Josh Kelly’s breakthrough 2016 season and impressive preseason has culminated with the midfielder being named as captain for the GIANTS’ opening JLT Community Series fixture.

The 22-year-old told reporters on Wednesday that he can’t wait to lead a young GIANTS team against the West Coast Eagles at Narranderra Sports Stadium on Saturday.

"It's very humbling and extremely exciting, I'm just hanging to get out there and lead our young group on the weekend,” he said.

"It's something I've been working on, with my leadership I've always felt like I've led by example, but being a bit more vocal and instructive out on the field is an area I've been working on, and this will be a good chance to do that."

GIANTS coach Leon Cameron surprised Kelly by announcing his new role at training on Wednesday morning, and the news was greeted with raucous applause from his teammates. 

"He's got really good values and he's a really popular young man around our club," Cameron said.

"He's only a young player but he's more like a six or seven-year player, he's played a lot of footy for a fourth-year player.

"He's starting to realise that he needs to open up his mouth a lot more and demand from other players and I've seen that over the pre-season, so with all that wrapped up into one, it was a pretty obvious pick for us."

Kelly, the GIANTS' second pick in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, played 18 games in each of his first two seasons, but while he showed glimpses of his immense talent and skill level, as most young players do, the wingman found it hard to produce on a consistent basis and was dropped twice in 2015.

A physically stronger player emerged from the 2016 pre-season and it translated into some brilliant on-field form, with Kelly averaging 23.6 disposals and not missing a game for the season, on his way to a fourth-placed finish in the best and fairest.

"I always had the confidence in myself that I could keep lifting my standards, and I feel last year was an improvement, but at the same time I think I've still got a lot more to offer," he said.

"I've addressed a few things in my game over the pre-season and I'm hoping I can keep on the incline and improve again this year." 

The GIANTS will leave plenty of experience in Sydney when they head to Narrandera in country New South Wales to take on West Coast this Saturday. 

Co-captains Callan Ward and Phil Davis, along with club champion Toby Greene, Heath Shaw, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Scully, Dylan Shiel and Jeremy Cameron are among the big names being rested, while Shane Mumford (elbow), Steve Johnson (thumb) and Brett Deledio (calf) are still recovering from injuries.

Despite some of the club’s stars missing out, a number of experienced GIANTS will make the trip to Narrandera. 

“Guys like Josh are going to be playing, so that’s Jonny Patton, Adam Tomlinson, Aidan Corr and Matt Buntine, ” Cameron said.

“They’re keen to play because it’s been two and a half months of pre-season and they’re probably getting sick of playing against each other.” 

GIANTS 2017 Members receive free entry to all JLT Community Series games, subject to availability.

Tickets to the GIANTS’ clash with the West Coast Eagles in Narrandera on Saturday February 18^th, are available here.