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Former West Coast Eagle Jarrod Brander eyes forward role at GWS Giants

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Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
Jarrod Brander in his new Giants kit.
Camera IconJarrod Brander in his new Giants kit. Credit: GWS Giants

Jarrod Brander is eyeing a permanent forward role at Greater Western Sydney after four years of getting thrown around in different positions at West Coast.

The 22-year-old struggled for regular AFL appearances at the Eagles, registering 22 games since arriving at the club as a first-round pick in the 2017 national draft.

With dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy, fellow premiership player Jack Darling and young guns Oscar Allen and Jake Waterman ahead of him in the forward pecking order, Brander was forced to play a variety of roles including wing, inside midfield and key back.

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The Giants have lost a couple of quality spearheads over the last two years with 2019 Coleman Medal-winner Jeremy Cameron joining Geelong last year and more recently Jeremy Finlayson heading to Port Adelaide.

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“I think I see myself as quite a versatile player but I want to make my mark as a forward,” Brander said.

“It’s where I grew up playing a lot of my footy and I think I can be a good forward for the club.

Jarrod Brander struggled to nail down a position in West Coast’s best 22.
Camera IconJarrod Brander struggled to nail down a position in West Coast’s best 22. Credit: Will Russell/AFL Photos

“I want to get in and train hard and earn the respect of my teammates and coaches and do my best to play as much footy for the club as I can.”

Brander, who was picked up as a delisted free agent, says it feels “a little bit like home” at the club he’s all too familiar with.

The 195cm talent grew up in Wentworth in country NSW and was part of the Giants Academy until his draft year when zones were changed by the AFL and GWS lost priority access to him, with West Coast pouncing with their first pick and 13 overall.

“I’m from Wentworth in country New South Wales which is a long way from Sydney but I still had a little bit of a connection with the club ever since I was about 12 or 13, playing zone academy trials and all my junior footy was with New South Wales,” Brander explained.

“In my 17th year I spent a week up here with a few guys like (Melbourne premiership player) Charlie Spargo who was also in the academy and in my draft year the rules kind of changed, but I found my way back here after four years at West Coast which was obviously a great club as well.

“I’m grateful for an opportunity to be at this great club.”

After he was de-listed by the Eagles to pursue other opportunities, it didn’t take Brander long to realise he wanted to be a Giant.

“Once I got delisted from West Coast a few weeks ago I spoke with Leon (Giants coach Leon Cameron) and (recruiting boss) Adrian Caruso and guys like that and I was really excited by the opportunity to join the Giants,” Brander said.

“I had a little bit of a connection with when I was a bit younger through the academy and after that chat, it probably wasn’t the first time I’d thought about playing for the Giants.

“The deal was agreed upon pretty quickly and I put my mind to getting up to Sydney and meeting a few of the boys as well.

“It was a really exciting period, I didn’t have to wait too long but I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”

Brander will not only re-unite with former Geelong Grammar school mate Brent Daniels at the Giants, the pair will also live together.

“I’m moving in with ‘Binga’ today actually so have spent a couple of weeks with him and spent a lot of time with him playing cricket and a bit of footy growing up and went to school together at Geelong Grammar,” Brander said.

“He’s a good character. I know a few other boys from the club from my academy days and playing footy all around the place so it feels a little bit like home coming back here and I’m really looking forward to it.”

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