GREATER Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron says heavy criticism of his club's recruiting zones and draft concessions from a number of Melbourne clubs is "water off a duck's back".
Since the Giants' pulled off the best win of their short history over Hawthorn on Saturday, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and several unnamed club recruiters have voiced their concerns over the amount of talent flowing through the doors at GWS.
The Riverina region of southwestern New South Wales is the biggest cause of contention, with the area exclusive GWS academy territory and providing the club with all four of their draftees last year.
Cameron said that he wasn't disappointed or offended by any of the comments he's seen; in fact it's something he's grown accustomed too.
"Here we go again on the back of a win," he said on Wednesday.
"When we got beaten by Melbourne in round one I don't think it was brought up and when we were beaten by Sydney (in round three) it wasn't brought up.
"The same thing happened last year, the same thing happened the year before, it's not on the back of a loss.
"We feel as though our club is heading in the right direction, we've got a long way to go, but the people at this footy club work god damn hard and I'm really proud of that.
"I can't control anyone's opinion outside our footy club but one thing I will say is that the AFL made a great adjustment last year with the bidding system coming in for the academies.
"You can't get much fairer than that.
"If Sydney and the Giants and the Lions and the Suns are producing more players into the AFL system via Queensland, via New South Wales, it's only a good thing."
The Giants head to Perth to take on Fremantle on Saturday seeking their first ever win at Domain stadium in co-captain Callan Ward's 150th senior match.
Ward was one of the club's first big signings in 2011, named as inaugural co-captain alongside Phil Davis when he left the Western Bulldogs, and has carved out an outstanding resume in Sydney.
He won the GWS club champion award in their first season, and has finished in the top three at the Kevin Sheedy Medal every year since.
Cameron said Ward was the perfect recruit for the AFL's 18th team to build a club around.
"He comes from a great family, is competitive, has fantastic character, is well liked by all the boys and we know he's the spiritual leader out on the ground," he said.
"His actions do the talking and our boys love playing for him.
"We probably didn't know he was a young leader back then and it was thrust upon him in the early years, but we've just seen him grow year after year on the field but also off the field.
"When you have a leader like that it makes it easier for the coaching staff every day of the week, so we're really proud of what he's achieved."
Ward said reaching the milestone was taking time to soak in.
"When I first turned up to the Western Bulldogs there were guys like Robert Murphy, Daniel Giansiracusa and Dale Morris that were playing their 150th, guys I looked up to as a kid," he said.
"I thought it was fantastic that I was playing with these guys and it felt so surreal at the time.
"Now it's me who is playing 150 games and I only hope that the young boys can look up to me now and really want to get there as well."