After joining the club as an uncontracted player, Palmer played his first game for the club against the Sydney Swans in Round 1 at ANZ Stadium.

The former NAB AFL Rising Star nominee played 15 games for the club in 2012 with an average of 19.6 disposals.

One of the midfielders best performances of the year came in the final round of the GIANTS’ inaugural season when he collected 19 disposals and booted three goals. 

Previous Player History

Rhys Palmer is a 22-year-old, left footed, midfielder who played his junior football at Bullcreek Leeming Football Club in Western Australia.

Rhys made his West Australian Football League (WAFL) debut for East Fremantle in 2007 and was a member of the winning West Australian side in the NAB AFL U18 National Championships in the same year.

After an impressive U18s Championship performance where he averaged 32 disposals and three goals over three matches, Rhys was named in the U18s All-Australian side in 2007.

Fremantle Football Club selected Rhys with pick number seven in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft.

Rhys made his AFL debut in Round 2, 2008 against Hawthorn at Subiaco and despite his side losing by 15 points; Rhys gained 22 possessions and one goal on debut.

He was awarded an NAB AFL Rising Star award for his performance in Fremantle’s 14-point win over West Coast in Round 3, where he racked up 24 possessions despite receiving a gash to the head in the first quarter of the match. Rhys went on to win the prestigious Rising Star award in 2008.

Rhys missed the 2009 AFL season due to a knee reconstruction and returned in Round 6, 2010.

Since his return to the AFL, Rhys has posted career highs in marks, tackles, goals, clearances and contested and uncontested possessions.

Palmer said that he was looking forward to moving to Western Sydney later this year and the facing the challenge ahead of him.