Greater Western Sydney boasts an astonishing stockpile of blue-chip youngsters, but the GIANTS want to become known for a blue-collar work ethic in 2014, recruit Cameron McCarthy says.
Since snaring Jeremy Cameron and Dylan Shiel among their 17-year-old access selections in late 2010, the GIANTS have over the past three drafts snared first-round picks such as Jonathon Patton, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield, Jono O'Rourke, Lachie Plowman, Tom Boyd, Joshua Kelly and McCarthy.
McCarthy knew he was joining a talented team, but told AFL.com.au it was not until he hit the training track at Sydney Olympic Park late last year that he appreciated just how talented the GIANTS' core of youngsters is.
However, McCarthy says GWS fully appreciates talent will only get it so far.
"This year one of our main focuses is to work really hard," McCarthy, 18, says.
"We all know we're a pretty talented bunch, but we want to work hard and be known as a team that works really hard."
As a key forward, McCarthy faces the "pretty scary" prospect of trying to break into an attack that boasts last year's All Australian full-forward, Cameron, and two of the past three No.1 draft picks, Patton (2011) and Boyd (2013).
McCarthy says watching Cameron this pre-season has shown him the work ethic required to succeed in the AFL.
"To see how he goes about training has been really good for me," McCarthy says.
"He works really hard on the track. It was amazing that he made All Australian in his second year, but when you see how hard he works you can understand why.
"It was just a credit to him."
McCarthy made an impressive start to his first AFL pre-season, but came down with a sore left ankle just before Christmas.
The West Australian broke the fibula in the same leg during last year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, and scans of his ankle revealed a hot spot.
McCarthy subsequently had to wear a moon boot and was restricted to swimming and upper body weights.
But he was set to discard the moon boot this Wednesday and was looking forward to upping his training load.
"I started off training pretty well at the start of the pre-season," McCarthy said.
"It was a bit of a setback getting injured, but my rehab has been going pretty well and the 'docs' have been looking after me, which has been good.
"I'll just get back into walking first and make sure the ankle feels good and is a 100 per cent. Then I'll slowly get back into jogging and up the ante and get back into training as soon as possible."
