Academy player Josh Green - brother of second-year midfielder Tom - will train with the GIANTS throughout the 2021 season.

The GIANTS Academy member was overlooked in the 2020 Draft but spent the summer training at Richmond - where the Green brothers’ grandfather Michael won four premierships - in a bid to win a spot as a supplementary selection.

When that didn’t work out, Josh jumped at the chance to join the GIANTS full-time after graduating from high school in Canberra last year.

GIANTS Development Coach Luke Kelly said he’s thrilled to welcome Josh to the program.

“He’ll be implemented into our football program Monday to Friday so he’ll be able to follow our AFL program in terms of our education, our training, our weights and high performance,” Kelly said.

“Working in with his Academy program - with coach Cam Bernasconi - we’ll plan out his year with NAB League footy and VFL footy working towards the Allies and the Draft at the end of the year to have a clear plan to get him drafted.”

Even though his Under-18s year was affected by the COVID shutdown and state and national championships cancelled, Kelly said Josh has been able to continue to develop over the period.

“He’s probably always been that awkward size, he’s low 190s so he’s played a bit of key forward and back but probably the last six months and especially over that pre-season at the Tigers, he’s been able to shift inside and use his strength and his inside ability,” Kelly said.

"He’s got clean hands and he’s really creative with them as well. With a full pre-season at Richmond he’s also developed his outside game to get more involved that way. 

“I’ve been really pleased with his development over the past six-to-12 months.”

Josh said he’s relishing the opportunity to become a full-time athlete.

“The opportunity it provides to train at an AFL club at that level for a whole year is obviously going to make my footy better but it also gives me the opportunity to play at VFL level and against new teams this year with the new competition,” he said.

“The opportunity that provides is probably the most exciting thing.”

The Canberran has moved to Sydney and is living with his older brother, which could come with some challenges.

“We did it for 18 years while we were growing up together so I don’t think we’ll mind too much,” he said.

“He’s a bit messier than I am though so we’ll see how we go there.”

Though Tom is just nine games into his AFL career, Josh looks up to his older brother.

"Probably not in the sense of a hero because he’s still my brother but he’s definitely a role model and he’s where I want to be,” Josh said.

"He’s doing what I’m striving for so he can help me in that way as well.”