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GEELONG champion Jimmy Bartel says long-term player development will be as important for Greater Western Sydney as the instant talent they’ve been able to select in recent drafts.
The triple-premiership Cat told SEN on Thursday he could see the potential the Giants had when they entered the competition in 2012 and was "blown away" watching them destroy Hawthorn last Saturday.
But he said potential was only part of the puzzle if the club wanted to be successful in finals and win a premiership, and praised the progress the Giants had made in bringing their young players along.
"There is still a lot of luck and you need to develop the players right," Bartel said.
"You could have all the potential you want on the list but you still have to nurture, which they seem to be doing very well at the moment."
Bartel said the on-field leadership of the Giants was excellent and praised their co-captain Callan Ward, who plays his 150th game this week.
"Callan Ward gets overlooked as to how good a leader he is," Bartel said.
He said the Giants were too good for Geelong in round two and they seem to have found the right balance between youth and experience.
"They have had that core group now together for three or four years, plus what they have added around it and they are led really well," Bartel said.
He said he understood why the Giants were given so many draft concessions in their early years.
"You need a successful Greater Western Sydney if you want a full national competition," Bartel said.
The Giants sit fifth on the ladder having won four and lost two this year.
