Underrated GIANTS star Brent Daniels will play his 100th AFL game on Saturday as the GIANTS host the Gold Coast Suns in a crucial clash to both side’s finals aspirations.
Drafted by the club with pick 27 back in 2017, Daniels has established himself as one of the competition’s most electric small forwards and a key piece of the Orange Tsunami.
While not often receiving the fanfare of other similar forwards in the competition, Daniels lets his footy do the talking, with the 25-year-old ranked number one in the competition for goal assists this season in what has been another impressive campaign.
“It's obviously nice,” Daniels said of his impressive ranking.
“I think throughout my career I've been a handy goal-assists player. I might not hit the scoreboard as much as other small forwards, but I do play higher up the ground. It's a nice stat but you've got to rely on your teammates kicking the goals."
Plagued by hamstring injuries which forced him to miss the entire 2022 season and temporarily put his career in doubt, Daniels admits ahead of his 100th game that he wasn’t sure this time would ever come.
"I've definitely had some thoughts like that but ultimately the club's been very supportive of me. My journey's probably been a bit longer than most but I am really happy to get there and I am looking forward to Saturday," Daniels said.
"It hasn't been easy and that's what I'm most proud about heading into the weekend."
While still only 25-years-old himself, Daniels admits he is revelling in his role as a mentor to the club’s exciting small forward fleet featuring the likes of Darcy Jones and Harvey Thomas.
"I hope they look up to me a little bit. They are pretty special talents,” he said of the duo.
“Darcy is really fast and clean which is really exciting to watch, and Harvey is almost that guy that doesn't do anything wrong, he's jumped into his first year and surprised everyone to be honest. He's a great little player for us and he’s going to have a great career," Daniels said.
Daniel’s 100th game will come against an opponent with an unusual record, with the Suns having won all nine home games this season but are yet to win any of their eight road games this year.
Furthermore, the losing road record dates back more than a year, with the Suns last win on an opposition’s home turf coming back in May last year against the Eagles in Perth.
The Suns have now lost 15 straight road games heading into Saturday’s clash with the GIANTS at ENGIE Stadium.
Despite their struggles, Daniels says the GIANTS will not be talking the Suns lightly on Saturday afternoon.
“You always prepare for teams to be at their best and they’ve shown that at their best they’re a really good team,” the milestone man said.
“I think ‘Dimma’s’ [Suns coach Damien Hardwick] comments after their last loss away from home was pretty evident that they’ll be up for an away game and so we’ve got to be ready for them.
“We don’t read into it [the Suns’ poor road record] too much, we just prepare for their best game and we think they’ll be up for it…but hopefully they don’t get that away win.”
The dynamic Daniels will bring up his 100th game at 1:45pm on Saturday at ENGIE Stadium.
