Jarrod Brander is looking forward to returning 'home' to the club he was part of as a young kid growing up in southern NSW after signing with the GIANTS as a delisted free agent.
The 22-year-old played 22 games across four seasons at the West Coast Eagles after being selected at pick 13 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft by the West Coast Eagles.
Brander grew up in Wentworth in Southern NSW and was a member of the club’s Academy until his draft year when the Academy zones were changed, and the GIANTS lost priority access to him.
A versatile young player, Brander is looking forward to pulling on the orange and charcoal for the 2022 AFL season.
“It came out a couple of weeks ago now that I would be joining the GIANTS, and ever since then I’ve been really excited to get up here to Sydney,” Brander said.
“After I had been delisted by West Coast, I spoke to coach Leon (Cameron) and (recruiting manager) Adrian Caruso and a few of those guys not too long after.
“I was really excited about the opportunity to join the GIANTS having had that connection to the club when I was a bit younger through the Academy.
"It probably wasn’t the first time I’d thought about playing here.
“I know a few boys already through my Academy days and playing footy all around the place, so it definitely feels a little bit like coming home here, and I’m really excited about that."
Brander already knows fellow Academy graduates Isaac Cumming and Zach Sproule from his Academy days and will move in with former schoolmate Brent Daniels as he settles into life in Sydney.
The GIANTS’ first-to-fourth year players return to the club on November 29 with the senior group to start on December 6.
