Best 22 – round one
B: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Aidan Corr
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Adam Tomlinson, Nick Haynes
C: Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Sam Reid
HF: Dylan Shiel, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene
F: Zac Langdon, Jon Patton, Matt de Boer
Foll: Dawson Simpson, Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly
I/C: Harry Himmelberg, Jeremy Finlayson, Sam Reid, Daniel Lloyd
Emerg: Brett Deledio, Harry Perryman, Rory Lobb, Aiden Bonar
Fans' season previews: Greater Western Sydney
2017 best and fairest top three
1. Josh Kelly
2. Callan Ward
3. Phil Davis
Injury list
Ryan Griffen (ankle) is no chance of facing his former side the Western Bulldogs in round one, while Jacob Hopper (groin) is also unlikely, and doubts still linger over Tom Scully (knee) and Aidan Corr (groin). Brett Deledio (Achilles) and Rory Lobb (groin) had extremely interrupted pre-season campaigns so might require another couple of games in the NEAFL.
The big questions
How good can Josh Kelly be?
After last year's stunning season in which he won the best and fairest award and was named All Australian, all while under the scrutiny of the media over his contract status, it's crazy to think that Kelly is only 23 years old. The star midfielder has very few deficiencies in his game and more experience is only going to help him improve, which is a scary prospect for opposition clubs.
Can Jacob Hopper get through a full season?
After his 32-possession debut in 2016 the former GWS academy graduate looked like a future star of the competition, but he has had no luck with injury and illness since. He's a clearance specialist and has A-grade potential, so if he can get an extended run of games into him, he'll be a key part of the Giants' premiership push.
Will Lachie Whitfield play the whole year in defence?
The experiment has started brilliantly and with Griffen battling ankle problems again, it might be a permanent move, for 2018 at least. If Griffen can get back Whitfield is a chance to return to the wing, but if he continues his form, Leon Cameron might send Heath Shaw up the ground instead.
Look for…
The return of Stephen Coniglio. The gun midfielder's hardness was sorely missed last year because of two separate ankle injuries, as was his leadership. The West Australian is back to full fitness after playing through plenty of pain late last year, and will remind the competition of his quality in 2018.
Who they play
The Giants play four of last year's bottom eight sides in their first six games which is a bonus, but finish with five of their last seven games against teams that are likely to be top four contenders in Richmond, Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. They travel to South Australia twice but on have to play in Perth once against West Coast in round 16.
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Fantasy cash cow
Lachie Whitfield - $690,000. The former wingman starred across half-back during the JLT Community Series and averaged 111 points per game. The Giants will look to get the ball in his hands as much as possible so he'll rack up the possessions in his new role.
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Sudden impact
Young forward Zac Langdon is almost certain to debut against the Dogs in round one after an impressive JLT Community Series campaign, while the club's top draft pick Aiden Bonar is also in the mix. Langdon brings plenty of tackling pressure inside 50 and has slotted into the AFL scent seamlessly after coming over from the WAFL.
It's crunch time for…
Rory Lobb. The big man was slated to take over the number one ruck role from the retired Shane Mumford, but persistent groin troubles have limited his training over summer. Dawson Simpson is likely to start the season but once Lobb is match fit he'll come into the side, and if he can give the Giants a mobile option around the ground, he'll be invaluable.
Pressure rating on the coach
Nothing to see here. Cameron has won 32 games in the past two seasons and taken his side to the back-to-back preliminary finals, where the Giants fell to the eventual premiers on both occasions. There'll be the usual hysteria from some parts of the media about the club's draft concessions and needing to win a flag soon, but that means little to those inside the walls at GWS.
The 2017 habit the Giants must kick…
Their lack of forward pressure. Last year the Giants' ability to keep the footy inside 50 was lacking, with three talls unable to provide the tackling pressure at ground level, and their smalls unwilling to work hard enough. The addition of Langdon will help, as will the move of Lobb to the ruck, but Toby Greene, Sam Reid, Matt de Boer, Daniel Lloyd and Harry Himmelberg must bring the heat.
The Giants will have a good year if…
Their rehab team are twiddling their thumbs. It doesn't matter how much talent the Giants have on their list if they're all sitting on the sidelines, and they're definitely due some luck on the injury front. If the best 22 can stay healthy they'll be tough to beat.
They’re in trouble if …
The rehab team are run off their feet. The loss of Mumford and Steve Johnson (retired), along with Nathan Wilson (Fremantle), Devon Smith (Essendon) and Matt Kennedy (Carlton), means the Giants' depth players are mostly young and developing, which could be a problem if injuries plague the club again.
Pass mark
A top-four finish at the end of the regular season is a pass, but another preliminary final exit is not, and after two years of falling a game before the Grand Final, the Giants must make it to the decider.
AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: Second
Player Ratings star
2016 best and fairest winner and All Australian forward Toby Greene (14th) is the highest rated Giant, and it's little wonder the club locked him into a six-year contract extension recently. Greene sets up just as many goals for his teammates as he kicks himself and is the most important player on the GWS list.
