'It's going to be scary': Giants issue warning for Pies

Aaron Cadman is hoping more AFL games will come his way in 2024 after a promising debut season.

After one day of their AFL pre-season, GWS already have an item on their 2024 to-do list: beat Collingwood.

Set to kick off the new season at home with a rematch of their 2023 preliminary final, the Giants are bent on coming out on top of the reigning premiers.

The Giants were one win away from matching a 2019 grand final appearance when their fairytale season under first-year coach Adam Kingsley was brought to an end in a one-point loss to the Magpies.

Now two months on, former No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman has sent out a warning to Collingwood.

“It’s going to be scary,” Cadman said on Monday.

“We had a slow start to last year, just learning game plan and all that sort of stuff but now everything’s clicked.

“I wasn’t on the main track today, but you could just feel the vibe out there was immaculate.

“We’re really looking forward to coming up against the Pies. They won the grand final so it would be nice to knock them off first round.”

After a breakout season in the VFL where he kicked 20 goals across eight games, Cadman is looking to cement a spot in Kingsley’s best 22.

The athletic forward played 12 games and kicked six goals in his debut season under Kingsley but missed out on a finals appearance.

“More fuel to the fire. I don’t ever want to miss the final series again,” Cadman said.

“It hurts to watch the team go down like that (against Collingwood).

“Hopefully, if I can be a part of it next year, it can be a different story.

“I’m earning my stripes now and hopefully I can explode.”

Giants skipper Toby Greene was also out on the park to welcome the latest crop of draftee talent alongside powerhouse players Jesse Hogan and Stephen Coniglio.

GWS produced the biggest shock of the first draft round when they used pick 12 on draft bolter Phoenix Gothard, a small forward from Albury.