Is the cliff coming for GWS?

Following an unlucky run of injuries throughout the off-season and pre-season, Kane Cornes thinks that the Giants could see their premiership chances fade away as a result.

Having been the only side other than the Brisbane Lions to have made the last three finals series in a row, the Giants have shown that they can be a premiership-contending team under Adam Kingsley and his reinvigoration of the Orange Tsunami.

But the challenge to win a maiden premiership will be made tougher in 2026 with a cast of injuries affecting the squad.

Stars such as Josh Kelly (hip), Sam Taylor (hamstring), Toby Bedford (hamstring strain), Finn Callaghan (hip flexor strain) were already injured before their 35-point match sim win against the Magpies at Bundoora and will miss parts of the season, ranging from a couple of weeks to the majority of the season.

But their injury concerns have only gotten worse with Brent Daniels and Cody Angove having had hamstring issues, which will be assessed, alongside Kieren Briggs and Callum Brown requiring ice on their left leg and right foot, respectively.

While inside midfielder Tom Green will miss all of 2026 following a ruptured ACL.

Speaking prior to their match simulation, the 300-game player for Port Adelaide believed their status as a top-six team would be challenged as a result.

“I didn’t have high aspirations,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“I think they are going to be top six-ish…I thought that.

“Are they going to be that now? It’s going to be hard.

“I’ve said this a couple of times. Has this group gone as far as this group is going to go?

“You (David King) spoke about the cliff with Sydney, with the age (of the squad) and what happens if it doesn’t work out for them this year. Is it going to be a cliff situation?

“That would be my fear for the Giants. (Toby) Greene and all of the (senior) players that we know have taken this group as far as they are going to go.

“Very good. Very close but not good enough, and is there going to have to be a change of strategy at the end of the year?

“That would be my fear for them…they’ve lost a lot of depth.”

With their considerable injury list during the pre-season, this will mean that the Giants will need to call upon some of their younger talent, which leaves David King with some doubts, especially around their midfield game.

“They go from guaranteed stars to unknowns really quickly,” he added.

“Like (Harry) Rowston. Is he a good player or not? I don’t know, we need to see more of it, and we are going to see more of it.

“But when you line them up with other top six-ranked teams, they are going to be beaten more regularly than they were in the middle.”

The Giants have their official pre-season match against their archrivals, the Sydney Swans, on Thursday (February 26) at Henson Park.

They’ll then begin their season with an elimination final rematch against the Hawks at ENGIE Stadium on March 7.