The 2012 NAB AFL Draft's No.1 selection said he is competing with many talented young players at the Giants for a spot in the midfield mix and will need to perform very well on the track and in the lead up games in order to earn selection in round one.
The Giants open their season against the defending premiers, the Sydney Swans, on March 30 at ANZ Stadium.
Speaking on day one of the AFL Players' Association's two-day induction camp for first year players, Whitfield told AFL.com.au he was raring to get back into training in the new year after being at the Giants for a month before the Christmas break.
"I think all the boys are hoping to play round one," Whitfield said.
"It's just a matter of if we can get up for it and try to break in. If we can perform on the track, maybe that is a possibility."
All six players the Giants selected in this year's NAB AFL Draft were from Melbourne, so Whitfield said the first month has been as much about settling in off the field in their new home as it has been about preparing their bodies for the rigours of an AFL season.
He said while the intensity of training has been high, they have had enough energy in the tank to check out parts of Sydney such as Bondi Beach and the CDB on their days off to ensure they feel comfortable as quickly as possible.
"We're trying to utilise our spare time as well as catch up on our sleep," Whitfield said.
Whitfield said the AFLPA induction camp was a great chance for new players to understand what options were available to them when it came to utilising their spare time as their careers unfolded.
He said he would be looking at accessing the grants on offer to further his education in the future and said the players who have been involved in the Association such as former AFLPA president Luke Power, who is now an assistant coach at the Giants, and current president Luke Ball were great role models for all players entering the competition.
"I'll definitely be tapping into it and hopefully will get involved in the future," Whitfield said.
