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JONATHAN Giles says there was no "elephant in the room" when he met with West Coast and he is well aware of the role he has signed up for after being traded from Essendon to the Eagles.
Giles, 27, was traded to the Eagles along with pick No.62 in this year's NAB AFL Draft while pick No.57 headed to the Bombers. West Coast will be his fourth AFL club following previous stints at Port Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney.
It was an extraordinary turn of events for Giles, who did not expect to be the subject of any interest during the NAB AFL Trade Period. He had another year to run on his two-year deal with the Bombers after he was traded from GWS last year.
The Eagles' interest only came about after they traded ruckman Callum Sinclair to the Sydney Swans for Lewis Jetta. The deal left the Eagles with just two 200cm-plus ruckmen on their list, in Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett.
Giles said his manager Tom Petroro told him to "take a seat" before informing him that West Coast football manager Craig Vozzo had called to ask if Giles would fly to Perth to meet with the Eagles late last week.
Giles obliged and he said after meeting with Vozzo, Eagles coach Adam Simpson and ruck coach Dean Cox, he was left in no doubt about what a potential move to the Eagles would look like.
"There's no elephant in the room about what's happening," Giles told AFL.com.au.
"They were really honest with what the role was going across.
"Nic Nat's obviously the No.1 ruckman. He's a superstar of the comp.
"They obviously have a couple of other ruckmen that are developing in Lycett and (Fraser) McInnes.
"They saw my role coming across was to be amongst the mix in the rucks there and to support Nic and to support these other young guys and to provide competition and to help those guys out and develop."
Giles was initially happy to stay at Essendon after settling in Melbourne despite a really difficult season in which he played just three senior games. But following a discussion with his partner Hannah and his family, he made the bold move.
"I was willing to keep working hard at the Bombers and work through the challenges that were there but an opportunity came up to go across to the Eagles," Giles said.
"The same challenges will be there across at the Eagles in terms of having to train hard and you've got to work your butt off to get into the side and earn respect from your teammates. But I'm really excited about moving across to Perth."
Giles said he had no regrets about his time at Essendon. Despite the Bombers' struggles in the ruck department he simply could not get a game under James Hird until playing three games late in the season. Giles said he and Hird were in constant communication all season about what was needed but they just weren't quite on the same page.
"Hirdy and I spoke," Giles said.
"He wanted me to work on different areas throughout the year. I was working on those areas. We obviously had a difference of opinion with some of the things.
"But I worked very hard at the areas he wanted me to work on. I was trying to do everything I could to get an opportunity. Eventually, albeit it was late in the season, I did get a shot and Hirdy was still coaching then.
"It was challenging throughout the year trying to get a game but that's AFL football for you. You've got to work hard. You've got to ride the highs and lows and you've got to have a bit of luck go your way as well. A lot of things happen. I still enjoyed my year at Essendon, albeit it was a very tough year."
