GIANTS livewire Darcy Jones says he’s excited about what he can achieve in 2025 with a full pre-season under his belt, while also sharing the side’s enthusiasm around new recruit Jake Stringer.

Dubbed ‘the kid with the lid’, the helmet-wearing speed machine burst onto the scene as the AFL’s newest cult figure in 2024 with several eye-catching performances following his debut in round seven.

Drafted by the GIANTS in the first round of the 2022 Draft, Jones was quick to impress in his debut pre-season at the club before a host of pre-season injury niggles were followed by the cruel blow of a ruptured ACL in April 2023 as he pushed for an AFL debut.

After taking out the GIANTS’ Rising Star Award in 2024 following 14 impressive appearances despite an interrupted pre-season, Jones is eager to see what he can achieve in 2025 after a full summer on the track.

“I was pretty happy with my year last year [2024] and I had a few upsets in the pre-season so I’m pretty excited to have a full pre-season to see where that can get me next year,” Jones said.

“My body is feeling great. I’ve worked pretty hard over the off season to kind of put on a bit of weight but also keep my running at a high level and I’m feeling great at the moment.

“My main goal [in pre-season] is to build a little bit of weight and strength while also keeping my speed and agility. I don’t want to get too big but I just want to get a little bit stronger to break a few tackles and tackle a bit more, so that’s the main goal for me.”

As well as the excitement around his own game for next season, the dazzling 20-year-old is eager to see what 2025 holds for the GIANTS forward line with the addition of dynamic forward Jake Stringer.

Joining the club via a trade with the Bombers last month, Stringer was a noticeable attendee on day one of pre-season at the club on Monday despite it only being mandatory for the second to fourth year players– with the remainder of the group to officially join in next Monday

“He adds serious spark. He’s got so much x-factor and we are so excited to have him,” Jones said of Stringer who has 367 goals to his name across 212 games with the Bombers and the Western Bulldogs.

“He’s a dangerous player as everyone knows and we are keen to get to work with him.”

After exiting the 2024 finals series with heartbreaking back-to-back losses to both of the eventual grand finalists, Jones said he and his teammates are eager to make amends in 2025.

“Everyone is just really excited to get back into it,” he said.

“We feel we have got a point to prove after the last couple of years in falling just short. So, we are going to be working pretty hard to try and go as far as we can next year.”

Jones said having the likes of experienced players Sam Taylor, Jesse Hogan and Stringer all at the club to start their pre-seasons a week before they are required is a great reflection of the current mindset of the group.

“It’s really good for us young fellas to see the older boys starting with us really early. It just shows that they are hungry and want to win as much as us and it’s great to see them there… the boys are very excited [to start pre-season].

Jones added that he’s looking forward to meeting the club’s latest draft crop later this week, with the GIANTS to welcome their six new draftees on Friday.