THE GIANTS have waited a long time for their Ethan Matthews.
Matthews isn't just a soon-to-be graduate of the Giants Academy. He's an elite-level, top-tier draft prospect that is from the crucial western Sydney battleground the club has spent the last decade desperately trying to grow.
The midfielder is so important to the outlook of the entire football club that Greater Western Sydney officials spent long periods this year lobbying the AFL to allow it to gain access to Matthews outside of the draft, without having to navigate the new and more challenging bidding changes.
That won't be happening, but after a busy off-season the Giants are still well positioned to claim Matthews. Given his rapidly improved standing on draft boards across the League, it's in the balance as to whether he attracts a bid before the side's No.9 pick. If it comes after, its multiple selections in the 20s should do the trick.
"They've said as much as they can without saying it," Matthews told AFL.com.au.
"Obviously, no one is going to tell you you're 100 per cent getting drafted because things change. They've made it clear to me that they're very interested and they'll do as much in their power to get me. But you never know what's going to happen. Picks change, trades happen, then all of a sudden you're maybe not at the Giants.
"I've certainly read about the changes. You try to not get too engrossed in it or too focused on it, but coming out you're a bit frustrated. You're thinking, 'I'm probably going to the Giants no matter what'. But now the rules are a lot different.
"While it's frustrating, I'm happy to play footy anywhere. The Giants have been really welcoming and said they'll do as much as they can to hopefully get me, but obviously if that doesn't happen then it doesn't happen and I'll go somewhere else. While it's frustrating, I just want to play footy. No matter where it is, I'll be fine."
The Giants, for their part, are desperate to keep Matthews in western Sydney. But such has been the form of the 186cm midfielder this season, there are many clubs – and many holding picks in the first parts of the draft – hoping there's a world where their bid on the youngster isn't matched.
Matthews broke through last year, playing five VFL games for the club as a bottom-ager. He went to another level in the first half of this season, before a nagging foot injury ended his campaign in June.
In his three Talent League games for the Giants' representatives team, Matthews went large. He had 33 disposals and four goals against the Murray Bushrangers, then 37 disposals and two goals against Tasmania, then 36 disposals and two goals against the Dandenong Stingrays.
That, according to the ultra-impressive Matthews, has been a byproduct of his six years spent at the Giants Academy. While he might say he's happy to go anywhere, it's alongside his heroes in charcoal and orange where he wants to end up.
"It's been unreal," Matthews said.
"I've been there since I was 12. I've had lots of good mates come through. Western Sydney, obviously it's not known for football. But they've been great. Having that pathway, and those opportunities, I was able to train with the 18s group when I was a bit younger, when I was 15. That really accelerates you.
"You're in at the club as well, training there two or three days a week. You get to use their facilities, you sometimes see the AFL boys there and the standards they set. All the opportunities they provide, and Tadhg Kennelly as the Academy coach, has been great for me.
"Finn Callaghan's been really good to me. He's a younger player as well and he's taken me under his wing a bit. Coming in, I'll probably start across half-back or on a wing rotation when I crack in. Whether that's at the start of next year or later.
"Having those players like him, Harvey Thomas, Ryan Angwin, they've been really good on the gameplan and where I'm running with my patterns. It's been really helpful coming into the VFL side, playing on the wing and half-back. They've been really good to learn from, so if I come in I can impact straightaway hopefully."
The culmination of Matthews' improvement came in what proved to be his second last game of the year. Suiting up for the Allies in their Marsh AFL National Under-18 Boys Championships opener against Vic Country, the classy left-footer had his best game yet in a dominant display despite their narrow defeat.
Matthews' stats sheet told the story. He finished with 35 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 11 clearances, 11 inside 50s, nine score involvements, six tackles and eight marks to wow the watching recruiters.
"I was stoked with that game," Matthews said.
"As a group, we were coming in as underdogs. They were the bigger names in general. We weren't expected to win. But we brought it to them. That's what drove my game especially and a lot of the boys. We wanted to go out there and prove we were as good as anyone out there.
"Obviously then, with the injury, it was a bit disappointing. It was frustrating more than anything. I wanted to go out there and prove myself. I had a bit of attention in that South Australia game, which I wasn't expecting.
"I wanted to try some new things if I was to get tagged again, so that's why I was frustrated with the injury more than anything. I wanted to go out there and prove myself. But I can't complain with the one game that I did have."
Matthews is now a certified top-10 talent. Had it not been for the bone stress injury to his foot, he might have even finished the year as a potential top-five selection. It will probably make him the Giants' earliest Academy pick since Tom Green went at No.10 in 2019.
"I've always known that I would be able to compete," Matthews said.
"I probably just didn't have the games to show it. It's obviously a surprise to anyone when you start to hear your name. It's unreal, it's your dream the whole time. As soon as that happened, I was obviously stoked. But it was always there.
"Just coming out and obviously you're moving between lots of different teams and playing in different positions. I've always played my juniors in midfield, so coming out this year … it was always the plan. Play bottom age in that outside role, then move inside in this 18s year.
"I got a lot of confidence from that and had a pretty good pre-season as well. Coming in, I knew that I had the potential and I had the confidence in myself to back in. I'm glad I started to get the recognition in the end."
DRAFT ORDER Click here for the full draft order
But, in the highly unlikely chance it's not at the Giants, Matthews does have his eye on one other club as a favoured potential home. Could he perhaps get to Collingwood with its No.11 selection?
"Dad was from Melbourne and the Giants weren't around at the time," Matthews said.
"Dad's always been a big Collingwood fan actually and I've had no choice in that. I was signed up at birth. I've loved the Pies my whole life. Obviously the Giants are a close second, but I'm a big Pies fan.
"I've loved watching them and loved Scotty Pendlebury. I went to the Grand Final in 2023, so we're big fans. Unfortunately, went in 2018 as well. I was seven rows back from Dom Sheed. Unfortunately, that happened. But it's good. I'm a big footy head, I love watching all footy."
