GWS GIANTS had a relatively quiet AFL Draft period with just three top-age players added to the list alongside a couple of re-listings for the orange team. A focus on rebounding out of the back half was a theme in the National Draft before targeting a local tall forward from the Giants’ own Academy.

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DRAFT HAUL

NATIONAL DRAFT:
Pick 15. Oskar Taylor
Pick 51. Finn Davis
Pick 59. Jake Stringer

ROOKIE DRAFT:
Pick 9. Conor Stone (re-listed)
Riley Hamilton (Cat B Rookie)

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

GWS picked up a pair of defenders with two selections in the AFL National Draft, starting on night one when the Giants traded up to bid on cross-town rival Sydney’s Harry Kyle. After the Swans match, GWS kept on the same train of thought by selection Eastern Ranges premiership player Taylor.

Taylor has elite disposal and speed and is not afraid to take the game on, tucking the ball under the arm and bursting away before distributing with pinpoint precision. While not quite having the same exposure as others – missing out on Vic Metro’s squad – Taylor was one of the biggest draft bolters with an incredible second half to his Coates Talent League season.

He was joined at the club by Davis out of the Western Jets who came into the season in the shadows of National Academy member Thomas Burton and Collingwood father-son Thomas McGuane, but finished as the sole Jets’ draftee. His intercept marking and then ability to take the game on was a feature of his game, and though not quite as deadly by foot as Taylor, still possesses a high efficiency.

Ahead of the Rookie Draft, the Giants pre-listed Hamilton, a tall forward at 189cm who just provides a real contest in the air and shows great aggression at ground level. He is raw, but talented and is the perfect rookie selection given his upside, but still having plenty to work on.

GRADE: C

GWS Giants essentially took three players who have improved rapidly throughout the course of the 2025 season, and will add some terrific athleticism and spark to the side. Given they only had one selection in the top 50, they did not really have a great draft hand to work with, but looked for the high-reward prospects. A solid draft all-up.