In an exclusive interview with AFL Media this week, new Giants coach Leon Cameron said any improvement on the club's dismal 1-21 record from last year would primarily be driven by the maturation of the club's developing playing list.
"The key for us to become more competitive this year are our third-year players," he said.
"There are about 14 or 15 guys who have had a terrific pre-season and we expect them to make some big inroads in terms of their performances.
"They probably average between 30 to 40 games so we expect to see them take significant steps in their AFL careers."
Leon Cameron answers your questions
Among this group are emerging midfielders such as Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio, Adam Treloar and Toby Greene and key forwards Jeremy Cameron, Adam Tomlinson and Jonathan Patton, who returns in 2014 after an ACL injury kept him out for all but three games last year.
"It is dangerous putting a number down," Cameron explained. "All I have said is we are really, really confident going forward with the pre-season we have had."
The Giants added plenty of experience in the off-season by trading for Heath Shaw, Shane Mumford and Dylan Addison and by nabbing Jed Lamb from the crosstown Sydney Swans in the pre-season draft, which has further boosted Cameron's confidence as he takes the reins from Kevin Sheedy.
"I know we have a bit to go, but adding Shaw, Mumford, Addison and Lamb, we will be competitive for longer and that means the wins will come."
