Inaugural GWS coach Kevin Sheedy says Giants’ forward Harry Himmelberg could sneak under Richmond’s guard in Saturday’s AFL grand final, but needs to improve on his recent quiet form.
Hiimelberg, who has formed a potent tall forward trio with Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron and the emerging Jeremy Finlayson, had a purple patch, kicking 28.5 across a 12-game stretch starting from round nine.
He has struggled for scoreboard impact over the past four rounds, not registering even a single behind in three of the last four games and notching his lowest possession tallies of the season in those matches.
“I’ve got a high opinion of this kid and I don’t think he’s played a great final yet,” said Sheedy, who’ll present the premiership cup to the Giants if they win on Saturday.
“I’m being really rigorous on this kid because everybody has forgotten that this kid could be great, I like him.
“He hasn’t played well I don’t think for a month to be honest.
“I think Jeremy (Cameron) has carried the can a lot in the forward line and I reckon this guy (Himmelberg) could get under Richmond’s guard a little bit.”
Himmelberg pointed out GWS had played in low scoring games in their last two finals.
“Finals games are like that, you have to take every touch or every inside 50 as it comes,” Himmelberg told AAP.
“It’s more just playing the moment. You;ve got to to pretend every ball is going to come to you and thats the mindset that you have to have.
“There’s going to be plenty of big moments on the weekend and I’m looking forward to,some of them.”
Himmelberg, who leads the competition in goal assists, stressed he and his GWS forward colleagues could impact on the game in ways other than hitting the scoreboard .
‘What we’re pretty big on is defence and getting after them and tackling and stuff like that,” Himmelberg said.
‘We all play our role, but as the game opens up and flows you get your look, so you have to be patient sometimes.”
GWS director and triple Geelong triple,premiership winner Jimmy Bartel believes Giants’ midfielder Josh Kelly is a potential Norm Smith medallist on Saturday and ready to lift his game to the next level.
“Josh Kelly is a star, but I think this is the big coming out party on Saturday for him, as he just really launches himself up to that very pinnacle of the top players,”‘ Bartel said.