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Why GWS Giants ‘jumped’ at discarded West Coast Eagles utility Jarrod Brander in free agency period

Samantha RogersThe West Australian
GWS football director Jimmy Bartel has revealed why the Giants were so keen to pick up former Eagle Jarrod Brander as a delisted free agent.
Camera IconGWS football director Jimmy Bartel has revealed why the Giants were so keen to pick up former Eagle Jarrod Brander as a delisted free agent. Credit: AFL Photos

GWS football director Jimmy Bartel has revealed why the Giants were so keen to pick up former Eagle Jarrod Brander as a delisted free agent.

The Giants signed the 22-year-old early on the first day of the delisted free agency period on Wednesday after he was not offered a new contract by West Coast.

The Eagles had put Brander on the table during the AFL trade period but instead delisted him after no clubs came knocking.

That opened the door for the Giants to pick up the New South Wales product this week, with Bartel revealing Brander being a GWS Academy graduate was one of the reasons he attracted the club’s interest.

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Jarrod Brander.
Camera IconJarrod Brander. Credit: Albert Perez/via AFL Photos

“As soon as he became available obviously we jumped on the phone,” Bartel told SEN.

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“He came through the Academy and he knows a number of the guys that are on the list still.

“Harry Perryman is one he came through the Giants Academy with. He played a lot of sport with Brent Daniels.

“He had a connection with a number of the guys, but also he fills a need for us.

“Obviously a high draft pick, very talented... a big work rate and an athletic sort of guy.

“He can play forward, wing, can down back, so hopefully bigger and better things for him at the Giants.”

Brander was selected by West Coast with pick 13 in the 2017 draft and played 22 games across four seasons for the Eagles - and just 11 this year.

But Bartel insists it was circumstance, rather than a lack of talent of drive, that saw the 195cm utility not reach his potential in blue and gold.

Jarrod Brander and Josh Kennedy.
Camera IconJarrod Brander and Josh Kennedy. Credit: Will Russell/AFL Photos

“He couldn’t play down back because of (West Coast defenders Jeremy) McGovern and (Tom) Barrass,” he said.

“They’ve got key forwards in (Josh) Kennedy and (Jack) Darling, you’ve got emerging Oscar Allen.

“We’ve mentioned with a number of guys, they can be talented but you’re just caught behind some in the queue.”

“And maybe the way West Coast was playing probably didn’t fit, or the way Adam Simpson wanted Jarrod Brander to play didn’t fit.”

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