ALMOST six years after first being drafted, Greater Western Sydney ruckman Jonathan Giles is in contention to play his first match on Saturday night against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.
In a story that coach Kevin Sheedy says should be an example to players all over the country, Giles spent four years on Port Adelaide's list without playing a game, before the Giants threw him a lifeline.
Former Port coach Mark Williams, now an assistant with GWS, played a major hand in bringing him to Sydney, where he has also been coached by previous Power teammate Dean Brogan.
And the 24-year-old has taken full advantage of his second chance and will shoulder the rucking duties when the AFL's 18th club runs out for the first time on Saturday.
"It's a great story," Sheedy said.
"It's a credit to Mark Williams and all the guys that said 'this guy needs a chance'.
"He came from Sturt footy club and he's played 100 games of SANFL footy and played in the NEAFL last year.
"He's not a chicken, he's been out there and done it, and ruckmen often take that little bit more time.
"It's a very difficult task being a top-class ruckman and not many walk into AFL and get it right straight away in their first or second year of being drafted."
Giles demonstrated his development in the Giants' final NAB Cup match against Richmond in Canberra on Saturday.
He finished with 21 hit-outs, comfortably beating Ivan Maric and Andrew Browne, who combined for 26.
Giles added 15 possessions and eight marks and also went forward to kick two goals, including his side's first early in the second quarter from outside 50m.
Despite his strong pre-season, and an injury to experienced ruckman Brogan, Giles still won't allow himself to think too far ahead.
"It's been a bit of a long journey and my four years at Port were great," Giles said.
"I'm much better for those four years - for experience and for building up a better body and maturity and all that.
"Then coming to the Giants, a new club, is very exciting and part of a new adventure for me, a new challenge.
"It was disappointing not playing any games for Port, but I'm just trying to work as hard as I can to crack an AFL game this year and aim for that."
Last year, Giles and fellow mature-age recruit Steve Clifton - a JJ Liston Trophy winner during his time with North Ballarat - were the two oldest players on the GWS list.
Sheedy believes their stories should inspire players who fear their AFL opportunities have passed them by.
"We've probably got the best out of Jonathan since he's come over to the club," Sheedy said.
"He's been a really good player for us.
"It should encourage guys who are playing in the WAFL or in Tasmania or South Australia that you can still make it and he's done very, very well."
James Dampney
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs
