Jarrod Brander is relishing a return to his forward roots after kicking off his Giants career with a high five of goals against the Swans in Friday night’s practice match at Albury.
Making the former Eagle’s haul more impressive was he didn’t enter the contest until midway through the third of six quarters as GWS recorded an 18.18 (126) to 13.17 (95) victory.
Three of his five majors came late, and from close range, but Brander told News Corp afterwards he couldn’t have dreamt of a better start.
“I definitely didn’t come in expecting to do anything like that,” he said.
“I was able to get in the game early (aftexjmtzywr coming on) and got a few cheapies at the end, which was nice.”
The No.13 pick in the 2017 draft became frustrated at West Coast, where he was never able to properly settle into one role, with Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Oscar Allen higher on the tall forward pecking order.
Brander, 23, ended up scattering only 22 games across four seasons at the Eagles, half of which were played last year, before being delisted when they couldn’t find a trade partner for him.
The Giants snapped him up as a delisted free agent in an interesting turn of events, after the AFL stripped them of access to Brander in his draft year in response to rival complaints about their catchment region.
“There just wasn’t really a spot for me in my natural position,” he said of his West Coast stint.
“I made some good mates there and had some good experiences – some tough experiences as well – but I think the fresh start was the best thing for me at the end of last year.
“I don’t have any bad feelings towards West Coast at all. They do everything well but I think for me personally, a fresh start at a good club like the Giants was best for me.”
Brander will still have competition for a place in attack at GWS, where Harry Himmelberg and Jesse Hogan are the clear top targets.
Coach Leon Cameron is open to selecting three tall forwards, particularly with co-captain Toby Greene suspended for the first five rounds.
Jake Riccardi booted three goals of his own against Sydney and looms as another contender, while Braydon Preuss wants to form a ruck-forward tandem with Matt Flynn.
Whatever happens, Brander is just enjoying the long-awaited predictability in his role and training.
“The end of last year was obviously a tough period. There was a lot of talk about my contract situation and it is what it is,” he said.
“There are plenty of stories where it doesn’t work out for blokes the first time but it might the second. I’m trying to put my best foot forward at the Giants and we’ll see where I go.”
