For the past five years defender Nick Haynes has been on the rollercoaster ride that was the formative years of the GIANTS.
From the club’s beginning at Blacktown International Sportspark to the elite facilities at Tom Wills Oval, Haynes has been there.
Now he’s one of 18 GIANTS from the inaugural playing list that remains at the club, which will play its maiden final against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.
“We all came here five years ago all young boys at 18-years-old, we’ve all grown up together,” Haynes said.
“Five years down the track it’s our first finals.”
As Haynes so aptly puts it, a lot can happen in five years.
The maturation of the GIANTS from a group of 17 and 18-year-olds to finals footballers is one thing, but the growth of the club off the field has been another.
“Even just doing a clinic last week in Parramatta, people came up and said good luck in finals,” Haynes said.
“You wouldn’t have got that three or four years ago, the whole environment and excitement in Western Sydney has grown.”
Haynes said the word to describe the feeling around the club in the build up to the GIANTS’ maiden finals series was excited.
“It’s all-new for us and we’ve got to take it in our stride; be excited for the opportunity,” he said.
Haynes - who at 24-years-old is 60-games into his career – said he has no fear about facing the AFL’s minor premiers in a Qualifying Final at ANZ Stadium.
“Whenever we play the Swans it’s a big game and there’s always a big build up and it’s a good contest,” he said.
“We’re really excited about playing Sydney and hopefully we get a good crowd there with a great representation from Western Sydney.
“It doesn’t really matter where we play, we’re just looking forward to the contest.”
2016 started slowly for Haynes with groin surgery in December delaying his pre-season.
Haynes spent some time with the WSU GIANTS at the beginning of the season, but since breaking into the AFL line-up he’s barely missed a beat.
“Since coming back in round six my body has felt the best it has ever,” he said
“Coming into finals I feel pretty fresh and I’m looking to keep on playing consistent footy.”
The GIANTS play the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, September 10 at 3.20PM AEST.
