New coach, new season
With a new coach and a vibrant atmosphere, Southern Mallee Giants footballers could rebound significantly in 2023.
That is perhaps a strange assessment given the Giants only missed the Wimmera league finals on percentage last season and defeated eventual premiers Minyip-murtoa in round 13.
A season plagued by injuries meant the Giants did not finish the season where early predictions expected they would.
The 2022 Toohey Medal winner and former Burras ruckman Kieran Delahunty crossed over to coach the Giants during the off-season.
Giants president Nathan Williams said Delahunty’s appointment and an opportunity to remain ‘injury free’ in 2023 was ‘exciting’.
“It was certainly disappointing to miss the finals last season, on percentage, but of course there is a chance to bounce back,” he said.
“Our players have put last season behind them and have moved on.”
Delahunty said he had always heard the Giants were a ‘great’ club, but since his move, the group had ‘exceeded’ his expectations.
“The club has been extremely welcoming and we have had great numbers on the track this preseason,” he said.
“A lot of our younger players are very eager to learn from our more experienced members, and the leaders I have around me, helping this team, have made this pre-season very exciting.”
Delahunty said the senior team’s asset in 2023 would be its ball skills.
He said a multitude of players with good foot and hand skills could take a turn through the midfield.
“We have been implementing some defensive structures, but with a focus on clean and fast ball movement,” he said.
Heath and Oscar Smith, former Ouyen United players, will join the Giants in 2023, while a crew of Geelong-based players including Luke Mahony, Rupert Sangster and Jake Garvey, will also gear up again this season.
However, Giants supporters will not see Sam Weddell and Nicholas Dinham in the orange-and-grey in 2023.
Delahunty said he believed last season’s disappointment perhaps ‘sparked’ a heavy turnout this preseason.
“No one is blamed for last season’s result; however, consensus seems to be the side could have done some damage if they had made the finals,” he said.
“But we have gotten to work and our time-trial results show that we are all in good shape.”
Delahunty said finals was the expectation in 2023.
“Playing finals is the realistic expectation and our minimum,” he said.
“Once we get there, we will reassess from there.
“There will be a lot of quality players running around across the Wimmera league this season, which is great for the competition.
“We are looking forward to meeting that challenge.”
The Giants kick off 2023 against Stawell Warriors in round one, at Stawell’s Central Park.