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Collingwood this, Magpies that – Adam Kingsley isn’t getting swept up in it.
The GWS coach is eyeing one thing larger on the horizon, one thing sweeter than claiming the scalp of the reigning AFL premiers.
All of the noise surrounding their opening-round date with the Magpies heralds a blockbuster – how higher to deal with footy followers than with a rematch between GWS and the aspect who knocked them out in final yr’s preliminary ultimate by only one level?
The AFL expects a sell-out in Western Sydney whereas followers puzzle over how, or even when, the Magpies might be stopped.
The story writes itself and even Kingsley admits the enchantment.
However in his eyes, it is not a rematch – it is a repeat.
And as soon as it is over, whether or not they win or lose, they’re onto the subsequent opposition.
“The season’s a bit longer than the Collingwood recreation,” Kingsley advised AAP.
“We do not deal with one opposition or one recreation.
“When you get your focus too closely on that one recreation, you possibly can maybe not see the larger image nicely sufficient.”
And what’s the larger image? What might probably be sweeter than claiming the scalp of the workforce that knocked you out by one level?
Claiming the flag your self.
The time is nigh for one of many enlargement groups to win a premiership and the query is: can GWS do it?
Soccer minds have readily written off the harbour metropolis’s forgotten sibling since their inception in 2010, maybe much more so after their first and solely grand-final look when GWS have been demolished by a rampaging Richmond unit.
Earlier than Kingsley got here to city, the Giants had completed the 2022 season in sixteenth spot on the ladder with solely six wins.
The 2023 marketing campaign regarded as if it wasn’t going to be any totally different after GWS began 3-7, together with a 65-point thumping from the Magpies in spherical 9.
However soccer is a humorous factor.
After working rampant late within the season to succeed in their first preliminary ultimate in 4 years and problem Collingwood till the ultimate siren, the Giants had satisfied the footy world to heed their “orange tsunami” warning.
They boast a premiership-quality listing.
Toby Greene relished the standalone captaincy final yr and he went up a stage, changing into arguably the AFL’s most harmful participant.
He well-merited the All-Australian captaincy.
Each a part of the Giants’ workforce is well-balanced, from Greene, Jesse Hogan and Jake Riccardi in assault, to Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Inexperienced and Finn Callaghan by means of the midfield, and a defence led by Jack Buckley and Sam Taylor.
“After final yr, there’s extra expectations round our taking part in listing and we’d like to have the ability to handle that internally and nonetheless be capable to carry out at a excessive stage,” Kingsley stated.
“That is actually one factor that I’ve needed to alter this yr primarily based on the extent of expectation being utterly totally different than what it was.”
Making it to September is the brand new normal however Kingsley will not let himself get too far forward.
“It is nearly doing my job as greatest as I probably can,” he stated.
“You wish to play nicely – there is definitely an elevated stage of strain to have the ability to try this and make individuals pleased with us.
“Hopefully, we play the fitting manner and that leads us to wins.
“If we try this persistently sufficient then that’ll hopefully lead to a flag.”
Between Collingwood and cross-city rivals Sydney, there’s one other rivalry brewing for the Giants.
Kingsley is holding one eye on former teaching mentor Damien Hardwick after the triple premiership tactician was lured again into teaching with a gig at fellow enlargement membership Gold Coast.
GWS helped safe early bragging rights for Kingsley – who coached underneath Hardwick at Richmond for 4 years – after grabbing a pre-season win over the Suns in Canberra.
Requested whether or not he is hoping to get the maiden enlargement workforce flag earlier than Hardwick does, Kingsley chuckles.
“We’re actually good pals however there’s a rivalry. We’re actually each very aggressive individuals,” he stated.
“I am certain each coaches and golf equipment are hoping that it is a rivalry that sees it play out by means of finals and each golf equipment are determined for his or her first flag.”
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