The GIANTS launched their 2016 season on Wednesday night and no one in the room was shying away from finals talk.
With the entire playing group, special guests and sponsors in attendance at the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta, a maiden finals berth was certainly on the agenda but it was clear that it was something to be earned.
With number one ticket holder Melissa Doyle MC for the evening, Chairman Tony Shepherd opened the night with a reflection on what he had seen in his six years at the helm of the club.
“No longer do we have a list of ‘talented kids’. We now have a list of hungry men,” Mr Shepherd said.
“That is real growth … and with growth comes expectation.
“As a club we embrace that expectation and we look forward to the challenges that lie ahead this year.
“We are ambitious; we want success. Premiership success.
“We haven’t shied away from wanting to achieve history this year by way of a finals debut.
“But no one hands you the right to play finals football in this competition. This is the toughest contact sport in the world and we have 17 passionate competitors out there.
“I also know that we have the players and the coaches to take us where we want to go. Which is why this year is so bloody exciting.”
PRE-SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Coach Leon Cameron addressed the players and the room to re-state the expectations around the 2016 season.
“If I was to characterise where we sit after a long, hot summer, I would say that entering our fifth season in the AFL competition we could not be more prepared to hit this ruthless competition head on,” Cameron said.
“We want to play finals footy and we want to win premierships,
“But that doesn’t just happen. 17 other clubs are saying the same thing. The phrase ‘you need to earn it’ is well known for a reason.
“Make no mistake, we operate in a tough and ruthless business where winning is king… But that’s what also makes it such a captivating business.
“To this year’s playing group - you have put in a terrific pre-season and I’m confident that the group we have in this room is ready to take the club further than it’s ever been before.”
Special guests from Virgin Australia, Toyo Tires, Oxanda Education and Dyldam presented the club’s eight new players - Jacob Hopper, Matthew Flynn, Harrison Himmelberg, Matthew Flynn, Sam Reid, Daniel Lloyd, Steve Johnson and Dawson Simpson - with their new GIANTS jumpers.
Co-captains Phil Davis and Callan Ward answered questions about their preparations after the entire 2016 team was presented on stage.
The night concluded with a video package that asked the question … Why do you love the GIANTS?
