GREATER Western Sydney (GWS) traded and recruited shrewdly at this year’s AFL Draft, sticking true to its draft order and welcoming a versatile crop of fresh faces boasting exciting talent and athletic upside. We recap the Giants’ draft haul, which included three products of New South Wales.

>> UPDATED: Every Pick in the 2023 AFL Draft

NATIONAL DRAFT:

12. Phoenix Gothard
17. James Leake
44. Joe Fonti
59. Harvey Thomas

ROOKIE DRAFT:

14. Adam Kennedy (re-listed)

PRE-LISTED ROOKIE:

Nathan Wardius

>> ANALYSIS: Big winners, bolters & sliders

Having identified their targets, the Giants went into night one with a clear plan of who they wanted and Phoenix Gothard was top of the list. Second was James Leake, so to end up with both players after a couple of shrewd trades was a terrific result for Adrian Caruso‘s recruiting crew.

Gothard was one of the stories of the draft, attending night one to support his mates, only to hear his name called out a pick after Murray Bushrangers teammate Connor O’Sullivan. The reaction was loud and full of elation as you’d expect.

The daring, creative small forward is a prospect who suits the Giants’ style of play with his speed and effortless talent. GWS did the groundwork to get him, trading back to help Adelaide secure Dan Curtin, while still being able to nab Gothard and collect value to use in its next live trade.

Having gained a future second round pick from Adelaide, the Giants passed it on in a selection swap with St Kilda to get ahead into pick 17, which was used to land Leake. The Tasmanian utility proved a real surprise packet in this year’s draft and was linked by many to the Giants with their first pick.

Leake, a versatile 187cm athlete, played across all three lines this season. He’s outstanding in the air and has a penetrative kick, while also proving clutch in the big moments. Among four Tasmanians drafted in 2023, Leake is the only one with a TSL premiership to his name (Launceston, 2022).

After a successful night one, GWS was less prominent on night two but still managed to complete its National Draft haul neatly. West Australian over-ager Joe Fonti got his chance at pick 44, having risen steeply after being a late call-up for the state Under 18 side.

A product of Claremont, Fonti is a smooth moving defender who can also roll onto either side of midfield. His intercept marking is a strength, but athleticism is where the 188cm talent shines. He tore up WA’s state combine and utilises his gifts of speed and a strong leap on-field.

Academy product Harvey Thomas was then snapped up with pick 59, marking the recruitment of another versatile player. The diminutive utility cut his teeth mostly as a midfielder through the junior pathway, but found a home in defence for the Allies this year and also spent time forward with Oakleigh.

The Wagga Wagga product boarded at school in Melbourne, so has represented a wide range of teams throughout the journey. He’ll be familiar with the charcoal and orange though, as the club’s lone top-aged academy draftee this year.

The Giants also opted to pre-list Nathan Wardius as a Category B rookie. Having gone through the academy system, the lightly framed forward booted 149 goals in just 49 senior games in the Hume League. Those exploits, along with obvious x-factor and athletic upside saw him earn a shot.

Re-listing Adam Kennedy was the only other bit of business required of GWS at the draft. In all, the club compiled an exciting crop of players who suit the style of play coach Adam Kingsley has implemented so well over the last year. Definitely among the big winners of draft period.