How Hasler inspired a GWS miracle

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

THE rookie AFL coach who masterminded Sydney's biggest sporting upset in years got his ideas from Bulldogs NRL coach Des Hasler and a wrestling expert from the Sydney Roosters.

GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron has revealed he built the team's ruthless, relentless defence around strategies from the rival code.

Cameron played 250 games for the Western Bulldogs and has done a 10-year coaching apprenticeship. He is originally from Warrnambool in Victoria and was raised by a single mum.

He caught up with sports editor-at-large Phil Rothfield to discuss the miracle win over the Swans and his hopes of turning the Giants into a western Sydney force.

GWS coach Leon Cameron. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

How did you beat the Swans? They were $1.02! I can't recall a bigger upset.

Our guys were up for the challenge. In the first year or two we got belted around the ears but the rivalry with the Swans is really building and it's fantastic for the code.

We stepped up. The guys had their third pre-season together. They're a year older. Plus the influence of having mature players at the club can't be underestimated.

They help the young guys in games when we look like losing control. Plus we were probably three weeks ahead of them in preparation because they played in finals and didn't come back as early as we did. We overran them in the end.

Phil Rothfield talks with Leon Cameron. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Everyone was talking about your defence.

We have really good connections with NRL clubs Canterbury, Parramatta and the Roosters. We're learning off each other.

We spent some of the off-season with Des Hasler and the Bulldogs looking at statistics and our tackling.

They talk about the aggression in defence, the technique, which they do better than the AFL. Plus we got Larry Papadopoulos (wrestling and grapple expert) from the Roosters. He studied tapes of our games and came up with some great ideas to help in wrestling and tackling.

We helped them (Canterbury) out with kicking and catching. One of our assistant coaches spends a fair bit of time with them.

State of the art gym at the GWS Giants' training complex. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Okay, before we go further, can I test your knowledge on Western Sydney? We once asked Kevin Sheedy who Nathan Hindmarsh was and he famously said a stadium in Adelaide.

Okay, (laughs) off you go.

Who is Jarryd Hayne?

This is a trap. Wests Tigers. Sorry, I don't know. And please don't think I'm being disrespectful to Jarryd.

Wrong. He plays for Parramatta. Next question. Who is Phillip Ronald Gould?

Phil Gould, he's NSW State of Origin coach.

He used to be. He's now Penrith's general manager.

Don't you stoush a bit with Phil Gould? I looked up some of your articles on Google before you came out here.

I saw there was a bit of Gould v Rothfield stuff.

GWS players celebrate victory. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

I wouldn't say we were close. Moving on to Israel Folau. Seeing what a magnificent athlete he is and what he's doing for the Waratahs, any regrets about him not being here?

It would have been fantastic to have him here. He was progressing on the right track. But I walked in the day he walked out. By all reports he was outstanding with the group. It would have been good to see where he went in a couple of years but his heart was not in it. The way he exited — it was all class. He's still got some of his best mates here. He supports us, we support him.

You knocked off Buddy Franklin and the Swans last week. He's struggled a little bit since arriving. Are you still dirty you didn't get him.

I'm not dirty. One door closed and others opened for us. Heath Shaw from Collingwood, Shane Mumford from the Swans, Josh Hunt from Geelong and Dylan Addison from the Western Bulldogs all came to our club. I think it's fantastic he (Franklin) is up here in Sydney. He's an outstanding player and he'll bring people to the footy.

We were lucky enough to beat them at the weekend. But it's one game. He'll show what he can do, don't worry.

Indoor training area at the GWS Giants' training complex. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Doesn't this club still need a superstar like Franklin or Ablett on the Gold Coast not just to win games but to promote the club?

I'm really confident with the players coming through, like Jeremy Cameron, Jon Patton, Tom Boyd, No. 1 pick last year. People have this infatuation with big-name players — we've got three or four coming through. It's only a matter of time before they become household names.

But they could walk down Church St in Parramatta and not be recognised?

Cameron Smith and Billy Slater are massive names in Melbourne. They are huge. That took a bit of time. This is a generational thing for us.

We have to identify young talent, bring it in and nurture it. Like Kieren Jack at the Swans, a Pennant Hills boy.

That puts you in competition with the Swans.

We have one eye on now, which is our week-to-week performances, and the other eye is on developing players from our own territory. I know Adam Goodes has come from Ballarat but look what he's done for the Swans.

He's been enormous for the game, not just in footy circles but in life. We know we've got a challenge but we're going to hit it head on.

When our performances are not up to scratch, I've got to take responsibility. I do expect us to be a little more competitive this year.

State of the art gym at the GWS Giants' training complex. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

What's the timeline for a top-eight finish?

With young kids at this level we'll go up and down. We'll fluctuate from performances like last weekend to sub-par in maybe four or five weeks. Who knows?

You'll have impatient fans. Everyone wants to win.

That's what we're building towards. Everyone is judged on winning. We'll go to the trade table again this year to look for more mature players to balance the roster and help develop the great young talent we have.

How hands-on is Kevin Sheedy?

Sheeds blooded all those kids you saw on the weekend before they were ready to play. He had to.

Ten of our young kids have now got 30 and 40 games experience. No one could have started us better than Sheeds.

I spend a bit of time with him every week. We talk footy. I'm a first-year coach. He's a 35-year coach.

Is it hard playing in empty stadiums?

That was the great thing last weekend. Our players saw 17,000 at our home ground. Great noise, great atmosphere. We're not always going to have that. We're at a baby stage. It's going to take time to build our supporter base.

We're not here to compete with NRL and soccer, we're giving fans an opportunity to follow AFL footy.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

How Hasler inspired a GWS miracle

Dengan url

http://sportfoxer.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-hasler-inspired-gws-miracle.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

How Hasler inspired a GWS miracle

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

How Hasler inspired a GWS miracle

sebagai sumbernya