Giants Development Squad Announced

Central West GWS Development Squad practice Craft during a training session. Development Squad are in the process of appointing assistant coaches to their teams: Photo Contributed

The 2022 AFL Central West GIANTS Development Squad was announced last Tuesday with 25 players being selected.

The second season with a girls squad includes five returning players from 2021, whilst the boys squad sees six new faces.

Across the squad, Bathurst Bushrangers have two representatives. Dubbo Junior AFL are represented by four with the Bathurst Giants eight. Orange Tigers are the most-represented team, with ten players in the squad. Two of the Tigers’ ten will make the trek across from Forbes each week, having played in Orange in 2021.

Head coach Kieran Brown was complementary of the squad’s progression since taking the reigns in 2019.

“Our squad is going from strength to strength with high percentages of success when compared to other areas. Ex-Tigers junior Matthew Brown recently being selected in the NAB league with the Giants academy, this being the second lad from the Central West to make this level (following Scott Brown from the Bushrangers).

“We continue to see excellent levels of development in our squad members and enjoy watching their successes on the field.

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Brown was also proud of the growth which the girls program has had on the calibre of player in the region.

“It was another successful season for our CWGWS development squad in 2021 saw 5 of our squad make selection into the phase 1 of the Giants Academy. This is the highest number we’ve achieved to date in one season and of these, 2 were in our inaugural girls program which is a great achievement.”

Whilst for the top-age players, they are aiming for higher honours, with spots in the acedmey up for grabs at season’s end.

“Our girls in the squad this season are working hard to make selection in the phase 1 academy squad at the end of the year. It’s impressive to see how quickly the girls academy is expanding”

“Selection for u17’s phase 1 at the end of the year will be keenly contested as always, on top of good skills, selectors are looking for high levels of fitness, focus and coachability.”

 

Full Squad – Boys

12s

• Joseah Driscoll (Bushrangers)
• Wil McKenzie (Dubbo Juniors)
• Connor Hobby (Giants)
• Jackson Beaudin (Orange/Forbes)
• Hugo Fitzsimmons (Orange)
• Jack Sara (Orange)

13s

• Cameron Healey (Dubbo Juniors)
• Callum Munns (Giants)
• Samuel Kay (Giants)
• Ruben Campiao (Giants)
• Flynn Wolfe (Giants)
• Riley Goodsell (Giants)
• Cayden Metzeling (Orange/Forbes)
• Bailey Stewart (Orange)
• Braydon Totten (Orange)

15s

• James Armour (Dubbo Juniors)
• Charlie Pollock (Dubbo Juniors)
• Cooper Smith (Dubbo/Westbrook)
• Calum Duncan (Orange)
• Harvey Shephard (Orange)

Full Squad – Girls

14s

• Heidi Zwiers (Giants)

15s

• Lucy Driscoll (Bushrangers)
• Olivia Anderson (Giants)
• Claire Gibson (Orange)
• Charli Hunter (Orange)

Head Coach

• Kieran Brown

Assistant Coach

• James Metzeling

Team Manager

• Carmen Armour

 

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