Soon-to-be West Coast ruckman Matt Flynn has flagged more opportunity as his main reason to seek a move from GWS to the Eagles.
Flynn started the 2023 season as the Giants’ number one ruckman but fell out of favour midway through the year to Kieren Briggs, who built some impressive form as he came back into the side and locked himself in for the role.
An unrestricted free agent, the 33-gamer has nominated the Eagles as his preferred destination with the hopes of playing more consistent AFL football.
“I’ve been around for a while now and haven’t really been able to play consistent AFL football, and I guess I just wanted to put myself in a spot where I’ve got the opportunity to do that,” Flynn told SEN WA’s Breakfast with Scotty and Goss.
“There’s still a lot of work to go, Bailey Williams had a really strong year this year and it’s not going to be easy for me, but I think there’s a good chance that we can get over there and do some good things together.
“I guess, yeah, just looking for that opportunity was the main thing behind it all.”
Flynn said it was difficult to see Briggs take over his role and watch his side go all the way to a Preliminary Final, however he holds no hard feelings to anyone at GWS.
“It was a frustrating time, but I’ve got a really strong relationship with ‘Brigga’ so I think it was awesome to see him take that opportunity,” he said.
“We were constantly pushing each other for the last seven or eight years, so to see him come in and do that was amazing.
“But I guess in the same sense, it did provide a few frustrations and I wasn’t able to get in.
“To watch the boys go all the way to the prelim was really great to see for them, but… it was a frustrating period for myself. I’ve just got to move on in my career and take the next step.”
Flynn also explained how he was impressed with the Eagles’ pitch to him, which comes after long-term interest in him throughout the season.
“I think it was just the clarity - I caught up with Adam Simpson and the clarity around my role was being a pure ruckman,” he said.
“This year I went back into the VFL and ‘Briggsy’ was playing really well as the pure ruck in the AFL, so I tried to play a little bit more forward ruck.
“I found that a bit tricky and it wasn’t really my go-to, but I learnt a lot.
“Then the clarity to come from Simpson to say ‘Matt, you’ll be a ruck competing with Bayley and then if it all goes well, he can go forward-ruck’. It was really good to hear and provide me with the certainty I guess.”
The unrestricted free agency signing window will open on Friday, with Flynn all but set to become an Eagle in 2024.