GIANTS members were given an exclusive insight into the club in a special Members Connect session with GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney, and GIANTS Head of Talent, Adrian Caruso.
The exclusive online session, which was only accessible to GIANTS members, allowed the passionate members to submit any questions they had for McCartney and Caruso in a live and open forum.
Discussing everything from strategy at the upcoming national draft, to major list management decisions, to who can carry the GIANTS forward in 2027, the exclusive session gave members an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the GIANTS.
A deliberate strategy to strengthen the list
One of the key discussions of the session was the reasoning behind the club’s recent list changes and its determination to maximise its position in the upcoming draft.
McCartney explained to members that the club had carefully considered the timing of its decisions, particularly with the introduction of Tasmania set to affect the draft landscape over the next two years.
“It was a really deliberate strategy around that, hitting the draft this year, and freeing up some cap space because re-signing guys like Tom Green and Lachie Ash are the priority,” he said.
He added that the decisions were made with both the immediate and longer-term future in mind, acknowledging the contribution of departing players while emphasising the importance of building the next phase of the team.
“It's time for the next group to take control of the footy club, and that's what we're really excited about.”
Caruso said the GIANTS have put themselves in a strong position by investing heavily in the draft over the past four years.
“We've had more top 25 picks in the last four years than any club.”
He added that the club had deliberately built its list with the upcoming compromised drafts in mind, giving it a foundation of young players who should continue to develop even if opportunities to add further draft talent become limited.
“We feel like we've best prepared for that over the last three or four years.
“The key thing there will just be development and retention.”
He also highlighted the importance of securing the club's young talent on longer-term contracts before the next wave of players comes out of contract.
His key message was that the GIANTS have anticipated the challenges ahead and believe the work already completed at the draft will help them navigate the next two years.
Strong confidence in the next generation
With the recent departures of some senior players making the GIANTS’ list younger, members were keen to understand whether the club believes it can contend for a premiership by developing its existing talent rather than relying on recruiting established stars from rival clubs.
Caruso acknowledged the change in the list demographic but said the club believes its strategy of drafting and developing players is the right path forward.
“80 per cent of premiership teams is traditionally built through the draft,” Caruso said.
He pointed to the established core of players already developed by the GIANTS, including Finn Callaghan, Aaron Cadman, Tom Green, Lachie Ash, Brent Daniels, Connor Idun, Sam Taylor, and Jack Buckley, before highlighting the next group coming through.
“Now we need that next crop coming through to get to their prime while those guys I just mentioned are still playing good footy.
“Players like Phoenix Gothard, Joe Fonti, Harvey Thomas, Ryan Angwin, Riley Hamilton, Joey Delana, Oskar Taylor, Harry Oliver, Ollie Hannaford, James Leake.
Caruso outlined the importance of that group making the transition from promising young talent to established AFL players over the next couple of seasons.
“Even if only four or five of them pop in the next two years, which is when we hope they do, then we still believe we've got a great core combined with the established players we’ve already got.”
He also stressed that the club's list has more depth than its age profile might suggest, pointing to experienced role players who can help support the younger group.
“It's a very, very similar age profile to what Fremantle had at round one this year, and we saw what they were able to do across the course of the season. So, I think everyone's going to get fooled by how young our squad is and by what went out, but we're confident in what we've got, and just because we're young doesn't mean we can't be good.”
Ethan Matthews and the upcoming draft
The club’s plans for the upcoming draft was also a major talking point, particularly its intention to secure young Western Sydney talent Ethan Matthews.
Caruso reassured members that the GIANTS were confident they would be able to match a bid for Matthews in the draft, regardless of when it arrived.
“There’s no scenario at the moment that we're working through that means that we would miss out on Ethan or not take him.”
He explained that the club's draft position, including picks nine and 20, gave them confidence in their ability to secure Matthews, although an early bid could affect the number and position of the club’s subsequent draft selections.
Caruso added that the club would not risk losing Matthews simply to select another player with an earlier pick.
“We're not going to put Ethan at jeopardy given how highly we rate him.”
Beyond Matthews, the GIANTS expect to have further opportunities to add young talent, with Caruso indicating that the club would likely have picks in the 25–35 range.
Caruso said the priority would be selecting quality players rather than reaching for a particular position.
“Ideally, we're just finding someone that we think is going to be a good player for our footy club.”
He also emphasised that the club is pleased to have access to a prospect it rates so highly.
“You know, we are lucky to be able to have access to Ethan [as a GIANTS Academy product] because if we had pick nine in the draft and Ethan was in the open pool, we'd be shattered because we'd be missing out on him. So, we're definitely happy that we're getting Ethan and the plan is to complement him with two other good young kids, regardless of position.”
Injury updates: Tom Green, Josh Kelly and Darcy Jones and co.
“I was actually with Tom [Green] for a while yesterday and he's progressing really well and running quite well. So, he's happy and the medical team are happy where he's at.”
Darcy Jones was also progressing well, with the club having made a deliberate decision not to risk his return late in the season when finals were out of reach.
“Darcy Jones has been fine. The reality is Darcy was fine last year. Again, we made a deliberate decision with four weeks to go, and not looking like we'd been playing finals, that there was no one that we're going to risk him.
Josh Kelly's recovery was described as a slower process because of the significance of his injury and surgery.
“Josh is, he's slow. That's a significant injury and surgery that Josh had and what he's embarking on hasn't been done by an AFL footballer before.”
McCartney said Kelly was taking small steps and giving himself the best possible chance of returning successfully.
He also noted positive rehab work undertaken by Brent Daniels and Jack Buckley, with both progressing well in their bid to make an impact in 2027.
Tom Green and Lachie Ash contract updates
Members also sought an update on two of the club’s most important contract priorities, Tom Green and Lachie Ash.
“Yeah, I do. I don't know about both, but definitely one. I'm pretty confident around that,” he said when asked if a new deal for either Green or Ash should be expected prior to the start of the 2027 season.
He said both players were progressing well, with their re-signings a significant priority for the club.
McCartney added that many of the club’s recent list changes have been made with its salary-cap position in mind, with retaining key players [such as Green and Ash] forming an important part of its planning.
A small-forward group with plenty of potential
The GIANTS’ small forward stocks also attracted interest in Monday’s session, with members asking whether the club has enough opportunities available for its young players and whether the group is becoming too crowded.
Caruso said the club has deliberately invested in the area over the past three to four years, having identified it as a prior weakness in the list.
The GIANTS have added the likes of Gothard, Delana, Hamilton, Hannaford, and Cody Angove to a group in recent years that already includes the likes of Brent Daniels, Toby Bedford and Darcy Jones.
However, injuries meant the club had not yet seen all available at the one time.
“Now, out of some of those guys, Daniels, Jones, Bedford, Gothard and Angove, by the end of the year, none of them were playing, they were all injured. So, we haven't actually seen what that small forward brigade is going to look like together, and that's what we're most excited about.”
Caruso believes the group has the potential to become a major strength, while also offering flexibility across different positions.
He noted that players such as Daniels and Gothard could spend time in the midfield, while Angove could develop into a wingman or midfielder. While noting other young small forwards such as Delana and Hamilton bring different dynamics to the group.
Caruso added that the club is also mindful that its younger options still need to establish themselves at AFL level, meaning competition for spots will remain important.
Ultimately, Caruso sees the small forward group as a potential point of difference for the GIANTS.
“I'm confident we could have the best small forwards in the comp if they're fit and available and they develop and hit their potential that we're hoping they do.”
Why the club made its decision on Jesse Hogan
McCartney addressed questions about Jesse Hogan’s departure, explaining that the decision was made after considering his availability, the club’s financial position and the need to prioritise other players.
Hogan had played limited football during the season, with injuries restricting his contribution, and the club faced a decision about how to balance his contract against its broader list priorities.
McCartney said the Giants had to consider the consequences of retaining Hogan, particularly if his injury issues continued, while potentially losing another important player.
“We had to prioritise Max Gruzewski in that situation - we would have lost Max.”
The decision was not made without recognising Hogan’s contribution to the club, but McCartney emphasised that the GIANTS needed to look beyond the immediate season.
“So, we made that decision. It would have been probably about five or six weeks out.”
He also noted that the club had already demonstrated its ability to perform without Hogan during the season.
The departure is part of the broader strategy to give the next generation greater responsibility and opportunities to establish themselves.
Recruitment goes beyond talent on the field
Caruso also gave members a detailed insight into the club's recruitment process when asked how the GIANTS assess whether a player will fit into the team's culture.
He explained that interviews are a central part of the process, with every player the club drafts interviewed at least three times throughout the year.
The GIANTS meet with a broad group of prospects before narrowing their draft board to approximately 20–30 players. In the lead-up to the draft, they visit those players at home speak with their families and assess their readiness to move interstate.
Caruso said the process helps the club understand whether a player has the resilience and independence required to move to Sydney and embrace life at the GIANTS.
“We don't just draft anyone. We only draft players that we feel fit our values and our environment and that we think that would survive and thrive in our club.”
The club also conducts extensive background work, speaking with coaches, teammates, teachers and other people who have worked with the prospects.
For the GIANTS, character and cultural fit are as important as football ability in identifying players who can succeed over the long term.
Building a stronger Western Sydney talent pathway
The GIANTS’ investment in Western Sydney football was another key topic, particularly with Matthews expected to become a high-end local prospect.
Caruso said the club and the AFL have invested heavily in the region but cautioned that developing a consistent pipeline of AFL talent would take time.
“Ethan's going to be the first player that's going to come in and be a real high-end talent.”
He explained that the development of young players starts in primary school and that the region's growth had been affected by several factors, including COVID and competition from other sports.
The GIANTS expect it could take another five or six years before the investment produces a consistent flow of high-end talent.
Caruso also confirmed the club has sought greater access to Western Sydney academy prospects, asking the AFL to allow the GIANTS to recruit draftable players developed through the Academy without the current bidding concessions.
“We know that an academy in Western Sydney that's full of talent is going to help our club long term.”
McCartney added that the club believes some existing pathways and rules disadvantage a younger club such as the GIANTS, particularly the father-son system.
He said the club remains committed to developing local talent, with Matthews representing an important step in that.
Leadership and the next GIANTS captain
With Toby Greene departing, members asked who might take over as captain and whether the club would consider co-captains.
McCartney said the leadership group remained in a strong position and highlighted Tom Green and Connor Idun as obvious candidates.
“Tom Green's pretty obvious, Connor Idun is pretty obvious.”
He said the club would assess its options when the players returned, adding that he was comfortable with the idea of co-captains despite coach Adam Kingsley's traditional preference for a single captain.
He added that the club has strong leadership options as it transitions into its next phase.
“We've got very, very capable candidates, so there won't be an issue there.”
Mature-age recruitment and finding the right balance
Members asked how the GIANTS balance selecting young players for the future with recruiting mature-age players who may be ready to contribute immediately.
Caruso explained that the club assesses its list needs and the available talent before deciding which approach is most appropriate.
While mature-age players can fill immediate gaps, he stressed that the club will not recruit someone simply because they offer short-term experience.
“I'd much prefer bringing in an 18, 19-year-old kid who's got more potential than a 24-year-old who's got experience but is just not going to get to the level.”
Caruso said the club's preference when drafting young players is to identify those who can develop into high-quality AFL players over several years, rather than focusing solely on immediate impact.
That approach is intended to create a sustainable list capable of competing over an extended period.
What comes next for the GIANTS?
The session closed with McCartney thanking members for their support and reiterating that the decisions made during the off-season were deliberate.
He acknowledged that farewelling experienced players was difficult but said the club was confident in its direction.
“We're confident with the decisions and the future of the club,’ McCartney said.
McCartney returned to the central themes of the session: creating opportunities for emerging players, maintaining salary-cap flexibility for key re-signings, and ensuring the GIANTS enter the draft with the ability to add further quality.
“I talked about the reasoning to get into this draft, to free up some cap space for Tom and Lachie, and to provide opportunities for players who we think are ready to go.”
With Matthews expected to join the club, a strong core of established players and a younger group looking to take the next step, the GIANTS believe their recent list decisions have positioned them for the challenges ahead.
The focus now turns to pre-season, continued player development, and translating the potential within the list into consistent on-field performance.
