Best 22
B: Curtly Hampton, Phil Davis, Nick Haynes
HB: Heath Shaw, Joel Patfull, Matt Buntine
C: Adam Treloar, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Devon Smith, Adam Tomlinson, Josh Kelly
F: Rhys Palmer, Jeremy Cameron, Cam McCarthy
Foll: Shane Mumford, Ryan Griffen, Dylan Shiel
I/C: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio
Sub: Tom Scully
Health of the list
Important ruckman Shane Mumford says he is as fit as he's been in five years, while recruit Ryan Griffen is showing no signs of the back issue he left the Bulldogs with. Jonathon Patton, who is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from his second knee reconstruction, is the Giants' main injury concern, but they do have young forwards who can step in.
The big questions
Can the Giants eliminate the 100-point thrashings that have happened in each of their three seasons and a total of 12 times since they joined the competition?
What boost can recruit Griffen give the Giants' young midfield, both with his leadership and ability to draw a tag away from Dylan Shiel, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and Co.?
Will the Giants' young stars, including Shiel, Adam Treloar and Will Hoskin-Elliott, follow the lead set by Jeremy Cameron and re-sign with the club?
Summer standout
Exciting young midfielder Shiel has always had the build, but now he has the engine to compete with the game's best midfielders. Shiel elevated himself to the front of the Giants' running group over the summer and benefited from an injury-free pre-season. Treloar and Devon Smith have been other standouts.
Fantasy cash cow
Young forward Cameron McCarthy ($136,000) has been earmarked to step in to replace Patton, all but guaranteeing him senior action from the start of the season. The 19-year-old, who is entering his second season, kicked seven goals across three NAB Challenge matches.
Cam McCarthy and Jeremy Cameron may become a dangerous duo up forward this year. Picture: AFL Media
Sudden impact
Key defender Joel Patfull was recruited from the Brisbane Lions to give GWS the reinforcements its young backline needed. At 30 and after winning back-to-back best and fairest awards in 2012-13, he will make life significantly easier for his talented but inexperienced teammates.
It's crunch time for…
Stephen Coniglio. Injury has been a constant hurdle for the midfielder in his three seasons at GWS, preventing the No.2 draft pick from showcasing all his talents. He has had an extended pre-season after a broken thumb sidelined him for the final six rounds in 2014, and this could be the year he explodes. The West Australian comes out of contract at the end of the season.
Pivotal match
The Giants open their season with winnable games against St Kilda and Melbourne, but the crunch will come in round three when they face crosstown rivals the Sydney Swans. It's their first test against a top-four team in a season when thrashings aren't expected.
The Giants will have a good year if…
Their young midfield guns take a big step together. The competition is fearful of what Kelly, Shiel, Whitfield and Toby Greene can achieve together. And there are others. If that group progresses quicker than expected, expect the Giants to gain significant momentum.
AFL.com.au consensus predicted ladder finish: 13th
