“It’s been a joy to coach him, he works really hard, he’s enthusiastic and wants to learn.

“He’s in for a big year I’d say." 

That’s a scary thought for the competition given Scully averaged 24 disposals, 4.6 inside 50s, 2.8 clearances and nearly a goal a game in 2016.

But it’s not just the experienced players that have led from the front.

Hayes has been impressed with the young group of footballers the GIANTS selected in last November’s NAB AFL Draft.

“Obviously we were pretty fortunate in the draft to pick up a couple of young guys who are going through the midfield,” he said.

“Timmy Taranto and Will Setterfield are going really well so hopefully they’ll get themselves into a position to play some footy in the pre-season comp.

“They’ve really fitted in with some of the structures and the terminology that we use is quite similar to what they’ve been used to. 

“It’s a bit of an adjustment for all young players in terms of loads and coming up against bigger bodies but they’ve fitted in really nicely.” 

While Hayes is full of praise for the youngsters and Scully, he’s also knows it’s a long and tough AFL season.

“I think every team around this time thinks they’re going pretty well because they haven’t played an opposition so I guess we’ll find out in a couple of months time.”