One of the first players to sign with the GIANTS, Curtly Hampton has seen some big changes in his four years at the club.

It’s been a pre-season with a difference for the emerging young defender. With a new coach, new facilities and lots of new faces, the 20-year-old from Alice Springs says the GIANTS have already taken a huge leap in 2014.

The GIANTS players moved into their new facilities at the Learning Life Centre in Sydney Olympic Park last week and Hampton said the move has been a hugely positive one.

“Now we’ve moved into our new facilities, it actually feels like the boys have gotten closer, just being able to sit in the change rooms and have a yarn,” he said.

And with premiership stars Heath Shaw and Josh Hunt joining the club in the off-season, Hampton has spent the summer learning from the experienced leaders.

“They’ve been amazing for all of us backline players,” Hampton said.

“We’ve been learning a lot of things every week at training, with their experience. They’ve played in premierships so they’ve been really good for us.

“They just tell you, for me, to back my speed, my kick, my skills. So they’ve just given me a bit more confidence and also confidence when the ball is coming down there. 

“They just know what to do in all sort of situations.”

With a solid three months of training under their belt, the GIANTS players are raring to go in season 2014 with just two weeks until the first NAB Challenge game against the Swans at StarTrack Oval, Canberra.

But before that, the players will fight it out for spots in the best 22 with the GIANTS’ official intra-club match to be held at Blacktown International Sportspark at 5pm next Wednesday night.

“It’s really exciting, all the boys’ energy is a bit more up and about because we finally get to pull on the jersey together and have a game,” Hampton said.

“Next week, Wednesday, (is our) first intra-club match so everyone’s getting pretty pumped for that.”

After 18 games in 2013, the silky and quick defender is set for a big 2014 and has already put a little fear into his teammates with Hampton voted the player the other GIANTS would least like to face in a boxing ring.

“I’ve just loved boxing ever since I was little, I did a bit when I was younger and enjoy it.”