Gerard Whateley isn’t buying the idea that GWS’ list is “uber talented”, saying they’ve been repeatedly exposed for their lack of depth this season.
The Giants will miss finals for the first time since 2015 after going down by 52 points to St Kilda at the Gabba on Friday night, ending what has been a largely underwhelming season for Leon Cameron’s men.
Whateley said the club’s success of 2019 wasn’t built on “flashy talent”, rather their ability to grind their way to the Grand Final last season.
He said measuring the side on pure talent was “so outdated”, saying they lacked “depth on every line” against the Saints.
“I think the idea that the Giants are this uber talented list is an old idea,” Whateley said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“It’s a quite old idea if you actually study their list, they’ve got some nice footballers but they’re not nearly the team they’re made out to be and they didn’t achieve success on the back of that.
“They brought steel chairs to the game against the Bulldogs in an elimination final (last year) and I think it’s splendid how they applied themselves.
“It was one of the toughest and grittiest wins I’ve seen in the preliminary final against all odds against Collingwood, they did nothing on flashy talent. I think it’s an idea that’s so outdated that they get measured against and it’s not who they are and what they’re going to be.
“They had understudies on every line last night and they lacked depth.
“The real question is how they’ve structured their contracts, those top end players aren’t nearly as good as they say they are.
“They are all nice players but are the truly the elite of the competition? The answer is repeatedly no.”