GREATER Western Sydney took a significant step forward on Friday when the AFL's 18th club officially commenced its first pre-season.
Thirty-four players took part in an extended session, including senior recruits Luke Power, Chad Cornes and James McDonald, as the club ticked off another milestone ahead of its 2012 AFL debut.
Uncontracted recruits Tom Scully, Phil Davis, Callan Ward and Rhys Palmer were all on hand, plus a slim-looking Israel Folau, who stated his aim of playing in the first round of the coming season.
Coach Kevin Sheedy and assistant Mark Williams put the squad through a variety of drills on a scorching day at their Blacktown home.
Sheedy also led a minute's silence with the group on Remembrance Day before voicing his delight at the Giants' first official AFL pre-season training run.
"With our team starting up, it's been a great little training run," he told reporters.
"To have a lot of the new players come in, players that have played 50 to 80 games and then some guys who have played 200 games, leaders and premiership players, it's a good sign for our club.
"They're coaching as well, those senior players, they're getting coaching lessons as well about the way we want to play.
"Basically last year we were an under-19 team in the NEAFL.
"Just to have that senior group of players is great and then we head to the draft, which is going to be a momentous occasion for the AFL in Sydney and the Giants."
The NAB AFL Draft will be held on November 24 at Homebush Bay, when the Giants will be the major players, holding 11 of the first 15 picks.
Folau has lost around six kilograms from his days as a rugby league international to cut an impressive figure at 100kg.
James Dampney
AFL.com.au
