MOST people analysing the 2012 fixture would have sympathised with GWS ahead of their round 10 assignment.

The Giants were scheduled for their first trip to Simonds Stadium to take on the reigning premiers Geelong in what could have been one of the whitewashes of the season.

But instead the AFL's newest team took the challenge up to the Cats, even drawing level with them at quarter-time and half-time before fading in the second half.

So impressive was the performance that solidly built midfielder Dylan Shiel earned the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for round 10.

Shiel had 21 touches and laid five tackles to become the fourth Giant after Jeremy Cameron, Tomas Bugg and Stephen Coniglio to be nominated for the award.

He said he was proud of the way his team performed in one of footy's toughest tasks.

"When the fixture came out at the start of the year we saw we drew them at Simonds Stadium and I remember thinking that will probably be the hardest game we ever play," Shiel told AFL.com.au.

"I thought we came to Geelong with a really good attitude and to play our contested footy. Cameron Ling spoke to us after the Essendon match last week and we had a massive focus to come out hard and win the contested ball and have a really good crack at what has been the best team of the past five years."

Shiel was one of the first players on the GWS list when he was selected as a 17-year-old access selection at the end of 2010.

He quickly set himself up in his new home city after moving from Aspendale in Melbourne's south-east.

Part of his introduction to life in Sydney and life as an AFL footballer was meeting Giants assistant coach Mark Williams. Shiel got to know the former Port Adelaide premiership coach and his family well and quickly developed a relationship with Williams' daughter Georgie.

He said there was no awkwardness between himself and the man who is helping him develop as an AFL player although his teammates haven't hesitated to point out the humour in the situation.

"We've been dating for over a year now. It's all good there, Mark and I have a good relationship in footy and away from footy. The boys like to have a bit of a muck around and a joke about it," he said.

"They think it's pretty funny but it's all good."

Some might think Shiel could have a tough time in a relationship with the daughter of one of football's most famously intense figures but he says there is a noticeable difference between Williams the coach and Williams the father.

"It's hard because not many people would see him away from footy," he said.

"He's less intense and he's a very good family man."

Shiel has clearly impressed Williams and the GWS coaching staff on the field, playing all but one game so far against established AFL midfielders.

He has gathered in excess of 20 possessions in five different games and says his body is holding up to the rigours of AFL football.

"John Quinn and the sports medical staff are doing really well at the club as far as managing the first year players," he said.

"Not everyone is going to be able to play every game at the club. It's all about managing and reducing the risk of injuries."

The Giants have tasted victory once this year  - in the round seven clash with Gold Coast - and Shiel says there is no reason they couldn't build on that tally in the second half of the season.

"I reckon we're capable of winning a few more games. We've got Melbourne at Manuka and we've got Gold Coast again," he said.

"I think we're capable of winning a few more games which is exciting stuff. Hopefully the boys hold together and we can sustain some good footy throughout the year."

Luke Holmesby is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter - @AFL_Luke