The GWS GIANTS are 50 games old. It’s a small step in what will be a long and glorious existence for the AFL’s newest club, but just how young the GIANTS are is evidenced by a comparison with opposition clubs.

Collingwood, one of eight foundation clubs of the former VFL in 1897, are 2424 games old. Carlton (2386), Essendon (2349), Geelong (2317), Sydney/South Melbourne (2313), Melbourne (2291), St.Kilda (2267) and Richmond (2143) have also topped 2000.

If you add the Brisbane Lions’ 401 games to the 1928 games of merger partner Fitzroy the combined club total is 2329 games. Add the Brisbane Bears’ 222 and they’d sit top of the list with 2551.

Hawthorn (1860) and North Melbourne (1852) are next on the all-time AFL games list after joining the then VFL competition in 1925. They are followed by West Coast (641), Adelaide (539), Fremantle (436) and Port Adelaide (399), who entered the big time in 1987, 1991, 1995 and 1997 respectively.

Interestingly, Collingwood’s all-time player list numbers 1114, while the GIANTS have used just 63 players. Predictably, there have been more lows than highs through the first half century. But, importantly, there’s been no shortage of memorable moments in a short history that should be appreciated for the challenges it has presented, and the satisfaction and fulfilment that will come through more successful times down the track. 

A statistical analysis of facts and figures follows:

GIANT GAMES 

Jonathan Giles heads the GWS all-time games list. And that in itself is a part of the GIANTS fairytale. Originally drafted by Port Adelaide from SANFL club Central Districts at No.71 in the 2005 AFL National Draft, he was released four years later without playing a senior game. After winning the Best & Fairest with SANFL club Sturt in 2010 he was thrown a career lifeline by the GIANTS via the 2011 Rookie Draft. The big success story of a Rookie Draft that also led the GIANTS to Steve Clifton (5 games), Rhys Cooyou (1), Andrew Phillips ( 9) and Jimmi Savage (0), he’s played 48 of a possible 50, missing Round 12 2012 against Richmond through injury and Round 16 2012 against Adelaide when omitted. 

Giles also holds the club record for most consecutive games. He’s played 35 in a row from Round 17 2012 to head injured co-captain Phil Davis, who played the first 27 games without a miss, and injured defender Tim Mohr, who played all 22 games in 2013.

Adam Kennedy, another player secured via means other than the early draft picks which have been the core of club’s recruiting, also ranks in the top 10 through the first 50 games. He was claimed by the GIANTS prior to the 2011 National Draft as a previously nominated player overlooked by every opposition club 12 months earlier. 

GIANTS Top 10 Games Played: Jonathan Giles (48), Callan Ward (47), Tom Scully (46), Adam Treloar (44), Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Devon Smith (43), Curtly Hampton (41), Adam Kennedy (40), Tomas Bugg (38).

GIANTS Top 10 Consecutive Games: Jonathan Giles (35), Phil Davis (27), Tim Mohr (22), Callan Ward (21), Curtly Hampton (20), Callan Ward (18), Dylan Shiel (18), Tom Scully (15), Devon Smith (15), Adam Treloar (13 – twice), Toby Greene (13).

GIANT GOALS

Callan Ward kicked the GIANTS’ first goal in their first match against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium, followed by Nathan Wilson, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jonathan Giles and James McDonald. But after Giles became the club’s first multiple goal-kicker it’s been all Jeremy Cameron. He has kicked an astonishing 23 per cent of the GIANTS’ 468 goals to head the club’s all-time list with 107. And he’s missed seven games through injury. He’s been the GIANTS’ leading goal-kicker in 27 of 43 games he’s played (including ties), and six times he’s kicked at least half the team’s goals. Leading goal-kicker in 2012 with 29 and in 2013 with 62 when he became the GIANTS’ first All-Australian selection, he holds the club record for most goals in a game – seven against Collingwood in Round 18, 2013. He also kicked six against Essendon in Round 6 2013, and five against the Western Bulldogs in Round 5 2012.

Will Hoskin-Elliott (2012), Setanta O’hAilpin (2013) and Devon Smith (2014) also have kicked five goals in match. Cameron also has seven bags of four goals, matched by Jonathan Giles (once each in 2012 and 2013) and Callan Ward (2013). Cameron also holds the record for most GIANTS goals in a quarter – four in the first term against Collingwood on his way to  his club-record seven. Their longest run of unanswered goals was seven in the win over Gold Coast in Canberra in 2012, and against Sydney at Spotless Stadium this year. The longest run of consecutive goals conceded by the GIANTS was 14 goals to Richmond at Spotless Stadium in Round 22 2013.

GIANTS Top 10 Goals: Jeremy Cameron (107), Jonathan Giles (37), Devon Smith (33), Adam Treloar (23), Callan Ward (21), Rhys Palmer, Jonathon Patton (18), Tom Scully (17), Dylan Shiel (16), Setanta O’hAilpin, Toby Greene (15).

GIANTS Most Goals in a Match: Jeremy Cameron – 7 v Collingwood, MCG, 18/13; Jeremy Cameron – 6 v Essendon, Etihad Stadium, 6/13; Jeremy Cameron – 5 v W/Bulldogs, Etihad, 5/12; Will Hoskin-Elliott – 5 v Gold Coast, Metricon Stadium, 20/12; Setanta O’hAilpin – 5 v Melbourne, MCG, 4/13; Devon Smith – 5 v St.Kilda, Etihad, 2/14.

GIANTS Most Goals in a Quarter: Jeremy Cameron – 4gls – 1Q v Collingwood, S/S, 18/13; Jeremy Cameron – 3gls – 3Q v North Melbourne, Hobart, 2/13; Tomas Bugg – 3gls – 1Q v Port Adel, S/S, 19/12; Setanta O’hAilpin – 3gls – 1Q v Melbourne, MCG, 4/13; Jeremy Cameron – 3gls – 1Q v Essendon, Etihad Stadium, 6/13; Jeremy Cameron – 3gls – 3Q v Adelaide, S/S, 7/13; Devon Smith – 3gls – 4Q v Melbourne, S/S, 19/13; Jeremy Cameron – 3gls – 2Q v Fremantle, Patersons Stadium, 20/13.

GIANT WINS 

The GIANTS’ first win came against the Gold Coast Suns in Canberra in Round 7 2012, when they staged a blistering finish to claim a topsy-turvy contest by 27 points. Having led by 17 points at quarter-time, they trailed by 13 at halftime. And eight minutes into the third quarter the deficit was 18 points. But the GIANTS, inspired by Jonathan Giles and Chad Cornes, who collected three and two Brownlow Medal votes respectively, and a game-high 31 possessions from Stephen Coniglio, they kicked the last seven goals through Devon Smith, Jacob Townsend, Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar, Giles, Jeremy Cameron and, fittingly, Giles again to win 13-16 (94) to 9-13 (67). 

The GIANTS won again in Round 19 2012, beating Port Adelaide by 34 points at Spotless Stadium, while their only success in 2013 was against Melbourne at Spotless in Round 19 by a club record 37 points. Already this year they’ve beaten cross-town rivals Sydney in Round 1 and Melbourne in Round 3. Each win was by 32 points and each was at Spotless.

They are 2-3 overall against Melbourne, 1-4 against Gold Coast and Sydney, 1-2 v Port Adelaide, 0-2 against Brisbane, Carlton, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Geelong, Hawthorn, Richmond and West Coast, 0-3 v Essendon, North Melbourne, St.Kilda and Western Bulldogs, and 0-4 Adelaide.

Ten players have played in all five GWS wins - Tomas Bugg, Jeremy Cameron, Stephen Coniglio, Jonathan Giles, Toby Greene, Adam Kennedy, Tom Scully, Devon Smith, Adam Treloar and Callan Ward.

HOMEGROWN GIANTS

Jacob Townsend has been the No.1 shining light among eight NSW/ACT players who have worn GIANTS colours at AFL level. Townsend, from Leeton in the Riverina, has played 22 AFL games, three goals, 208 possessions and three wins. He was the only homegrown product in the GIANTS' first game against the Sydney Swans in Round 1 2012 and won the club’s inaugural Coach’s Award.

Townsend was followed into GIANTS colors by fellow AFL debutants Anthony Miles (Howlong/Murray Bushrangers), Josh Bruce (Eastlake, ACT), Sam Schulz (Culcairn/Murray Bushrangers), Mark Whiley (Finley/Murray Bushrangers), Kurt Aylett (Leeton), and Zac Williams (Narrandera).

Then, this year, they expanded their NSW/ACT talent with an adopted homegrown player. Dylan Addison, new to the club this season from the Western Bulldogs, grew up in the Sydney suburb of Picnic Point and played junior football at St George before being drafted by the Dogs in 2005. He played 88 games from 2006-13 before being signed by the GIANTS as a de-listed free agent. Other NSW/ACT players listed by the GIANTS without playing an AFL match have been the currently listed Jake Barrett (Temora) and the de-listed Tim Segrave (Corowa-Rutherglen).

GIANTS Homegrown Talent (in playing order): Jacob Townsend (22 Giants games), Anthony Miles (10), Josh Bruce (14), Sam Schulz (1), Mark Whiley (10), Kurt Aylett (1), Zac Williams (13), Dylan Addison (3).

SPOTLESS STADIUM 

The GIANTS, looking in time to build a fortress at their Spotless Stadium home ground, have a 4-11 win/loss record at the ground that was formerly known as Skoda Stadium. But, in a positive pointer to the future, their early season wins over Sydney and Melbourne this year mean they are 2-0 at home and 0-4 away.

The GIANTS have played at 14 other grounds, with their only other win coming at StarTrack Oval in Canberra, where they are 1-6 overall. They’ve also played at AAMI Stadium (0-2), Adelaide Oval (0-1), ANZ Stadium at Homebush (0-3), and Aurora Stadium in Launceston (0-1),  Blacktown (0-1), Blundstone Arena in Hobart (0-1), Etihad Stadium (0-6), Gabba (0-2), MCG (0-4), Metricon Stadium (0-3), Patersons Stadium in Perth (0-2), SCG (0-1), Skilled Stadium at Geelong (0-1)  Of the other AFL venues that feature in the 2014 fixture, the Giants are yet to play at TIO Stadium in Darwin, Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns, Traeger Park in Alice Springs, or Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.

Adam Treloar and Callan Ward are the only GIANTS player to have played every game at Spotless, while Jeremy Cameron leads the GIANTS goals list at Spotless from Jonathan Giles and Ward, and Ward, Treloar and Greene head the possession count at Spotless.

GIANTS Top 10 Games Played at Spotless: Adam Treloar, Callan Ward (15), Jeremy Cameron, Tom Scully, Devon Smith (14), Taylor Adams, Jonathan Giles, Toby Greene, Curtly Hampton (13), Adam Kennedy (12).

GIANTS Top 10 Goals Overall at Spotless: Jeremy Cameron (37), Jonathan Giles (14), Callan Ward (12), Devon Smith (11), Adam Treloar (9), Jonathon Patton (8), Toby Greene (6), Tom Scully, Dylan Shiel, Lachie Whitfield (5).

GIANTS Top 10 Possessions Overall at Spotless: Callan Ward (371), Adam Treloar (369), Toby Greene (338), Tom Scully (294), Taylor Adams (270), Curtly Hampton (223), Stephen Coniglio (215), Devon Smith (210), Jonathan Giles (174), Adam Kennedy, Dylan Shiel (165).

GIANTS Top 10 Possessions in a Game at Spotless: Toby Greene (38), Adam Treloar (37), Greene (35), Treloar (34), Treloar (33), Greene (31), Callan Ward (31 twice), Greene (30), Ward (30 three times), Tom Scully (30), Treloar (30).

GIANTS Top 10 Wins at Spotless: Tomas Bugg, Jeremy Cameron, Stephen Coniglio, Jonathan Giles, Toby Greene, Curtly Hampton, Adam Kennedy, Tom Scully, Devon Smith, Adam Treloar, Callan Ward (4).

THE NATION'S CAPITAL 

The GIANTS have established a second homeground at StarTrack Oval in Canberra, playing three games there each year. It was the venue for the club’s first win over Gold Coast in 2012, but in seven visits to the national capital the Giants win/loss record now stands at 1-6. They are 1-1 against Gold Coast, 0-3 v Western Bulldogs, and 0-1 against Melbourne, St.Kilda and Port Adelaide.

Most GIANTS Games in Canberra: Jonathan Giles 7, Tom Scully 7, Jeremy Cameron 6, Stephen Coniglio 6, Toby Greene 6, Adam Kennedy 6, Devon Smith 6, Adam Treloar 6, Callan Ward 6.

Most GIANTS Goals in Canberra: Jeremy Cameron 16, Devon Smith 10, Jonathan Giles 6, Setanta O’hAipin 5, Dylan Shiel 5.

Most GIANTS Goals in a Game in Canberra:  5 – Jeremy Cameron v W/Bulldogs, 5/12; 3 – Jonathan Giles v Gold Coast, 7/12; 3 - Jeremy Cameron v Gold Coast, 5/13; Setanta O’hAilpin – 3 v Gold Coast, 5/13; 3 – Devon Smith v Gold Coast, 5/13; Jeremy Cameron – 3 v W/Bulldogs, 15/13; 3 – Dylan Shiel – 3 v W/Bulldogs, 15/13; 3 – Jeremy Cameron – 3 v W/Bulldogs, 4/14. 

Most GIANTS Possessions in Canberra:  Toby Greene 149, Callan Ward 129, Tom Scully 127, Stephen Coniglio 117, Adam Treloar 116, Devon Smith 111, Jonathan Giles 104, Dylan Shiel 103.

Most  GIANTS Possessions in a Game in Canberra: 38 – Toby Greene v Melbourne, 21/12; 31 – Stephen Coniglio v Gold Coast, 7/12; 31 – Callan Ward v Gold Coast, 5/13; 30 - Luke Power v W/Bulldogs, 5/12; 28 – Tomas Bugg v W/Bulldogs, 5/12; 28 – Chad Cornes v Gold Coast, 7/12; 28 – Callan Ward v St.Kilda, 3/13.