It has been almost 12 months since nine new GIANTS joined the club during the 2016 NAB AFL National and Rookie drafts.
We reflected on the progress made by those players in their first year in orange and charcoal.
Pick 2: Tim Taranto
Lived up to the hype after an outstanding pre-season saw him debut in round one. Taranto played 12 of the first 13 games before suffering a serious ankle injury, but is held in such high regard by the GIANTS, he was recalled for two finals. Played mainly as a forward this year but should see more midfield time next year. Taranto sat down with GIANTS TV to discuss his first year at the club and what it was like to play a final at the MCG.
Pick 5 (Academy selection): Will Setterfield
The midfielder went down with a bad ankle injury early so had to wait until round 18 for a debut, then copped a concussion in his second outing. The smooth mover showed enough to have GIANTS fans excited for 2018, with the 19-year-old's foot skills certain to see him in contention for round one.
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Pick 14 (Academy selection): Harry Perryman
The tough small defender made an immediate impact at GIANTS with his fierce competitiveness. Managed eight senior games for the year and will no doubt build on that next season, and could be looking to replace the departed Nathan Wilson in the backline.
Pick 20 (Academy selection): Isaac Cumming
The lightly-built rebounding defender took some time to settle in but finished the season strongly, and won the GIANTS' NEAFL development award. Cumming is another who could have his eyes on the spot opened up by Wilson's exit to Fremantle.
Pick 54 (Academy selection): Lachie Tiziani
The small forward showed promising signs in the club's first JLT Community Series against West Coast, with his speed his biggest asset. Struggled with a couple of niggling injuries this year but is sure to benefit from another full pre-season.
Pick 58: Matt de Boer
He was a shock pick up but the choice to recruit the experienced former Docker was a smart move by the GIANTS, and he filled an important role playing across half-forward in 15 games. Opportunities might be a bit harder to come by next year if the list remains healthy, but the 27-year-old is a valuable player.
Rookie selection pick 15: Tendai Mzungu
The veteran was picked for round one but suffered a serious hamstring injury, and played just three more games for the year. Retired at the end of this season after 106 senior matches.
Category B Rookie (Zone selection): Zach Sproule
The Albury product and former GIANTS junior mascot, Zach Sproule was upgraded from the rookie list in July after a string of impressive NEAFL displays and was named an emergency in round 16. The 197cm key forward kicked 28 goals in 17 games for the GIANTS and showed he can play both as a deep forward and push up the ground to impact the contest.
Category B Rookie: Jake Stein
The former Commonwealth games decathlete played primarily in defense for the GIANTS Reserves in 2017 but showed his elite athletic capabilites playing on the wing. Stein missed two NEAFL games with a hip injury but showed great potential at times. A work in progress, Stein will look to improve on his gains in 2018.
