On paper, former South Australian under-18 representative Alex Carey looms as the most important player for Team GWS in the TAC Cup this season.
Carey, a member of the 2007/08 AIS-AFL Academy squad, is hoping the club can keep his AFL prospects alive after being overlooked in last year's draft period and deciding against a promising cricket career.
"Carey is the most decorated of our players in the sense that he's represented South Australia at under-18 nationals last year and he's also played SANFL reserves," the club's high performance coach Alan McConnell told afl.com.au.
"He's declined a contract with the SACA (South Australian Cricket Association) to have another crack at AFL footy.
"We would expect him to play a strong leadership role in the group."
Overlooked in the last two drafts despite a handful of clubs showing genuine interest, 198cm ruckman Tom Hill - formerly with the Northern Knights - is another player McConnell believes could produce a breakout season.
So too could 18-year-old pair Kaine Stevens and Josh Bruce, who represented NSW/ACT at the 2009 championships. "We'd be expecting good things from them, because of the fact they've got more experience and stronger bodies than most of our squad," McConnell said.
Greater Western Sydney will also foster the "enormous potential" of Craig Moller, who at 15 already stands at 200cm and has an elite basketball and volleyball background.
However, McConnell has been drawn to the stories of indigenous players Damian Williams and Jed Anderson, both from the Northern Territory.
"Damian left home at 16 to travel across the country, so he's had to deal with a change in climate, in culture and in school and expectations. He's played most of his footy in Darwin, but even coming to training regularly is a new experience for him," he said.
"In Jed's case, he arrived down here and he's had to deal with his grandpa -who he is very close to - requiring heart surgery, so it's pretty hard work for the young fella. He has had to change school and be a long way from home and not having had a great deal of life experience, he has had to manage it.
"We literally bought Jed a fishing rod, so he could sit down at the back of the school and throw his line in the water, because that's actually part of what he does when he's at home. That's the actual level of pastoral care and creativity we've needed to look at to give these boys a chance to settle."
AFL club scholarship holders who will play with Greater Western Sydney include Will Langford (aligned with Hawthorn, son of former Hawk Chris), Kane Murphy (aligned with St Kilda, son of former Swan David) and Thomas Kickett (aligned with Hawthorn, cousin of Derek and Dale).
McConnell, a former Fitzroy coach and AIS-AFL Academy high performance manager, will guide Greater Western Sydney into its first official match against the Knights at Blacktown Olympic Park on Saturday. Despite Kevin Sheedy having the senior job, McConnell will coach the side for the entire season.
By Matt Burgan - AFL.com.au
