New recruit Jarrod Brander will make his debut for the GIANTS on Saturday as the former Eagle looks to bring athleticism and goal-kicking power to the GIANTS’ offence when he suits up for the orange and charcoal for the first time.   

Brander played 22 games across four seasons for the West Coast Eagles after being selected at pick 13 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft.   

After a strong pre-season in Sydney, the 22-year-old is now ready to be unleashed at the top-level, with Leon Cameron confirming this week that Brander will play his first game for the GIANTS in round one.  

“It’s great for him. He’s had a full pre-season, he’s come from another club and you always want to impress when you come from another club,” Cameron said. 

“He’s done a mountain of work, he’s as ready as he’ll ever be. He’s building up some really good synergy with Himmelberg, Riccardi and the like. He gets his opportunity on Saturday in a huge game for us.” Cameron said.  

Brander was caught off guard with the announcement on Wednesday but said he couldn’t wait to make his debut.  

“In our meeting this morning, we had got through all of it and at the end Leon was speaking about the game and at the last minute he told the boys I’m going to be playing my first game for the club,” Brander said.  

“It was definitely a bit of a shock. I wasn’t really expecting I’d be playing in the first place, and that meeting wasn’t much about selection, so it was a really nice surprise and the boys all got around me which was awesome.  

“It’s exciting to be playing my first game in round one against the Swans. It’ll be my first Derby and first game, so hopefully we can get a really big crowd out to Accor Stadium.  

“I’ve watched a few derbies in my time and they’re always close games, and always a great rivalry. I know the boys are pumped up for it and we were able to get the last one over them so hopefully we can keep that streak going." 

Having grown up in Wentworth in southern NSW, Brander was a member of the club’s Academy until his draft year when the Academy zones were changed, and the GIANTS lost priority access to him.   

It's been somewhat of a homecoming for the NSW-local since he arrived back in his home state last November.    

“I feel like I’ve settled into Sydney and the GIANTS really well. I’ve been here four or five months now and the boys really welcomed me in from day one, so I feel like I’ve been able to slot in easily and put my best foot forward at training,” he said. 

“Hopefully I’ll be able to get my family up for this one, not sure if they will be able to with the current covid situation but hopefully all my family back home like my grandparents and brother and sister can get up for it.  

“Obviously it’s a little bit closer now being in NSW compared to Perth so it’ll nice to hopefully have them all here." 

The GIANTS take on the Swans in Sydney Derby XXIII this Saturday at 5:10pm.  

Tickets are still available from Ticketek or you can grab a Derby Membership, here.