Stevie J’s giant Whitfield claim turns out to be no exaggeration

PREMIERSHIP great Steve Johnson doesn’t hesitate in declaring GWS Giants star Lachie Whitfield the most skilful footballer he’s played with.

“I think Stevie might have forgotten his little mate down in Geelong, Gaz Ablett,” replies Whitfield.

“I imagine he was probably the most skilful player he’s played with.”

Nope. Johnson’s wasn’t a throwaway line. Over nearly 300 games for Geelong and GWS, he hasn’t seen a better expert at his craft than former No.1 draft pick Whitfield.

“Well, I’ve played with some pretty skilful players over the journey, but I think he’s the most,” Johnson said on Channel 7.

“He can kick right foot, left foot, even that little underground under the smother kick. He can kick across the body, off the side of the boot. He’s incredible. Not only that, he is an elite decision-maker.”

The stats back Stevie J’s Giant claim.

Heading into GWS’s acid test against Geelong today, Whitfield has 105 disposals, No.2 in the AFL behind Lachie Neale.

The midfielder has 68 kicks and 2178m gained — on both counts he is No.1 in the game. That’s Brownlow form.

What makes the 22-yearold so reliable is nothing he does on the football field has come by accident.

When he was a teenager he quit school footy for a year, much to the ire of his coach, to concentrate on cross-country running. It’s no coincidence he is rated the No.1 runner in the AFL and clocks up to 16km a game, and given more time on ground than any other Giant.

Whitfield spent hours of his childhood down at his local park in Mt Martha, Victoria, kicking the ball with his father. By age 12, he was as adept off both feet.

“I just thought kicking was the most important area,” he said. “If you can’t kick you probably struggle to make the top leagues so I spent hours kicking with my old man.”

That same ground now has a wing named after him.

Last year, the Giants switched Whitfield to the halfback line to replace his injured best mate, Zac Williams.

By season’s end, Whitfield — a midfielder all his career — was all-Australian in his new position.

Whitfield is out of contract at the end of next year, but now describes Melbourne as “a good place to visit”. “Sydney is home,” he said. The support the Giants gave Whitfield during his infamous drug scandal in 2016 has forged a loyal bond.

“The club did everything they possibly could for me,” Whitfield said.